Page 75 of Blood and Bonbons

“How so?” he asked, stopping beside my car.

“Mr. Davies wanted to send you the money electronically.”

“Not paper currency?”

“No, not for as large of an amount as we’re talking. And an electronic payment means you would need a bank account somewhere. To have a bank account, you need some form of ID.”

“And IDs tend to be for the living,” Vena said, understanding what I was getting at.

He gave her a dark look. “I am living. My heart beats. I am simply living differently now than how I once was.”

“Whatever,” she said with a shrug.

“What is an ID, and how do I obtain one?” he asked, still annoyed.

“An ID is a small plastic card with your picture that identifies you as you,” I said. “Normally, a person would have to provide a birth certificate and proof of address to get one. I’m not sure your birth certificate would work, though. Did they have birth certificates when you were born?”

“Were you even born here in the States?” Vena asked. “If not, you’re technically an illegal resident.”

Ignoring our questions, he asked me, “Do you have a bank account?”

“Yes.”

“Then I can transfer the money to you for the time being.”

Vena was practically bouncing on her toes in excitement.

“That’s a perfect idea,” she said before I could object.

“Then it’s settled. If you will excuse me, I must search out more grocery stores. I will check back with you in an hour or two.” With that, he walked away.

I waited until Vena and I were in the car before glaring at her.

“What is wrong with you? Why did you agree that he can store millions of dollars in my bank account? Don’t you think someone’s going to notice that? I’m going to get flagged in some system, and we’re going to get audited by scary people in suits.”

“Speaking of suits, I think it’s time to give our vampire an upgrade,” Vena said.

“You think? And since when did he becomeourvampire?” I asked, driving back to the house.

“The moment I felt what he was packing. It was so…heavy. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.” She shook herself. “But first, we need to figure out what to do about this mystery person who wants Cross’ ring.”

She tapped her fingers over the bag that held the book.

“He isn’t going to give you the ring, Vena.”

“No,” she said, brightening. “He won’t. But you saw the way he let Stan hold his two-million-dollar coin. All I need is a picture of the ring. I can arrange a meeting. Showing a current picture should at least be enough to negotiate for the information on Miles.”

I was already shaking my head. “You’re going to try to trick someone who’s probably shady as hell, and we’re going to end up dead.”

She didn’t even pretend to listen to me as she typed out a rapid message on her phone.

“There. Sent. Let’s see–” Her phone pinged, and she looked down at it. “They want us to meet tonight at seven. You’re never going to guess where.”

“Where?”

“At Juicy.” She was already digging in her bag for Miles’ phone. “It’s the same number. How did I not notice it was the same number?”

A sick feeling settled into the pit of my stomach. She wanted to meet the people who texted Miles right before he went missing about the book Vena now had in her purse? Hell no.

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