Page 29 of Girl Between

George leaned back and stretched his arms along the couch with a wide grin. “We’re gonna get along just fine.”

“Why do you say that?”

“The body,” he said, pointing to the photo on his phone, “was missing more than just blood. The liver was removed, too. And right now, the popular opinion around the precinct is Voodoo and vampires.”

“You’re not serious?” Dana guffawed. “The number of scenarios that could account for missing organs and blood is unquantifiable.”

“My thoughts exactly,” George said. He popped one more truffle fry in his mouth before climbing to his feet. “Jake was right. You’re the real deal. I’ll bring the mask to your office tomorrow so we can get to work. And don’t make dinner plans. I’m taking you out for a real meal.”

“There is nothing wrong with room service,” Dana argued. “It’s actually quite good when it’s not cold.”

George laughed, flashing that giant smile of his. “Anywhere else in the world, I might agree with you. But you can’t taste Nawlins holed up in a hotel room. Someone with as much knowledge as you should know better.” With that, he turned and headed out the door, leaving Dana with a cold meal and burning cheeks.

29

I look proudlyat my kill room. It’d taken months to set it up. Even longer scouting the perfect spot. When I first set eyes on it, I knew I’d found my Shangri-la.

“We shouldn’t be here. It’s not safe,” he complains.

I ignore him, reveling in the splendor of my work. “It’s perfect. No one will disturb us here.”

“For good reason. This place should be condemned.”

“Stop complaining and get to work.”

“Where?”

I pull back the heavy plastic to reveal the makeshift operating room I’ve set up. I can admit, a working elevator would’ve made the set up more convenient, but there is something to be said for hiding in plain sight.

Here we have a literal playground to ourselves, and I plan to make full use of it.

“This is just the preliminary setup,” I explain. “We can expand as we need.”

“Expand?” he stares at my work, his face twisted with horror.

That isn’t the reaction I’m owed for my efforts. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything!” he shouts. “I can’t operate here. I’ve seen betterconditions in third world countries. Infection alone will kill these people.”

“They’re already dead!” I yell.

I see him look at the steady rhythm of the heart monitors in confusion.

“Metaphorically,” I clarify. “We can’t let them leave. They know too much. Tell me you understand.”

He nods.

“Good. Now do your job, or do I need to remind you what’s at stake?”

“No,” he replies, instantly submitting.

I gloat, reveling in my new leadership role. The apprentice has truly become the master. “Good. Now get to work. And I expect no waste during this harvest. Her life depends on it.”

30

Dana lookedup from her desk every time she heard the floorboards creak. Which, thanks to the age of the old home, was roughly every fifteen minutes. Waiting for George’s arrival was distracting her from her work. Something Dr. Taurant was all too eager to point out each time he snuck up on her.

“Still on the same manifest, I see,” he’d tsked on his last intrusion.