Page 12 of Countdown to Murder
“Does she follow instructions, or is she hostile towards protection?”
You’d be surprised how often even terrified people turn on the people who are supposed to be protecting them.
“Ember’s been dressing like a fashion model instead of a bodyguard, and it worked because Miss MacKenna likes her. She allows her in the room, and even lets her stay in her bedroom with her at night.” He looked to Mira and back to me. “I don’t know if the client’s going to let anyone else in her bedroom. Sloan thinks so, but I’m not so sure, Sir.”
“I brought name brand jeans and tops, and girly shoes I can work in,” Mira said. “If that’s all it takes, I should be fine.”
He looked doubtful, and I’d seen Ember dress up, so I thought I understood why. He changed the subject though, and wisely didn’t get into a fashion argument with a woman. Marines aren’t stupid.
“I sense silver on you, ma’am. Are snakes not bothered by silver?”
“Only with direct skin contact. I’m fine with it in the sheath. Does it bother you?”
“It would if I was wearing it.”
“You have silver ammo in your gun though, yes?” she asked.
I could sense the silver as well, but it didn’t bother me.
“My holster and the magazine are lined with a protective coating,” Jones told her. “Theoretically, the same could be done for a knife, but yours feels naked. I’m not that familiar with snakes. It seems you aren’t as sensitive as me.”
Mira looked to me. “If I’m going to be working around people sensitive enough to feel it, I should look into getting the same coating. Fawn and Kendra are fine around it, but I know the newer vampires were bothered when they came near me.”
“If you have links where your holsters and sheaths are sold online, send them to Lou in the tech department and tell him what you need. He’ll go from there.”
“And my bellyband? I don’t think a coating will work for it.”
“There’s a sleeve. Again, send either a link or a description and picture to him. I picked up on an ankle holster, send him that, too. Also, tell him which guns you have and he’ll get you coated magazines.”
She gave me a brief nod and turned her gaze to Jones. “How is a vampire moving through another vampire’s territory? I assume you’re talking to the Master Vampires?”
“Miami is a tourist destination, and so is Vermont. We didn’t bother asking the Miami Master of the City who’d asked for permission to visit as a tourist because he wouldn’t have told us. Aaron tells me there isn’t a territory Master close enough to Stowe to pay attention. No one bothers to call ahead here.”
The limo turned and began to climb a mountain, but it wasn’t as winding and curvy as I expected. I was certain the view would be nice from the house, but we were in a thickly forested area and I couldn’t see much of anything.
When we finally slid through the gates of Ella MacKenna’s impressive mountain mansion, Mira grabbed my arm and squeezed. She put her mouth to my ear and spoke low.
“A Strigorii just tried to scan my brain. He didn’t get in of course, and it was a light scan, but he’s checking everyone who enters. He’s here.”
I looked at her about five seconds while I took in the fact she knew a vampire tried to get past her shields, andthen the fact she spoke low to be certain he didn’t hear her say she picked up on it. I needed to send everyone out looking, but it was imperative the vampire didn’t know we had someone who could pick up on him. Or her.
I looked to Jones. “I want all fourteen of your people to do a sweep of the grounds and lower floor. The four primaries will sweep the top two floors. I understand the attic has been sealed?”
He nodded, and I continued. “Set it up without a lot of discussion. Quiet. Consider it a drill for what we’ll do if we think he’s on the grounds and we don’t want to alert him we’re actively looking until everyone is actually looking.”
“Yessir. On it.”
He opened the door and seemed to fade into the darkness, and I looked to Mira. “Any directional information?”
“No.”
“Okay. If you feel it again, squeeze my arm twice.”
I engaged my earpiece and texted Sloan.Mira and I are handling a deep check of the second floor. Need you and Ember to handle the third floor. Jones has his people clearing the property and bottom floor. I’d like an all-clear before the five of us meet with our client.
He answered verbally. “Copy that.”
Chapter Seven
