Page 54 of Crimson Storm

“Yes, sir. My sisters and I were visiting our cousins in Elkins, and we let the time get away from us. Chores to do in the morning though.”

The guy chuckled. “Those chickens and cows don’t like waiting for their breakfast, do they? Grew up on a farm myself in Hickory.”

Shane nodded. “Nice place.”

The guard’s expression quirked. “You’ve been to North Carolina? You folks don’t usually roam that far.”

“Oh, I thought you meant the Hickory in Virginia.” Shane pivoted, sounding nervous now. Having grown up in California, he wasn’t familiar with the town names in this area.

The agent must have noticed the quiver in his voice because his expression grew more alert. Taking the flashlight from his belt, he shone it into the buggy’s back seat.

The beam passed over the dark clothes and black bonnets Kelly and Heather wore. They remained motionless with their faces hidden, feigning sleep.

“Three sisters, huh?” The agent’s tone was less friendly now and more wary.

The fingers in my lap twisted together, and I did a little mental self-talk to keep my fangs from emerging.

It’s okay, He doesn’t know anything. He’s just making conversation. Don’t panic.

“Lucky me,” Shane said. “The twins finally conked out and stopped chattering. This one’s the quiet one.” He hooked his thumb toward me.

“And how are you tonight, ma’am?” the guard asked.

Wonderful. Why had Shane referred to me? Now I would be obligated to speak to him.

Keeping my head bowed, I said, “Very well, sir. Thank you.”

“I told you. She’s shy,” Shane said.

For a moment, the agent was silent. Then he stepped back onto the curb and twisted his head to the side, speaking into a radio attached to his collar. “This is Agent Eggleston at checkpoint forty-eight. I’ve got a possible 9-8-6.”

Uh oh.I had no idea what a 9-8-6 was, but it couldn’t be good.

Speaking to Shane again, the man asked, “You kids seen anything suspicious on the road? Groups of people out walking in the dark or anything like that?”

Shane’s voice was even shakier now. “No, sir. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Well, you should keep an eye out and be careful. There’s a large vampire population in Virginia, and one of our agents at a checkpoint in Pennsylvania reported a female vamp traveling with a young human male in a trailer truck. They were headed this direction.”

“Is that unusual?”

The guard rested his hand on his gun holster. “There was a breakout at a Safety Center in California a few days ago. Hundreds of vampires escaped. Some guards were killed. One was kidnapped and murdered by three females. That Pennsylvania agent said the little blonde vamp in the truck was a pretty good match for one of the killers. He suspected she might have been manipulating the human guy she was with. They do that sort of thing, you know.”

“Well, thank you for the warning,” Shane said. “I wish you a good night. Stay safe.”

He lifted the reins in preparation to depart, but the agent held up a hand. “Just a minute. Would you mind removing your bonnet, ma’am?”

27

Calling in the Cavalry

Worry bored through my midsection like the auger my father used to dig post holes on our farm.

“That is against our religion,” I said to Agent Eggleston, leaning heavily into the Pennsylvania Dutch accent of my childhood. “You must know that.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s regulations ma’am.” His tone was respectful but firm. He wasn’t going to back down on this.

Without a word, I nodded and untied the strings beneath my chin, pulling the traveling bonnet from my head. Dark hair spilled down my back.

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