12 Stake Out - My Sister the Vampire (15 page)

‘I beg your pardon?’ Ivy let out a scornful huff of air.

Brendan said, ‘Um, Olivia . . . do you have any idea how much more advanced batsqueaks are? They’re so much faster than the human version.’

Olivia rolled her eyes. ‘I’m talking about checking the blogger’s BirdChirp account, you guys, not switching to BirdChirp yourselves. Come on. It may not be as cool as the batsqueaks you guys use, but it’s as close as humans come. Plus, there’s a link from the blog to a BirdChirp account. See? It’s worth a try.’

‘OK, if you really want . . .’ Shrugging, Ivy clicked the link from the vampire-hunting blog to its BirdChirp account (
FrnklinGrvVamps
). Then she stiffened. ‘A-ha!’

‘
What blood-sucking excitement might be happening on Undertaker Hill at 3 p.m. today? Just wait and see
. . .’

The chirp had been posted six hours ago – just after they’d left Holly’s house.

Another chirp followed it, posted just an hour ago.

‘
Have you set your stopwatches, vampire hunters? Only one hour to go
. . .’

‘Well, it looks like Holly’s taken the bait,’ Ivy said.

‘Yeah, I guess so,’ Olivia said. Ivy hated to see how downcast her sister looked. Misery shone in Olivia’s eyes, but her expression was resigned. ‘Don’t worry, Ivy. I’m not arguing any more. The evidence is pretty damning.’

Ivy wanted to reach out and hug her.
It’s finally hit home. The girl she trusted is behind all this
.

The doorbell rang again.

‘Well.’ Olivia stood up, smoothing down the glittering pink minidress she’d put on for the party. She smiled as brightly as the Hollywood star that she should have been by now, if only her first big film role hadn’t been delayed. ‘We’d better get started.’

As they left Ivy’s bedroom, they heard Mr Vega open the front door. ‘Holly! It’s so nice to see you here again.’ He led her into the living room, where the Count and Countess were waiting, wearing their most garish pink-and-orange checked outfits and their stiffest expressions. ‘May I introduce you to my parents? Mom, Dad, this is Holly, one of Olivia’s best friends. Isn’t it nice to have her here with us today?’

The Count shook Holly’s hand, his expression tight. The Countess nodded. Her smile looked as if it had been glued on to her face by force – and was about to slip right off.

‘Um . . . hi,’ Holly said. As she turned to Ivy, Olivia and Brendan, she looked sheepish.

The adults moved discreetly to a different part of the room – which, Ivy knew, wouldn’t stop them from listening to everything with their vampire super-hearing. But it was time for Ivy and Olivia to take over.

‘Holly!’ Ivy smiled broadly. ‘Hey, did you have to squeeze past that crowd in the street?’

Holly grimaced, looking guilty. ‘Uh, yeah, I did. What’s up with that?’

‘I wondered about that too,’ Brendan said. ‘They look like they’re waiting for something.’

Ivy raised her eyebrows. ‘Anyone would think that
someone
has been spreading rumours about something special happening.’

Holly opened her mouth to speak.

Before she could utter a word, Olivia said softly, ‘I can’t imagine who would do such a thing.’

Two red spots appeared on Holly’s cheeks. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said, all in a rush. ‘I’m the reason all those people are there. I may have mentioned on my blog that there was a gathering, a good place to spot vampires.’

Olivia was shaking her head. ‘Why would you do that?’

‘There’s a good reason . . .’ Holly started to say, but Ivy cut her off.

‘I found something interesting.’ She reached into the boring sports bag that was part of her bunny disguise, and pulled out a copy of
Bare Throats at Sunset
.

Holly’s brow creased in confusion. ‘I thought you hated that book.’

‘I read it again more carefully,’ Ivy said. ‘And guess what I noticed, this time around?’ She flipped to page 56. ‘Listen to the description of the main character’s daughter: “She had hippy jeans, long strawberry-blonde hair and a pale face” . . . interesting, huh? It sounds just like someone I know.’

Holly’s face turned beetroot red. ‘I’m sorry! It’s true. I should have told you guys.’ She wrapped her arms around her chest, seeming to shrink under their combined gaze. ‘My dad wrote the book.’

‘But your last name isn’t Reardon,’ Olivia said. No longer acting, all her hurt was in her face. ‘Or were you lying about that too?’

‘His name isn’t really S. K. Reardon,’ Holly said. ‘It’s Sean Turner. Reardon is my grandma’s maiden name.’

‘But if he’s your dad,’ said Ivy, ‘why didn’t you say so before? Why did you pretend you didn’t know him?’

Holly swallowed visibly, looking as if she were fighting back tears. ‘I almost never get to see him any more. He lives in San Francisco. Every time I’ve seen him recently, he’s just been so upset that his book is selling badly. It was his big dream to get it published, but no one cared. No one was buying it. And it’s so unfair! It’s not nearly as bad as some other vampire books that are
really
popular – no matter what you think of it!’

Ivy winced. ‘I’m really sorry I said that the writing was terrible,’ she said. ‘I wouldn’t have done that if I knew he was your dad. And . . .’ She struggled with her pride, and finally managed to admit the truth. ‘It isn’t really all that bad,’ she said. ‘I was just upset that you dissed
Shadowtown
.’

Holly’s lips twitched. ‘You can’t pretend
that
’s a classic, either.’

‘No,’ Ivy agreed. ‘But I love it anyway. Shows how much taste I’ve got, huh?’

For the first time ever, she and Holly shared a real smile.

Holly’s smile faded quickly, though. ‘I just wanted to do something to help my dad.’ She bit her lip and glanced at the windows of the house and the crowd outside. ‘That’s why I set up the blog. Have you figured it all out?’

Olivia sighed, leaning into Ivy. ‘Why don’t you tell us in your own words?’

Ivy put one hand on her sister’s arm in support. It had to hurt Olivia to hear this from her friend.

Holly spoke quickly. ‘I just thought if I could make people think there were
actual
vampires living in a small American town, I could really have an effect. I could create an Internet sensation, you know? I’d fuel interest in vampires and sell more copies of my dad’s book to coincide with his book-signing here. There are a lot of vampire books out right now – it’s so hard for a new one to get noticed! But if there were rumours about
real
vampires existing, and people thought S. K. Reardon might have “insider info” –’

‘Then his book would have an edge,’ Ivy finished for her.

‘I just wanted to help him, that’s all.’ Holly’s shoulders slumped. ‘But he didn’t see it that way.’ She looked down at the floor as she added softly, ‘I haven’t spoken to him since he told me off at the mall. Believe me, this plan could not have backfired any more spectacularly.’

Despite everything, Ivy couldn’t help her heart beginning to melt.
I can’t believe this is happening to
me
 
!
But the misery in Holly’s voice was heartbreaking.

‘Come on,’ Ivy said. ‘Let’s go out to the garden to get a bit of privacy.’

The Count and Countess would know everything they needed to by now. It felt wrong to let Holly unburden herself any more when she didn’t know how many people were listening to her story.

Holly didn’t resist as Ivy and Olivia led her outside. Brendan shut the door firmly behind them and stood guard inside the house.

‘I’m sorry,’ Holly said, as she sagged down on to one of the garden chairs. ‘I messed everything up, and not just with my dad. It felt like a fun game, pretending that vampires might be real . . . but I should never have used you guys as part of it.’

‘No,’ Olivia said. ‘You shouldn’t have. But . . .’ She traded a glance with Ivy.

Ivy nodded, letting go of the last of her resentment. She might be grumpy, but she couldn’t deny the truth. ‘We can all understand that family comes first.’

‘My dad doesn’t understand it.’ Tears streaked Holly’s face. ‘I really thought he would be happy, even proud of me for doing it, but it was just a disaster.’

‘Not completely,’ Ivy said. ‘I mean, your plan did kind of work. Look at how all those people were queuing up at the mall to get their books signed!’

‘It’s true,’ Olivia said, putting an encouraging hand on Holly’s arm. ‘I’m sure he’ll realize soon that you were only trying to help, even if you did go about it the wrong way.’

‘But . . .’

Holly stopped, frowning, as they were all distracted by a sudden commotion inside the house. They heard raised voices. A moment later, the door burst open. An unexpected figure strode into the garden, waving an all-too-familiar book.

‘Woot! I’ve got it, and it’s mine, all mine!’

Ivy’s mouth dropped open. ‘Mr Harker?’

She rubbed her eyes. Beside her, she saw Olivia looking as if she’d seen a ghost.

Jacob Harker, the hot-shot movie producer who’d offered Olivia her first starring role, had just burst into their garden, waving
Bare Throats at Sunset
over his head.

Chapter Eleven

H
arker! Has he come all the way from California
 
?
Olivia shook her head. He’d become friends with the girls after Olivia acted in one of his films, but she’d never expected to see him in Franklin Grove again. ‘What are you doing here?’

He waved his copy of
Bare Throats at Sunset
like a flag. ‘I’m here to celebrate with your dad and Lillian, of course! But I’m killing two birds with one stone – I’ve just discovered this book and it’s
gold
, dudes. I’m buying the film rights.’

All three girls looked at him, absolutely stunned.

‘
What
 
?
’ Holly croaked.

Lillian stepped into the garden behind him, smiling. ‘I sent him a copy of the novel to read, and he loved it just as much as I did.’

‘But – but . . .’ Holly stuttered. ‘You don’t mean . . .’

Olivia leaned over and touched Holly’s arm. ‘Mr Harker is big in the film business. This could be the best thing ever for your dad.’

‘No time to chat!’ Harker said, interrupting. He obviously hadn’t heard Olivia, or made the connection between Holly and the author of the book he was holding. He swept his arms out expansively. ‘I’ve got to find him! The dude of the hour! Reardon’s supposed to be in Franklin Grove for the book tour, right? I’ve got to talk to him about this book – it’s going to be
huge
once it’s on the big screen, and I want his input along the way. We’re talking mega-blockbuster-spectacular, guys!’

‘
Mega
. . .’ Holly whispered. Her eyes looked glazed with shock.

‘There’s just one problem. I can’t find him!’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Does the dude not realise he’s a hot commodity? The strikes are finally over, and I need him
now
 
!’

Olivia saw her sister smirk. ‘I know exactly who can help you,’ Ivy said, glancing at Holly.

‘Holly?’ Olivia said. She smiled gently. ‘I bet your dad would like to hear from you now.’
My heart could just melt right now
, she thought. This was like the best Hollywood drama ever!

‘I don’t know if he’ll even answer the phone,’ Holly whispered. She sniffed, wiping the tears hastily off her cheeks. ‘But of course I’ll try.’ She took a deep breath and pulled out her cell phone. Olivia watched the colour in her cheeks fluctuate as she waited for her dad’s answer. Then she said, ‘Dad? It’s me, but . . . there’s a Hollywood producer here who wants to talk to you. No, I didn’t – it’s not –’

‘Here, give me that!’ Harker scooped the phone out of her hands. ‘Harker of Harker Films here, Reardon. Get your butt over here, man! I want to shake hands on our film deal!’

Olivia smiled. Ivy was grinning widely, her arms folded as she watched Harker shout into the phone.

‘I’m so glad I’m back in Franklin Grove to see all this,’ she said. ‘It was totally worth that stake out in the graveyard!’

Olivia shook her head. ‘Just promise me you’ll never take a risk like that again. I’m so glad Brendan was around to look after you last night.’

Ivy rolled her eyes. ‘Do you seriously think I need looking after?’

Olivia flung an arm around her sister’s shoulders and pulled her in for a hug. ‘Not even by me?’ she asked.
I’ll never stop looking out for my vampire twin
, she added to herself.

Ivy shrugged her off, but gently. ‘OK, OK, you can stick with me if you like,’ she said. Olivia knew she was secretly enjoying the moment, even if it would have killed Ivy to admit it.

‘I’m not going anywhere,’ Olivia told her.

Ivy grinned and linked arms with her. ‘That’s two of us, then.’