The Dead Girl's Dance

Let me ask you this, then. How did you signal them?

She blinked. How did I what?

How did you plan the setup? What was your system? Did you text message them? You know, we can pull those records, Claire. Or was it some kind of trap you led my sister into?

I dont know what youre

Richard looked up at her, and she fell silent, because he didnt look so friendly this time. Not friendly at all. My sisters a crazy psychoI know that. But shes still my sister. And nobody lays their hands on a Morrell in this town, or somebodymaybe a whole bunch of somebodiespays for it. Get the point? So whatever you know, whatever your relationship is with these invaders, youd better come to it quick, or were going to start digging. And Claire, thats going to be a fast, bloody kind of process.

She wrapped both hands around the Coke can and raised it to her mouth for another trembling gulp, then said, I didnt lead them to your sister. Your sister abducted me. Right out of the Photo Finish parking lot. Ask Eve. Oh GodEveGina cut her. Is she okay?

Richard frowned at her. Eves all right.

That eased a terrible knot in her stomach. What about Gina and Jennifer?

Also fine. They called in the carjacking. Gina said He turned something over in his mind, and then said, more slowly, Gina said a lot of things. But I should have remembered who I was talking to. If theres anybody in Morganville crazier than my sister, its Gina.

She couldnt disagree with that. The guys who took over the van

Shanes father, Richard interrupted. We already know all that. Where is he now?

I dont know, she said. I swear! He let me out in the storm drain and told me to climb the ladder and talk to your father. Thats why Im here.

Leave the kid alone, Richard. Mayor Morrell stalked in, slamming the office door behind him, and paused to glare at the two extra police officers standing guard. You. Out. If my son cant handle some sixteen-year-old stick of a girl, he deserves what he gets.

They left, fast. Claire put the Coke can aside on a table as the mayor sank into his big, plush leather chair. He no longer looked quite as smug as he had back at Founders Square, and he definitely looked angry.

You, he snapped. Talk. Now.

She did, spilling it out in a tumbling stream of words. Shanes father hijacking the van and pitching Gina and Jennifer out. Destroying the cell phones. Threatening Monica and sending Claire as his messenger of doom. Hes serious, she finished. I mean, Ive seen him do things. Hes seriously not afraid to hurt people, and he definitely doesnt like Monica.

Oh, and suddenly youre her bestest little friend? Please. You hate her guts, and youve probably got reason, Richard said. He got up to pace the room. Dad, look, let me do this. I can find these guys. If we put every available man and vampire on the streets

We did that last night, son. Wherever these guys go, theyre going someplace we cant follow. The mayors red-rimmed eyes fastened back on hers. He cracked his knuckles. He had big hands, like his son. Hard hands. Oliver wants this over. He wants to move up the timetable, burn the kid tonight and get them out in the open. Its not a bad plan. Call their bluff.

You think Frank Collins is bluffing? Richard asked.

No, the mayor said. I think hell do exactly what he said hed do, only a whole lot worse than we can imagine. But what Oliver wants

Youre just going to let him do it? What about Monica?

Oliver doesnt know theyve got her. Once I tell him

Dad, Richard said. Its Oliver. Hes not going to give a crap and you know it. Acceptable losses. But its not acceptable to me, and it shouldnt be to you, either.

Father and son exchanged looks, and Richard shook his head and continued to pace. We need to find a way to get her back. Somehow.

You. The mayor pointed a thick finger at Claire. Tell me the whole thing again. Everything. Every detail, I dont care how minor. Start from the first time you saw these men.

Claire opened her mouth to answer, and caught herself just in time. No, you idiot! You cant tell them the truth! The truth gets Shane fried for sure. She wasnt a good liar, she knew that, and there was too much time slipping by while she was scrambling around in her head, trying to pick up the threads of where to start the story.

I guessI saw some of them when they broke into the house, she said tentatively. You know, when we called the cops about the home invasion? And then I saw

She froze and closed her eyes. Shed seen something important. Very important. What was it? Something to do with Shanes dad

Start with the van, Richard said, and short-circuited her attempt at catching the memory. She dutifully recounted it all again, and then again, answering specific questions as fast as she could. Her head ached, and despite the cold Coke, her throat did, too. She needed sleep, and she wanted to roll up in blankets and cry herself into a coma. Oliver wants to move up the timetable, burn the kid tonight. No. No, they couldnt let it happen, they couldnt.

But they could. Without question.

Lets start over, Richard said. From the beginning.

She burst into despairing tears.

It took hours before they were done with her. Nobody offered to drive her home.

Claire walked, feeling like she was drifting half out of her body, and made it all the way home without a single incident. It was still daylight, which helped, but the streets seemed unnaturally quiet and deserted. Word was out, she guessed. Humans were keeping their heads down, hoping the storm would pass.

As Claire slammed the door, Eve came bolting down the stairs, raced to her, and wrapped her in a breathless full-body hug. Bitch! she said. I cant believe you scared the crap out of me like that. Oh my God, Claire. Can you believe those jerks at the police station wouldnt even take my statement? I even had a wound! A real wound with blood and everything! Howd you get away? Did Monica hurt you?

Eve didnt know. Nobody had told her at the police station.

Shanes dad stopped the van, Claire said. He took Monica as a hostage.

For a second, neither one of them moved, and then Eve whooped and held up her hand for a high five. Claire just stared at her, and Eve compensated by clapping both hands over her head. Yesssss! she said, and did a totally geeky victory dance. Couldnt happen to a nicer psycho!

Hey! Claire yelled, and Eve froze in midcelebration. It was stupid, but Claire was angry; she knew Eve was right, knew she had no reason at all to think Monica was ever going to be anything but a gigantic pain in the ass, butShanes dads going to burn her if they go through with the execution. He has a blowtorch.

The glee dropped out of Eves expression. Oh, she said. Wellstill. Not like she didnt ask for it. Karmas a bitch, and so am I.

Olivers trying to get them to kill Shane tonight. Were out of time, Eve. I dont know what to do anymore.

That knocked the last of Eves smugness right out from under her. She didnt seem to know, either. She licked her lips and said, Theres still time. Let me make some phone calls. And you need to get some food. And some sleep.

I cant sleep.

Well, you can eat, right?

She could, as it turned outand she needed to. The world had taken on a gray color, and her head was aching. A hot dogplain except for mustardchips, and a bottle of water solved some of that, though not the ache in her heart, or the sick feeling that had nothing to do with hunger.

What are we going to do?

Eve was on the phone, calling people. Claire slumped on the couch, tipped over, and curled up under the blanket. It still smelled like Shanes cologne.

She must have slept for a while, and when she woke it was almost as though someone had flipped a switch or whispered in her ear, Wake up! Because she was upright in seconds, heart racing, and her brain was running to catch up. The house was quiet, except for the usual ticks and pops and moans that old houses got. A breeze rattled dry leaves outside.

And it took Claire a second to realize that she couldnt see the tree that shaded the window because it was dark.

No! She catapulted off the couch and raced to find a clock. It was exactly what shed feared. No eclipses or sudden unexplained collapses of the normal day-night continuum; no, it was just dark because it was night.

Shed slept for hours. Hours. And Eve hadnt woken her up. In fact, she wasnt even sure Eve was still in the house.

Michael! Claire went from room to room, but he was nowhere to be seen. Michael! Eve! Where are you?

They were in Michaels room. He opened the door, and he was half-dressedshirt open, jeans hanging low-slung around his hips, revealing a chest and abs that even now Claire had to noticeand Eve was curled up in the bed, under the covers.

Michael quickly stepped out, buttoning his shirt. Youre awake.

Yeah. Claire suppressed a burst of pure fury. If youre done screwing around, maybe we can talk about Shane dying tonight.

Michael dipped his chin a little, staring her straight in the eyes. You do not want to go there, Claire, he said flatly. You really dont. You think I dont know? I dont care? Fuck. What do you think Eves been doing all day while you

Slept? Yeah, I fell asleep! You could have woken me up!