“Familiar? I thought that business about witches and familiars was a human myth. No wonder her transmogrification gene is so strange,” Miriam muttered. “A firedrake. Just what we need. Wait a minute. Is it on a leash or something? Can we get a blood sample?”
“Perhaps,” Matthew said dubiously. “I’m not sure Corra would cooperate for a cheek swab, though.”
“I wonder if she and Diana are genetically related. . . .” Miriam trailed off, intrigued by the possibilities.
“Have you found anything in Diana’s witch chromosome that leads you to believe it controls fertility?” Matthew asked.
“That’s an entirely new request, and you know that scientists usually don’t find anything unless they’re looking for it,” Miriam said tartly. “Give me a few days, and I’ll see what I can uncover. There are so many unidentified genes in Diana’s witch chromosome that some days I wonder if she is a witch.”
Miriam laughed.
Matthew remained silent. He couldn’t very well tell her that Diana was a weaver when not even Sarah knew.
“You’re keeping something from me,” Miriam said, a note of accusation in her voice.
“Send me a report on whatever else you’ve managed to identify,” he said. “We’ll discuss it more in a few days. Take a look at my DNA profile, too. Focus on whatever genes we haven’t identified yet, especially if they’re near the blood-rage gene. See if anything strikes you.”
“Ooo-kay,” Miriam said deliberately. “You have a secure Internet connection, right?”
“As secure as Baldwin’s money can buy.”
“Pretty damn secure, then,” she said under her breath. “Talk to you later. And, Matthew?”
“Yes?” he said, frowning.
“I’m still going to bite you for not killing Benjamin when you had a chance.”
“You’ll have to catch me first.”
“That’s easy. All I have to do is catch Diana. You’ll walk right into my arms then,” she said just before she disconnected.
“Miriam’s back in top form,” Fernando said.
“She always was able to recover from a crisis with amazing speed,” Matthew said fondly. “Do you remember when Bertrand—”
An unfamiliar car turned in to the driveway.
Matthew sprinted toward it, Fernando at his heels.
The gray-haired woman driving a dented navy Volvo didn’t seem a bit surprised to be confronted by two vampires, one of them exceptionally tall. Instead she rolled down the window.
“You must be Matthew,” the woman said. “I’m Vivian. Diana asked me to stop by and see Sarah.
She’s worried about the tree in the keeping room.”
“What is that scent?” Fernando asked Matthew.
“Bergamot,” Matthew replied, his eyes narrowing.
“It’s a common scent! Besides, I’m an accountant,” Vivian said indignantly, “not just the coven’s high priestess. What do you expect me to smell of—fire and brimstone?”
“Vivian?” Sarah stood at the front door and squinted into the sunlight. “Is someone sick?”
Vivian climbed out of the car. “Nobody’s sick. I ran into Diana at the store.”
“I see you’ve met Matthew and Fernando,” Sarah said.
“I have.” Vivian looked the two of them over. “Goddess preserve us from handsome vampires.”
She started walking toward the house. “Diana said you’ve got a bit of trouble.”
“Nothing we can’t handle,” Matthew said with a scowl.
“He always says that. Sometimes he’s even right.” Sarah beckoned to Vivian. “Come inside.
Diana’s got iced tea made.”
“Everything is fine, Ms. Harrison,” Matthew said, stalking alongside the witch.
Diana appeared behind Sarah. She looked at Matthew in fury, her hands on her hips.
“Fine?” she demanded. “Peter Knox murdered Em. There’s a tree growing out of the fireplace. I’m pregnant with your children. We’ve been evicted from Sept-Tours. And the Congregation could show up at any minute and force us to separate. Does that sound fine to you, Vivian?”
“The Peter Knox who had a crush on Diana’s mother? Isn’t he a member of the Congregation?”
Vivian asked.
“Not anymore,” Matthew replied.
“I think we’d better go inside after all.” Vivian shook her finger at Sarah. “You told me Em had a heart attack.”
“She did,” Sarah said defensively. Vivian’s lips curled in disgust. “It’s the truth! Matthew’s son said that was the cause of death.”
“You’re awfully good at telling the truth and lying at the same time, Sarah.” Vivian’s tone softened.
“Emily was a big part of our community. So are you. We need to know what really happened in France.”
“Knowing whether it’s Knox’s fault or not won’t change anything. Emily will still be dead.”
Sarah’s eyes brimmed with tears. She dashed them away. “And I don’t want the coven involved. It’s too dangerous.”
“We’re your friends. We’re already involved.” Vivian rubbed her hands together. “Sunday is Lughnasadh.”
“Lughnasadh?” Sarah said suspiciously. “The Madison coven hasn’t celebrated Lughnasadh for decades.”