Page 67 of Bishop's Flight
She turned toward the voice in the shadows. “I’m Brigid Connor.”
“Follow me please.”
The vampire took off at immortal speed and Brigid followed, racing through the palm-tree-lined neighborhood on the edge of the water. She could smell it, the damp algae and creosote. A storm was coming, and the electricity in the air was invigorating.
They arrived at Oleg’s house in just under a minute, and Mika was leaning against the gate. “Brigid Connor.” He nodded slightly. “You didn’t come with tea cakes this time.”
“Is there somewhere private we can speak?”
Mika shrugged and nodded toward a corner of the garden. “There are ears everywhere.”
“Noted.”
They walked under an alley of trees that lined a path that ran around the gated compound.
Brigid started. “Miguel was shot tonight by a human the Ankers had blackmailed. He was paid to give them information about the boy.”
“That sounds like something the Ankers would do.”
“He’s not dead.”
“Yet?”
“Hospital. Human doctors.”
Mika shrugged again. It seemed to be his favorite gesture. “The humans will save him or they won’t. What request do you have for me, Brigid Connor? Does killing make you… How do they say it? Queasy?”
Right now killing something would be intensely satisfying.
The sentiment must have shown on her face because Mika laughed. “I don’t think that is the problem for you. Maybe for your mate, but not for you. Murphy’s little matchstick doesn’t have a problem with her fire.”
“I have a question, not a request.” She looked over the distant lights on the water. “Can I look at Oleg’s boat?”
“His boat?”
“I have a theory.”
Mika was already walking toward the waterfront. “Which boat do you mean? That little putter boat or the pontoon?”
“Both.”
Mika shrugged again. “Sure. Why not? You’re not going to find Zasha hiding around here. That one? Even I find them distasteful.”
“Zasha thinks everything is a game.”
“In that, Brigid Connor, they are not wrong.” Mika walked down a dock that jutted into the waters of Lake Las Vegas, and Brigid was struck by how large the lake actually was. This wasn’t a landscaping pond or a pool. The lake stretched across a massive distance, and she could see lights twinkling along the far shore.
“How often do you take the boat out?”
“We have some water vampires in our employ who take it out more often than the earth vampires of course.”
Rumor was, Mika Arakas was a wind vampire, and his energy matched the quick, twisting vibrance of that element.
They stepped on the deck of the small craft. “Can I take a look inside?”
“Of course.” He smirked. “We haven’t killed anyone belowdecks in months.”
If Brigid was right, the interior would have a thick, synthetic woven mat that was easy to clean, waterproof, and nonslip. Perfect for the interior of a fishing boat.
