Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton Read Free Book Online Page B

But until a senator’s daughter got herself attacked justa few weeks ago, nobody did shit. Now suddenly it’s a cause celebre. The legitimate vampire community delivered the supposed attacker in a sack to the senator’s home. They left his head and torso intact, which meant even without arms and legs he wouldn’t die. He confessed to the attack. He’d been the new dead and just got carried away on a date, like any other twenty-one-year-old red-blooded male. Yeah, right.
    The local hitter, Gerald Mallory, had done the execution. He’s based out of Washington, D.C. He has to be in his sixties now. He still uses a stake and hammer. Can you believe it?
    There had been some talk that cutting off their arms and legs would allow us to keep vamps in jail. This was vetoed mainly on the grounds of cruel and unusual punishment. It also wouldn’t have worked, not for the really old vampires. It isn’t just their bodies that are dangerous.
    Besides, I didn’t believe in torture. If cutting someone’s arms and legs off and putting them in a little box for all eternity isn’t torture, I don’t know what is.
    I walked back to the group. I handed the phone to Bayard. “I hope it isn’t bad news,” he said.
    â€œNot personally,” I said.
    He looked puzzled. Not an uncommon occurrence for Lionel.
    I talked directly to Stirling. “I’ve got to go to a crime scene near here. Is there someplace to rent a car?”
    He shook his head. “I said you’d have a car and driver while you were here. I meant it.”
    â€œThanks. I’m not so sure about the driver, though. This is a crime scene they won’t want civilians hanging around.”
    â€œA car, then; no driver. Lionel, see that Ms. Blake gets anything she wants.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œI’ll meet you back here at full dark, Ms. Blake.”
    â€œI’ll be here at dusk if I can, Mr. Stirling, but the police matter takes precedence.”
    He frowned at me. “You are working for me, Ms. Blake.”
    â€œYes, but I’m also a licensed vampire executioner. Cooperation with the local police takes precedence.”
    â€œSo it’s a vampire kill?”
    â€œI am not free to share police information with anyone,” I said. But I cursed myself. By bringing up the word “vampire,” I’d started a rumor that would grow with the telling. Damn.
    â€œI can’t leave the investigation early just to come look at your mountain. I’ll be here when I can. I’ll definitely look the dead over before daylight, so you won’t really lose any time.”
    He didn’t like it, but he let it go. “Fine, Ms. Blake. I will wait here for you even if it takes all night. I’m curious about what you do. I’ve never seen a zombie raised before.”
    â€œI won’t raise the dead tonight, Mr. Stirling. We’ve been over that.”
    â€œOf course.” He just looked at me. For some reason it was hard to meet his pale eyes. I made myself meet his gaze and didn’t look away, but it was an effort. It was like he was willing me to do something, trying to compel me with his eyes like a vampire. But a vampire, even a little one, he was not.
    He blinked and walked away without saying another word. Ms. Harrison toddled after him in her high heels on the uneven ground. Beau nodded at me and followed. I guess they’d all come in the same car. Or maybe Beau was Stirling’s driver. What a joyous job that must be.
    â€œWe’ll fly you to the hotel where we booked your rooms. You can unpack, and I’ll have a car brought around for you,” Bayard said.
    â€œNo unpacking, just a car. Murder scenes age fast,” I said.
    He nodded. “As you like. If you’ll get back into the helicopter, we’ll be off.”
    It wasn’t until I was taking off the coveralls and repacking both of them that I realized I could have gone