Hell's Bell (Lizzie Grace 2)

Maelle’s gaze narrowed. “Yes. You’ve seen it?”

“Kind of.” I took a long drink of the fizzy water, but it didn’t really ease the dryness in my throat. “I caught glimpses of a car fitting that description when I was doing a reading last night.”

“Who were you doing the reading on?”

“Aron Marin.” I hesitated, but the grapevine would have undoubtedly latched on to the news by now, and it would be common knowledge soon enough. “He was murdered last night.”

She absorbed this with little emotion. “Marlinda is not responsible. It is not in her nature to kill.”

And yet she was consorting with a vampire, and that to me suggested a darker nature. Which might be doing Marlinda an injustice, but still.... “Do you know if she has a red sparkly dress in her wardrobe?”

“Undoubtedly. It is this season’s fashion accessory. But she did not make this kill. I guarantee you that.”

Maelle could guarantee however much she liked, but I seriously doubted it was a simple coincidence that Marlinda owned a car and probably a dress similar to what I’d seen in Aron’s thoughts.

“And how is it,” she continued, “that you did a reading on Aron if he was murdered last night?”

“Because memory doesn’t die as soon as flesh.” I paused. “Are you sure you want me to find Marlinda given the possibility—however remote you think it might be—that she was with him last night?”

“I’m sure. She was a favorite of mine.”

Suggesting Maelle had other attendants to call on—but if that were the case, why was she so hungry?

“Well, I’ll need something of hers—”

“Roger can take you to her apartment. I cannot leave this place until the sun sets, so he will be my eyes and ears on this quest.”

And wouldn’t that be fun? But I didn’t say anything, and simply nodded in agreement.

“If you go there immediately—”

I glanced at my watch. “I do actually have a later appointment—”

She raised an immaculately groomed eyebrow. “Then you had best hurry along, hadn’t you?”

I opened m

y mouth to protest and then shut it again. While I doubted there’d ever be a good time to antagonize her, doing so when her hunger was so tangible probably wasn’t the wisest move. She might have promised the council not to dine on the unwilling, but history was littered with the carcasses of broken promises.

“Fine.” I finished my drink and rose. “But please don’t expect miracles. Psychometry is not always reliable—”

“All I ask is that you try.”

I nodded and glanced at Roger. He immediately said, “This way please, Ms. Grace.”

I followed him from the building, but as we hit the sunlight, my legs went to water and it took a whole lot of determination to keep upright. I hadn’t really realized how tense I’d been until I was actually beyond Maelle’s reach.

Although in reality, I wasn’t. Not when Roger remained by my side.

As the driver climbed out of the black car and moved around to open the rear passenger door, I casually glanced over my shoulder. Though there were a number of people moving up and down the street, I couldn’t immediately see Belle. But I knew she was down there—I could feel the caress of her magic.

I’m using a glamour. Didn’t want to alert our vamp or her people that I was near.

Your skills are definitely improving—I didn’t even sense you creating it.

That’s because you were concentrating on not getting bitten or otherwise antagonizing our bloodsucker. Do you want me to keep close? I can go get the car and follow from a distance.

I really don’t think it’s necessary at this point. I’ll see you at home.