Page 111 of Dawn Caravan
He didn’t need to know everything it said, but he wanted to show it to Tenzin. She’d be able to identify the writing and the age.
He examined the goblet from bottom to lip, wishing he had the convenience of a mobile phone to snap pictures.
Dammit, being a vampire was so irritating sometimes.
He heard voices in the distance and put the goblet back, placing it in the exact position he’d found it in the first place. He carefully closed the panel and the drawer. He stood and put the vanity bench where it had been.
Then he backed out of the living area and crept toward the door, looking for something he could use to hide his scent. Most vampires, whether they could get drunk or not, kept a bar in their living area.
Kezia was no different. Ben saw the nearly full bottle of premium vodka on the edge of the bar. No, not smelly enough.
There! So much better. A half-full bottle of peppermint schnapps would hide his scent nicely. He unscrewed the top and tipped it over, making sure the splash landed in the middle of the rug he’d stepped on.
The scent of alcohol and peppermint was overwhelming. Nearly gagging, Ben left the trailer, making no attempt to reset the tripwire. She was going to know someone had been in her stuff; he just didn’t want her to immediately identify him.
He passed two other camping caravans before he ran into his first person.
“René.” Ben smiled, grateful the vampire had become his unwitting accomplice. “How are you?”
Ben’s friendly demeanor immediately set René on edge.
He narrowed his eyes. “Why do you ask?”
Ben stuffed his hands in his pockets, hiding the paper with the inscription. “Being polite, old man. Chatting the chat. Working the room.”
René curled his lip. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Ben tried to look sad. “And that’s why you’re always going to struggle with multilevel marketing.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Never mind,” Ben said. “Do you know where Tenzin is?”
“Yes.” The smugness was back. “I just left her caravan.”
Ben patted his shoulder. “How nice for you.”
Leaving René to try to unscramble his friendliness, Ben walked to Tenzin’s trailer and knocked on the door. She yanked it open from the inside and pulled him in.
She narrowed her eyes and twitched her nose.
“Tenzin, what—?”
“Shhhh.” She rose to smell along his chin and his neck. Then she spun him around and sniffed his back. “Good.”
“What the hell was that?”
“You covered your scent with peppermint. I thought you were trying to hide something.”
“Hide what?”
She landed and walked to the table. “Nothing.”
“Clearly not nothing.” Ben followed her. “Tell me—”
“You were searching Kezia’s trailer. It was entirely possible she could have interrupted you. Then you would have had to lie about why you were there and possibly offered to have sex with her.”
Ben blinked. “That seems like a leap.”
