Gavin stood rooted to the bathroom floor. This was bigger than he ever imagined it might be. Yes, he understood completely how this might affect his race. The Council, the Enforcers and the Assassins all worked diligently to keep the vampire race hidden. This could well be the assignment of his lifetime. "Of course I understand, Honored One," Gavin found his voice.
"Good. Keep me apprised as often as possible," Wlodek instructed. "Through my personal e-mail account."
"Of course, Honored One." Wlodek terminated the call. Gavin shut down his phone a little slower, finished toweling himself off and dressed.
* * *
The safe house Gavin had been assigned in Dallas was already stocked with blood in both the refrigerator and the freezer. The ground level of the home was for appearances only; the portion of the home Gavin would use was the basement, closed off from the rest with a very thick door. The basement ceiling was reinforced with steel and concrete with the door leading into it controlled by a security-alarmed keypad. He'd gotten the combination from Charles, Wlodek's personal assistant.
A local mall or discount store was Gavin's next objective; he'd brought mostly suits and slacks with him. As a night guard, he needed jeans and casual clothing to wear. He would certainly have to play the part and modify his speech and accent if he were to present himself to Winkler as an addition to his stable of bodyguards. Charles had also given him a phone number and the information that an ad had been placed in the local newspaper for additional bodyguards for the security magnate. Charles thought Gavin was there to keep an eye on William Winkler—he still had no idea that the female vampire was being tracked as well.
* * *
"Yeah, we're looking for two more. Can you come in for an interview tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow evening," Gavin informed the voice over the phone.
"Fine. Be here at eight." The address was given and Gavin committed it to memory; he never wrote anything down. Gavin then turned to washing his new jeans. He hated the stiffness of the new fabric and the jeans that weren't stiff when you bought them looked as if they belonged in the rubbish bin.
* * *
"Lissa, we've got a couple of interviews tonight so you'll be walking the perimeter alone until that's all taken care of," Davis informed me.
"That's all right," I grinned at him. I was getting comfortable quickly, and that probably wasn't a wise thing to do. I'm sure the Vampire Manual, if there were such a thing, would say to trust nobody and always be on your guard. More than likely, it would also say not to take jobs with humans because we were vulnerable in the daytime, but then nobody had been there to hand out a copy of the thing to start with or give me any helpful advice. "And if these two get hired?" I asked Davis.
"We'll be working eight hour shifts instead of twelve and we might even get a day off, now and then." Davis grinned back at me.
"Cool," I said. "Do you intend to interview these two like you did me?"
"Yes, and I hope I can walk tomorrow," Davis laughed.
"Come on, you could walk after I dumped you in the driveway."
"True, but my shoulder wouldn't work for days."
"Poor thing," I said.
"Don't give me false sympathy." He took off toward the house. Turning away, I went to walk the perimeter.
* * *
"We have a bank of electronic surveillance monitors," Winkler ushered Gavin through the room where monitors lined the walls. "If the fence or the gate is compromised, they're programmed to automatically sound the alarm. The outside guards patrol the perimeter as well in case the system fails for any reason. This property backs up to two others and they often throw parties. I don't want the neighbors fried, shot or otherwise becoming dead if they decide to climb over the back fence as a drunken prank." Winkler smiled at Gavin who didn't smile in return; he merely nodded his understanding.
"Since you only work nights," Winkler went on, "I'm going to pair you with Lissa. You'll be relieved in the mornings by Phil and Glen. Davis, along with James, the other new hire, will be doing the swing. I'm working on bringing in some staff that normally work for a bank downtown, just to patrol one day a week. This will give the regular guards a day of free time now and then. There hasn't been much of that, lately."
"Will it be a regular day off or will it be staggered?" Gavin asked.
"Staggered, no sense in letting the enemy know which day the normal staff will be off, now is there?" Winkler was grinning again. "You'll be informed when your day off comes up."
"Very well," Gavin nodded.
"I'll let Davis introduce you to Lissa and you can take the second bedroom in Lissa's top floor guesthouse. Mind you, I expect you to behave yourself. Lissa is a lady and a very good bodyguard. Step out of line with her and you'll be out of a job."
Gavin nodded again while Winkler poked his head out the door and yelled for Davis.
* * *
"He'll be taking the second bedroom in your guesthouse," Davis informed me later. I did my best not to stutter as I told him that would be fine. It wouldn't be fine. I slept all day. What if the new guy came into my bedroom when I didn't answer to a knock or something? He'd probably think I was dead. Technically, I suppose I was, but I didn't want to be pronounced by a doctor and wake up in a coffin, or be hauled out in daylight and not wake up at all, I guess.
"Here he comes, now," Davis said. I stared at the man who approached us. He had to be at least six-five and broad across the shoulders with dark hair that curled just a little, along with handsome features and a shuttered look on his face. The other thing I noticed as he drew near, and it almost knocked me to my knees, was the smell. No, he didn't smell bad. He smelled good. Really good. And it wasn't from soap or aftershave, either. If he had any on, I couldn't detect it. It was all him and it was spice and amazement, rolled together. It was a good thing we'd only pass each other occasionally while patrolling the perimeter. If I had to stay in close proximity to that, I might be persuaded to lick and nibble now and then and that wouldn't do at all.
Mentally apologizing to my late husband for entertaining such thoughts, I shook Gavin Matthews' hand when he held it out to me. He left after a bit to bring in his clothing and other belongings. Gavin's things were already in the shared bathroom when I got off at six-thirty. He had to be in bed—he wasn't anywhere else—so I took a five minute shower (I can soap and rinse really fast since becoming vampire) and went to bed myself.