Page 28 of Desperately Seeking Vampire
“Hello, Jason,” I said when he shouted something rude after the woman. “I see you are just as urbane as ever.”
“It’s about time you got your ass in here to help me,” he snarled in response, turning bloodshot eyes on me. “Why has it taken so long for you to do your job? If you think I’m paying you for doing nothing but sitting around with your thumb up your ass, you can think again. Who’s that?”
“Someone with a great deal more manners than you,” Ivo said, holding a chair for me. “Beloved, would you like me to deal with this individual? I don’t like you being exposed to such abuse.”
“Beloved? Beloved?” Jason all but sneered the word, clearly about to make a snotty comment, but suddenly, he sat up straight and narrowed his eyes on Ivo. “Wait, you’re a—”
“Boyfriend,” I said quickly, glancing toward a camera that was perched at the ceiling level in the opposite corner. I had zero doubts that the room was under video surveillance. “He’s my boyfriend.”
“I believe ‘fiancé’ would be a more fitting word, since I am not a boy, but I will leave the matter for a more propitious moment,” Ivo said in an even tone. I glanced at him. His eyes were dancing with amusement.
I melted inside.
Jason looked like he was going to argue, but I sat down and tapped on the table to distract him. “Why are two men who look like bulldogs in human form chasing me, Jason? Why did you tell them that I had a certain object you stole from a shop in Paris?”
It was Jason’s turn to shoot a glance at the camera. “I didn’t steal anything from Paris. I made a perfectly legal purchase of a medieval artifact. I can’t be blamed if the shop owner did not understand digital currencies.”
“Digital currency?” I asked. “What’s that?”
“A decentralized currency that has no physical form. It’s used by the elite,” he answered in a lofty tone that I didn’t for one minute believe.
“It sounds shady as hell. I mean, how can money be digital?”
“I don’t have time to explain it to you.” He looked petulant, and rattled the chain on his wrist restraints. “Now get me the fuck out of here.”
I ignored his demand. “Why did you send the two big guys after me?”
His gaze flickered away. “I don’t know what you’re yammering on about. You’re supposed to be working on getting me out. Did you call my lawyer like I asked? Did you even do that? I shouldn’t be here. I did nothing wrong. I was set up. Someone made it look like I was trying to run off with the festival money. And you know what? The only person who would benefit in that case is you.”
He’s lying. The thought drifted through my head, but it felt somehow ... different. I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly a bit weirded out.
“The two men that kidnapped me earlier today—you said that I had this artifact that you stole.”
“Bought. I bought it. Legally.”
I tapped on the table again, giving him a no-nonsense glare. “I can ask this as many times as it takes to get an answer: Why did you tell them that I have it?”
“What makes you think you don’t?” he snarled, leaning forward in an obvious attempt to menace me.
Instantly, Ivo was on his feet jerking Jason back in his chair. “You will not threaten Minerva.”
“Take your hands off me, you filthy bloodsucker!” Jason all but spat the words, little flecks of spittle on the corners of his mouth.
“It’s all right,” I told Ivo, tipping my head toward the chair next to me. “He can’t do anything to us.”
“He’s lying,” Ivo said, frowning, but he returned to stand behind me, obviously taking up a protective stance.
It warmed me to the tips of my toes. I’d never had anyone who sought to protect me.
I was not around whispered though my mind.
I shot a startled look over my shoulder at him, but just then Jason slammed down his fists on the table. “I hired you to help me. Why the hell aren’t you doing that? This whole situation is bullshit. I’m not going to sit here and let you railroad me. Do something, you stupid woman!”
“OK. I will.” I pulled out my tarot deck, which the police had let me bring with me into the interview room—after examining it to make sure that it didn’t have any hidden razor blades or other forbidden substances—and gave it a quick shuffle.
“What are you doing?” Jason asked, sliding a quick glance toward the camera. A line of perspiration broke out on his forehead.
“Going to read what the universe has to say about your situation. How many times do you want me to cut it?”
