“He’s such a dear man,” Isadora said.

Natalie blinked, surprised by the obvious affection in the woman’s voice. “How do you know Baojia?”

She heard Ben rifling through the refrigerator, but Caspar came and sat next to Isadora.

“We’ve known him for years. He upgraded the security in the house a few years ago when we first moved here. Then last year—”

“Beatrice and Gio had to go to Italy for some time,” Isadora broke in. “Baojia stayed with us until they returned. Then he had to return to San Diego. But he still calls occasionally to say hello and asks after us.”

“Very fine individual,” Caspar said, his English accent giving the words a crisp, dignified tone. “I’m so glad he felt comfortable coming here when he needed help.”

Isadora gave her a mischievous smile. “And I do believe he and Gio might get along better now that you’re here, Natalie.”

She frowned. “Uh… why would they—”

“Roast beef or turkey?” Ben called. “You want a sandwich?”

“Turkey would be great.” She sipped more coffee. Apparently everyone here thought well of her vampire, even if she still had her doubts. “By the way, is there a phone I can use?”

Caspar and Isadora exchanged guarded looks.

“I really need to call my editor and let her know I’m alive. I don’t need to tell her where I am—she’s used to me being vague—but if I don’t call her by today, she’ll be calling the police to report me missing. We kind of have a three-day rule.”

Caspar visibly relaxed and nodded toward the counter. “There’s one right there.”

“And I don’t even know where I am, so it’s not like I can call the cavalry to come in.”

Isadora let out a tinkling laugh. “My dear, I believe you’ll discover the cavalry is already here.”

Natalie poked her head into the library. The windows were shuttered are

A low voice came from the far corner of the room. “Natalie Ellis, why do you trespass on my inner sanctum?”

Natalie rolled her eyes and flipped a switch, flooding the room with light. “Really?”

Her old friend’s laughter burst from the far corner of the library. “Oh my gosh, your face, Nat!”

“Get the hell over here and give me a hug, you weirdo. And no biting. I heard you like that now.” Beatrice rose from the chair where she’d been sitting and crossed the room, just slightly faster than should have been possible.

“Hey, you.” Beatrice gave her a hard hug. “How did you end up in my guest room?”

She tensed for a moment when she felt her old friend. It was Beatrice, but the difference was there. The cooler skin. The stronger arms. Natalie forced a smile to her face. “Long story. So you’re really a dark and mysterious creature of the night now?”

Beatrice pulled back and grinned, her fangs dropping down as Natalie’s stomach also took an instinctual dive. “Yup.”

“Well.” She blinked and shook her head. “You never really were one for sunbathing, I guess.”

A wistful smile touched Beatrice’s mouth. “Not so much. It’s good to see you. Despite the circumstances. I have to stay away from most of my old friends, so… It’s really good to see you, Nat.”

“It’s good to see you.”

“Dez filled me in a little this morning. Dead women in the desert, huh? Are you sure it’s like Juarez? I remember you always followed that case.”

They walked over to a table and Natalie could already see news reports and clippings from the previous crimes littering the table. “I’m not sure of anything anymore. There are definitely dead women, but I don’t know what it has to do with Juarez. It’s possible there’s no real connection, and this Ivan character is using those events to mask his crimes here.”

“Get everyone thinking it’s the same serial killer or gang and use it to cover his own actions?” Beatrice said. “I guess it could work. And you’re sure it’s Ivan?”

“Fairly sure.” They both sat down and Natalie spread her hands over the news clippings. “There was a body dumped night before last, out at one of Ernesto’s casinos near the Salton Sea. It was a girl I’d just been talking to down at Ivan’s bar the night before.”

“Jeez, Natalie. You went down there alone?” Beatrice’s eyes widened. “What were you thinking?”

She threw up her hands. “This is me! I was following the story. I thought it was maybe gang-related, but nothing about it said supernatural, immortal killers. How the hell was I supposed to predict this?”

“You couldn’t,” said a voice by the door. The voice was followed by perhaps the most handsome man Natalie had ever seen. He was art on legs with an Italian accent and a seductive stare.

“This is your husband?” she murmured to Beatrice.

“Yep.”

“Nicely done, my friend.” Natalie held out her fist and Beatrice bumped her knuckles with hers.

“I like him.” Her friend gave the handsome man an adoring smile. “Hi, honey.”

The man bent down to brush a kiss across Beatrice’s cheek. “Gos cHer frod evening, tesoro.” Then he stood and held out a hand to Natalie. “And Ms. Ellis, may I say how very nice it is to meet you? Welcome to our home. I hope everyone has made you comfortable.”