Murder in Vein (2010) by Sue Ann Jaffarian Read Free Book Online Page A

Madison.
    Pauline got up from the table and moved to the sink. She
pointed out the window. "Out back there's a lap pool, hot tub,
and large patio. The pool's heater isn't on, so you might not want
to use it this time of year. The Dedhams both love to swim, but
the cold don't bother them any."
    "Doesn't matter. I don't have a swimsuit."
    "I'm sure I can find you one of Mrs. D's if you want to go into
the hot tub. Nothing sexy, but it should do."
    Madison finished her cereal but stayed at the table, wiping her
mouth with the paper napkin Pauline had provided along with
the spoon. "So the house and the patio, that's it?"
    Pauline moved away from the window. From a set of wooden
key pegs by the back door, she removed a set of keys and brought
them to the table. She dropped them in front of Madison with
a discordant clang. Madison immediately recognized that they
were her keys.
    "The Dedhams wanted me to tell you that you're no prisoner
here. You can go anytime, but they think it best you listen to them
and stay, at least for a few days. So do I."

    Remembering what Doug had told her the night before about
the killings and the person impersonating a vampire, Madison
fought the urge to grab her keys and run for the door. So far, the
Dedhams had treated her decently-better than most everyone
else in her life had treated her to date, except for her mother and
her great aunt Eleanor.
    "As for food," Pauline said, moving to the refrigerator, "you
can cook and eat anything you find, except for stuff that looks
like blood."
    Madison shivered and Pauline noticed. She chuckled softly
as she opened the refrigerator door. "Most of these plastic containers have blood in them. There are similar containers in the
freezer, and all are clearly marked with what type of blood."
    This time, Madison turned a pale shade of green, and again
Pauline noticed her discomfort. "Don't worry, in time you'll get
used to it, and none of it's human blood. The Dedhams don't
store human blood in the house." She paused before adding,
"Doesn't mean they don't enjoy it, but it would be tougher to
explain to the authorities if for any reason someone stumbled
upon it here. They go out for that-sort of like you and I would
go out for a nice slice of prime rib and fried shrimp."
    Madison rested her arms on the table and lowered her head
onto them. "Oh, god," she moaned as the reality of the situation
made itself crystal clear. There really were vampires, and she'd
managed to happen upon them.
    Pauline ignored Madison's distress. "Mrs. D loves to bake.
Seeing how you're a bag of bones, she'll probably try to put some
meat on you."

    That caught Madison's attention. Remembering the cookies,
she asked, without lifting her head from the table, "She loves to
bake? Can they eat any of it?"
    "Not a lick, but both of them love the smell of fresh baked
goods in the house, especially Mrs. D. I think it reminds her of
when she was ... well ... it reminds her of another time." Pauline
paused, then added, "Makes her feel more normal, I think. She
hasn't been a vampire very long, only about fifteen years. Became
one when she married Mr. D."
    Curious, Madison raised her head and pushed aside the
thought of the Dedhams' liquid meals sharing space in the fridge
alongside the cereal milk. She was about to ask Pauline more
about the Dedhams, but the housekeeper moved back to the
kitchen counter where a Crock-Pot was set up. There she continued with her instructions. "This here is a pot roast for your
dinner tonight. There's a nice chunk of beef in there with carrots
and potatoes. You should let it cook until at least three o'clock;
anytime after that you can eat it. There'll be plenty for leftovers,
too. Storage containers for the leftovers are in the cabinet under
the microwave."
    "You're not staying today?" Madison asked with slight alarm.
"I thought you were here all day."
    "Usually, I'm here five days a week from about eight in the