Adduné - the Vampire's Game (22 page)

“
Will you be available if we need you?”

“
I will be at your disposal, Inspector … Daniels was it?”

“
Yes, Inspector Daniels. If there’s nothing else.”

“
No, nothing.”

Reginald replaced the receiver staring at it as if it were not really there. He heard a soft knock on the door. He thought he heard someone tell his assistant to come in. He thought he heard the door open and soft footsteps made by shod, shapely feet caressed by plush office carpeting. He thought he felt a tender hand on his shoulder. He thought he grabbed the soft, delicate hand as someone said, “Are you alright, sir?”

Someone replied, “Yes, thank you, Cheryl. I’ll be just fine.”

CHAPTER 13

Dr. Sara Puhlman sat filling in the medical record of a Skye terrier named Dusty. It wasn’t good news for Dusty or her owner. It had been one hell of a week for Dr. Puhlman. First Velvet, and now Dusty. Dusty had broken away from her owner. She’d run out into the street where she was immediately hit by a speeding car. She was rushed to the trauma center by her hysterical owner. Puhlman had performed emergency surgery, but the beloved, feisty terrier succumbed to her injuries. In spite of Sara’s best efforts, she died on the operating table.

Dr. Puhlman hated giving out bad news. She was well aware of the bonds that existed between human owners and their pets, but there was another aspect to it – and that aspect was pride. She hated when her own extensive medical expertise could do nothing to prevent the cloud of death from claiming another small victim. It made her feel insignificant and ineffectual. She much preferred being in control.

She heard Velvet’s cry coming from down the hall. She felt her eyes pulling shut. One glance at the clock on her desk told her why – it was midnight. It wouldn’t be much longer, and Dr. Puhlman wanted to finish up the paperwork. It helped her to put things in order, but did nothing to undo the uneasy feeling of failure that she felt about being unable to save the small dog.

She heard Velvet call out again. She bit the tip of her pen. She was glad that Velvet had pulled through the operation and was alert, but it didn’t explain her owner’s absence. Puhlman had pegged Rachel for one of those women that adored their feline companions, but she’d been wrong. What else but indifference would have made her not show up to take Velvet home today?

“
How about a crisis at work or an accident?”
came the soft voice behind her.

It was Rachel Abbott’s voice. Dr. Puhlman whirled around wondering how she’d gotten in, but saw nothing except the large picture window. She looked to either side and then twirled around in her swivel chair – inspecting all four walls. Even after the careful scrutiny, there was still no one there. No one could have spoken to her. Not Rachel Abbott – not anyone. She was completely alone. Even the parking lot she saw through the window was deserted.

Sara rubbed her bloodshot eyes. She hadn’t realized how exhausted she was. Her adrenalin had kept her going, but it only went so far. She put down the pen and shut the folder. It was enough for one day. After all, when you start hearing voices, you know it’s time to go home.

She leaned over and reached under her desk for her purse when she heard the soft scratching. It seemed to be coming from the same spot the voice had come – from behind her. She decided to ignore it. It undoubtedly was conjured up by the same part of her brain that had imagined the voice. The scratching persisted and so Sara pivoted her chair around. She jumped when she saw the face of Rachel Abbott staring at her through the clear pane of glass.

Rachel smiled, unconcerned with Sara’s panicked reaction. She pointed towards the walkway that led to the front door. Dr. Puhlman didn’t understand. She was still trying to recover from the shock. What was she doing here at this hour? It was a little late to be picking up her cat. Besides how did she know anyone was even here?

Sara was confused by the disruption. She slowly recovered from the surprise of the late visit – feeling foolish at being so startled. Yes, it was late, but it was Rachel Abbott. There was certainly nothing to fear about her. Nonetheless, when she rounded the corner and saw the shadowy figure standing at the door, she felt her pulse quicken.

She turned the deadbolt lock and opened the door. There stood Rachel smiling in the moonlight, her hair loose and flowing. There hadn’t been any wind earlier in the day, but it must have kicked up while Sara was tending to her four-legged patients. Rachel’s mass of thick hair seemed to billow out from a bone-chilling wind that went right through Sara’s thin, cotton coat.

She was expecting the Rachel Abbott she was used to seeing. When she looked into this person’s face, she wondered if someone else were standing before her. Had she misidentified the person and opened the door to a stranger? Sara examined the woman standing before her more closely. No, it was Rachel, but there was something about her – something different about the way she looked. So pale – unearthly, so ….
frightening
was the only word that came to mind.

Sara smoothed her blunt cut sandy blonde hair, tucking it behind one ear.

“
Rachel? What are you doing here?”

She tried to keep her voice light and breezy. She didn’t want to give away her fear. Rationally, she knew there was nothing to be nervous about. Rachel was a quiet, demure woman. A
woman
– not a man. It made a difference – a huge difference. A woman possessed no physical threat. Besides, she’d known Rachel Abbott for years. She’d taken care of Velvet ever since he’d been a scrawny little kitten.

“
I came for Velvet,” she replied evenly. The smile never left her face and she never left the spot on which she was standing – the spot right outside the door. Rachel’s hair rose in the air from the ghostly, frigid wind. In the background, a flurry of leaves flew up into the air – making a scurrying sound. It seemed more like the end of October than the middle of summer.

“
But how did you know I’d be here?”

Rachel’s eyes locked on Sara’s.

“
How could I have?” she explained, her smile suddenly getting wider from a private joke known only to her. “I just took a chance.”

Sara took a cautionary step inside. She wasn’t sure she wanted to give her Velvet at this hour of night. It was most unusual. There was billing and protocol. It was clearly against the rules, but she was here. And she was the doctor, so it wasn’t an assistant making a possibly harmful decision to release a pet that needed further treatment. There was the other reason – the reason she didn’t want to admit. The truth was that Sara was afraid of telling Rachel no.

She tried to keep her movements even. It would only take a second to get all this over with. She’d have her assistant send her a bill in the morning. It wouldn’t make a difference. Rachel had always paid on time. Going with the flow would only mean that they’d both leave happy.

Sara stepped inside the doorway and to the side to allow Rachel to pass. Rachel remained stationary. It told Sara all she needed to know. Sara chided herself for being concerned about Rachel. This was Rachel and Rachel was so strait-laced and conservative that she stood and waited until she was invited to come inside. In other words, she wasn’t assuming it would be alright and was aware that the midnight call was an imposition. A bell from a church somewhere in Fairfield rang out the hour.

Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong.

It must be midnight. That meant the clock in her office was fast. She made a mental note to fix it.

Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong.

“
Well, come on in. It’s a little unusual, but Velvet is awake and alert. I heard him a little while ago.”

Bong. Bong. Bong.

Rachel walked past Sara as the last note rang out.

Bong.

There was a troublesome quiet. And a coldness that comes from dead things. Sara knew the feeling, but had felt it intensely when Rachel swept past her. That cold from the outdoor wind had shot through her, but the breeze Rachel created bothered her more. She grabbed her arms and shivered, much to Rachel’s obvious delight. Why was she acting so weird? Why?

Sara ignored the giggle that escaped from Rachel’s throat. Perhaps it was something else that she was finding amusing. It could be something that happened at work earlier in the day, or a joke exchanged with a friend coming back to her. Sara had done that. Walked down the street and recalled something funny. She’d begun laughing out loud as someone passed by, but the laughter had nothing to do with them – had no connection whatsoever. Sara understood.

She closed the door snapping her fingers as she turned around.

“
You know, I’ll bet Velvet knew you were here! That must be why he was crying.” Sara commented trying to break the painful silence. It was the kind of silence that pervades a graveyard. She wished the church bell were still tolling. The sound had at least filled up the skeletal atmosphere.

Sara took a second look at Rachel. She hadn’t really noticed her attire with her long hair blowing about. Now that Rachel had pushed it back off her shoulders it allowed Sara the chance to see the outrageous way she was dressed. It deviated markedly from the conservative attire that Rachel normally wore. Sara’s mind went into overdrive condemning the apparel. She didn’t like overtly sexual garments and what Rachel was
almost
wearing fit into that category. Sara stared at the revealing camisole she had poured herself into. It seemed an inexplicable choice for a woman so top heavy. And why on earth she wouldn’t at least wear a bra was beyond Sara’s comprehension. Sara caught herself – how Rachel dressed when not at work was none of her business. She was here for her pet and not to be critiqued.

Rachel followed behind Sara as she headed for the Velvet’s cage.

“
Yes, I’ll bet that’s it,” Sara continued her conversation, hoping Rachel would join in. It would help disperse the anxiety Sara was feeling. Even if it was irrational, it was there. Some polite conversation would also help take Sara’s mind off Rachel’s sluttish appearance – especially the hideous make-up. Yes, better to talk and not gawk. Otherwise, she’d find something else about Rachel to criticize. Sara was aware that judging others was a fault of hers. It was something she was working on, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Sara kept her eyes averted – trying not to stare at Rachel. It was hard not to since the woman before her had breasts hanging down to her waist.

“
No, no, it wasn’t,” Rachel said, her platform shoes clattering on the tiled floor. “And I suppose you’re right, about Velvet, I mean. Cats do have a sixth sense. I hear some people do, too. Sometimes after they’ve had a blow to their head. Seems to trigger psychic activity.”

Sara stood before Velvet’s cage. She looked up at Rachel. She seemed taller. Was she wearing higher heels to go with her trampy top and garish make-up? She resisted the temptation to look down. She kept her eyes level.

“
I’ve never heard that before, but what was that first part? You said something about
no
? ‘No’ what?”

“
No, Rome wasn’t built in a day. I agree with you about you not being able to stop yourself from being judgmental overnight. It’s a shame to lose it though – especially since you seem to have perfected it.”

Sara did a double take. How did she know what she was thinking that? It was impossible.

Rachel pushed back a lock of hair that had fallen over her shoulders. She smirked and expanded her chest. Her breasts were enormous and Sara found herself staring at them with displeasure. In fact, she was disapproving of everything about Rachel this evening. Her impudence, her make-up, her hair, the nipples that were popping through the thin cotton material …

“
Ssssssssssssttt!”

The loud hiss took Sara’s attention away from Rachel. She looked and saw that Velvet was backed-up to the furthest corner of his cage. His back was arched and his ears were flattened. He was either frightened or threatened … or both.

“
That’s strange,” Sara commented. She was concerned. It wasn’t like Velvet. He was such a mellow cat. Plus there was nothing in this scenario that should be upsetting him. Rachel was his owner. Rachel had been bringing Velvet in for regular visits for years. Sara had noted the loving interaction. No, it couldn’t be Rachel causing the defensive behavior.

“
Perhaps he’s afraid of you?”