“I like the lack of conviction behind that statement. It comforts me greatly.”
I grinned as the car horn sounded again. “The natives are getting restless. You’d better go.”
She headed out. I finished my hot chocolate, then cleaned everything up and headed upstairs to grab my coat and purse. I caught a cab across to Maelle’s, but had barely climbed out of the car when Roger appeared in the club’s doorway.
“Lizzie Grace,” he said, somewhat effusively, “such a pleasure to see you on so fine an evening.”
I raised my eyebrows. “My, we’re in a good mood today, aren’t we?”
“Indeed.” He stepped to one side and ushered me in. “The mistress has recently fed, so all is good in our world.”
“I’m glad.” If only because the last thing I wanted to be facing was a vampire in serious need of sustenance. Her hunger had been bad enough last time. “But if she had other feeders, why did she leave it so long to gain sustenance?”
“Because I have my favorites,” Maelle said, as she appeared out of the shadows clustered around the dance floor. “And when one or more of them goes missing or dies, I mourn. Part of that process is not taking sustenance for a period of three days.”
“Three days is a rather arbitrary number, isn’t it?”
She shrugged, the movement elegant. Her outfit today rather resembled something worn by aviators in the 1920s, although the black boots were thigh-high rather than ending just below her knee. “It depends on the vampire, the depth of their loss, and the keenness of their hunger. The latter two were strong enough to allow three days, but no more. Do you wish a drink?”
I shook my head, but nevertheless moved across to the bar and perched on one of the stools. “I wanted to ask you a few more questions about Marlinda.”
“Indeed?” She sat beside me and arched one defined eyebrow. “Have you found her killer as yet?”
“She was killed by the soul eater,” I said. “The question you should have asked is, who bought the soul eater to the reservation?”
“And is that a question you can answer?”
“Partially.” I quickly updated her on the events surrounding the Ouija board. “I was wondering if you were perhaps familiar with any of Marlinda’s friends.”
“Some,” she said. “She was a free spirit outside the realms of this place, and I know she had a number of lovers.”
“Did she by chance mention any of them?”
Maelle’s smile was cool. “It is never wise to mention one lover in front of the other—especially when that lover is paying your rent.”
A wry smile touched my lips. “Just because she didn’t mention them doesn’t mean that either you or Roger don’t know about them.”
“You are indeed correct, Lizzie Grace. I think I should be quite grateful that the rangers are not as perceptive as you.”
“I wouldn’t ever underestimate them, Maelle.”
“Oh, I won’t.” She studied me for a minute, her expression suggesting she wasn’t ever about to underestimate me, either. “What are the names of the people you are now seeking?”
“There’s only one—Janice.”
Her lips pursed. “It is not a name I’m familiar with. Do you have a description?”
I shook my head. “But Larissa implied Janice was one of Marlinda’s lovers—”
“She wasn’t involved with anyone by that name,” Roger cut in. “Is it possible Larissa was mistaken?”
“Yes.” I hesitated. “Can I go back into Marlinda’s apartment? If I do a more thorough search, I might be able to find some clue as to who Janice is, and what her relationship with Marlinda truly was.”
“Roger can take you over there now, if you’d like. What’s being done about the soul eater?”
“The rangers have called in an RWA witch. He dealt with the open Ouija board and the other demons that were at Frankie’s house, and he’s the one who will be dealing with the soul eater.”
“And the person who called this thing into being?” she asked. “Or do you truly believe its presence here is nothing more than an unwise decision made by anger and alcohol?”