Sookie Stackhouse Boxed Set (Books 1-8) - Charlaine Harris [392]
I let the smile fade off my face, and I leaned against the bar on my elbows, trying to think real hard.
Sam said, “This is big trouble, right?” His face was serious.
“Yes, this is big trouble.”
“Do you need to leave? There’s not too much happening here. Holly can come out of the kitchen now that they’re gone, and I can always see to the tables myself, if you need to get home. . . .” Sam wasn’t sure where Eric was, but he suspected, and he’d noticed Holly’s abrupt bolt into the kitchen.
Sam had earned my loyalty and respect a hundred times over.
“I’ll give them five minutes to get out of the parking lot.”
“Do you think they might have something to do with Jason’s disappearance?”
“Sam, I just don’t know.” I automatically dialed the sheriff’s department and got the same answer I’d gotten all day—“No news, we’ll call you when we know something.” But after she said that, the dispatcher told me that the pond was going to be searched the next day; the police had managed to get hold of two search-and-rescue divers. I didn’t know how to feel about this information. Mostly, I was relieved that Jason’s disappearance was being taken seriously.
When I hung up the phone, I told Sam the news. After a second, I said, “It seems too much to believe that two men could disappear in the Bon Temps area at the same time. At least, the Stonebrooks seem to think Eric’s around here. I have to think that there’s a connection.”
“Those Stonebrooks are Weres,” Sam muttered.
“And witches. You be careful, Sam. She’s a killer. The Weres of Shreveport are out after her, and the vamps, too. Watch your step.”
“Why is she so scary? Why would the Shreveport pack have any trouble handling her?”
“She’s drinking vampire blood,” I said, as close to his ear as I could get without kissing him. I glanced around the room, to see that Kevin was watching our exchange with a lot of interest.
“What does she want with Eric?”
“His business. All his businesses. And him.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “So it’s business, and personal.”
“Yep.”
“Do you know where Eric is?” He’d avoided asking me directly until now.
I smiled at him. “Why would I know that? But I confess, I’m worried about those two being right down the road from my house. I have a feeling they’re going to break into Bill’s place. They might figure Eric’s hiding with Bill, or in Bill’s house. I’m sure he’s got a safe hole for Eric to sleep in and blood on hand.” That was pretty much all a vampire required, blood and a dark place.
“So you’re going over to guard Bill’s property? Not a good idea, Sookie. Let Bill’s homeowners insurance take care of whatever damage they do searching. I think he told me he went with State Farm. Bill wouldn’t want you hurt in defense of plants and bricks.”
“I don’t plan on doing anything that dangerous,” I said, and truly, I didn’t plan it. “But I do think I’ll run home. Just in case. When I see their car lights leaving Bill’s house, I’ll go over and check it out.”
“You need me to come with you?”
“Nah, I’m just going to do damage assessment, that’s all. Holly’ll be enough help here?” She’d popped out of the kitchen the minute the Stonebrooks had left.
“Sure.”
“Okay, I’m gone. Thanks so much.” My conscience didn’t twinge as much when I noticed that the place wasn’t nearly as busy as it’d been an hour ago. You got nights like that, when people just cleared out all of a sudden.
I had an itchy feeling between my shoulder blades, and maybe all our patrons had, too. It was that feeling that something was prowling that shouldn’t be: that Halloween feeling, I call it, when you kind of picture something bad is easing around the corner of your house, to peer into your windows.
By the time I grabbed my purse, unlocked my car, and drove back to my house, I was almost twitching from uneasiness. Everything