The Dead Girls Dance Page 0,19

the draft that had just brushed past him.

Michael liked that chair.

You had some trouble here last night, Hess said. I know you had a talk with our colleagues Gretchen and Hans. I read the report this morning.

No harm in admitting to that. Both Shane and Claire nodded.

A little scary, huh?

Claire nodded. Shane didnt. He gave the detective a narrow little smile. Im a Morganville lifer. Define scary, he said. Anyway, if youre playing good cop, bad cop

Im not, Hess said. Trust me, youd know if I was, because Id be the bad cop. And there was something in his eyes thatoddlymade Claire believe it. Look, I wont lie to you. Gretchen and Hans, theyve got their own agendas. But so do we. We want to make sure youre protected, understand me? Thats our job. We serve and protect, and Travis and I believe in that.

Lowe paused in his slow amble to nod.

Were neutral. Theres a few of us in town who did enough good for each side to earn a little freedom, as long as were careful.

What Joe means, Detective Lowe said, is that they ignore us as long as we keep it on our side of the tracks. Humans are the slave race hereforget about skin color. So we have to take care of our own when we can.

And when we cant, Hess said, as smoothly as if theyd rehearsed all this, things get ugly. It aint like the two of us are free agents. Were Switzerland. If you cross the line, youre on your own.

Shane frowned at him. What can you do for us, if youre Switzerland?

I can make sure that Gretchen and Hans dont make any follow-up visits, Hess said. I can keep most of the cops away from you, maybe not all. I can put out the wordwidelythat youre not just under a Founders seal; Travis and I are keeping an eye on you. Thatll keep anybody else from trying to win friends by smacking you around.

Anybody human, he means, Lowe amended. The vamps, theyll scare the shit out of you if they can, but they wont hurt you. Not unless you screw up and that Founders seal goes away. Got me?

Which had already happened, really. The screwing-up part. Well, technically, she supposed Shanes dad hadnt broken any lawsyetbecause Michael hadnt really died.

Except that he had.

God, Morganville made her head hurt.

A door slammed upstairs, and Eve came clattering down the stairs, fully dressed in Goth finery: a purple sheer shirt over a black corset thingie, a skirt that looked like it had gotten caught in a shredder, hose with skulls woven in, and her black Mary Janes. Very fierce. Her makeup was back in full force, ice white face, black-rimmed eyes, lips like three-day-old bruises.

Officer Joe! Eve practically flew across the room to hug him. Shane and Claire exchanged a look. Yeah, this wasnt something they were going to see every day. Joe Joe Joe! Ive been wondering where you were!

Hi, Skippy. You remember Travis, right?

Big T. ! Another hug. This, Claire thought, had tipped over the edge into the surreal, even for Morganville. Im so glad to see you guys!

Ditto, kid, Lowe said. He was smiling, and it transformed his face into something that was almost angelic. Youve still got the numbers, right?

Eve slapped her hand on the mobile phone strapped to her belt in a coffin-shaped holder. Oh yeah. Speed dial. But there hasnt beenum

Claire had the sudden weird feeling that Eve had something she couldnt talk about in front of them. The cops seemed to think so, too, because their eyes met briefly, and then Hess said, You want an update? How about showing us to your coffeepot?

Sure! Eve said brightly, and led them off into the kitchen.

Well, Shane said as the door shut behind them, thats bizarre.

Did I miss a chapter? Claire asked. And are there Cliffs Notes?

No idea.

The sound of conversation drifted in from the kitchen, music without words. Claire fidgeted, then got up and tiptoed over.

Hey! Shane protested, but he followed.

Hess was talking about somebody named Jason. Shane reacted, putting his hand on Claires shoulder and lifting his finger to his lips.

What? she mouthed silently.

I want to hear.

Detective Lowe was talking. you probably would want to know that hes getting out today. Now, before you say anything, hes been warned. Hes not about to go near you or your parents. Hell be monitored.

Monitored. Eve sounded shaken. ButI thought he was going to be in jail for a long