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I moved so that my hand covered my mouth as I talked. I wanted to keep an eye on the drifting crowd, but I didn’t want some human to overhear what promised to be a tricky conversation. But I didn’t want to go outside until I found out how much danger we were in. The crowd was both a danger and a help. Most bad guys are reluctant to start cutting people up in a crowd. “What color would mean harm?” I asked.

“Red.”

“Okay, who is they, because I assume this means we’ve been contacted by the mystery whoever.”

“It does.”

“So who are they, what are they? And why the hell this cloak-and-dagger shit with the mask? Why not a letter or a phone call?”

“I am not certain. They would normally have sent the mask to me, as Master of the City.”

“Why send it to me, then?”

“I do not know, ma petite.” He sounded angry, and he didn’t usually get angry this easily.

“You’re scared.”

“Very.”

“I guess we come to the Circus tonight, after all.”

“Apologize to Nathaniel for this ruining his date with you, but oui, you must come here. We have much to discuss.”

“Who are these guys, Jean-Claude?”

“The name will mean nothing to you.”

“Just tell me.”

“The Harlequin, they are the Harlequin.”

“Harlequin, you mean like the French clown?”

“Nothing half so pleasant, ma petite. Come home and I will explain.”

“How much more danger are we in?” The couple was still staring at us. The woman nudged the man, and he shook his head.

“White means they will observe only. This could be the only contact we have with them, if we are very, very lucky. They will watch us, then leave.”

“Why tell us at all, if that’s all they plan to do?”

“Because it is our law. They may pass through a territory, or hunt someone across a territory, much as you hunt wicked vampires across state lines, but if they are planning to be within an area for more than a few nights, then they are bound by law to contact the Master of the City.”

“So this could be all about Malcolm and his church.”

“It could.”

“You don’t believe that.”

“It would be too easy, ma petite, and nothing about the Harlequin is ever easy.”

“What are they?”

“They are the closest thing to police that we vampires have. But they are also spies, assassins. It was they who slew the Master of London when he went mad.”

“Elinore and the other vamps didn’t say that.”

“Because they could not.”

“You mean, if they had told anyone who killed their master, they’d have been killed?”

“Yes.”

“That’s crazy, they all knew it.”

“Among themselves, oui, but not to outsiders, and once the Harlequin leave town the secrecy takes effect once more.”

“So we can talk about them now, but later, when they leave, it’s forbidden to mention them?”

“Oui.”

“That’s insane.”

“It is law.”

“Have I told you recently that some of the vampire laws are stupid?”

“You have never put it quite that way.”

“Well, I’m putting it that way now.”

“Come home, ma petite, or better yet, come to Guilty Pleasures. I will tell you more of the history of the Harlequin when I have you safe with me. We should be safe. It is a white mask. We are expected to act as if there is nothing wrong. So I will finish my work night.”

“You’ve fed the ardeur. You’re done for the night.”

“There are still acts to manage and my voice to lend to a microphone.”

“Fine. We’ll be there.”

Nathaniel whispered, “They’re coming over.”

I glanced up to find the couple that had been staring so hard walking toward us. They didn’t look dangerous, and they were definitely human. I whispered into the telephone, “Are all the Harlequin vamps?”

“To my knowledge, why?”

“We’ve got a pair of humans walking toward us.”

“Come to me, ma petite, and bring Nathaniel.”

“Love ya,” I said.

“And I you.”

We hung up so I could give my attention to the couple. The woman was petite and blond, and embarrassed and eager at the same time. The man was grumpy, or embarrassed.

“You’re Brandon,” she said to Nathaniel.

He admitted it, and I watched his stage smile come on line. He was happy to see her, and all the worry was just gone. He was