“We’ll be starting this with two agents and detectives from England, France, and Norway, as well as an Interpol liaison, a Frenchman named Bisset who seems able to get anything needed at the drop of a hat. And, you’ll be working with support back here in anything tech or forensic. You’ll be the first of a team with Special Agent Della Hamilton,” Jackson told him, then nodded his head toward the door to the office.
It opened on cue.
And Della Hamilton walked into the room, wearing a pantsuit today, her long sweep of hair tied in a knot at the nape of her neck.
Very pro. When taking down the Midnight Slasher, she had made herself appear to be all casual and cute—and naive.
Today, the woman was all professional.
“Della, thanks. And Mason, you, too,” Jackson Crow said. “First, we’d like you both to accept this venture. As I’ve explained, I hope you’ll still be working with me. We have Angela—my wife and one of our first Krewe members along with a few others—and an amazing team of techs and experts in our offices to help with anything at any time. We really have a great team to deal with any evidence no matter how small. They’re brilliant with video and so much more. So, here we are. We want you willing to begin this new venture, ready to accept it, and move forward. If you’re hesitant, that’s all right. We want you, for many reasons—”
Mason was surprised to discover he was slightly amused.
“You’ve been stalking me?” he asked.
“Not stalking!” Adam Harrison protested. “Heaven forbid!” Grinning, he glanced at Jackson.
“Of course,” Jackson continued, amused as well, “we’ve done our homework. If you don’t choose to accept this assignment, we’d still appreciate you accepting a transfer to the Krewe.”
“I’d thought about requesting an interview with you,” Mason admitted.
“Why didn’t you?” Jackson asked.
“I guess I got used to working alone.”
“And yet, you can’t imagine the amazing abilities and teamwork that exists among our people,” Jackson said. “Okay, to be blunt—no recorders in here—we know you have the ability to speak with the dead. We are a small percentage of a small percentage of the world population,” he added quietly. “You’ve never worked with anyone who was just like you.”
“No, I haven’t,” Mason admitted.
He was silent for a minute. He turned to look at the woman who would be his partner for the enterprise, curious as to her reaction.
She was looking at Jackson, nodding. “I’ve been reading about the killer they’re calling the Vampire. He needs to be stopped—especially if he’s gaining followers.”
“We don’t know that,” Jackson told her. “Nor can we be certain he started this in the United States—”
“Our killer last night wasn’t the Vampire killer on the move across the pond,” Mason said. “He was slashing throats—not drinking blood.”
“Right,” Jackson said. “And he may not have known the Vampire, or wanted to emulate him.”
“But...he did talk about getting it right,” Della said.
“Most probably not associated, but...the man you brought down was William Temple of Slidell. We’ve investigated his background and the profilers had it just right on him. He was bullied through school. He asked a girlfriend to marry him and she turned him down and took off—he drank heavily at several of the bars along Bourbon Street. He worked for one of the bayou tour companies until he was fired for unwanted attention toward female tourists—and calling them filthy names when they spurned his advances. He was evicted from his apartment off Esplanade.”
“A killer, but hardly a brilliant one.” Della nodded. “And again, nothing compared to the man leaving bodies in pristine condition and beauty, just devoid of blood.”
“The display of the victims has become important now. One of our Krewe members, also a medical examiner, believes the victims discovered in the Florida Everglades and the Blue Ridge in Virginia might have been this killer’s beginnings for murder—practice victims, one might say. They were also exsanguinated. While the throats on the victims were slit, because of other markings, Kat believes he was perfecting his ability to pierce blood vessels perfectly—and draw blood from the neck, leaving marks that could appear to be those left by vampire fangs. Right now we just know he’s on a cross-country killing spree in Europe, either on his own or with an accomplice. Interpol is on it—officers from three countries are now on it. But I’ve been asked from on high to help, so...”
“I’m in,” Della said. “Of course, you knew I would be.”
“Thank you, Della,” Jackson said. He stared at Mason. “Special Agent Carter?”
“I... Wow. I—I admit to being intrigued. Why us?” he asked, curious.
“Well, the obvious, of course. Della had been assigned to my office already when this came up. And, yes, we have watched your work.”
“Someone else knows your record for finding resolutions to cases. Remember, I told you voices on high in the government wanted this, and they were adamant you were the man for the job, Mason,” Adam Harrison told him. “But you’re hesitating.”
Mason shrugged and grimaced. “No, not really. Maybe I’m afraid of failure. This is important to many people, naturally, and I am hoping I am capable to stop—”
“You may be afraid. We’re not,” Jackson told him. He leaned forward. “Should you choose to accept this assignment—not mission, assignment,” he added dryly, “you’ll be leaving this evening.”
Mason lifted his hands. “I’ve been chasing the Midnight Slasher for months now. I guess I thought I’d be getting a few weeks of vacation.”
“You get this Vampire,” Jackson said, “and I’ll see to it you get a month’s vacation after, if you wish.”
“I...” Mason lifted his hands again. “Honestly, it’s not that I need or expect so much time off, I just...”
“You may refuse,” Jackson assured him. “This isn’t for everyone.”
“But should you?”
He turned to see Della Hamilton had spoken quietly and was staring at him, again, as if she read something in him, as if she knew more than he did about himself.
“I...”
He didn’t know what it was about the way she was looking at him. Challenging him? Or seeing something in him he really wasn’t sure of himself.
He looked from her to Adam Harrison and then to Jackson Crow.