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“I’m not hiding anything,” Nick snaps.
“I think you are.” I pause, picking words. “I saw you talking to Veda in the garden. What was all that about?”
He shakes his head. “It was nothing.”
“Don’t tell me it was nothing. The two of you were having a full blown argument. What were you saying to her?”
“I was telling her to stay away from us. I can’t have her dropping by anytime she feels like it and scaring you. I want a fresh start Carly, and that means putting the past behind us once and for all.”
“And has she agreed to stay away?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Well, start believing. It’s the truth.”
Raking his fingers through his hair, Nick stamps over to the sofa and looms over me. For a moment we stare at each other. Tension crackles in the air like electricity.
“Darling, I know you‘re innocent,” I whisper. “I know you didn’t harm Jessica, but I still think you know more than you’re saying. Was it Veda?”
He hesitates. “No.”
“Are you sure? You wouldn’t lie to me?”
“No!”
“Did you ask her?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know she didn’t do it?”
“Because Veda wouldn’t do something like that.”
“Then was it Count Karlock?”
“Good God, how the hell would I know? I haven’t seen him in over a hundred years.”
“But the murder has to be connected to you somehow, Nick. You’re a vampire, and Jessica’s body was drained of blood. Was it someone trying to frame you or settle some kind of score?”
“You’re asking questions I don’t know the answers to. Remember, we still don’t know for sure itwasa vampire killing.”
“But she was drained of blood, Nick. That’s more than a coincidence, don’t you think?”
“I agree, I agree.” He sighs. “Look, I’ll think of something, okay? Give me some time. I’ll do some digging and see what I come up with, but I promise you, if it really was a vampire, than I’ll make sure Jessica’s boyfriend is completely vindicated. I won’t let a innocent man take the rap.” His voice softens. “Listen darling, I don’t want us to fight about this. We’re supposed to be a team, and you need to remember that I’m on your side here. I want to get to the bottom of Jessica’s death as much as you do, but can’t we just put it aside for today? Can’t we focus on happy things, just for today?”
I nod silently. Tenderly, he reaches down and strokes my cheek, milking a small sigh from my lips.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you too.”
“I’m scared.”
“Don’t be. Everything will work out, I promise.” He pulls me to my feet. “Come on. Let’s go and finish unpacking your things.”
I follow him upstairs and we spend the rest of the afternoon trying to keep busy. Sometime around six, we head to West End to meet my father at a little Italian restaurant off Regent’s Street.
