How to Elude a Vampire (VRC Vampire Related Crimes #2) - Alice Winters Page 0,117
why there are inconsistencies or maybe there were two families with different names—”
“Dammit, Claude, just tell me if you have something.”
“Do you know what name is derived from Watt? Watson. Isn’t that the name of Finn’s doctor?”
“Fuck,” I growl. “It’s Watson. Claude, meet us at his place.”
“His doctor?” Karsyn asks in disbelief.
“I have to go,” I say.
Brooks shakes his head. “You can’t go alone, but I can’t leave Orin. Just… fuck. Wait for backup,” Brooks urges.
I can’t. I can’t wait for anything. He has Finn and he could take him away from me. He could keep me from ever seeing him again. He could kill him and then I’d have nothing.
“I can’t,” I say as I turn from him and run back to the car before anyone can stop me. If Finn’s at Watson’s, maybe I could beat Watson back to his own house and get Finn away before he returns.
I get into the car and start it just as Karsyn grabs the passenger door and pulls it open.
“I’m… helping,” he says as he gets into the car.
“You’re young—you’ll probably die.”
He folds his arms over his chest. “Yes, well… you clearly can’t win alone,” he says with that stubborn look on his face.
“Karsyn… thanks,” I say as I back out of the driveway.
“I’m doing it for Finn, not you.”
“You can do it for whatever the fuck you want. I’m still going to thank you, and you’re going to take it, you stubborn ass.”
He snorts. “You’re welcome.”
“That’s better,” I say as I turn the car out onto the road. “This makes so much sense. A while ago, I was told that Finn’s prostheses have GPS trackers in them because of the technology inside them. If the technology was to get out, it could be sold or used elsewhere. But that’s how he’s been tracking us. He knows literally everywhere Finn is by his arm and leg.”
“But what I don’t get is that he had Finn in his grasp and yet he let him go. He lets you be with him.”
“He said it’s because he’s afraid he’ll kill Finn. So instead, he gets his kicks by still being in his life and just watching and manipulating him. Maybe I should tell Claude to stay away. I know… I know he nearly died last time but… fuck. I hate putting people in danger,” I say.
“It’s his choice, just like it’s mine. But you’ve already proven that you can’t do it alone,” Karsyn says as he pulls out his phone. “Why isn’t your brother more like you?”
“It’s his only character trait to be annoying,” I say.
When we reach the house, I park down the street before getting out.
“The issue is how hard it is to pinpoint or even feel his presence until he wants you to,” I say as I move toward the house. Karsyn tenses as I sense someone moving toward us, but I immediately recognize the movement.
“It’s Claude,” I tell him as I continue slowly moving toward the house because I don’t want to rush and end up in a bad situation. I know I need to be careful as I enter the house. The two stay behind me as I reach the door and listen. When I grab the door handle, it turns easily in my hand, so I swing it open and step inside.
By now, if Watson is here, he’ll know we’re inside the house, but Finn should make enough noise for me to hear in the deadness of this place. Claude pushes open the door to my left, checking the medical examination room I’ve visited so many times with Finn, never once expecting that the doctor who seemed so kind and caring was an emotionless monster. Karsyn pushes open the door on the right that leads to the room Artemus had been kept in while he recovered.
But something inside me tells me he’s gone, and he’s taken Finn with him.
“Did you hear that?” Claude asks as he hesitates.
I listen closely before hearing the noise coming from downstairs. Steadily, I move forward until I reach a door that’d been left ajar.
“It could be a trap,” Karsyn says.
I think about telling them to wait up here, but are they more vulnerable without me?
“Move carefully, listen closely. If it’s too much, just do what you can to get away. I’ll slow him down,” I promise. I’ll do everything I can to keep them safe.
They nod, but I’m not even sure how well I’ll be able to slow anyone down. So I gradually