Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Colletion_ Books 11-15 - Laurell K. Hamilton [897]
Copyright © 2007 by Laurell K. Hamilton.
All rights reserved.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hamilton, Laurell K.
The harlequin / Laurell K. Hamilton.—1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN: 1-101-14710-5
1. Blake, Anita (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Vampires—Fiction. 3. St. Louis (Mo.)—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3558.A443357H37 2007
813'.54—dc22 2007005971
http://us.penguingroup.com
To Jonathon, who never freaks about my choice of research. He took away my serial killer books, at my request. When I was ready he gave them back. He’s helping me understand that just because someone else thinks you’re a monster doesn’t mean you are. Even if that person says they love you. Here’s to finding love that builds you up, instead of breaking you down.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To the Staff: Darla, Chief Operations Officer, and Lauretta, who assists her; Sherry, Chief Domestic Officer, and Teresa, who assists her; Mary, Comptroller and Grandma extraordinaire; and Charles aka Gru, Chief Security Officer. For those who are wondering, Jon’s official title is Chief Information Officer.
Merrilee Heifitz, my agent, who has worked hard as we’ve pushed boundaries and entered new territory.
To Bev Leveto, thanks for your wonderful donation to Granite City. Hope you enjoy being a victim in this book.
To everyone at DBPro and Marvel, who helped bring Anita to life in the comic-book world. Special thanks to Les and Ernst Dabel for being gentle. Extra special thanks to our artist, Brett Booth, who did an amazing job and listened.
As always thanks to my writing group: Tom Drennan, Debroah Millitello, Rett MacPherson, Marella Sands, Sharon Shinn, and Mark Sumner. You guys help keep me going.
1
MALCOLM, THE HEAD of the Church of Eternal Life, the vampire church, sat across from me. Malcolm had never been in my office before. In fact, the last time I’d seen him, he’d accused me of doing black magic and being a whore. I’d also killed one of his members on church grounds, in front of him and the rest of his congregation. The dead vamp had been a serial killer. I’d had a court order of execution, but still, it hadn’t made Malcolm and me buddies.
I sat behind my desk, sipping coffee from my newest Christmas-themed mug: a little girl sat on Santa’s lap saying, “Define good.” I worked hard every year to find the most offensive mug I could so that Bert, our business manager, could throw a fit. This year’s mug was tame by my usual standards. It had become one of my holiday traditions. I’d at least dressed for the season in a red skirt and jacket over a thin silk sweater—very festive, for me. I had a new gun in my shoulder holster. A friend of mine had finally persuaded me to give up my Browning Hi-Power for something that fit my hand a little