Code 61 - Donald Harstad [103]
“So, anything he can't do, he just says that it's a false expectation?”
“Yep. But falsehoods planted by very smart vampires. Just so they have an easier time of hiding.”
“That,” I said, “strikes me as being awfully fucking convenient.”
She smiled at that, too. “Well, yes.” She giggled. “Awfully. But he exhibits enough of the familiar traits, like stamina, strength, being nocturnal, being very convincing in everything.”
“Did he ever say how you get to be a vampire?” asked Hester.
“Well, he says he was 'turned' a long time ago, by a female vampire. He says you can't be born a vampire, or anything like that. You have to choose, like he did.” She shrugged. “I suppose if I'd actually expressed an interest in becoming one, he might have said more. You should ask Toby about that.”
“Toby,” I asked, “wants to be a vampire?”
“In the worst way,” said Huck, with a little smirk. “You know what I mean. He's really a wannabe, for all the wannabe reasons.”
“Does anybody else think Dan Peale is really a vampire?” asked Hester.
“Oh, yes. Hanna does. I think Melissa does, at least I think she probably does now. Kevin doesn't really say, but I'm sure he leans that way, too.” She shrugged. “There are times I'm not too sure, myself. Honest.”
“What is it that makes you think that he's a real vampire?” I was really curious.
“You saw that photo on the wall, up on the third. The one taken at Highgate Cemetery?”
“Yeah. Circle of Lebanon…. ”
“Well,” she said, in a very low voice, “one of the crypts there is Dan's.”
“Pardon me,” interjected Hester. “His?”
“That's what he says. His. He told me.” She looked at the curtains again. “Maybe that's why you can't find him in the London Directory?”
“Serious?” I asked.
Huck giggled nervously. “Shit, I don't know. Sitting here with you two, oh, maybe not. But I don't want to take any fuckin' chances.” She looked me square in the eye. “Would you?”
“Well,” I said, truthfully, “I'd really need a lot of evidence. One whole hell of a lot of evidence.”
“Me, too,” said Huck. “But let me tell you…. Look, he is really strong, all right? And he is an absolute sex machine. Really, he can keep it up for seven, eight hours easily. He refuses to go out in the sunlight without max-SPF lotion. He's got … well, a really dominant personality. Really.” She twiddled her fingers for a second, considering something. “It's a lot more than that. Things he says. Things he does. Really, like, supersophisticated, well educated, and he … ” She laughed. “Shit, I can't believe I'm telling you this, but he, well, talks about things that happened in the 1700s and 1800s. Like he was there, you know?”
“You okay?” She was getting brittle again, and close to the edge, I thought.
“Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. But, and I'll tell you straight up, you watch him drink some blood, watch him drink your blood, and the greedy, slurping sounds, and he … ”
She shuddered, and then just stopped. None of us spoke for a few moments. I figured it was time to change our tack just a bit. “So, why would Dan kill Edie? Any idea?”
Huck shook her head. “Are you so sure that he's the one who did?”
“He's our chief suspect,” I replied. “Unless you know different.”
“Well, if he's your best suspect, then you're probably right. If it's any help, it sounds like you might be right.”
“But you don't know why he did it?”
“Edie was getting so controlled, you know? It's not like she'd ever walk away. So, so she'd do what he wanted, I know that.”
“What exactly did he want?” asked Hester.
“Oh, you know. Sex, of course. Blood sharing, not like me, Edie didn't go for cutting on my scale. But a little. He could at least get a taste. With me,” she said, ruefully, “he could drink the stuff.” She shuddered again. “Compliance. Service, and I mean that in a business sort of way.” She struggled for a word. “Hausfrau? Geisha? She provided all the creature comforts