Henry fought the urge to snarl at the watcher in the corner as he finished feeding. He made himself concentrate on what he was doing and noted his saliva had stopped the last trickle of blood on the long scratch he made through his bite mark. The wound now looked like it was self inflicted. Henry placed a false memory and a command in the young man's mind. "You scratched yourself trying to shave too close. Go! Join your friends and don't look back." The young man turned toward the bright lights as Henry went deeper into the back alley and let out a deep growl as he walked.

Vicki knew by the sound, he was angry, "Quit growling. I've got to learn sometime."

Henry shook his head and the growl changed to a chuckle, "You've tasted my blood a few times and you're already trying to learn how to feed. I should have known you'd jump off the deep end."

"I was pushed. But yeah, that's how I learned to swim." Vicki placed a hand on his forearm, "Why are you so angry?"

"I'm not. The monster's another story. Vampires are cautious to the point of paranoia. Mistakes can mean death. I called too much attention to myself this last year and now I can't allow anymore slip ups. Let's finish with Mike's business and plan your death. We can't afford to be noticed, so please, don't follow me again."

"It's getting harder to be separated. It's like I'm being pulled to find you against my will."

"That's the vampire calling for it's child." Henry held her close and said, "I can make you sleep when I go out to feed."

"No. Don't. If I wake up and know you're gone, it'll make it worse."

He let his arms drop and took her by the elbow, "If that's what you want. Anyway, let's get working on Mike's problem. Any ideas?"

They walked out of the alley behind the bar and strolled down the street looking like any young couple enjoying a pleasant evening on the town.

"Yeah, a few. There has to be a turning point where all the deaths started. Something that each one had in common. It could be a place, a date, an incident, but something's always the trigger."

"As much as I loath to do it, I'll try to reach one of the others. There may have been a tremor in ley lines."

"Ley lines?"

"Power sources. Magic. Just because I don't like the dark arts, doesn't mean I can't use them."

"You could talk to that witch, Sinead."

"No I can't. I need to stay away from her, and so do you."

"Coreen or Dr. Sagara?"

"Same thing. We need to stay away from them. Astaroth is still out there, and it's safer for them if we stay out of their lives."

She smiled, "So that leaves us."

"Pretty much. We might be able to get a lead from Dr. Mohadevan. If you can, contact her without anyone else knowing about it."

"I can do that. What do you want to know?"

"I'm not sure yet, but she's helped us in the past. She has an affinity for the dead."

They reached the lot where Henry's car was parked and he opened the door saying, "How did you find me and how did you get here?"

"I can hear your heart beating, I followed the sound. Plus for someone that's trying to hide, you never change your hunting pattern."

Henry raised an eyebrow, held the door open as she got into his car and commanded, "Explain."

"You lead an ordered life. You're trying to create a new persona, but you still do things the same way when you hunt." Holding up her hand she started folding down fingers as she added, " Here's the sequence. First you hunt in the park, next the theater, bar, art studio, dance club, then the cycle repeats but at lower socio-economic level. When you've finished up with the least expensive strip malls, you start over. You also rotate clockwise - east, south, west, and finally north."

"No I don't, and how would you know?"

She shrugged, "I see patterns. You've told to me more than you realize."

Henry sat behind the wheel of the car, looking at nothing, taking in her words and matching them up to the last year. He sighed and said, "It's a wonder I've lived this long if I'm such a creature of habit."

"No," She shook her head, "You take only what you need, give pleasure in return and there's been no deaths reported due to unexplained, excessive blood loss, so you're not calling attention to yourself. If you hadn't met me, you could've gone unnoticed forever."

"I was bored out of my mind and needed a change. I'm happy having you a part of my life. But no more following me."

"I can't promise that. You're my partner and for better or worse, I'm covering your back, just like I expect you to cover mine."

Henry started the car and grinned, "Always, Vicki."

***

Mike hung up the phone and hung his head. Marianna came over to where he sat and said, "Tell me."

"My former partner died."

"Vicki?"

Mike shook his head, "No. Dave. He had a heart attack and died in his sleep. I need to go see Vicki. She'll want to know and I can't tell her this one over the phone."

Marianna lips tightened to a thin line. Vicki was the one woman she feared could take Mike away from her.

Mike saw the look and said, "Ah, come on Marianna, I told you all about Vicki and me. Anyway, she's seriously involved with someone else."

Mariana crossed her arms under her breasts and said, "Mike, I'm coming with you."

Mike gave up without a fight. Growing up with sisters, then being with Vicki had taught him one thing, when a woman crossed her arms under her breasts it was easier to go along with her and not argue.

Mike picked up the cell and punched in Vicki's number, "Hey Vick. I need to talk with you and Henry. Can you meet up with me and Marianna at the Chinese place?"

***

Vicki held the phone away from her mouth and said to Henry, "Mike wants both of us to meet up with him and Marianna at the Chinese place."

Henry shrugged and Vicki spoke into the phone, "Yeah, we can be there. But what aren't you saying?"

***

"Yeah, that's right. Marianna wants to meet Henry. She's afraid you've still the hots for me."

Marianna threw her arms in the air and started giving him some very graphic hand gestures.

Mike started laughing and said to Marianna, "Vicki says you better not get the hots for her man."

Then said into the phone, "We'll see you there in about an hour."

Marianna, relieved to see a ghost of a smile on Mike's face said, "Don't ever grow up, Mike. You're still the kid that stole my heart. I'm so sorry about Dave." She gave him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek and went to change.

Mike placed his hand on his cheek and said after her, "It's too late for me to grow up and I got my heart back the night you walked into the high school reunion."

***

Henry's nose twitched as he entered the restaurant with Vicki and whispered, "How can you stand the smell?"

Vicki poked him in the ribs and whispered back, "It's gotten worse or your blood's starting to work it's magic on me."

Henry saw Mike sitting with his back to the wall, beside him a petite raven haired beauty and deftly guided Vicki toward them.

Marianna saw Vicki and then the slender man standing slightly behind her. Her eyes widened as she felt the pull of Henry's natural charm and good looks, "Oh my God, Mike. Is that Vicki's friend? He's gorgeous."

Mike felt a very familiar jealousy in the pit of his stomach, "Don't you start too. He's Vicki's. And you're mine."

"Stop it. I was just commenting. I wonder how she found him? Are there anymore out there like him?"

Mike put a possessive arm around his wife and said, "God! I hope not."

Marianna smiled at Vicki and Henry as Mike stood, "Vicki you and Marianna have already met. Marianna this is Henry.."

Henry interrupted before Mike could finish the introductions, "It's nice to meet you. Call me Hank. Vicki didn't tell me how lovely you are. Good job catching this one, Mike."

Mike said, "Sit both of you. We've already ordered our dinner. You want anything?"

Vicki asked for a beer and Hank nodded in agreement.

After the drinks came and the small talk was finished Vicki said, "Okay Mike, we're here. What did you want to talk about that you couldn't over the phone?"

"Dave Graham died of a heart attack late this afternoon. I didn't want you to hear it over the phone or read it in the paper. Some news is better face to face."

Vicki and Henry glanced at each other, then Vicki asked, "Will he be seen by Dr. Mohadevan?"

Mike looked confused then made the connection, "He should be there now." He looked at Marianna and said, "I'm not as hungry as I thought. How about you?"

Marianna picked up on unspoken meaning and said, "Change the order to carry out. We can eat later."

Mike gave her a quick squeeze, "Thanks, Mar."

Henry stood and said, "I'm sorry. I just remembered I have an appointment." He leaned down to kiss Vicki's cheek and said quietly, "Mohadevan."

Vicki nodded and said, "Sorry, Hank. I forgot all about it when Mike called. Don't let them keep you too late. I'm sure Mike and Marianna will give me a ride home."

Mike nodded and Marianna said, "Of course."

Once out of their sight, Henry moved at vampire speed along the tops of buildings to the morgue.

***

Henry could hear the doctor as she talked to the heavyset man lying on the cart, "So Dave, are you going to tell me what happened, or must I look inside." She patted his cold hand and turned her head to say, "Henry. Is that you standing in the dark?"

Henry moved out from the shadows and asked, "How did you know I was here?"

Rajani Mohadevan gave a half smile and said, "The dead talk to me. I can hear what they say. What are you trying to tell me Henry?"