The Dead Girl's Dance

It had been Michael in the doorway when theyd driven by on their way to Founders Square, and it was Michael in the doorway when the car pulled to a halt at 716 Lot Street. Gretchen opened the back door to allow Eve and Claire to scramble out. Claire looked back; Hess was still in the backseat, watching them go. He wasnt making a move to get out with them. Detective? she asked. Eve was already halfway up the walk, moving fast. Claire knew that the first rule of Morganville was Never hang around out in the dark, but she did it anyway.

Im going back to the station, he said. Hans and Gretchen will drop me off. Its okay.

She didnt like the idea of leaving anybody alone with Hans and Gretchen, but he was the adult, and he had to know what he was doing, right? She nodded, backed up, and then turned and ran the rest of the way up the steps and into the house.

Michael had pulled Eve inside, but not far in; she nearly ran into the two of them when she charged over the threshold. She slammed the door and locked itShane or Michael had replaced the locks again, and added moreand spun around to see that Michael had Eve in a bear hug, pressing her against him so tight that she nearly disappeared. He looked at Claire in total misery over Eves shoulder. What the hell is going on? Wheres Shane?

Oh God, he didnt know. Why didnt he know? What happened? she blurted. Why did you let him leave?

Shane? I didnt let him do anything. Any more than I let you go running off unprotected in the middle of the dayhis dad called. He justleft. It was still daylight. There wasnt anything I could do. Michael pushed Eve back a little and looked at her. What happened?

Brandons dead, Eve said. She didnt try to soften it, and her voice was as hard as an iron bar. Theyve got Shane in a cage on Founders Square for his murder.

Michael sagged back against the wall as if shed punched him in the stomach. Oh, he whispered. Oh my God.

Theyre going to kill him, Claire said. Theyre going to burn him alive.

Michael closed his eyes. I know. I remember. Oh, crap, hed seen it done before. So had Eve. She remembered them saying so before, though theyd spared her the details. Michael just breathed for a few seconds, and then said, We have to get him out.

Yeah, Eve agreed. I know. But by we, you mean me and Claire, right? Because youre of no damn use at all.

She might as well have punched him again, Claire thought; Michaels mouth dropped open, and she saw the agony in his eyes. Eve must not have seen it. She turned and clomped away, brisk and efficient.

Claire! she called back. Come on! Move it!

Claire looked miserably at Michael. Im sorry, she said. She didnt mean that.

No, she did, he said faintly. And shes right. Im no use to you. Or to Shane. What good am I? I might as well be dead.

He turned and slammed his hand into the wall, hard enough to break bones. Claire yelped, scrambled backward, and ran after Eve. When Michael went all avenging-angel, well, it was definitely scary. And he didnt look like he wanted witnesses to whatever was happening inside.

Eve was already going up the stairs. Wait! Claire said. Michaelshouldnt we?

Forget about Michael. Are you in or out?

In. She guessed. Claire cast another look back at the hallway, where the sound of flesh hitting wood continued, and winced.

Michael couldnt hurt himself, not permanently, but it sounded painful.

Probably not as painful as what he was feeling.

When Claire reached the doorway, Eve was yanking open drawers, pulling out frilly stuff, and throwing it aside. Black lace. Netting. Fishnet hose. Ah! she said, and brought out a big, black box. It must have been heavy. It made a hollow thunk as she slammed it down on top of the dresser, rattling her collection of Evil Bobbleheads, which all started nodding uneasily. Come here.

Claire went, worried; this was a brand-new Eve, one she wasnt sure she liked. She liked the vulnerable Eve, the one who cried at the drop of a hat. This one was harsh and hard and liked to order people around.

Hold out your hand, Eve said. Claire did, tentatively. Eve slapped something round and wooden into it.

Pointed on one end.

A home made stake.

Vampire killers best friend, Eve said. I made a bunch when Brandon was bothering me. I let him know, the next time he came sniffing around me he was going to get a woody. A real one.

Arent theseillegal?

Theyll get you thrown under the jail. Or killed and dumped in some empty lot somewhere. So dont get caught holding.

She pulled out more stakes, and set them on the top of the dresser. Then some crude homemade crosses, extra large. She passed one to Claire, who gripped it in numbed fingers. ButEve, what are we doing?

Saving Shane. What, you dont want to?

Of course I do! But

Look. Eve pulled out some more stuff and dumped it on the pile of stakeslighter fluid, a Zippo lighter. The time for playing nice is over. If we want to get Shane out of there, vampires have to die. That means we start a war nobody wants, but tough. Im not watching Shane burn. I wont do that. They want this. Oliver wants it. Fine, he can have it. He can choke on it.

Eve! Claire dropped the cross and stake, grabbed her shoulders, and shook her. You cant! You know its suicideyouve told me that before! You cant justkill vampires! Youll end up in a cage right next to

Oh, God. She hadnt seen it before, but now she knew what was different about Eve. What was missing in her eyes.

You want to die, Claire said slowly. Dont you?

Im not afraid of it, Eve said. No big deal, right? Tra-la, off to paradise just like my parents always told me, pearly gates and all that. Besides, nobodys going to help us, Claire. We have to stick together. We have to help ourselves.

What if I find some evidence? Claire asked. Detective Hess said

Detective Hess stood there and did nothing. Thats what theyre all going to do. Nothing. Just like Michael.

God, Eve, stop it! Thats not fair. Michael cant leave the house! You know that!

Yeah. Not much help, is it? Eve began stuffing her arsenal of vampire-killing equipment into a black gym bag. Its time for a little payback around here. There are other people whore tired of sucking up to the vamps. Maybe I can find them if youre going to punk out on me. I need people I can rely on.

Eve!

With me or out of the way.

Claire retreated to the doorway, and bumped into a warm body. She yelped and lunged forward, turning to face

Michael.

His face was like a chalky mask, and his eyes were big and wounded and angry. He took Claires hand and pulled her through the doorway, out into the hall.

Then he took hold of the doorknob, and looked at Eve. Youre not going anywhere, he said. Not while I can stop you.

He slammed the door and locked it with an old-fashioned key. Seconds later, Eve hit the other side with a bang and began rattling the knob. Hey! she screamed. Open it! Right now!

No, Michael said. Im sorry, Eve. I love you. Im not letting you do this.

She screamed and battered harder. You love me? You asshole! Let me go!

Can you really keep her in there? Claire asked anxiously.

I can for tonight, Michael said, his eyes fixed on the door as it vibrated under the force of her kicks and blows. The windows wont open, or the doors. Shes stuck. But when the sun comes up He turned to look at Claire. You said if you could find evidence, Detective Hess would step in for Shane?

Thats what he said.

Its not enough. We need Amelie on his side. And Oliver.

Olivers the one who put him in the cage! And Amelieshe walked away. I dont think we can get anything from her, Michael.

Try, he said. Go. You have to.

Claire blinked. You meango out there? At night?

Michael looked exhausted suddenly. And very young. I cant do it. I cant trust Eve enough to let her out of her room, much less go out and talk to some of the most powerful vampires in town. Call Detective Hess, or Lowe. Dont go alonebut Claire, I need you to do this. I need you to make it right. I cant

It was written all over his face, the things he couldnt do. The limits hed crashed into with so much force it had left him broken and bleeding in the wreckage.

I know, Claire said. Ill try.

It was dark, it was Morganville, and she was sixteen years old. Not the best idea ever, going out of the house again, but Claire put on her darkest pair of jeans, a black shirt, and a big, gaudy cross that Eve had given her. She felt queasy at the idea of stakes. Doubly queasy at the idea of actually stabbing somebody with one.

I still have Protection, Amelie said so.

She hoped that would actually mean something.

Claire called Detective Hesss number from the card Eve had left pinned to the board in the kitchen. He answered on the second ring, sounded tired and depressed.

I need a ride, Claire said. If youre willing. I need to talk to Amelie.

Even I dont know how to get to Amelie, Hess said. Best-kept secret in Morganville. Im sorry, kid, but

I know how to get to her, she said. I just dont want to walk. Giventhe time.

There was a second of silence, and then the sound of a pen scratching against paper. You shouldnt be out at all, Hess said.

Besides, I dont think youre going to get anywhere. You need to find somebody who can back up Shanes story. That means one of his dads biker buddies. There may be one or two running around loose, but I dont think talking sweet to thems going to get you much.

What about his dad?

Trust me, youre not going to find Frank Collins. Not before the powers that be do, anyway. Every vampire in town is out tonight, combing the streets, looking for him. Theyll find him eventually. Not a lot of places he can hide when its an all-out effort.

Butif they catch him, thats kind of a good thing. He could tell them Shane didnt do it!

He could, Hess agreed. But hes just crazy enough to think burning in a cage alongside his kid is going out in a blaze of glory. Some kind of victory. He might say Shane was part of it just to punish him. We cant know.

She couldnt deny that. Claire swallowed hard. Soare you going to give me a ride or not?

Youre determined to go out, Hess said. In the dark.

Yes. And Ill walk if I have to. I just hope I donthave to.

His sigh rattled the phone speaker. All right. Ten minutes. Stay inside until I honk the horn.

Claire hung up the phone and turned, and nearly bumped into Michael. She yelped, and he reached out and steadied her. He kept hold of her arms even after she didnt need the steadying support anymore. He felt warm and real, and she thoughtnot for the first timehow weird it was that he could seem so alive when he really wasnt. Not exactly. Not all the time.

He looked like he had something he wanted to say, but he didnt know how to say it. And finally, he looked away. Hess is coming?

Yeah. Ten minutes, he said.

Michael nodded. Youre going to see Amelie?

Maybe. Ive got exactly one shot. If that doesnt work, then She spread her hands. Then I guess I talk to Oliver instead.

Ifyou do see Amelie, tell her I need to talk to her, he said. Will you do that for me?

Claire blinked. Sure. But  why?