Chapter 43
THAT NIGHT, Kyle and I had dinner with a good friend in Charleston. Actually, Kyle made the arrangements, including reservations at the Grille on North Tyron.
Kate McTiernan hadn’t changed much since we had been thrown together during the Casanova murder spree in Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. When the murderer Casanova had kidnapped Kate in her house outside Chapel Hill, he’d believed she was the most beautiful woman in the South.
Not only that, Kate was extremely smart. She was a doctor now, a pediatrician, but she was thinking about becoming a surgeon.
When Kate arrived at our table, Kyle and I were deep in conversation. Actually, we were arguing about possible next steps in the investigation.
“Hi, guys.” Lustrous brown hair framed Kate’s face. She was wearing her hair longer these days. Her eyes were dark blue with a nice sparkle. She was still in terrific shape, but I knew she was a softie deep inside.
“Give it up,” Kate said. “You boys are working way too hard. We’re going to have some fun tonight.”
Seeing her there got us both up out of our chairs, grinning like idiots. We’d gone through a lot together and survived to be together again for this unlikely dinner in Charleston.
“This is a great coincidence. I was at a medical conference just outside town,” Kate said as she sat down with us.
“Alex doesn’t believe there are coincidences,” Kyle said.
“Well, fine. So here we are again, brought together by divine intervention or whatever, praise the Lord,” Kate said, and grinned.
“You seem in excellent spirits, Kate,” Kyle said. He was actually pretty buoyant himself.
“Well, Kyle, this is just such a nice, unexpected treat, why wouldn’t I? I get to see the two of you. Plus, I am in excellent spirits. I’m getting married next year in the spring. My Thomas proposed two nights ago.”
Kyle fumbled out a congratulation, and I called over our waiter and ordered a bottle of champagne to celebrate. For the next few minutes, Kate told us all about her Thomas, who owned and ran a small, nicely snooty bookstore in North Carolina. He was al
so a landscape painter, and Kate said he was exceptional at both his jobs.
“Of course, I’m hugely biased, but I’m also a picky little bitch, and he really is good. He’s a fine person too. How are Nana and the kids? How’s Louise, Kyle?” she asked. “C’mon, tell me everything. I’ve missed you two.”
By the end of dinner, we were all in good spirits. The champagne and the company did the trick. I had noticed before how Kate could raise up everyone around her—even Kyle, who usually isn’t the most social person. All through dinner he rarely took his eyes off of her.
The three of us hugged outside the restaurant at around eleven.
“You two are coming to my wedding,” Kate said, and stamped her foot. “Kyle will bring Louise, and Alex, you’ll bring the new love of your life. Promise?”
We promised Kate. She left us no choice. We then watched her walk away toward her car, an old blue Volvo that she made house calls in.
“I like her a lot.” I couldn’t help stating the obvious.
“Yes, I like her too,” said Kyle, who didn’t stop watching until Kate’s car was gone from sight. “She’s a very special girl.”
Chapter 44
WE WERE connecting some of the dots now. Finally. I hoped we would be able to put together the whole vampire puzzle soon. By the following afternoon, the FBI had identified twelve eastern cities where murders involving vampire-like bites had occurred as early as 1989. I put the names on one of my index cards. Then I stared at the list long and hard. What could possibly link these cities?
Atlanta
Birmingham
Charleston
Charlotte
Charlottesville
Gainesville