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blood drained from their bodies!”

  Paul had a sudden sick feeling in his stomach. He stood back, scrutinizing Grady’s face. No doubt about it, the man was dead serious. “So…You’re telling me that there really are vampires? That these people were killed not by a cougar or bear but by a real, true to life, vampire? That’s really hard to believe…even coming from you.”

  Grady scratched the back of his neck and then picked up his other doughnut. “I would have never believed it myself, Paul…But I’ve had more than one respectable doctor tell me that no ordinary animal committed these crimes.”

  “Really?”

  “Each victim had two holes in their necks where the blood had been drained from their bodies. Looked like large snake bites. No bear….no cougar has the ability to do that! What’s more…our brave Sally is very lucky to be alive today. If it weren’t for her cat, she’d be history. Funny thing is…she can’t seem to remember now much about what happened. The more time passes the less she seems to remember. All she is clear on is that the man bit her and that her cat jumped on him and she ran out the door screaming.”

  “Oh my God!” Paul said, a hand going to the top of his head and turning away briefly as though to process it all. Then he dropped his hand down and turned back around. “So the cougar that Dorian killed was just an incident and not related whatsoever?”

  “Sure looks that way.”

  “Is there anything we can do? That I can do to protect Judy…Amber? If this person really is a vampire…how do we fight this?”

  “You know me, too, Paul. I’m a no-nonsense guy. And, unfortunately…Sally can’t remember all the details. Still, she swears the man bit her! But the two holes in her neck weren’t ordinary teeth marks! As I said, looked more like marks left by snake fangs. And a good-sized snake at that.”

  “Seriously?” Paul said, inclining his head a little.

  “Seriously, I kid you not. I am wondering if this character hypnotized her somehow. Being the man of logic that I am, I would lean towards someone with a medical degree or knowledge in that field. But, that still doesn’t explain how these bodies could have been drained of their blood so rapidly. According to the coroner, it was done rather quickly. The only one that wasn’t was Shelia…Whoever killed her, killed her more slowly.”

  “Wonder why?”

  “Who knows? Maybe this sickko was savoring his kill.”He took another bite of his doughnut, chewed and swallowed. He sighed, “This is something like I’ve never come across in all my years as a ranger…Except for Clifford Braz’s wife, Caroline. Only, that was three years ago and one incident that we know of. As time passed we just chalked it up to being one of those unexplainable things. Now, I’m wondering if there is come connection.”

  “Just say for the moment that anything is possible…That there really are vampires, not just some freaks. What is there that we can do to protect ourselves, our families, against them?”

  “Been doing a little research. Surfed the web half the night. Guess you don’t invite any strangers in your house…for one thing. Once they’ve been invited in, they can come in any time they want.”

  “That’s a chilling thought,” Paul said, eyeing a short, middle-aged woman just coming in the door. “And someone wrote that very warning in the front of Amber’s book!”

  “You don’t say?”

  “Saw it myself.”

  “I’d like to see that book Amber has,” Grady said. “Maybe I’ll drop by her place this morning…Want her to tell me exactly what happened the night it was left there.” He finished off his doughnut and coffee. “Thanks a million for breakfast…Actually my second one this morning.” He grinned. “Don’t tell Samantha.”

  “You know I won’t. And you’re more than welcome, Grady.”

  “You take care now…And if you hear of anything or see anything out of the ordinary…Well, you know what to do.”

  “Definitely,” Paul replied and went over to help the woman who was trying to reach a jar of mayonnaise that was just out of her grasp.

  Amber was outside with Star when Grady rolled in with his Jeep. He slid out and, shifting his pants up by his belt, he ambled in her direction. “Amber,” he said with that hat tip, and then looking at the dog. “Hello, Star.”

  Star woofed enthusiastically and wagged his tail.

  Grady reached down with one hand and ruffled the dog’s ears. “Star’s known me since he was a pup. Samantha…my wife…and Jerri have been best friends all their lives.” He straightened.

  “I didn’t know that.”

  Grady rubbed his other hand across his mustache and then let his hand down. “Paul tells me someone dropped an unusual book on your front porch the other night.”

  Amber was a little surprised that Paul had told Grady. It showed in her face. “Oh…that! Yeah…But I’m sure it’s not anything. Just some weirdo. Probably nothing to be concerned about.”

  He didn’t look so sure, and did a slow scan around the yard before returning his attention back to her. “Weirdos are what you should be afraid of, Amber. And if you’re not worried, why did you get Star?”

  “Guess there’s no fooling you.”

  “Nope. Been on the job far too long. Also, I guess you’ve heard by now about Sally Peters?”

  “Yes I did. Saw it on the news this morning. A man bit her! Now, that is bizarre.”

  “Good thing she has a crazy twenty-pound cat or she might not be here.”

  “That was weird. I didn’t know cats could be vicious…with people.”

  “Cat’s an animal. Any animal can be vicious when provoked. Guess she didn’t want her bread and butter killed.”

  “I realize a cat can do some damage…Just never occurred to me that one would attack a human like that. Live and learn, I suppose.”

  If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this job…it is that anything is possible.” He shifted his weight. “Now…I don’t suppose I could borrow that book for a little while?”

  “Oh…sure. Of course.” She waved for him to follow and headed for the cabin with Star.

  “I see you don’t have him leashed.”

  “No…thought I’d try it. He hasn’t tried to run off once.”

  “Jerri’s dogs are well-trained.”

  “I’m finding that out.” Once they were inside the house she retrieved the book from her bedroom and brought it out to him. “Here,” she said, handing it over. “I’ve looked through it enough to thoroughly give me the creeps…Keep it, if you want.”

  “Nice of you. But, until we know who left it, I think it might be a good idea for me to return it when I’m done…Don’t want to set this person off…should he or she…but I’m assuming it’s a he…somehow find out that you gave it away.”

  “Didn’t think of that.”

  “You be careful now…and good to know you have some protection. Can’t do any better than Star there,” he said, eyeing the dog sitting faithfully at her side.

  Star woofed as though he understood.

  “Ma’am,” Grady said, tipping his hat again and went out the door.

  Amber sighed and looked down at her pet. “Just gets weirder and weirder…”

  Star tilted his head to the side and let out a little yap.

  “I bet you’d like a treat. Have a bag of liver flavored ones shaped like bones for you.”

  He definitely understood the word treat and danced into the kitchen ahead of her.

  It was evening as Dorian approached home, a mere blur passing through the thick trees and overgrowth. He made a slight detour by Amber’s cabin first and was surprised to smell a dog. He stopped in his tracks. The dog would sense him; know that he wasn’t human, which could be a little testy. This was a new problem to work out. Now he would have to make friends with the canine in order to be able to come around. Though he could kill the dog with no problem, it was something he would rather not do. Amber was what he wanted. He had not wanted a female this much in a very long time.

  He wa
nted her happy, not sad. And he wanted her safe. It took no fool to figure out why she had got a dog. Protection! There was no way for her to know that he intended to protect her from now on.

  Amber was sitting at the table reading when Star jumped up with a growl and went to the back door. “What is it, Star?” She tossed her magazine aside, rose and peered out the door’s window. “I don’t see anything.” She put her hand on the knob, but Star got really excited then, snarling and growling, definitely ready to attack whatever was out there. “Shit! I don’t know what to do! I don’t know if I should let you out. What if it’s a bear? Something big? I don’t want to lose you!” Star jumped up on his hind legs, scratching at the door. Amber thought surely he was going to tear right through it. “Okay…Maybe I should let you out. But don’t you go getting yourself killed.” She blew out air and went to open the door. The dog scrambled through and was out and running before she had it all the way open. “Star!” she yelled, but with a couple of graceful leaps over some blackberry bushes the dog was already into the woods and out of sight. “Oh crap!”

  Dorian was waiting for him. Though Star was quick, he was quicker. He caught the dog in mid-air, grasping his muzzle tight so he couldn’t bite. Star whimpered from the force, but he wasn’t hurt badly. With one powerful hand Dorian held the dog’s mouth shut and held his other arm around the dog.

  “Now,” he said to the dog, “we’ve got to have a little talk here.” He heard Amber come outside and knew she was heading his way. “First, I have to get