"First things first," she said, leaning back in her chair. "Credentials. I presume you come on a recommendation. May I ask from whom?"
I cast an anxious glance around. "I, uh, was hoping we could do this someplace less...public."
Another tinkling laugh and she leaned forward. "Does anyone in here look like they could summon the energy to eavesdrop, much less the inclination?"
"Er, no, but--" I tried to look nervous. "I'm really new at this and--"
"And you want me to follow you outside, where anyone could be waiting for me." Her smile was brittle now. "I don't know who you are or who sent you--"
"His name's Xavier Reese. He said you don't know him personally but..." I could tell by her expression that Xavier's name, if it meant anything to her, wasn't enough to get her outside. "I also spoke to Aaron Darnell, for his recommendation."
A spark of interest behind the caution, but still cool. "Did you? And what did he say?"
"That you were reasonably trustworthy...for a thief."
Her dark eyes danced as she grinned. "Ah, Aaron. He tries to be understanding, but he can't shake his disapproval."
She sipped her beer and looked thoughtful, as if even that recommendation wasn't enough. Oh, come on. She was a vampire, impervious to harm. What was she worried about? A very pregnant blond?
She tapped her fingernails against her beer bottle then, gaze still down, gave a tiny "What the hell" smile, and pushed back her chair.
"All right," she said. "Let's go outside and you can tell me what all this is about." I stepped out of the bar first. Zoe paused in the doorway, looking, listening, sensing, then followed me out.
I got two steps into the adjacent alley, turned to ask, "Is this good enough?" and Zoe was already lunging toward me. Her fangs met my fist and she flew into the brick wall with a yelp. She dove for me again. An uppercut to the jaw sent her sailing down the alley.
Not normally the way I'd treat a potential source, but short of lopping off a body part, I couldn't do any lasting damage to a vampire. And, as with any predator, if you plan to establish dominance, you have to do it fast. So before she recovered from the uppercut, I pounced and knocked her to the ground, then pinned her.
"Hope you weren't too hungry," I said.
"Hungry?" She only laughed and stretched out on the ground under me, as if relaxing. "Not at all, but it seemed like the quickest way to get past all that 'I want to talk someplace private' nonsense, and find out what you really want...and what you are." She slid her tongue over her split lip, and the skin mended. "Half-demon, I presume?"
"Good guess," I said.
"I don't believe I've ever met one who was quite so...physical. Interesting."
I glanced over my shoulder for Clay, and saw him waiting at the end of the alley. As I twisted, Zoe moved. When I swung around, I felt a sharp tug on my hair. I grabbed for her hand, only to find my broken hair band in it. My hair slid over my shoulders, and I gave a small snarl as I tried to flip it back out of the way.
"Sorry, but I just had to do that," Zoe said. "Silver blond. Gorgeous. It's natural, isn't it? Somehow, I doubt that a woman who ties her hair with an elastic band has any use for hair coloring."
Unbelievable. Pinned to the ground by an unknown assailant...and she wants to share beauty tips. I guess for a vampire, the phrase "mortal danger" just doesn't pack the same punch.
"I need to talk to you about something you stole a long time ago."
"Business already?"
"It's that or toss you around a bit more."
She paused, as if considering this.
"Business," I said.
A soft sigh. "Oh, all right. Something I stole a long time ago, hmmm? I've stolen a lot of things, and most of them a long time ago."
"I think this object would fall under the heading of unique and memorable. Jack the Ripper's From Hell letter."
Her expression didn't change.
"Stolen from the London Metropolitan Police eighty years ago?" I said. "Sold to a local sorcerer's family?"