Serafina and the Silent Vampire by Marie Treanor Read Free Book Online

suddenly, “What in the world made him think it was a vampire?”
    Jilly and Jack blinked at the unexpected interruption. Sera, who was always glad to see the older woman take an interest in anything other than her next drink, was happy to answer.
    “He was sure they were only followed or watched after dark,” she explained. “Then there was apparently some incident of a dead cat found in the garden that Ferdy said had lost all its blood through a wound in its throat. No vet ever saw it, and no one but Mrs. B could back the story up.” She shut her laptop lid with a snap. “Oh, and Jason was apparently jostled outside a pub by a man with long canine teeth. Jason himself played down the teeth, but he claims he did feel threatened. The bloke did a runner when Jason’s friends came back to see if he was okay.”
    “Tenuous,” Elspeth commented.
    “Very,” Sera agreed.
    “And you’re sure old Ferdy was lying about all this?” Elspeth said curiously.
    In between trying to contact Jason, Sera had spent a lot of time analyzing and reanalyzing her feelings about this. Now, she dragged her hand through her short hair and groaned. “I don’t know! I thought I was sure. I sensed basic dishonesty in him, although he was quite the clean potato workwise—not the tiniest question mark beside him professionally. Beyond that, I’m sure he wasn’t being truthful with me . Which is why I thought we could have a bit of a laugh last night. And yet now, looking back, I won’t say he disbelieved what he told me. Does that make any sense?”
    “Not much,” Jilly said.
    “It might have been his reasons for employing us that he was lying about,” Sera said. “Or even why he wanted the stalker discovered.”
    “ If he wanted the stalker discovered?” Elspeth said shrewdly. “I mean, Mr. Bell is an older man—my generation, not yours. If his fit and healthy son is scared of this attacker, why would he pick a slip of a girl like you to go after him?”
    Jilly and Jack cast amused glances at her. They knew Sera could take care of herself—she’d been the mouthy outsider in too many rough schools not to have learned the basics of self-defense. And later, for a time, she’d got free judo lessons from an expert because she’d provided a link to the man’s dead mother. She’d learned early never to show fear, and with the growth of her own physical confidence, she didn’t feel it much either.
    However, pleased by her receptionist’s perception, Sera only nodded. “It crossed my mind. He liked being stalked. The police would have put his mind at rest too quickly. He misses the attention he got when he was working as the money-making wiz, and he needs something in its place. Maybe.”
    Jack grinned. “And he didn’t know you’ve cracked a few skulls in your time.”
    “I have never cracked anyone’s skull,” Sera disputed.
    “You put a mugger in hospital,” Jilly reminded her.
    “Only because he cut himself with his own knife, stupid bastard.” Sera pushed her chair back and stood up. “Okay, I’m going back to Jason’s office, catch him when— if —he leaves.”
    “You think he’s got a double in there?” Jack asked. “Or somehow told his secretary in advance to lie for him?”
    “I don’t know,” Sera said ruefully, reaching for her jacket and bag. “But there were some weird people and some weirder happenings at the Bells’ house last night. I’d say Jason and Blair are the keys.”
    She swung the jacket on and added hopefully, “If you’ve nothing better to do this evening, you could follow up that actors’ bar in the old town. See if Blair shows.”
    “I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t know Blair if he waved at us,” Jilly argued.
    “Take Tam with you.”
    “Tam,” said Jilly, “isn’t talking to you.”
    “He doesn’t need to talk to me , does he?” Sera retorted, making for the door. She knew she’d blown it with Tam, but she was damned if she’d let anyone see that it bothered