Page 46 of How to Stake a Vampire

“I must say, the service here is simply marvelous,” he was telling Barney when we entered his room.

“It is?” Hazel asked warily where she was attaching a blood bag to a stand.

“Indeed.” Lord Chudwell beamed at the pixie. “You ladies are absolute angels. I’ve never felt in safer hands.”

Suspicion clouded Hazel’s eyes. “Do you have a concussion?”

My wolf’s superhearing picked up a heated discussion at the nurses’ station outside.

“Maybe he hit his head?” Hilda hissed.

“According to the paramedics, helosthis head,” Irene corrected. “As in, it detached from his body.”

“Well, whatever happened, it’s a fresh change from dealing with the other lun—I mean, patients currently under our care,” Joyce said firmly.

There was a brief hush.

“Should we keep this one?” Hilda suggested with a grunt. “Trade him in for Count Vlacula?”

The sound of a buzzer made the dwarf swear. “Speak of the devil.”

“How about we draw straws again?” Irene asked hopefully.

“Oh, come on, I always lose at straws!” Hilda grumbled.

A faint wailing echoed across the ward.

Joyce sighed heavily. “And now it’s the baron.”

I focused on the conversation in the room.

Samuel had settled into one of the visitor chairs and was addressing Lord Chudwell. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better, thank you. The Type AB-negative transfusion is helping.” He watched us solemnly for a moment. “Something tells me you have more questions for me.”

Hazel read the room and left.

“We never asked you about the letters your butler claimed you received,” I said carefully. “You know? The threats.”

Lord Chudwell’s expression grew shuttered. “Quincy should really mind his own business.”

Detective Johnson frowned. “He was worried about you.”

Lord Chudwell pursed his lips.

I pulled out my phone. “We found something at the funeral parlor. The man we believe attacked you turned up after you’d left. He left a signature in the guest book.” I showed him and Barney the photo I’d taken.

Barney stared at the signature like he’d seen a ghost.

Lord Chudwell sat frozen for a moment. He finally looked at Barney.

“Barnabas,” he said quietly. “You need to tell them.”

The others exchanged confused looks.

My pulse quickened. I’d been right all along.

Barney knew who the perp was.