"Why?" He sounded suspicious.
"Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for Humans First to believe Alejandro is the master."
"Why?"
"So they don't kill Jean-Claude," I said.
"Oh," he said.
"Yeah," I said.
"I'll bear that in mind," he said.
"You do that."
"Gotta go; deadline calls."
"Okay, Irving, talk to you later."
"Bye, Anita, thanks." He hung up.
I sipped the still-steaming coffee, slowly. The first cup of the day should never be rushed. If I could get Humans First to believe the same lie Edward bought, then no one would be hunting Jean-Claude. They'd be hunting Alejandro. The master that was slaughtering humans. Put the police on the case, and we had the rogue vamps outnumbered. Yeah, I liked it.
The trick was, would everyone buy it? Never know until you try.
Chapter 28
I had finished a pot of coffee and managed to get dressed when the phone rang again. One of those mornings.
"Yeah," I said.
"Ms. Blake?" the voice sounded very uncertain.
"Speaking."
"This is Karl Inger."
"Sorry if I sounded abrupt. What's up, Mr. Inger?"
"You said you'd speak to me again if we had a better plan. I have a better plan," he said.
"For killing the Master of the City?" I made it a question.
"Yes."
I took a deep breath and let it out slow, away from the phone. Didn't want him to think I was heavy breathing at him. "Mr. Inger..."
"Please, hear me out. We saved your life last night. That must be worth something."
He had me there. "What's your plan, Mr. Inger?"
"I'd rather tell you in person."
"I'm not going to my office for some hours yet."
"Could I come to your home?"
"No." It was automatic.