Chapter 13

Beth opened her bedroom door at the first knock. Simone stood outside with a smile. "Oh my God, if I had a hour I would soak in the whirlpool tub I have in my bathroom."

Beth laughed as she closed her door behind her and hooked her arm in Simone's. "That's not just your bathroom, Counselor," she said as they walked to the stairs. "You realize we share that bathroom, right? Didn't you see the other door? That's my door. I realized it was shared because your door was opened when I checked while you were on the phone with your office."

Simone looked crestfallen. "I was so looking forward to that tub."

Beth shrugged at the remark. "Well if I have my way, we'll be home in time for a late dinner."

They descended the spiral staircase to the expansive foyer of the Daggett mansion. Dressed in a polo shirt and jeans with loafers, Xavier stood waiting by a circular wooden table with his cellphone in hand. Coraline sat several feet away on a leather sette'.

"Ladies." Xavier smiled at their approach as he slipped his phone in his pocket. "Uncle Marc is ten minutes out but he said to go ahead and start lunch without him. If you'll follow me, please?"

He led the way down the long hallway lined with paintings and displays from an era long before the United States existed as a nation. Several Indian artifacts were also prominent. Exquisitely decorated spears, hatchets, and headdresses hung on both sides of the hallway signifying a tribal gauntlet.

"When my uncle came out to this part of the country in the late 16th century, he was a good friend of the Ottawa tribes that were present then," said Xavier as Beth slowed to look at a painting of an Indian squaw overlooking what appeared to be Lake Erie. "There may be truth to the fact that he petitioned the government not to expand westward, but ... for obvious reasons that's not recorded history."

Simone smiled. "Your uncle isn't what I imagined he would be at all."

"How did you picture him, Miss. Walker?"

"Please, call me Simone." Simone hesitated for a few seconds as she searched for the right words. "Obviously well-refined," she said. "But ... different somehow. I mean Josef cringes if there is one thread sticking out of a jacket he had just bought ten minutes prior. And Mick -"

"Wait a minute," Beth said in a defensive tone. "What about Mick?"

"Nothing, Beth. Calm down! I'm saying Mick has his own style. Have you looked at his apartment? Granted I do very well but what I wouldn't do for a layout like that."

"Mick always had his own sense of style. After all, he's only 85."

Beth grimaced at Mick being mentioned by his ex-wife who was discreetly trailing the trio in silence. "The vampires of old like Marcus, Josef, my family especially, while we adjusted to the wonders of advancement over the centuries, we still maintained some degree of a classical era."

She stopped beside Beth and locked eyes with her. "Mick, I admit had a fashion sense that would do for a guitarist in a cabana band, if one was drunk enough not to care. I learned to look past that because I saw something different in him. But he has certainly developed his own flair."

Beth gave the vampire an unfavorable look which Coraline either ignored or did not see. She had closed her eyes and and inhaled and exhaled deeply. Her eyes fluttered as she whispered, "Is that AO negative I smell?"

Beth reared her fist back but Simone grabbed her before she could extend. Beth struggled in her grasp, fighting to get close to Coraline who stared at her in amusement. "I am going to stake you again, you bitch!"

Coraline gave Beth and Simone a small smile before turning to a puzzled King. "Xavier, would you be so kind as to send me a glass to my room? I have the feeling I'm not welcomed for lunch." She turned back the way they came before he could acknowledge her request.

King turned back to the women who had moved to a small leather bench underneath another large wall painting. Beth held her head in her hands as Simone gently pat her back." Are you alright, Miss. Turner?

Simone spoke up. "She's fine, Xavier. She and Coraline have a little bit of ... history."

"A little bit of history?" Beth snorted as she looked up at King. "That is the king of understatements. But here's what happened, Xavier. It all started when I was four ... "

Xavier pulled a chair out for each of the ladies at the elegant dining room table. "I have to say Beth's right, Simone. That is the king of understatements," he said.

Once both women were seated, the single door at the far end of the room opened. A tall, muscular man with brown hair dressed in a suede burgundy jacket, white-button shirt and dark jeans entered. He was carrying a long cardboard tube under his right arm.

He traversed the length of the dining room in what seemed like a split second and rubbed his hands together. "I apologize for my tardiness, ladies. I was held up in this new land deal," he said as he stopped at the head of the table.

Xavier gestured to each of the women as he introduced them. "Simone Walker and Beth Turner, allow me to introduce you to Marcus Daggett."

They both started to rise from their seats but Daggett waved them down. "Please, do not get up. You are my guests," he said, handing the tube to Xavier. "I'm just sorry I kept you waiting."

"Mr. Daggett, we are on your schedule," said Simone as Xavier placed the tube on a small table beside the kitchen door. "Beth and I appreciate your hospitality. Xavier has been the perfect host."

"Marcus. And Xavier gets his charm from his mother, certainly not me." Daggett sat down in his chair and frowned slightly as he looked over at Xavier who had also sat down.

"Aren't we missing someone? The vampire?"

Xavier shrugged. "She decided to take her lunch in her room, Uncle Marc."

"Hmm." He turned to Beth and smiled. "Wanted to stake her, huh?"

Beth groaned and covered her face with her hands, completely mortified. "Oh my God! I am so embarrassed!"

Marcus laughed. "My dear, don't be! Josef sent me a message detailing everything about you and Coraline Duvall. I couldn't believe it when I read his email so I called him about it that night. She definitely bear some watching."

"Everything is already in place," said Xavier.

"Good." Marcus looked at his watch and then over at Simone and Beth. "Well, let's get some nourishment so we can get to the bottom of this mystery as soon as possible."

- Chapter 13 -