Page 13 of How to Stake a Vampire

Gavin’s tail popped out. “That’s not good.”

“No, it isn’t.” Samuel sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t even want to think about what the thief intends to do with them.”

I raised a hand hesitantly. “Aren’t medical records digital these days?”

Samuel, Didi, Barney, and Gavin gave me pitying looks.

“What?” I asked defensively.

“Vampires and ghouls are leery of new technologies,” Samuel explained. “They keep paper copies of everything.”

I suddenly remembered Barney’s vintage typewriter and his two-finger typist attitude.

The vampire rapped said fingers on his armrest, his expression troubled. “Those medical records were pretty extensive. They contained the genealogical files for every major vampire bloodline in New England.”

That got my attention. “Genealogical files?”

“Family trees, lineage documentation,” the vampire explained with a wave of a hand. “The kind of information that would be invaluable to someone planning something nefarious.”

I swallowed a sigh. Chasing after supernatural creatures doing nefarious things sounded about as fun as tap dancing across a lava pit in flip-flops.

Gavin’s horns smoked slightly. “Could it be someone with an academic interest in vampire genetics?”

“I doubt it,” Samuel said curtly. “Worst-case scenario, they intend to use this data to target those specific bloodlines. For what reason, we still don’t know.” He met our gazes steadily. “That’s what you’re going to find out.”

I studied the security footage still on the screen.

“So where is this blood bank?” I said with as much enthusiasm as I could muster, which was hardly any.

5

BANKING ON TROUBLE

Eternal Reserves occupieda converted Victorian mansion in the Crossroads. The building squatted between a twenty-four-hour laundromat and a taxidermy shop. The sign in the latter’s window advertisedUndead Pet Preservation Services, which I wisely decided not to ask anyone about.

The only hints that this wasn’t your average blood bank were the tinted windows and the discreet brass nameplate that readSpecialized Supernatural Medical Storage Facility.

“Subtle,” I muttered as we climbed the front steps.

“Vampires aren’t known for their marketing skills,” Didi observed.

“This is actually an improvement,” Gavin said. “The last blood bank I visited with a vampire friend had a neon sign that saidType O and Go.”

Barney had the grace to look embarrassed at his brethren’s lack of tact.

Bo slowed warily as we approached the front door.

“This place smells like a hospital had a baby with a butcher shop.”

The Husky wasn’t wrong. My skin fairly itched and my wolf wanted to bare her fangs at the scent of blood wafting from the building.

“By the way, where do blood banks get their blood from?” I asked distractedly.

“From other supernatural creatures,” Barney replied. “And vampires.”

That made me pause. “Vampires drink other vampires’ blood?”

“Isn’t that like, cannibalism?” Bo asked warily.