Page 3 of Top Secret Vampire

Mom shrugged. “Just saying.”

“Hmm.” I wiped more green gook off the wall.

A ghost? No one believed in such things, did they? But there was no harm in asking around town about a potential haunting. This Victorian was on the historical society’s registry, so Icouldhave a resident ghost that needed her feelings smoothed before we could live together in harmony.

I wasn’t sure how a ghost could make a seagull dive bomb me on the beach, but maybe they’d taken possession of the little creature? As a thriller author, I could come up with all sorts of spooky reasons for why the bird might’ve attacked. Who wouldn’t be inspired by that famous Alfred Hitchcock movie?

As for the rest . . . I would’ve dismissed the shell message in the sand as a childish prank if the same words hadn’t appeared in lipstick on my bathroom mirror—while I was sleeping within fifteen feet of the location.

“I’ll give Monsters, PI a call,” I told Mom.

“Good. Let me know what they say.”

“I’d rather we call in professionals,” my wonderful assistant, Tracy, minced out as she strode beside me from the parking lot on Main Street to the other side, where Monsters, PI was located. Though she’d shown up late, she’d helped me finish in the kitchen and had volunteered to come with me today for my appointment.

“Monsters, PIareprofessionals,” I said. “My mother told me they’ve solved all sorts of cases already.” I didn’t mention that my mother had also said that each detective at the agency had met their fated mates while on assignment and married them not long after. I wasn’t looking for a relationship right now. Deep in my heart, I longed to be with someone special, but I had a stalker. How could I risk endangering another person?

Someone was out to get me, and until this case was solved, that needed to be my focus.

Tracy huffed but didn’t say anything else as I opened the front door to Monsters, PI and stepped inside.

“If they can’t offer help, we’ll go with that firm you recommended,” I told her softly as the door closed behind us.

With Tracy following, I walked toward the reception desk where a woman about my age of thirty, with dark hair in a blunt cut with bangs sat on the other side of the desk. She looked up with brown eyes that contrasted nicely with her pale skin, then rose as I got closer, smoothing her bright red dress. A broad-shouldered man dressed in a button-up shirt and dark pants and with deep auburn hair stood behind her, his hand resting sweetly on her shoulder.

“I’m Reese Hamilton.” I gave them a smile and gestured to the woman by my side. “This is my assistant, Tracy Davenport.”

“Nice to meet you both,” the woman said, the man murmuring agreement. “I’m Hannah, but I’m only filling in at the reception desk while the regular guy is on vacation. You’ll meet Blake next week when he’s back.” She tilted her head to the man. “This is Reylor, my boyfriend. He works here and is covering for the owner, Katar, while Katar takes paternity leave. His daughter just turned one month old, and she’s a sweetie.”

“Amazing that he took the time off,” I said with a smile. This spoke well of this agency already.

Hannah’s eyes sparkled. “He’s a great guy. Reylor will introduce you to Wolfram Zegrath, who’ll be providing the services you requested.”

“Is Wolfram good at this?” Tracy asked in a haughtier tone than I liked, but this woman was always looking out for me. I’d be lost without her. “Because we willonlywork with the best.”

“I bet he does a great job,” I told her firmly, not quite willing to chastise her for her attitude in front of others. I’d speak with her later, reminding her that I was in charge, not her. This woman was much too eager to overstep her position.

“Wolfram is an ancient vampire,” Reylor told me, and I admired how civil he sounded.

Really, I should’ve made Tracy wait at my house or asked her politely to let me do the talking. She would’ve grumbled, but she only behaved like this because she wanted the best for me. I suspected I’d find it at Monsters, PI.

“No one,” Reylor added, “and I mean no one, will come close to threatening you while you’re under his care.”

“A vampire?” Tracy gasped, her hand fluttering at her throat.

“That’s kinda cool,” I said. I’d always been fascinated by paranormal things. Maybe he’d let me quiz him about vampire customs and traditions for my upcoming novel. Who better than a real source for something like that?

Hannah sent Wolfram a text, and a tall, muscular man strode down the hall, his black cape swishing around his legs and his red bow tie almost gleaming against his starched white shirt.

Oh, my.

Normally, I wasn’t into the billionaire, night stalker, mafia look, but on Wolfram . . .? Talk about making my girly bits perk up and shout hoorah.

Back off, babe,I told myself.

When he reached the end of the hall, his attention landed on me, and I could swear he blanched, though it was hard to tell since he was rather pale already.

Tracy released another gasp and backed away, her fingers rising to mesh in front of her body in the form of a cross.

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