Marshall said, "I checked the security footage. All the victims bore scratches when they left this club, but this is not entirely unusual."
They had good cameras installed if they could pick up minor scratches. "No, but in this situation, it's definitely another link. What time did they all leave the club?"
"All five left at different times."
I frowned. "So had they been here feeding beforehand for very long?"
"Yes," Marshall said. "As has been noted, they were long-term addictives. Unfortunately, the longer the term, the greater the need."
That wasn't unusual when it came to any sort of addiction, but we weren't talking about an inanimate substance here; we were talking about human life. I couldn't help asking, "But surely there comes a time when such an addiction becomes too dangerous for both the abuser and the vampire population in general?"
"It does," Hunter said, her expression impassive yet cold. "And when that happens, it is dealt with appropriately."
Meaning good-bye addictive. I rubbed my arms. "So what time did they all stop using these rooms?"
"All four were stopped from using the facilities just after one a.m."
And the hour between midnight and one was witching hour—the hour when all things dark and dangerous came out to play.
"That," Azriel said softly, "is a possible link."
Hunter's eyebrows rose delicately. "Why?"
He regarded her steadily, and I suddenly wished I could read his thoughts. I had the distinct impression they'd be very interesting right now.
He ignored her question and asked instead, "Were blood whores killed in this room the nights the addicted vampires were murdered?"
Marshall glanced at Hunter and, at her nod, said, "Yes. In each case there were fatalities."