Vampire for Hire by J.R. Rain Read Free Book Online

“Go on.”
     
               “The mother was a known user and prostitute and probably not a very good mother, either. The daughter was born into a mess. The mother would often disappear with boyfriends and drug dealers, bringing her daughter along with her. Some seedy shit going on here, Sam. No one reported them missing for many weeks, and she spent so much time with so many different shady characters, that it’s nearly impossible to pinpoint where she was staying or who had seen her last.”
     
               “Someone knows,” I said.
     
               “Sure, but we’re talking about the lowest of the lowlifes, Sam. Folks who break laws every hour on the hour. No one is talking.”
     
               “Who’s working the case?”
     
               “Fullerton P.D. Missing Person Division.”
     
               “The name of the officer?”
     
               He told me and I wrote it down. When finished, I said, “I think the missing person has turned into a murder and kidnapping.”
     
               “You’ll hear no argument from me, Sam.”
     
               “Thank you, Chad.”
     
               “We’re working on something big over here, but I’ll help you when I can.”
     
               “I know; thank you. How’s Cynthia?” I asked, referring to my client of just a few weeks ago. Chad, who had taken over partial bodyguard duties for me, had been smitten by her instantly.
     
               “Beautiful as ever; I love her.”
     
               “Just don’t smother her, for Christ’s sake. Give her space.”
     
               “I’ll give her whatever she wants.”
     
               “Oh, brother.”
     
               We hung up and I considered my options. Without the case file, there was really nothing I could do tonight. Tomorrow I would check in with the Fullerton P.D. For now, though, I quickly scanned my files and notes, doing a global search for the name Lauren Monk. Nothing came up. That didn’t mean I hadn’t come across her at some point, just that the name hadn’t made it to any of my files or notes. Of course, that’s if I had ever worked with her or come into contact with her in the first place.
     
               Well, she had my number somehow.
     
               Or, at least, someone had it.
     
               I was sitting back and thinking about little Maddie and her little voice when I sensed a presence behind me. I turned and found Anthony standing there and looking miserable. “What’s wrong, booger butt,” I asked, waving him over.
     
               “I don’t feel good, Mommy.”
     
               “Hey, you’re already suspended for a day, honey. You don’t have to fake being sick.” But I knew he wasn’t faking it. My boy looked miserable and I could feel the palpable waves of heat coming off his body.
     
               “But I’m not faking it, Mommy. I swear.”
     
               I put a hand on his forehead. The kid was burning up. He flinched at my icy touch. No surprise there. The dichotomy between hot and cold was probably startling.
     
               He climbed up onto my lap and nuzzled his burning face into my neck, and as he did so, alarm bells went off inside me. They rang loud and clear.
     
               Something was very wrong.
     
              
     
              
     
              
     
               Chapter Eleven
     

     
              
     
              
     
               I lay by Anthony’s side for many hours, lightly running my fingers through his fine hair, periodically checking his fever with my palm. His cheek was clammy and frighteningly hot. His breathing was even, although I detected a slight rattle in his chest. Every now and then from his sleep he would cough wetly.
     
               Something’s wrong.
     
               Or