A wolf protecting her cub, whatever the cost.
"Damn it," I yelled, as her nails raked my arms. "It's not your son down there. You buried him. It's just flesh that resembles him. Nothing more, nothing less."
She didn't say anything, just kept on fighting.>He gave me a wry look. "Of course they do. That's why astronauts have to spend so much time in rehabilitation after long space flights. Their muscles forget what it's like to walk under atmosphere."
"But the space stations don't have that sort of problem."
"The space stations are pressurized to earth standards. Or near enough that it doesn't matter." He paused. "Doesn't your vampire own a few of those?"
I blinked. "I don't know."
"A woman who hasn't investigated a potential partner's wealth? You're not only a rare werewolf, but a rare woman."
The words surprised me, as did the bitter edge in his voice. "Wow. Someone really has done you over in the past, hasn't he?"
He looked away. "Let's just say I learned some valuable lessons when I was young."
"You were young?" I said in mock surprise. "And here I was thinking you were always old and wrinkly."
"I prefer the term weather-worn," he said, the humor reappearing in his eyes. "And now, if you have no more questions, I have an investigation to get back to."
"Let me know if you find anything."
"I always do."
I headed back to the car. Once there, I rang Sal. "Have Mel and her team come back with the reports on Garrison's murder?"
"The initial report is in. It was definitely a robbery. Garrison apparently kept a collection of precious coins and jewels in his safe, and they're gone."
And it would be easy enough to get rid of them on the black market. Which is probably why they went for the smaller items. "Have we a list of items stolen from Armel's safe?"
"It basically the same deal. Rare coins, precious gems." Her voice broke for a moment. "He used to show them to me. He was very proud of his collection."
I frowned. "Did he make a habit of showing everyone his collection?"
"No, just his lovers."
And the man apparently had more than a few lovers. "Do you know if Garrison enjoyed showing off his collection?"
"I don't know. Why?"
"Because maybe that's the connection. Maybe they share a lover who has more than a little vampire loving on his mind."
"Armel was very eclectic in his tastes-"
"Meaning he had both male and female lovers."
She hesitated. "Yes, but I don't believe he and Garrison would have shared any lovers."
"Why not?"
"Because Garrison liked it very rough, while Armel was a gentle and considerate lover."
"That doesn't mean they couldn't have shared a lover. It is possible to enjoy both ends of the spectrum."
"Yes, but vampires do not share lightly. We tend to be very territorial."
Which was something I was all too aware of. "And yet you shared Armel with others."