The Killing Dance - Laurell K. Hamilton [93]
The phone on the bedside table rang, and I flung myself out of the chair, scrambling for it, terrified that it would wake Monica. I cupped the receiver against my mouth and spoke quietly while my pulse pounded. “Yes?”
“Anita?” It was Edward.
“How did you know where I was?”
“All that matters is that if I can find you, so can someone else.”
“Is the contract still on?”
“Yes.”
“Damn. What about the time deadline?”
“Expanded to forty-eight hours.”
“Well, shit. Aren’t they determined.”
“I think you should go underground for awhile, Anita.”
“You mean hide?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought you wanted me to be bait.”
“If you stay out as bait, we need more bodyguards. The werewolves and vamps are monsters, but they’re still amateurs. We’re professionals, it’s what gives us our edge. I’m good, but I can’t be everywhere.”
“Like following me into the women’s john,” I said.
I heard him sigh. “I let you down.”
“I was careless, too, Edward.”
“So you agree?”
“To hiding? Yeah. You got some place in mind?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“I don’t like the tone in your voice, Edward.”
“It’s the most secure place in town and has built-in bodyguards.”
“Where?” That one word sounded suspicious even to me.
“Circus of the Damned,” he said.
“You have got to be out of your freaking mind.”
“It’s the Master’s daytime retreat, Anita. It’s a fortress. Jean-Claude’s sealed up the tunnel we came through to get Nikolaos. It’s secure.”
“You want me to spend the day bedded down with vampires. I don’t think so.”
“You going back to Richard’s house?” Edward asked. “How safe are you going to be there? How safe will you be anywhere above ground?”
“Dammit, Edward.”
“I’m right, and you know it.”
I wanted to argue, but he was right. The Circus was the most secure place I knew. Hell, the place had dungeons. But the idea of voluntarily sleeping there made my skin crawl.
“How can I rest surrounded by vampires, even friendly ones?”
“Jean-Claude s offered you his bed. Before you get mad, he’ll sleep in his coffin.”
“That’s what he says now,” I said.
“I’m not worried about your virtue, Anita. I’m worried about keeping you alive. And I’m admitting that I can’t keep you safe. I’m good. I’m the best money can buy, but I’m only one person. One person, no matter how good, isn’t enough.”
That was scary. Edward admitting that he was in over his head. I never thought I’d live to see it. Come to think of it, I almost hadn’t.
“Okay, I’ll do it, but for how long?”
“You hide out, and I’ll check some things. If I don’t have to guard you, I can do more.”
“How long?”
“A day, maybe two.”
“What if whoever it is finds out I’m at the Circus?”
“They might try for you,” Edward said. His voice was very matter-of-fact when he said it.
“And if they do?”
“If you, a half dozen vampires, and almost that many werewolves can’t handle the action, then I don’t think it matters.”
“You’re just comforting as hell.”
“I know you, Anita. If I was any more comforting, you might refuse to hide.”
“Twenty-four hours, Edward, then I want another plan. I am not going to hide at the bottom of a hole and wait for people to kill me.”
“Agreed. I’ll pick you up after you make your statement to the cops.”
“Where do you get your information?”
He laughed, but it was harsh. “If I know where you’ll be, so does someone else. Might ask your cop friends if they have a spare vest.”
“You mean a bulletproof vest?”
“Couldn’t hurt.”
“Are you trying to scare me?”
“Yes.”
“You’re doing a good job.”
“Thanks. Don’t come out of the police station until I come in and get you. Avoid being in the open if you can.”
“You really think someone else will try to hit me tonight?”
“We’re planning for worst-case scenarios from now on, Anita. No more chances. I’ll see you then.” He hung up before I could say anything else.
I stood there holding the phone, scared. In all the panic with Monica and her baby, I’d almost forgotten that someone