Iris Johansen - Blood Game

“That’s all?”

“That’s all.”

“And he accepted your suggestions even though you’re a stranger to him?”

“Sometimes it happens like that.”

“You’re not telling the truth.”

“Actually I am.”

“Not all the truth.”

“You do dig deep.” He chuckled. “No, not quite.” He looked out at the lake. “I told you I was a hunter. I have certain talents that make me valuable in that area. I’m very persuasive.”

“What does that mean?”

“To find someone, you have to have people willing to tell you what you want to know. I have no problem with accomplishing that end. I can make people want to please me.”

“Hypnosis?”

“I guess you could call it that if you wanted to generalize. It’s a little more abstract and complicated.”

“Against their will?”

“Sometimes. Or you could say it wasn’t against their will if they wanted to do it. Isn’t that right?”

“No.”

He laughed. “You’re absolutely correct. By every moral standard it’s wrong. That’s why I had to develop my own code of choices and limitations.”

“But they’re your choices. You could change them to suit yourself. That could be an awesome power in the wrong-” She stopped. “Good God, I’m accepting all this crap as if I believe it.”

“You do believe it. You see things that aren’t clear to other people. That’s why I’m talking to you tonight.”

“There could be another perfectly logical reason why Patty’s grandfather turned into a reformed Scrooge.”

He didn’t answer.

“ If you’re telling the truth, is the change permanent?”

“No, I didn’t have enough time. All the selfishness will come back in a day or two. But I think he’ll remember that he cares about her.”

A memory of love was a wonderful thing in itself, Jane thought.

“I didn’t hurt him,” Caleb said. “I chose to help Quinn, and perhaps it helped Patty and her grandfather too.”

“Out of the kindness of your heart,” she said sarcastically.

“No, that’s not what this is all about. It’s about hunting down Jelak. I wanted to make it simpler for Quinn and leave a little thread to make you curious.”

And he had succeeded. Lord, he was clever. “You haven’t convinced me.”

“It will take time. I’ve been through this before. I think it helps that Eve believes in Megan. There’s no one you trust more than Eve.”

“Yes.” She was silent again. “Is that how you convinced those policemen to let you come on the porch?”

He nodded. “They think they’re doing you a service. After all, no one is safer than I am.”

No one was more dangerous if what he said was true.

“I could prove it to you,” he said softly. “I could make you think that I was your best friend, even your lover. It would be difficult because you’re so strong, but I’m very, very good.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Then look at me, and I’ll give you a taste. Nothing permanent. I promise.” He smiled. “Aren’t you curious? I dare you, Jane.” He repeated, “Look at me.”

She slowly raised her eyes to meet his own.

Warmth, no, heat, memories of Caleb holding her naked, driving into her body. Desire so intense and sexual that she couldn’t bear it. Her breasts were firming, readying. She was melting toward him, into him.

Then he was looking away from her. “Oh, the temptation. You would be a delight.”

She felt dazed, her body sensitive and still tingling. “You son of a bitch.”

“Yes, I couldn’t resist. Much more interesting than a comfortable, friendly interchange. But it did prove my point.”

She couldn’t deny that when her body was still aching. “They should keep you confined.”

“They’ve tried over the years. But the only way to do it is to keep me drugged. And I become drug-tolerant very quickly.” He smiled. “So it’s up to me. I do have my code. And I don’t fall from grace very often. You were just too much of a temptation, and I actually had a legitimate reason to do it.”

“Rationalization.”

He nodded. “Perhaps. But you weren’t going to let me discuss anything until I dealt with what happened to Patty’s grandfather. I had to be honest with you.”

“You wouldn’t have it so easy next time. I’d be prepared for you.”

“And you’re strong. So let’s forget it and get down to the reason I’m here.”

He hadn’t argued with her but stepped aside. “Why are you here?”

“To get your cooperation.” He turned and looked at her again. “We both know he’s going to go after Eve. That attempt on your friend was only a gesture of rage. He wants Eve, and you’re the ticket he’ll use to get to her.”

“Why does he want Eve so badly?”

“She’s the final one. He thinks her blood will put him over the top into vampire nirvana.”

“Why?”

“She’s extraordinary. She’s extremely strong. She’s old enough and experienced enough to make her blood richer than, say, yours, Jane. You’re strong, but you lack the experience Eve’s gained over the years. The tragedy she’s gone through has made both her mind and blood the apex of richness. She’s the complete package.”

“Why would that make her blood different?”

“Because Jelak thinks it does. He believes it’s part of the essence, the soul of her. It’s what he was taught. And that’s all that’s important.”

“It’s bullshit. Tragic bullshit. And you said some of those victims were killed for no real purpose in his view.”

“Except for the hunger. During this stage, the hunger is very much present. He won’t be able to keep himself from taking frequent victims. After he reaches his final goal, then everything changes.”

“And Eve is that goal.”

“Yes,” Caleb said. “And you’re the path that leads to her. You can see where I’m going.”

“Eve said that you’d serve up any of us on Jelak’s altar. You want me to be your bait.”

“Yes.”

“And that was why you didn’t want Eve and Joe around when you told me.”

“It would have been awkward.”

She looked at him and started to laugh. “That’s one way of putting it. Joe would have thrown you into the lake.”

“I could probably convince him that wouldn’t be a good idea.”

She remembered that moment at the restaurant when he’d been trying to persuade Joe to go hunting with him. He had been intense but not totally mesmerizing as he had been with her. “Why didn’t you try that before? Doesn’t it work with Joe?”

“I don’t know. Probably. I prefer not to interfere with free choice when it may involve the death of the subject.”

She shook her head. “You’re incredible.”

“Yes, I am. Now let’s get down to business. I promise to keep you alive if you decide to help me catch Jelak.”

“With all my blood intact?”

“That goes without saying. We can’t have one without the other. I won’t bring you into the picture until I have a scenario I can control.”

“I’m not sure I’d trust you.”

“Of course not. But you’ll probably do it anyway. You love Eve enough to do anything for her. I wouldn’t tell them about our talk if I were you. It would only worry them.” He got to his feet. “Think about it. I’ll let you know when I can arrange it. First we have to find him.”

She stared at him. The light was illuminating the deep planes of his face and that beautifully sensual mouth. Power and intensity and the alluring magnetism that was even stronger than she had imagined. “You’re a very ruthless man, Seth Caleb.”

“You have no idea.” He started down the steps. “But you will, Jane.” He stopped to smile and wave at the two officers in the squad car. They waved back, and he continued down the steps and strode toward his car.