Page 45 of How to Stake a Vampire

“Not as embarrassing as what just happened,” Detective Johnson said with a smirk. “I’ll show you the video later.”

I became the focus of resigned stares.

Bo plopped down on his haunches and panted noisily. “This was fun. We should do this kind of thing more often.”

The last of the vampire mourners had filed out of the funeral parlor, leaving us with the Tremaines and the director.

“We apologize again for what happened, Aubrey,” Gregory said stiffly.

“Yes,” Victoria murmured, chagrined. “I’m terribly sorry.”

“It was hardly your fault,” Aubrey said with a pinched expression. “Although this will go down in history as Amberford’s strangest funeral.” She flashed a loaded look my way. “At least it wasn’t as bad as what happened at the Holts’ ball.”

I swallowed a sigh, conscious today’s incident had done little to help my reputation. My earpiece crackled to life, startling me.

Didi’s voice came through.

“We’ve got movement. Tall figure in a vintage coat, behind the memorial garden.”

“He’s moving fast!” Gavin warned.

Samuel and I bolted toward the exit, Detective Johnson and Bo on our heels.

“Where are you going?” Gregory asked, puzzled.

“To catch our perp!” Samuel shouted.

By the time we reached the memorial garden, the figure Didi and Gavin had seen was gone. The only clue to his presence was a leather-bound volume lying in the grass.

“That’s our guest book!” Aubrey exclaimed breathlessly as she arrived with the others.

“The man who’s been attacking vampires is here?” Constantia asked nervously.

Detective Johnson gingerly picked up the book with a handkerchief.

Samuel frowned. “Was.”

I could tell the vampire’s uncanny speed worried Samuel as much as it did me.

A worried whine issued from Bo.

Even with my wolf’s super senses, I could only smell a fading scent. My scalp prickled. It was just as Bella and her two companions had described it: old and dark.

Detective Johnson suddenly cursed.

“What?” I asked tensely.

“Take a look at this,” the werewolf said grimly.

He showed us the guest book. It was filled with elegant signatures and condolences from today’s vampire mourners. At the bottom of the last page, written in what looked and smelled suspiciously like fresh blood, were the initials "L. B."

15

DARK RELATIONS

An hour later,we were back at Springhill General Hospital, this time to visit Lord Chudwell in the supernatural ward. Victoria and the Tremaines had gone home and Rita had returned to the medical examiner’s office.

The vampire was sitting up in bed and looked remarkably chipper for someone who’d recently had his head reattached.