Night's Touch (33 page)

Cara was quiet on the way home from the police station. She had told the sergeant in charge that she and Vince had been out for a walk when they heard a baby crying in the park and that they had found the infant wrapped in a blanket on a bench. The police had asked numerous questions, but no matter what the question, Cara had given them the same answer: "I don't know."

The sergeant had asked them to wait while he made a phone call, and ten minutes later, a man and a woman, both clad in pajamas, bathrobes, and slippers, ran into the station. They had taken one look at the baby and dissolved in tears of joy. They had showered Cara and Vince with hugs and fervent words of thanks. They had offered them a reward, which Cara refused.

Finally, after more questions, the police had decided Cara and Vince didn't have anything to do with the kidnapping and, after taking their names, addresses, and phone numbers, had let them go.

Though she knew it was foolish, Cara felt bereft, her arms empty as she left the police station. She had held the baby only a short time, but holding the infant had made her yearn for a child of her own, a little girl with Vince's black hair and deep brown eyes.

"You're awfully quiet," Vince remarked as he braked for a stoplight. "Are you worried about your father?"

"Not really. He's a vampire, after all," she said with a forced laugh. "I'm sure he'll be all right."

Vince glanced out the window. It had been a long night; it would be dawn soon. "What's bothering you then?"

"You'll think it's silly."

"Maybe, but tell me anyway."

"Holding that baby suddenly made me want one of my own." She looked up at him. "Do you like kids?"

"Sure. I always wanted a big family."

"Wanted?"

Thinking quickly, he said, "I'm not sure big families are practical these days."

"Maybe not."

Cara snuggled against Vince, her head resting on his shoulder. Frank hadn't been at his house, so they had taken one of her father's cars and driven to the police station without him. With a sigh, she closed her eyes. It had been a long, nerve-racking night. Replaying everything in her mind, she knew she was lucky to be alive.

"Where do you think Anton went?" she asked.

"I don't know."

"And that creature…" She sat up, her adrenaline flowing. "It's out there somewhere."

Vince put his arm around her and drew her against him once again. "Don't worry about it now. That thing has no reason to come after you."

"But…"

"Shh, darlin', you're safe here with me," he said, though he, too, had been wondering where the creature had gone and what it might do. Did it have any memory of its former life? Would it go through the city, wreaking havoc, like the zombies in horror movies? How long would the incantation last? A day? A week? Would the enchantment dissipate on its own, or would it have to be broken, and if so, how?

He was still pondering those things when he pulled up in front of DeLongpre's house. The place was dark save for a light in one of the windows downstairs.

Brenna opened the passenger-side door almost before the car came to a stop. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, although for a while I thought we were going to be spending the night in jail," Cara muttered. "Honestly, do I look like a kidnapper to you?"

"Of course not," Brenna said, smothering a grin.

"How's Dad?" Cara asked, following her mother into the house.

"Resting. He'll be fine in a few days."

"Can I see him?"

"He's not here."

Cara's eyes widened. "Where is he?"

"He's resting where he won't be disturbed."

"But…"

"No more questions tonight, dear," Brenna said. "You need to get some rest. Frank's in the kitchen. He'll be staying in the house tonight."

"Where was he?" Cara asked. "We went by his place, but he wasn't there."

"He was out taking care of a few loose ends," Brenna said, her eyes twinkling. "Vince, you're welcome to stay, too, if you like."

"Thank you, but I'd best be getting home."

Cara squeezed his hand. "I wish you'd stay."

"I've got a few things to do, but I'll see you tomorrow. Promise me you won't go anywhere alone."

"Promise me you'll still be here tomorrow."

"I promise. Now you."

"Don't worry, I won't go anywhere."

"That's my girl," he said with a wink. He looked at Brenna. "If there's anything I can do…"

"Could I see you for a moment, alone?" Brenna asked.

"Sure." He followed Brenna outside and waited while she closed the door. "Is something wrong?"

"Have you told Cara the truth yet?"

"I've been meaning to, but…" Vince shrugged. "I'm afraid I'll lose her."

"The longer you put if off, the harder it will be," Brenna said. "Believe me, I know."

"I'm surprised you haven't told her."

"Her father already did," Brenna reminded him, "but she didn't believe it. Maybe she just doesn't want to believe it."

Unable to think of a suitable reply, he remained silent.

Brenna regarded him curiously for a moment. "You're different from the rest of us, aren't you? Roshan says it's because Mara brought you across. He said you aren't trapped by the Dark Sleep, and you don't seem overwhelmed by the need for blood, the way most new vampires are."

Vince shrugged. "Sometimes I don't feel like a vampire, either, but I'm vampire enough to know I can't live with my family and expect them not to notice the changes in me."

"I want you to promise me that you'll tell Cara the truth before things go any further between you," Brenna said, and then paused, her eyes narrowing. "Things have already gone too far, haven't they?"

"You'll have to ask Cara about that," Vince said.

Brenna shook her head. "You're going to break her heart; you know that, don't you?" She blew out a sigh. "At least you can't get her pregnant." Squaring her shoulders, she took a deep, calming breath. "I want to thank you for your help tonight, and…"

She turned as the door opened and Cara stepped out on the porch. "What's going on out here?" she asked, looking from Vince to her mother.

"Nothing, dear, I was just thanking Vince for his help."

"And you had to come out here for that?"

"Didn't anyone ever tell you what happened to the curious cat?" Vince asked, tweaking her nose. "Anyway, it's late and I should go."

Drawing Cara into his arms, he kissed her; mindful that her mother was watching, he didn't make the kiss as long or as deep as he would have liked.

"Sweet dreams, darlin'." He gave her a quick hug and a wink before letting her go.

With a nod in Brenna's direction, Vince descended the porch stairs.

He paused a moment, and then he walked the perimeter of the grounds before settling down in the shadows to keep watch until the sun came up.

The creature wandered aimlessly through the night, its mind as dark as the sky overhead. Now and then it saw something that looked fleetingly familiar, but before he could make sense of it, the memory was gone.

Keeping to the shadows, the creature lumbered up one street and down another until it came to a large house located on a hill. A high wrought-iron fence surrounded the yard. No lights shone in the windows.

The creature stood there for a long time. There was something oddly familiar about the house, something that drew it up the hill, through the gate, and up the stairs to the front porch.

Cara slept late Sunday morning, but that was only to be expected, she thought, after the horrors of the night before.

Rising, she pulled on a fluffy pink robe, stepped into a pair of furry pink slippers, and opened the French doors that led to the balcony, only then realizing that it was raining. She stood there for a few minutes, listening to the rain and the thunder, watching as lightning streaked across the lowering sky. She had always loved storms and loved the rain, as long as she didn't have to drive in it.

After closing the doors, she left her bedroom, glad that she didn't have to go to work. In the hallway, she paused outside her parents' room. Remembering her mother's words the night before, she wondered where her father had gone to rest where he wouldn't be disturbed. Was it somewhere in the house? Had her mother gone to join him there?

She reached for the door, her hand closing around the knob; then, with a shake of her head, she went downstairs. She had never violated her parents' privacy; she wouldn't start now.

She found Di Giorgio in the kitchen, the Sunday paper spread out on the table. He looked up when Cara entered the room.

"Morning, Miss DeLongpre."

"Good morning, Frank. Have you been awake all night?"

"I caught a few winks on the sofa."

"Oh, I was just going to make some breakfast. Would you like…" Her voice trailed off when she happened to glance at the morning headline.

FIRE DESTROYS ABANDONED BUILDING

BODY OF UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN FOUND INSIDE

FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED

Leaning over Frank's shoulder, she quickly read the story, which stated that the fire department suspected arson and the police department suspected murder. At present, the police had no leads and no suspects.

Cara stared at Frank, her mother's words echoing in her mind:
Someone should burn that horrible place down
, Brenna had said. And Frank had replied,
Maybe someone will
.

"You did it, didn't you?" Cara said. "You burned down the lab."

Di Giorgio looked up at her, his face impassive. "Who, me?"

"Yes, you."

Di Giorgio tapped on the newspaper. "No leads," he said with a sly grin. "No suspects."

Cara shook her head. She should be appalled by what he had done but all she felt was relief that she would never see that lab again, coupled with a faint sense of sadness for Anton. His mother had died a horrible death, her body burned beyond recognition in the fire. Of course, Cara thought, there was no one to blame for Serafina's death except Serafina. For a moment, the horror of all that had happened flashed through her mind: the mind-numbing fear of being strapped to a metal table, her concern for her father, the sharp prick of the needle as Serafina drew her blood, the icy terror that had chilled her to the marrow of her bones when Anthony Loken's body rose from the coffin…

She shook off the memories. What was done was done, and she was glad the building was gone. She hoped the city would level whatever was left of it.

"So, Frank, would you like something to eat?"

"Sure."

"French toast and bacon okay?"

"Anything you want to fix is fine with me." He reached for the coffee cup on the table. "You got any plans for today?"

"Not really." Opening the refrigerator, Cara took out a carton of eggs and the bacon and placed them on the counter, then she pulled a frying pan from the cupboard. "Although I might go out later and see if Vince is home."

"I'll be driving you anywhere you want to go today."

Out of habit, she started to insist she didn't need a babysitter, but the words died unspoken. After last night, she was lucky to have Frank around. In fact, she wasn't sure she ever wanted to go anywhere alone again.