Мишель Роуэн - Lady & the Vamp

He raised an eyebrow in an obvious sign of approval of the pretty blonde seated next to him. "Matthew

Barkley."

"I assume you're the werewolf."

He frowned. "Uh."

"Don't tell her anything," Quinn advised. "Janie, why don't the two of you leave. You're not wanted here."

"Quinn, I don't think you're taking very good care of yourself. You look kind of pale. Being a vamp getting to you? Not getting your three squares of hemoglobin a day?"

He narrowed his eyes. "So kind of you to be concerned, considering the last time I saw youyou shot me in the chest."

"With atranq dart. Big deal. And you totally deserved it."

The waitress returned with Janie's coffee. She grabbed for the creamer and sugar and put in an ample amount of both. "Now, let's get back on topic. The Eye. Give it to me right now and we'll leave."

"Like I said before, I don't know what you're talking about."

She took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Lenny simply sat, quiet as a large boulder, watching the proceedings. Then she looked at a confused Barkley.

He raised his eyebrows. "I don't know what you're talking about, either."

Her left cheek twitched. She was acting very cool, calm, and collected, but could she be nervous?

Quinn frowned at her. "Don't you believe us?"

"Oh, I believe wolf-boy here. You? Not so much."

"Then I don't know what to say."

"How about this—" The unmistakable sound of a gun safety clicked off. "I have a gun loaded with silver bullets pointed at your travel buddy. You hand over the Eye and I won't send him to doggy heaven."

Barkley looked down. "She's got a gun, Quinn. What the hell is going on here?"

She glanced at Quinn. "Your move, handsome."

Not good. Not good at all.

She hadn't wanted to resort to Rambo measures quite so soon. She didn't want anybody to get hurt, but maybe she was more desperate than she'd thought. It seemed so easy just marching into the diner and acting tough, but when she saw Quinn face to face, it definitely knocked her confidence off balance. And when she was off balance, she tended toward extreme measures.

Was she going to shoot the werewolf? No. He'd never done anything to her, and it would be a frosty day in hell before she killed for no good reason. It was obvious that he didn't know where the Eye was,

let alone what it was. But she hoped that Quinn would think she was capable of such a cold hearted act.

Whatever she'd have to do to save her sister, she'd do it. Hopefully that wouldn't have to include murder.

Quinn was very cool about the whole situation. So much so that she thought for a moment he was going to let her pull the trigger. That would be very uncomfortable when she didn't .

"Well?" she prompted after what seemed like a very long moment ticked by.

He studied her, his gaze glancing briefly against the line of her throat, those dark blue eyes watching every move she made, like a snake. Like a really good-looking vampire snake that continued to make her feel like an awkward twelve-year-old when she thought the seventeen-year-old Quinn was the hottest guy she'd ever seen.

"I don't have it yet," he finally said.

She almost let out a long sigh of relief. Then she realized what he said.

"You don't have it yet ?"

"That's right."

"Where is it?"

"Nearby."

"Nearby where ?"

The waitress returned with Lenny's hamburger. No one spoke or looked up at her.

She let out a small annoyed sigh before walking away.

"You're going to take me to it," Janie said. "Right now."

Quinn just stared at her, steady and calm. "You're going to regret coming here."

"Is that a threat? Not the right situation for that kind of macho talk, in case you haven't noticed."

"What happened to you, Janie? You were such a cute kid."

She snorted. "I guess cute kids grow up and learn how to use concealed weapons. Now, back on topic,

handsome. The Eye? You have until Lenny's finished lunch to tell me where it is, or I'm going to make werewolf stew over here."

Quinn glanced at Lenny, who was already halfway through his burger.

Barkley now had sweat beading on his forehead, but his eyes had narrowed, his brow wrinkled as if he was concentrating hard. And he was staring directly at her chest.

"Thirty-four C if you're wondering," she said. "Can I take a picture for you? It'll last longer."

He shook his head. "I'm not… well, okay, maybe I was a little bit. You've got a body like a Hooters waitress. But actually, I'm looking at your necklace."

Automatically, she reached to her throat to touch the cool stone and then looked at Lenny, who raised an eyebrow at her. He, however, didn't stop eating. "What about it?"

He brought his fingers to his temple and rubbed as if he was fighting off a bad headache. "Nothing.

Probably nothing. I've just been having this dream the past two nights, and that necklace was in it. A redhead was wearing it. Also with nice hoot—" He looked up and cleared his throat. "Never mind.

Maybe I saw the same necklace for sale somewhere on the trip and it wedged its way into my subconscious."

Janie's throat felt tight. Her necklace was handmade by an old woman she'd met on the beach in Mexico

. There were probably only two like it in the world—she had one, and the other belonged to her sister.

Her sister who just happened to have red hair.

Who the hell was this guy?

"Tell me more about the dream," she said.

"Who cares about the stupid dream?" Quinn growled.

She gave him a sharp look, then turned back to Barkley and poked him in the ribs with the gun. "Tell me."

"Okay, okay. Uh… the redhead was wearing this black dress. Really expensive, I think. There were a lot of people around her. Somewhere inside. No windows. She played with the necklace, touching it like a good-luck charm."

"Where?"

"I don't know. It was a dream."

"Oh, come on Barkley," Quinn said. "It may have been a prophetic one, what with the whole psychic werewolf deal you have going on."

It sounded as if he was being sarcastic.

"You're psychic?" Janie repeated.

He blinked. "Sometimes."

She clicked the safety back on the gun and put it into the shoulder holster under her jacket. Her palms were sweating. She'd visited countless psychics over the past five years. Not one of them had gotten a read on her sister. It had been so frustrating. Maybe she'd just gone to the wrong people, hadn't paid enough money, or asked the wrong questions. Professional psychics were notoriously temperamental.

"I'm all done," Lenny announced, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"Just a minute." Janie held up a finger and then reached around to undo her necklace. It slipped off her neck and pooled into her hand. She thrust it toward Barkley. "Touch the necklace. Can you see anything?"

Barkley and Quinn exchanged a look. Then Barkley tentatively reached out and took the necklace from her. He closed his eyes and rubbed his thumb over the turquoise.

She watched him warily.

His forehead creased. "I'm not getting anything about the dream, but I am getting something about…"

His eyes opened slowly. "… about you . You're worried about somebody."

She snatched the necklace back. "Forget it."

"You're really worried. That's why you're doing this. Is the person you're worried about the redhead? Is that why you're here? Man, talk about destiny." He cupped his hand over the necklace again and closed his eyes for a moment. "And you weren't going to shoot me. You're not a bad person, Janie. You're not.

You just need a chance to prove that to yourself."

"If I shoot you right now, will that prove something?"

Barkley's expression softened. "You know, if you really need somebody to help you, then me and Quinn can ... oh, shit!"