I knew better than anyone what a person could do with mere words.
“Is that what being a vampire is all about?” I said. “Is that why you’re such an arrogant prick?”
He laughed. “An arrogant prick? Really? I suppose that’s how it must appear to the rest of you. But to us, you’re little more than a bit of hair floating on the breeze. We don’t care what you think.”
“Not all vampires are like that. I’ve met some who are reasonable human beings.” One or two. Maybe. “That’s all Flemming’s doing? Collecting stories? Gathering true-life accounts?”
“I’m sure that’s not all he’s doing. He’s a medical doctor, isn’t he? He’s probably doing some blood tests on the side. I know I would.” He licked his lips.
“What if I told you Flemming has a lab with holding cells? One of them has garlic in the paint, like it was meant to subdue a vampire. What if it looked like he was holding test subjects against their wills?”
His gaze had been wandering, studying the room as if he were a fan of interior design, unconcerned. Now, he focused on me, suddenly interested. I almost took a step back. Though if I’d taken one step, I might have gone ahead and run all the way out of the room. Leo’s interest was not something I wanted.
“That would be extremely dangerous and foolish of him if he had done so,” he said. “Even if he could trap a vampire, he could never again release it—and survive.” His lips parted and he showed his teeth, the sharp points of his fangs.
“Unless he’s really good with a stake,” I said.
“In-deed.” That British accent could make one word take on a world of meaning.
“Ah, Kitty, you’ve returned.” Alette, queen of her domain, strode into the foyer, smartly dressed and elegant as always, looking like she was on her way from one task to another. She acknowledged Leo with a nod and stopped before me to regard me with that prim nod that made me feel like I’d somehow fallen short of her standards, and that I would always fall short. “I expected you back some time ago. I hope your tardiness means you’ve had a productive afternoon?”
This was where I ponied up that information I promised her. The only question was, how much did I tell her? “I’ve learned that Flemming has holding cells for vampires and werewolves in his lab. I think he’s been keeping test subjects against their wills.”
“By test subjects you mean vampires and lycanthropes? Do you know how he could possibly hold such beings against their wills?” Her disbelief was plain in her tone.
“I don’t know, but he’s done it,” I said, frustrated. “Here, look at this. He’s been talking to people.” I showed her the list, being sure to point out Leo’s name on the first page.
Alette looked at him. “You’ve been speaking with Flemming?”
I wanted Leo to squirm like a kid who’d been caught lying. I wanted him to blush, look abashed, duck his gaze, something. He stood quietly and completely unruffled.
“Yes,” he said. “I have. The good doctor’s been going around collecting folktales. I talked to him on the assumption that such conversations work both ways. I’ve been a bit of a double agent, if you like.” He flashed his devil-may-care smile.
“You didn’t see fit to tell me of this?” Alette said.
“Because I didn’t learn anything. Which leads me to think he isn’t hiding anything.” He said this pointedly to me. “He really is just an earnest scientist in danger of losing his funding.”
Why didn’t I buy that?
Alette did. She gave a satisfied nod and handed the pages back to me. “Have those cells been recently occupied?”
“I couldn’t tell,” I said. I hadn’t smelled anything. “I don’t think so.”
“We’ll continue to watch Flemming. Your vigilance should be commended, Kitty. But don’t let it become paranoia.”
Leo said to Alette, “My dear, you seem to be in the middle of some chore. Might I be of service to you?”
“Always, Leo.” He offered her his arm, and she took the crook of his elbow. She gave me one last glance over her shoulder as they left the foyer.
I had no way of knowing who to believe. I wanted to think well of Alette, and if she trusted Leo I shouldn’t question it. She’d known him longer than I had. Maybe Flemming really was harmless, and all the cloak-and-dagger shenanigans with Cormac had been a waste of time. I felt like I was working my way through a maze. I hated mazes.
This town was getting to me.
Chapter 7
Thursday was exploitative celebrity day at the hearings.
There was me, of course. I’d been told I might testify today, if the committee had time. Ben told me not to hold my breath. I was thinking of starting a pool among the press corps to guess when I’d actually be called up.