The Dead Girls Dance Page 0,89

the car almost a block away, just outside of a cordon of police cars with flashing lights. Claire got out and had another coughing fit, bad enough that Eve patted her nervously on the back and did the talking for her to the grim-faced uniformed policewoman standing guard at the barricade. We need to see Mayor Morrell, she said.

Mayors busy, the policewoman said. Youll have to wait.

Monica got out of the backseat, and the cops eyes widened. Miss Morrell? Well, Claire admitted, the smoke-stained scarecrow with frizzed hair didnt look much like the usual Monica. She secretly hoped somebody would take pictures. And put them on the Internet.

When Richard got out, as well, the policewoman gulped. Jesus. Sorry, sir. Hang on, Ill get someone here. The policewoman got on her radio and passed on information; while they waited, she passed out bottled water from her squad car. Claire took two bottles and ducked back into the patrol cars backseat, where Michael was sitting, eyes shut tight. He stirred and looked at her when she called his name. He didnt look goodpaper pale, burned in places, and apparently sick, too. She handed him the water. I dont know if itll help, but?

Michael nodded and gulped some down. Claire cracked her own bottle and swallowed, nearly moaning in ecstasy. Nothing had ever tasted so good in Claires entire life as that lukewarm, flat water washing away the smoke from her throat.

I thought Michael licked his lips and let his head flop back against the seat. I thought Id be stronger. Ive seen other vampires in the daytime.

Older ones, Claire said. I think it must take time. Amelie can even walk around in the daylight, but shes really old. You just have to be patient, Michael.

Patient? He closed his eyes. Claire. Todays the first day Ive been outside of my house for nearly a year, my best friends still under a death sentence, and youre telling me to be patient?

It did sound stupid, when he put it that way. She drank her water silently, wiping sweat from her forehead and then grimacing at the sooty mess.

Its going to be all right, she told herself. Well get Shane. Well all go home. Itll be fine.

Which even now she knew wasnt very likely, but she had to have something to hold on to.

It was only about a five-minute wait, and the mayor came himself, trailed by an anxious entourage and two uniformed paramedics, who swooped in on Monica and Richard, ignoring Claire and Eve. Hey, were fine, thanks, Eve said sarcastically. Flesh wounds. Look, we kept our part of the bargain. We want Shane. Right now.

The mayor, hugging his soot-stained daughter, barely even glanced their way. Youre too late, he said.

Claires knees went out from under her. It came to her in a blinding rushthe fire, the smoke, the terror. Shane. Oh no, no, it couldnt be.

The mayor must have realized what she was thinking, and what Eve was thinking, too, from the expressions on their faces, because he looked momentarily annoyed. No, not that, he said. Richard said you were en route. I said Id wait. I dont break my word.

Much, Eve muttered, and covered it with a fake cough. Okay, then why are we too late?

Hes already gone, the mayor said. His father staged an attack just before dawn, when our attention was on the warehouse fire. Broke Shane and the other one out of the cages, killed five of my men. They were heading out of town, but weve got them cornered this time. Itll all be over soon.

ButShane! Claire looked at him pleadingly. We kept our part of the bargainplease, cant you just let him go?

Mayor Morrell frowned at her. Our agreement was that Id let him go if you brought my daughter back. Well, hes free. If he gets himself killed trying to save his no-good father, thats no business of mine, the mayor said. He put his arm around Monica and Richard. Come on, kids. You can tell me what happened.

Ill tell you what happened, Eve said angrily. We saved both of their lives. You can thank us for that anytime, by the way.

From the glare he threw Eve, the mayor really didnt find that funny. If you hadnt put them in danger in the first place, none of this would have happened, he said. Consider yourselves lucky that I dont toss you in jail for aiding and abetting a vampire hunter. Now, if you want