Vampires by John Steakley Read Free Book Online Page A

widely.
    “Now,” continued Cat. "If we only had a mother..
    Annabelle looked offended. “What's wrong with me? Besides being far too young?”
    “Well,” he replied, rubbing his jaw and eyeing her immaculately tasteful dove-gray pants suit, “now that we've got a priest and all for a father... For a mother we need someone a little less. . . slutty.”
    Adam stared wide-eyed. But Annabelle only nodded soberly.
    “I suppose you're right,” she replied thoughtfully.
    Only then did Adam notice the grins around him.
    But Cat was still talking. ..... nominate Davette for the job," he said with a gentle leer.
    “Who's that?” Jack asked.
    Carl growled, “Investigative journalism come to save the world from the scam of Vampires$ Inc. What else?”
    “Or.. .” retorted Cat with a finger in the air. “Come to tell the world of our plight so we can get a little decent cooperation for a change. And I think that's it. She likes us, Carl”
    “They all like us. So what.”
    “You mean a reporter?” Adam asked. “That's what they mean,” Annabelle told them.
    “You didn't talk to them, did you?” cried the priest. “All day yesterday,” Annabelle replied sweetly. "And
    some of last night. Interviewed everybody but Jack.“ She paused. ”And now you, dear."
    Adam looked flabbergasted. Frozen.
    Again Team Crow exchanged rolled eyes.
    Adam finally spoke. “You didn't tell them anything...? Did you?”
    Cat smiled. “Not much really. Just what we do for a living, how we do it, who we've done it for, their names and how to get in touch with them to confirm it. . . that sort of thing.”
    Adam looked even worse than before. He looked like he was about to explode. Finally, he did:
    “How could you be so indiscreet? How could you. . . To actually tell her! What got into you? What possessed you to do such a thing?”
    Cat regarded him calmly. “Well, I'll tell you, padre. It's what I always do with the press. Of course, she's gonna be back at the house this afternoon to talk to Jack. And then you can tell her I was only fooling.”
    The luggage carousel grumbled, began to turn, spouted out a single suitcase. It was Adam's. He stared at it for a moment, then grabbed it up with a single jerk and began stalking away.
    “Where are you going?” Carl wanted to know.
    “To take off his collar,” replied Jack dryly.
    Adam stopped, looked at Jack with surprise, then anger.“ That's right!” he snapped and continued on to the men's room.
    Cat lit a cigarette. “It's just a guess, of course. But offhand, I'd say the Church policy on publicity hasn't changed much.”
    Everybody laughed.
    Jack lit his own cigarette and spoke: "Oh, he's not so bad. Poor kid's had that stuff drilled into him by the Man. Afraid we'll start some sort of panic and that'll start a witch hunt and on and on. .
    “And on and on and on,” Carl finished for him. “Stupid fools. This deal could use a little panic. The vampires are there, goddammit!”
    Jack looked at him. “Are you trying to convince me?”
    Carl grinned about halfway. "Well... yeah. But that kid's a stupid punk if he thinks we're gonna do anything Rome says.~~
    The rest of the bags began to appear. Cat stepped forward to get Jack's.
    “Maybe so,” said Cat. “But unless that bag of his was empty, he's strong as an ox. See the way he grabbed it up?”
    Jack smiled. “Oh, he's fit all right. I suspect he's actually been working out. Training to join the Vampire Quest.”
    Annabelle beamed. “I like him.”
    Jack smiled at her. “I do, too.”
    Carl frowned. “He still made an ass of himself.”
    Cat smiled brightly. “So who'd notice that around here?”
    Carl snarled at him.
    “So what about this reporter?” Jack asked. “Any good?”
    “Well, she's gorgeous,” offered Cat.
    “She's young,” added Annabelle. "Couldn't be over twenty-two.
    “Who does she work for?” asked Jack.
    “Nobody,” said Carl.
    “Oh, Carl,” sighed Annabelle. "She's freelance. She thinks she