The Dead Girl's Dance

Around noon, Claire heard the doorbell, and ran downstairs. Shane was lying on the couch, sound asleep. Still no sign of Eve, and she didnt expect to have any Michael sightings, given the daylight hours. She raced down the hall to the door, which was braced with a wooden chair as a temporary lock, and hesitated.

Michael? You there? A chilly breeze swept across her, ruffling her hair. Wow. He was strong today. Can I open the door? One for yes, two for no.

Apparently, yes. She pulled the chair away and peered outside. There were two men standing on the porch, both tall; one was lean and hard-looking, with black hair; the other one was a little pale (but not vamp pale) and heavyset, and where he wasnt balding, his very short hair looked brown.

They both displayed badges. Police.

Youre Claire, right? the lean one said, and extended his hand. Joe Hess. This is my partner, Travis Lowe. How you doing?

Um She fumbled for the handshake. Fine, I guess. Lowe also shook her hand. Is somethingI mean, did you find? Because she both hoped that Shanes dad was in a holding cell, and was afraid of what that would mean for Shane. She rocked nervously back and forth on her heels, her eyes darting from one of them to the other.

Joe Hess smiled. Unlike most smiles shed seen since coming to Morganville, this one seemeduncomplicated. Clean, sort of. Not happy, because that would have been weird, but comforting. Its okay, he said. No, we havent found them, but youve got nothing to be afraid of. May we come inside?

She heard shuffling footsteps behind her. Shane had woken up, and was standing in the hallway, barefoot and rumpled, with a fierce bed-head that got worse as he yawned and ran fingers through his hair, standing part of it on end.

How sick was it that she found that sexy?

Claire collected herself and pointed at the cops on the doorstep. Shanes eyes focused fast.

Officers, he said, and came toward the door. Anything you need?

I was just asking if we can come in and talk, Detective Hess said. Hed stopped smiling, but he still looked kind. Informally.

A chill moved softly over Claires skin. A single wave of chill. Yes. Michael was okay with it.

Sure, Claire said, and stepped back to swing the door wider. The cops stepped over the threshold, Hess first, then Lowe, and Shane shot Claire a look she couldnt quite figure out and led the men back to the living room.

Lowe studied the place more than the two of them; he seemed to really appreciate it. Nice, he murmured, which was the first thing hed said. Great use of wood in here. Real organic.

She couldnt really say thank you, because, hey, she didnt build it. She didnt even own it. But on Michaels behalf she said, We think so, too, sir. Claire settled nervously back on the sofa, perched on the edge. Shane remained standing, and Hess and Lowe moved around, not exactly searching, but cataloging everything. Hess stayed focused on the two of them, and after a moment, he bent his knees and sat down in the chair that Michael had occupied last night. D��j�� vu, Claire thought. Hess seemed to shiver a little, and he looked up, maybe trying to locate the source of the draft that had just brushed past him.

Michael liked that chair.

You had some trouble here last night, Hess said. I know you had a talk with our colleagues Gretchen and Hans. I read the report this morning.

No harm in admitting to that. Both Shane and Claire nodded.

A little scary, huh?

Claire nodded. Shane didnt. He gave the detective a narrow little smile. Im a Morganville lifer. Define scary, he said. Anyway, if youre playing good cop, bad cop

Im not, Hess said. Trust me, youd know if I was, because Id be the bad cop. And there was something in his eyes thatoddlymade Claire believe it. Look, I wont lie to you. Gretchen and Hans, theyve got their own agendas. But so do we. We want to make sure youre protected, understand me? Thats our job. We serve and protect, and Travis and I believe in that.

Lowe paused in his slow amble to nod.

Were neutral. Theres a few of us in town who did enough good for each side to earn a little freedom, as long as were careful.

What Joe means, Detective Lowe said, is that they ignore us as long as we keep it on our side of the tracks. Humans are the slave race hereforget about skin color. So we have to take care of our own when we can.

And when we cant, Hess said, as smoothly as if theyd rehearsed all this, things get ugly. It aint like the two of us are free agents. Were Switzerland. If you cross the line, youre on your own.

Shane frowned at him. What can you do for us, if youre Switzerland?

I can make sure that Gretchen and Hans dont make any follow-up visits, Hess said. I can keep most of the cops away from you, maybe not all. I can put out the wordwidelythat youre not just under a Founders seal; Travis and I are keeping an eye on you. Thatll keep anybody else from trying to win friends by smacking you around.

Anybody human, he means, Lowe amended. The vamps, theyll scare the shit out of you if they can, but they wont hurt you. Not unless you screw up and that Founders seal goes away. Got me?

Which had already happened, really. The screwing-up part. Well, technically, she supposed Shanes dad hadnt broken any lawsyetbecause Michael hadnt really died.

Except that he had.

God, Morganville made her head hurt.

A door slammed upstairs, and Eve came clattering down the stairs, fully dressed in Goth finery: a purple sheer shirt over a black corset thingie, a skirt that looked like it had gotten caught in a shredder, hose with skulls woven in, and her black Mary Janes. Very fierce. Her makeup was back in full force, ice white face, black-rimmed eyes, lips like three-day-old bruises.

Officer Joe! Eve practically flew across the room to hug him. Shane and Claire exchanged a look. Yeah, this wasnt something they were going to see every day. Joe Joe Joe! Ive been wondering where you were!

Hi, Skippy. You remember Travis, right?

Big T. ! Another hug. This, Claire thought, had tipped over the edge into the surreal, even for Morganville. Im so glad to see you guys!

Ditto, kid, Lowe said. He was smiling, and it transformed his face into something that was almost angelic. Youve still got the numbers, right?

Eve slapped her hand on the mobile phone strapped to her belt in a coffin-shaped holder. Oh yeah. Speed dial. But there hasnt beenum

Claire had the sudden weird feeling that Eve had something she couldnt talk about in front of them. The cops seemed to think so, too, because their eyes met briefly, and then Hess said, You want an update? How about showing us to your coffeepot?

Sure! Eve said brightly, and led them off into the kitchen.

Well, Shane said as the door shut behind them, thats bizarre.

Did I miss a chapter? Claire asked. And are there Cliffs Notes?

No idea.

The sound of conversation drifted in from the kitchen, music without words. Claire fidgeted, then got up and tiptoed over.

Hey! Shane protested, but he followed.

Hess was talking about somebody named Jason. Shane reacted, putting his hand on Claires shoulder and lifting his finger to his lips.

What? she mouthed silently.

I want to hear.

Detective Lowe was talking. you probably would want to know that hes getting out today. Now, before you say anything, hes been warned. Hes not about to go near you or your parents. Hell be monitored.

Monitored. Eve sounded shaken. ButI thought he was going to be in jail for a long time! What about that girl?

She withdrew the complaint, Hess said. We couldnt keep him locked up forever, honey. Im sorry.

But hes guilty!

I know. But now its your word against his, and you know how that gets decided. Youre not sworn to anybody, Eve. He is.

Eve cursed. It sounded like she was trying not to cry. Does he know where I am?

Hell find out, Hess said. But like I said, hes being monitored, and well keep an eye on all of you kids here. You leave Jason alone, hell leave you alone. Okay?

If Eve agreed, she did it silently. Claire nearly tipped backward as Shane tugged on her shoulder; then she caught her balance and followed him back to the couch. Whos Jason? She couldnt even wait until they were seated to ask.

Crap, he sighed. Jasons her brother. Last I heard, he was in jail for stabbing somebody. Hes kind of a psycho, and Eve turned him in. No wonder shes freaked.

Her older brother? Because Claire was picturing some Gothed-out muscular football type about ten feet tall, with a steroid habit.

Younger, Shane said. Seventeen, I guess. Skinny, creepy kid. I never liked him.

Do you think?

What?

Do you think hell come here? Try to hurt Eve?

Shane shrugged. If he does, hell be regretting it all the way to the hospital. He said it in a matter-of-fact kind of way that made Claire feel strangely warm. She fought to catch her breath. If Shane noticed, he didnt show it. As long as we stay here, were safe. He looked up at the blank ceiling. Right, Michael?

A chill drifted over Claires skin. Right, she said, on Michaels behalf.

But she wondered.