‘Sorry.’ He didn’t look in the least apologetic. ‘With a healthy diet, we only have to feed on blood once a month or so to survive. But that doesn’t mean we can withstand the temptation of fresh blood when it’s splattered in our faces.’
His explanation didn’t make me feel any less nauseous. ‘Fine,’ I said distantly. I turned away. The way he’d accosted me had raised my suspicions, but I’d never really expected my killer to be a vampire. I didn’t trust him, but I didn’t disbelieve him either. Unless he was doing that weird calming thing on me again. My skin prickled.
‘I can help you,’ he said. ‘I assume your important police business involves finding the real murderer. I can help you with that.’
I glanced over my shoulder. ‘Why would you want to do that?’
‘I told you. Your murder took place on the edge of vampire territory. That makes it as much my business as yours.’ He smiled, amused at himself. ‘Well, almost as much.’
The last thing I needed was a dodgy vamp tagging along with me, whether I trusted him or not. ‘I don’t need your help.’ In other words, fuck off before I decide that you were my murderer after all.
‘What if you’re attacked again?’ He nodded at the paperweight. ‘That ridiculous thing you’re waving at me won’t do you much good, even against a wolf.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
‘There are appropriate weapons in the Supe Squad building. On the third floor. As long as you’re a member of Supe Squad, you’re permitted to carry a crossbow. There’s not much else that will stop both vampires and werewolves in their tracks.’
Huh. How did he know where the crossbows were kept?
‘Thanks for the tip,’ I said grudgingly.
‘I’m Lukas, by the way.’
‘Yeah. I’m sure that’s your real name.’ I started walking. It was time to get out of there. ‘I’m D’Artagnan,’ I muttered. ‘It was nice to meet you.’
I held my breath, waiting for the vampire to catch up with me or continue the conversation in some way. He didn’t. I picked up speed. When I reached the end of the street and looked back, he’d already gone.
Chapter Ten
Despite being dumped in Supernatural Squad to live out the rest of his career, Tony had done well for himself. Not only was his flat in central London, a mere stone’s throw from the office, it was in a pleasant street and hidden behind the façade of a well-maintained, eighteenth-century building. He was in 2A, from which I surmised he was on the second floor. I couldn’t see any lights on from my spot in the street, and there was no indication that he was home. His flat might look out onto the back of the property, however.
Rather than jiggle the door or attempt entry by other means – and potentially alert Tony to my presence or upset his neighbours – I banked on the fact that it was the end of the working day. Other residents would be returning home. Sure enough, I barely waited ten minutes before a car drew up and a young woman stepped out, walked up the steps to the door and used her key to open it.
I crossed the street and reached the door before it locked shut again. Catching it with my fingers, I nipped inside. So much for security. The woman’s heels were already click-clacking up the stairs and she was none the wiser.
I double checked that I had my trainee’s ID in case I was stopped and questioned, then I started up after her. By the time I reached Tony’s flat, she’d vanished into her own home.
Pressing my ear against his door, I listened for signs of life from within. The walls were thick and, considering the upmarket nature of the building, it was entirely possible they were also soundproofed. If this had been an action film, I’d simply have raised my foot and kicked my way in, but I suspected that trying that here would only result in me breaking my ankle.
I pursed my lips, wishing I had my phone so that I could text Molly and tell her where I was in case things went wrong. Then I gripped the paperweight with one hand and knocked sharply on Tony’s door with the other.
There wasn’t any answer. I knocked again, more loudly this time. Still nothing. I was about to give it yet another shot when the door across the landing marked 2C opened and a bloke about my age peered out. When he saw me, he seemed to relax slightly. I guess I didn’t look much of a threat. ‘Is everything alright?’ he asked.
‘I’m Tony’s niece,’ I improvised. ‘I’ve not heard from him for days and I’m getting really worried.’ I widened my eyes and did my best to look anxious. ‘You’ve not seen him lately, have you?’
‘Yesterday morning,’ he said. ‘We bumped into each other on the way to work.’
I noted the man’s starched shirt and plain suit before I spotted the gold ring adorning his little finger. It was difficult to be sure from this angle, but it looked to be engraved with an XP. Chi Rho. I sent a brief prayer of thanks to my old Religious Studies teacher for having a penchant for old symbols. Chi Rho was formed by putting together the first two Greek letters for Christ, and it was one of the earliest symbols of Christianity. A man whose only extravagance was a religious gold ring was not the sort of man who would approve of supes.
I wrung my hands. ‘You must know he works at Supernatural Squad. I worry about him so much. All those vampires and werewolves…’ I shook my head. ‘Forgive me for saying so, but it’s not natural. Any of them could turn on him. We were supposed to meet for lunch today. He didn’t show up, which isn’t like him at all.’
The man’s expression softened. ‘You’re from Melissa’s side of the family?’
I had no idea who Melissa was. ‘Uh-huh. I’m Emma.’
‘I’m Will. I was sorry to hear about what happened to her.’
I dropped my gaze. ‘Yeah,’ I mumbled. ‘Me too.’
‘Well, you’re in luck, Emma. It turns out that I’ve got a spare key.’
My head snapped up. My daft ploy had actually worked. Unbelievable.
‘We swapped copies of our keys when I moved in. I’ll use it to check that he’s in and he’s okay.’
Tony’s neighbour was a damn sight more trusting than Liza. Tony should have had more sense than to give his key to a bloke like this. ‘That would be great!’ I burbled. ‘Thank you!’
‘It’s the least I can do. Just wait a minute and I’ll grab it.’
I did as he asked, banging on Tony’s door a few more times for effect. He wasn’t at the office and he hadn’t been into CID, so he had to be home. Unless he was propping up a bar somewhere, drowning his guilt at having murdered his own mentee. That thought turned my blood to ice and I swallowed.
If he wasn’t in, I’d make up some excuse about waiting for him inside until he showed up. Hopefully his gullible neighbour trusted me with the key. Stranger things had happened.
‘Here we go,’ he said, waving a small silver key. ‘This should do the trick.’
I stood back, calculating the possible outcomes of entering Tony’s flat like this. I still had the paperweight, not to mention Will by my side as back-up. He didn’t look like he’d be capable of much if Tony was hiding inside with a sharp knife in his hand, but it was good to be prepared for every scenario.
As Will wiggled the key and turned it in the lock until there was a click, I tensed my muscles. You can’t hide from me forever, Tony. I’m coming to get you – one way or another.
The door swung open. ‘Tony, are you—’ Will called. He swallowed the rest of his question in stunned shock when we saw what was awaiting us inside.
It was complete devastation. Either Tony was the world’s messiest man or a tornado had whipped through his home. Papers were scattered everywhere, a mirror was lying smashed on the floor and a long sofa had been upturned. I leapt forward, all my earlier suspicions vanishing in an instant. I wasn’t the only one who’d been attacked; Tony had been targeted too – and that put a completely different spin on everything.
I darted from room to room, my heart in my mouth as I searched for a body or bloodstains. I was desperate for anything that might provide a clue about what had happened to him. There was nothing helpful; each room was in a worse state than the last. Whoever had been in here had been thorough.
Paintings had been ripped off the walls and it looked as if a machete had been taken to the mattress in the bedroom. Huge gouges marred its surface and fluffy white stuffing was spilling out in all directions. Tony’s clothes were strewn everywhere. I glanced down at a fallen photo frame. The picture of Tony with his arm round a pretty blonde woman was just visible through the cracked glass. Both of them were beaming at the camera and he had a stain on his cheek that perfectly matched the shade of her lipstick. I swallowed. Bloody hell. What was going on?
Will’s face was white. ‘You were right to be worried about him,’ he whispered. ‘We have to call the police.’
I could only nod; there was no point in telling him that technically I was the police. What good could I do on my own? My legs felt weak and jelly-like. I’d got it all so wrong. ‘I don’t have a phone on me,’ I said.
‘Mine is in my flat.’
‘Okay, let’s call from there.’ I moved shakily to the door. ‘Don’t touch anything. We don’t want to mess with the crime scene.’
If anything, Will looked even paler at my words. I walked past him and gestured for him to follow.
He was distraught. ‘It was those fucking supes. I bet they’re responsible for this. Those vampires have got hold of him – he’s probably lying in a ditch right now with fang marks in his neck. His bones are going to be gnawed by werewolves. That poor man.’
I rounded on him. ‘Enough! This isn’t helping! We don’t know that supes did this. It could have been anyone.’
‘It was them.’ His eyes were as wide as saucers. ‘It had to be.’