The Killing Dance - Laurell K. Hamilton [0]
THE KILLING DANCE
An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1997 by Laurell K. Hamilton
This book may not be reproduced in whole or part, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission. Making or distributing electronic copies of this book constitutes copyright infringement and could subject the infringer to criminal and civil liability.
For information address:
The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
The Penguin Putnam Inc. World Wide Web site address is http://www.penguinputnam.com
ISBN: 1-101-14630-3
A ACE BOOK®
Ace Books first published by The Ace Publishing Group, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
Ace and the “A” design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Putnam Inc.
First edition (electronic): August 2001
TO PATY COCKRUM,
FAN, FRIEND, FINE ARTIST.
YOU SHOULD SEE THE PICTURES
SHE SENDS ME OF JEAN-CLAUDE.
SHE REALLY IS
THE VOICE OF TEMPTATION.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Ricia Mainhardt, my agent, who came up with the title.
Marion Stensgard who answered my questions.
The Wild Canid Survival and Research Center (Wolf Sanctuary) for letting me use their library.
Bonnee Pierson, who helped with a very different kind of research.
The Alternate Historians: Rett Macpherson who went above and beyond the call of duty for research, N. L. Drew who heard parts of this book over the phone, Tom Drennan, whose book is finally ready to make the rounds, Mark Sumner who says everything will be all right, even when he doesn’t know, Marella Sands who reminded me we’re supposed to be having fun, and Deborah Millitello who holds my hand.
My husband, Gary, who always tells me the truth whether I want to hear it or not.
Sarah Sumner for bitching sessions.
Joan-Marie Knappenberger who let me use her house.
The Saint Louis Bread Company for letting me take up a table for hours at a time.
The newsletter everyone’s been asking about is here. Here’s the address: Laurell K. Hamilton Fan Club, P.O. Box 190306, St. Louis, MO 63119. Find out where I’ll be. Find out what Anita and the gang are doing. Questions answered, mysteries solved.
Table of Contents
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1
* * *
THE most beautiful corpse I’d ever seen was sitting behind my desk. Jean-Claude’s white shirt gleamed in the light from the desk lamp. A froth of lace spilled down the front, peeking from inside his black velvet jacket. I stood behind him, my back to the wall, arms crossed over my stomach, which put my right hand comfortably close to the Browning Hi-Power in its shoulder holster. I wasn’t about to draw on Jean-Claude. It was the other vampire I was worried about.
The desk lamp was the only light in the room. The vampire had requested the overheads be turned out. His name was Sabin, and he stood against the far wall, huddling in the dark. He was covered head to foot in a black, hooded cape. He looked like something out of an old Vincent Price movie. I’d never seen a real vampire dress like that.
The last member of our happy little group was Dominic Dumare. He sat in one of the client chairs. He was tall, thin, but not weak. His hands were large and strong, big enough to palm my face. He was dressed in a three-piece black suit, like a chauffeur except for the diamond stickpin in his tie. A beard and thin mustache lined the strong bones of his face.
When he’d entered my office, I’d felt him like a psychic wind tripping down my spine. I’d only encountered two other people who had that taste