"No." My eyes focused on his chin as I moved away from him and shut the bathroom door firmly in his face. I even locked it. That wouldn't keep him or any determined five-year-old out but it was the gesture that counted. He wasn't telling me anything, just like everybody else. He could keep his secrets. He could kiss my foot. No way could he kiss my ass—that was privileged territory.
"Here." Tony handed a badge over when I walked out of the bathroom, clean, dressed and ready to go. The laminated badge had a metal spring clip attached to it so I could clip it to my blouse. The badge had my photograph, along with the title Special Agent Huston on it. Well, la-de-da. And where the hell did he get my picture? I didn't even ask where we were going. I was a little pissed and I think he knew it. I clipped the badge to the gray, short-sleeved blouse I'd brought with me; I'd coupled one of my better blouses with a pair of new black jeans and my black athletic shoes. My shortest wig was slapped on my head; I had no idea what I'd be doing so this outfit would have to work. If Tony didn't like it, he could at least tell me how to dress.
"You look fine," he said as I adjusted my shirt a little on the way to the elevator. "Don't fidget. I need you for guard duty tonight and if you see, hear or smell anything, let me know immediately," he added, tapping his forehead. I nodded, stepping into the elevator with him. We rode to the first floor and I followed Tony across a wide expanse of marble tile until we met up with Bill, who waited impatiently for us.
"The back entrance is this way," Bill said, taking the lead. Tony walked between the two of us while Bill handed a small earpiece off to him. I watched as Tony placed it in his left ear and the crackle came through clearly, as somebody spoke.
Be careful, I can hear every word, I sent to Tony. It was time he knew.
I'm counting on it, he sent back. Well, well, well.
There were six cars lined up at the back of the hotel, waiting. FBI and state agents were everywhere, with Tony's men scattered throughout. Bill and I were protecting Tony; everybody else was there for Madam Secretary. We ended up in the car next to last, driving toward the Chinese Embassy for a private dinner. I heard over Tony's earpiece that the Chinese Ambassador and several important Chinese entrepreneurs were attending. They were planning to discuss making China a greener nation; at least that's what their business goals were.
Protesters were lined up outside the embassy when we arrived, waving signs and shouting accusations at some of the arriving guests. Ecological groups were accusing Chinese companies of not working hard enough to bring China in line with other countries on greenhouse gas legislation. Some were complaining about the economy, of course. That was always an issue, in addition to the usual human rights protesters. Local police were everywhere and had the crowd backed up behind wooden barricades so the cars could get through. I saw plenty of signs and heard even more shouting as we drove past and wondered how often Tony had to deal with this sort of thing.
Bill and I were stationed in an alcove inside the Embassy, just outside the dining room. Madame Secretary seemed to know Tony—they engaged in brief conversation before both were greeted by their host and led inside the formal dining area. FBI agents surrounded and followed. Bill and I were the first line of defense, I suppose, if anyone tried to get inside.
I did my best to stand still and not wiggle nervously, while Bill stood as if he'd had concrete poured around his ankles. Maybe he'd been taught to do that; I hadn't. After the first hour, I fidgeted a little more and then my skin began to itch.
"Mr. Jennings, I need to find the ladies' room," I said rather urgently. Bill started to object but I was already trotting down the hall before he could call me back. Finding a place to mist was a problem; it took several seconds to locate an empty restroom stall, but it was worth it in the end. Our plotters and schemers from the house in Georgia had sent in one of their vampires.
Chapter 6
Tony said to keep him informed. I had no idea what he was going to do with this information. The vampire I followed was a mister, his purplish gray mist flying ahead of me in a rush toward the dining hall. Henri and Gervais were a greenish gold when they turned, so the Council didn't know about this one. Merrill said the only other known misters were the brothers, who were also Council Enforcers. This definitely could turn into a problem—I was about to see how I stacked up against another vampire who could turn to mist.
Tony, I'm tracking a mister, I sent as I followed the invisible vampire down a lengthy hall. He misted right through a crack between two heavily guarded double doors, flying straight into the dining room with me hot on his undetectable heels. I could see Tony talking into a band on his wrist and every FBI agent inside the room immediately went on alert. I have no idea what they thought they were going to do against a vampire; all of them were human.
My biggest advantage was that the vampire not only didn't realize he was being followed but that it would take him a few minutes to regain corporeality.
Where are you now? Tony sent back.
Inside the dining room in a dark corner. It'll take the mister a few minutes to turn back to himself.
What can we do?
Nothing. He'll probably try compulsion if he gets a chance. I'm going to take him out of here instead.
Like you rescued the man from the pirates? Tony asked.
Yes. That's all I know to do without causing chaos and getting anybody hurt in here. My problem was what to do with the vampire after I dropped him somewhere and came back to myself so I could fight him.
You're going to fight him, aren't you?
Tony, that's the only thing I can do unless you want him to get away.
I knew I should have gotten White and Townsend out here. Tony was upset.
Tony, there's no guarantee they'd have any better success. He's turning. Gotta go. I cut off the mindspeech. The vampire was indeed turning and as soon as he solidified enough that I could grab him, I did so, shocking the hell out of him. Fear and anger were pouring out of him as I fled the room, carrying him through the same crack we'd used to get inside. We zipped through the entryway, out a narrow gap between tall, heavily carved wood doors and into an April night.
Our flight seemed to take forever as I desperately searched for a place to drop the vampire that was secluded—this showdown definitely wasn't for public viewing. I hoped to heaven that I'd be able to fight him once we both became solid. I felt the taint on him too; he was unquestionably one of Saxom's get. A huge storm drain channel where runoff from rains would travel through the city and empty into the ocean loomed ahead of me. I dumped my guest in the center of that deserted concrete canyon. He was cursing and hissing, his fangs and claws out, as I appeared twenty feet away.