Karl and I left the building together, like we usually did. There wasn't much conversation along the way. We were both beat, and besides, whatever there was to say, we'd already said it in McGuire's office.
As we reached the cracked asphalt of the parking area I said, "I can probably function okay if I get six hours – how about you?"
"That seems about right, I guess." Karl didn't sound happy about it, and I didn't blame him.
"Then why don't we plan to come back on shift at–"
"Stan." Something in Karl's voice brought me to full alertness in the space of a quick breath.
"What is it?"
"There's somebody near your car, but on the other side of the fence."
I slowly pushed my sport coat back and reached for the Beretta on my right hip. A second later, I heard the soft click as Karl thumbed back the hammer on the Glock he carried.
"What're you packing?" I asked softly.
"Silver, cold iron, and garlic-dipped lead, alternating," he said. "You?"
"Straight silver," I told him, "but it's been blessed by the bishop."
Now that Karl had warned me, I could dimly see a single figure standing in the street, practically pressed up against the fence just opposite my Toyota. Whoever it was must have seen us notice him, but didn't try to hide or run away. He just stood there, waiting.
As we walked forward, Karl and I separated, so as not to give whoever it was a twofer target. The parking area was warded, and those wards had been amped up considerably since somebody had gotten in with a couple of Medusa statues. But it's impossible to guard against all possible spells, and the wards might not stop someone outside the fence with a gun. No system's perfect.
We had almost reached my Toyota when I realized who it was, standing on the other side of the fence. "It's all right, Karl," I said, and holstered my weapon. The still figure spoke for the first time.
"Hello, Daddy."
• • • •
"You know, you could've come into the fucking station house if you'd wanted to see me, instead of lurking around the parking lot like this," I said. "It's a public building – you don't need to get permission." I'm not sure if I was being pissy because I was tired, or because of the momentary fright she'd given me.
"Oh, I wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of your brother officers," Christine said, the sarcasm more in her voice than in the words. "And as for lurking, that's what we undead do best – but I guess you know that."
I took a breath and got better control of myself. "Well, if you want to talk, meet me at the gate. Or I'llgo out there, if you'd rather."
"Let's talk like this," she said. "Sunrise in less than ten minutes. Thanks to you, I haven't got much time."
Well, if you'd let me know you were out here... I kept the thought to myself. There was no point in getting into one of our arguments now – not with dawn so close.
I remembered that Karl was standing a few yards to my right. "It's okay," I said. "Go on home, get some sleep. I'll see you about 1:00, okay?"
"Is this your partner, Daddy?" Christine asked. "Aren't you going to introduce us?" I saw a glimmer of white in what could have been a smile.
Without voicing the sigh that I felt, I said, "Karl, meet my daughter, Christine, who you've heard me talk about. Christine, this is Karl Renfer."
I saw Karl nod. "Hiya. Hard to shake hands through the fence, but, anyway – hi."
"He's told you about me? The vamp daughter?"
"Yeah, he has," Karl said in a neutral voice.
"And did he tell you how I came to join the ranks of the bloodsucking undead?"
"Christine," I said, "there's no fucking time–"
Karl spoke over me. "Yeah, he did. And he told me why, too. He couldn't stand to watch you die, because he loves you so much."
I thought I heard Christine draw in a breath, but I must have imagined it, since she doesn't need to breathe. She looked at me a moment, then turned back to Karl. "Then why doesn't he–"
"Christine!" It was the voice I'd used to show I was serious, back when she was... human. "Unless you want to find out the hard way what sunlight does to vampires, you better say what you came for, and quick."
When she spoke again, her voice was emotionless. "Okay, then, I will. There's a rumor that you killed another vampire. Ran him down with your car, like a dog in the street."
"And you believed that bullshit?" I said.
"No, I didn't. That's why I'm here. Wanna tell me what happened?"
What the hell, it can't do any harm. And I'd rather not have every vamp in town looking for a piece of me. Not now.
Being as concise as possible, I ran it down for her. When I'd finished, Karl said, "For whatever it's worth, I know he's telling the truth. I was there."
I saw Christine nod at Karl. "I know. I believe him."
The fact that I could see her better meant it was getting lighter out. False dawn, probably, with the real thing not far behind.
"I'll put the word out," she said to me. "I had noticed the unmarked car at the end of the lot with a huge dent in the roof, but it's nice to hear it from the source."
"Good," I said. "I'm glad you don't just have to take my word for it." Sarcasm was slipping out, and I reined it in, hard. "One thing before you go: a guy who would know says that the only one who could pull off this spell would be a vamp, uh, vampire who is also a wizard. You hear of anybody like that?"
After a moment she said, "Mr Vollman, of course."
"Yeah, him I know. Questions is: can you think of anybody else?
"The vamp community seems to thrive on rumors as much as we do on blood," she said. "I did hear something about a guy new in town who plays for both teams, but I didn't pay it any mind."
"Did you maybe hear where he spends the day?"
"Well, one chick told – oh, shit!"