Синтия Иден: Hotter After Midnight

A chorus of questions erupted at this news.

But McNeal just kept talking. "Evidence links Jake Donnelley to the murders of Gillian Nemont, Preston Myers, and Darla Mitchell. We also have reason to suspect that he was behind the recent killing of four John Does…"

The watch on Emily’s arm vibrated. Glancing down, she saw that it was nearly time for her to meet up with her last appointment of the day. Marvin was scheduled to come in, and she was eager to see how the vampire fared.

She’d snuck away from the office to catch the news conference. She’d been curious about how McNeal would spin Jake’s death.

Shot in the throat. Nice touch.

Colin stood just behind McNeal. Brooks was at his side. Both were looking straight ahead, their attention on the crowd.

Time to go.

Emily stepped back, turned-

And nearly walked into Smith.

The ME looked tired. Her eyes were bloodshot. Scratches covered her face and arms. But her chin was lifted high, and there was a determined expression on her face.

"How many of them…" she muttered, her attention on the crowd of reporters, "are even human?"

Emily glanced back at the group. "At least two-thirds." Once you know the truth, you can never stop suspecting.

Smith sucked in a sharp breath of surprise. "You see them, don’t you?"

It would be too hard to explain how she could really recognize them all, so she just nodded.

"Do…they scare you?"

Niol’s image flashed through her mind. "Some of them do." She met Smith’s stare. "But then, some humans scare the hell out of me too."

The ME nodded, understanding. "It’s just…what am I supposed to do now? Now that I-"

Know.

"Keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing." Only now, maybe McNeal wouldn’t have to come up with so many stories to explain certain anomalies Smith found with the bodies. "Everything is just like it was before, you know."

Smith’s dark gaze swept over the crowd. "No, it isn’t."

"The monsters were there before, you just didn’t see them." But now she would-she’d notice every difference. Always wonder.

The blinders were off for Smith.

But still on for the rest of the world.

One day they’d all realize. They’d wake up, and they’d all finally understand.

Monsters weren’t just stories to frighten small children. Weren’t just myths to whisper in the dark.

They were real.

And they were everywhere.

Emily reached into her purse, pulled out a small, white business card. She offered it to Smith. "If you ever want to talk about what happened, call me." Being nearly murdered by a creature straight out of a nightmare wouldn’t be an easy thing to deal with, and if she could help Smith, she would. Even if the ME wasn’t her usual type of client.

Smith’s fingers curled around the card. "Thanks." She swallowed, then stepped away.

Emily watched her slow stride across the room. Smith had a long road to go, but the woman was a survivor. She’d make it.

And she’d learn to live with the monsters around her.

Emily’s attention turned back to the swarm of reporters. The humans were leaning forward, a sort of greedy interest on their faces, but the Other, they hung back, as if realizing there were more details to this particular case that were best left uncovered.

Yes, one day the humans would turn around and realize they were surrounded by the Other.

But today, well, today wasn’t going to be that day of dawning realization. Not today…

Her wrist alarm vibrated again.

Time to get back to work. She needed to chat with her vampire. See how his blood diet was going.

And after that…she turned her head slightly, met Colin’s bright stare. Saw the hunger in his eyes.

After meeting the vampire, she had a date with a wolf.

Another busy night for the Monster Doctor.