"Why?"
"I was in charge."
"Did you do all you could to keep him safe?"
"I had hosts put at every entrance."
"Someone let them in, then?"
"They had a doggie door that exited through the garage, into the house wall. They didn't want to cut a hole through any of the outer doors."
"Was there a child vampire among them?"
"No."
"Then how?"
I described the thin, skeletal vampire. "It was almost a form change. He changed back in seconds. Once he changed back, he could have passed for human in dim light. I've never seen anything like it."
"I've only seen the ability once," he said.
"You know who it is, don't you?"
"I will be with you as soon as I am able, ma petite."
"You sound serious all of a sudden; why?"
He gave a small laugh, but this one was bitter, like swallowing broken glass. It hurt just to hear it. "You know me too well, ma petite."
"Just answer the question."
"Did the boy who was taken look younger than his years?"
"Yeah; why?"
Silence thick enough to slice was the only answer.
"Talk to me, Jean-Claude."
"Have there been any other young boys gone missing?"
"Not to my knowledge, but I haven't asked."
"Ask," he said.
"How young?"
"Twelve, fourteen, older if they look young enough."
"Like Jeff Quinlan," I said.
"I fear so."
"Is this vampire into more than just kidnapping?"
"What do you mean, ma petite?"
"Murder, not just biting them, but murder."