Page 29 of The Psychic and the Vampire

“Were you teasing Mike with sexual inferences?” Ant asked.

“Yep.” Viktor wasn’t about to apologize and apparently that wasn’t necessary because Ant laughed.

“I don’t think anyone has done that on my behalf before. He was very confused.”

“Shocked is the right word, in my opinion.” Viktor chuckled as he hugged his mate close, walking him into the house. “People will get used to us being together. All we have to do is keep doing what we’re doing.”

“I like the sound of that.” Ant was still smiling, and Viktor took that as a win, but as they went to change their clothes, he also had a niggle of concern. If anyone could get out of jail on a technicality it would be Tony, and Viktor didn’t want to think of what hell his and Ant’s life would become if that happened.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ant’s face lit up as he walked into the interview room accompanied by a glowering vampire and Mike. “Susie, it’s lovely to see you here. Have you met my mate, Viktor? Viktor, Susie is a truth-sayer. She can tell if a person is lying with a hundred percent accuracy. The academics over at the Mage Academy are forever trying to trip her up, but they’ve never succeeded. I’ve worked on a number of cases with her.”

Viktor’s nod was short and sharp, and Susie giggled. The hand covering her mouth didn’t hide the delight in her eyes. “You’ve caught yourself a wild one there, Ant,” she said, and Ant could see she was as happy as she presented herself. “Congratulations to you both.”

“It’s very new, and we’re still getting used to each other,” Ant said as he slipped into the seat Viktor held out for him, Able taking his place next to his seat. “I’m not sure about that wild one comment though, Susie. I’ll let you know.”

“Excuse me.” A man Ant didn’t know tapped on the table between them with the end of his pencil. “Can we forgo the pleasantries. Time is money and my client has been held against his will for no reason for long enough.”

“Doctor Channon,” Mike said indicating the stranger who was sitting next to an impassive-looking Tony Manzano. “This is Phillip Daniels, a lawyer from Washington, acting on Mr. Manzano’s behalf. I believe you’ve already met Mr. Manzano.”

“Mr. Daniels, Mr. Manzano.” Ant’s nod was brief. “You called this meeting. Why am I here?” His inner sight was already buzzing, and he was glad Mike had called Susie in for the meeting.

“Are you all right, Doctor Channon?” Daniels asked.

Fake concern.Ant nodded again. “I’m fine, thank you for asking. I’m sure you didn’t call me in to discuss my health.”

Daniels tapped his pile of papers. “We’d heard you were attacked in your home last night. That must’ve been very distressing for you.”

“Not particularly, no. I wasn’t attacked inside my home. The report, if it was completed accurately will show two people attempted to gain access to my home and were unsuccessful. Was there anything else?”

Daniel’s eyes flickered to Susie and Ant got the distinct impression he did not like the fact she was there. “The report indicates shots were fired.”

“I thought there was only one bullet?” Ant looked at Viktor who was doing his best to kill a smirking Tony with a laser glare.

“Just one, yep. It rebounded off the glass and then a tree, so that might be why the report might show more than one shot was discharged.”

“Correct the report, please Mike. These details are important especially when the two men responsible go to court. The plural of shot gives the wrong impression.” Ant smiled at Mike, who was scribbling on his pad and then turned his focus back to Daniels. “Next question.”

“You’re a very unusual man, Doctor Channon.” Daniels was tapping with the end of his pencil again. “But very well. As you are aware my client, Mr. Manzano, is being falsely accused of murdering a gentleman, Mr. Fallows, in Gully Park recently.”

“Mr. Manzano inflicted the stab wounds that caused the death of Mr. Fallows, yes.”

Daniels glared at Susie. “Haven’t you got anything to say about that?”

“No.” Susie had such a sunny smile. “Everything Doctor Channon is saying has been the truth so far.”

“But that is only the truth as you see it, isn’t it, Doctor Channon?” Daniels was pointing at Ant with the pencil end. “I have read about you and your apparent accomplishments. Your magical abilities allow you to see historic scenes in a specific geographical area at a later time, is that correct?”

“It’s one of the things I do, yes.” Ant’s eyes caught a flicker above Daniels shoulder.

“But I believe, and this was noted by one of your colleagues at the Mage Academy, that the limit of your reading is based only on the area and event during a very short time span, with no apparent context to incidences that might have happened before or after the event.”

“That paper was written by Doctor Nathanial White, and yes it is correct. He interviewed me extensively for his paper before publication.”

“See, this is where we have a problem, Doctor Channon.” Daniels leaned back in his chair. “You have no idea of the level of provocation caused by Mr. Fallows to Mr. Manzano before his death, because you only read the actual place where the body was found.”

“That is a very interesting way of wording things, Mr. Daniels.” Ant knew how to be polite. “You have just admitted, in front of witnesses, that Mr. Manzano caused the death of Mr. Fallows. You’re simply trying to justify the acts that I saw. Are you aiming for a manslaughter charge as opposed to first degree murder?”

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