A Bite of Christmas Cheer Read online

  Violetta set her tote and coffee down before taking a seat. “What exactly did happen?”

  The two males huffed in unison. Lee answered her. “Remember Felix Crane from last night’s dinner? Later last night, five dock workers were found beaten and nearly dead in one of his boats.”

  “The police are trying to find out what happened,” Nicholas said. “Until then, the port is closed off.”

  She wished she had checked the news on her phone during the train ride into work. Already, she had her suspicions. Felix Crane was certainly eager last night to start bringing his shipping boats into the dock. Was this business vampire-related as well? “That’s awful.” She put on a shocked face for good measure. “Were any of the workers able to say what happened to them?”

  “I’m looking at a local news report now.” Nicholas showed her his phone. “All of them are being treated at Briar City Memorial for blood loss. None of them have memory of what happened.”

  Definitely vampire business. The workers got so much blood sucked out of them they couldn’t remember a thing. Was it the work of one vampire or did the workers get attacked by a gang? She began thinking of how she could investigate.

  “It is unfortunate.” She realized Lee was speaking. “I agreed to do business with Crane. This sends a message to the city that my ventures and associates are unreliable. Even dangerous.”

  Where was Felix Crane in all of this? Violetta tried to think of a way to frame a question that would sound innocent. “Would you like for me to see if I can get Mr. Crane on the line?”

  “Don’t bother.” Lee motioned his head in the negative. “The police can’t find him. He may even be trying to leave the city.”

  “Let’s hope not,” said Nicholas. “Because then we would be dealing with a flight risk criminal.”

  Violetta startled a little when Lee touched her arm. “Violetta, I’m going to hold a press conference later tonight at eleven. Get on the phone and invite the local reporters as well as national network correspondents.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Wait, Lee,” Nicholas cautioned. “As your attorney, I have to ask. Are you sure a press conference is the right choice?”

  Lee folded his hands on the table. “I’m heavily invested in Briar City. I need to do something to show I make the city and its citizens a priority.”

  “I understand, but Felix is contracted with your company. You have to find a good way to show you condemn the attack.”

  Violetta analyzed their responses. Lee and Nicholas had to know this was a vampire attack. They were acting to save face in front of her, weren’t they? She spoke up. “Lee, is there a way you can reach out to the crewmen? Help them pay their medical bills, maybe?”

  “Not a chance.” Nicholas scoffed at the idea. “Lee didn’t do anything wrong. If he pays their bills, then he looks guilty.”

  “I agree with her,” Lee said, to her amazement. “Something has to be done for the crewmen.”

  “There has to be a middle ground.” Violetta tapped her fingers on the table while she thought. An idea surfaced. “What about a charity ball or fundraiser to help them?”

  Nicholas perked up like a desert flower after a night of steady rain. “That’s not a bad idea. In fact, it’s great.”

  Lee didn’t share in his excitement. “Why?”

  “Think about it.” He leaned forward, his speech getting faster. “You won’t risk looking guilty if you raise money. Other philanthropists and organizations will foot the bill for you in the name of charity.”

  “Foot the bill?” Violetta kept her facial muscles from working themselves into a frown. “I don’t see it that way.”

  “No, but I do.” Nicholas gave her a wink.

  Geez, talk about a bloodsucking attorney. She supposed she couldn’t expect to walk into this job and not get her hands dirty one way or another. It was her suggestion, anyway, despite Nicholas throwing slime on it. “You could make it a themed fundraiser to get people interested.”

  The attorney pointed to her. “Now you’re talking. I like how she thinks, Lee.”

  Lee gave Violetta a shrewd gaze. “Themed how?”

  “I don’t know. Holiday, maybe? Christmas is coming up.”

  He balked. “Christmas?”

  “People love Christmas,” Nicholas was practically shouting now. “In fact, I have a client whose wife starts planning for it in June. She even watches those cheesy G-rated cable TV movies in October.”

  “My friend watches those.” Violetta was careful not to say roommate. It sounded unprofessional. “She dragged me into watching a couple. They turned out to be a guilty pleasure.”

  Lee just stared. Did he think she was spouting nonsense?

  “There you go,” Nicholas said, clapping his hands once. “A Christmas charity gala. People dress up, drink, and give away their money. They get to write it off on their taxes before the year ends. The public is happy and you keep your good rep.” He raised his hands as though scoring a touchdown. “Everybody wins.”

  Lee unfolded his hands. “Fine. A Christmas charity gala, it is. Thank you for your suggestion, Violetta.”

  She found herself bashful in the moment. “I’m glad you found it helpful.”

  “I’m also beginning to see just how helpful you are. You have an eye for detail. That’s why I’m putting you in charge of planning and organizing.”

  She paused. “You want me to plan your fundraiser?”

  “Consider it part of your job responsibilities.”

  What in the world kind of wormhole did she fall into? She saw Nicholas’s Cheshire cat smile and Lee’s Grinch-like frown. “On second thought, maybe you could just take out an ad asking for donations.”

  Lee refused. “Few people read newspapers these days. We’re doing a Christmas-themed gala, unless there’s a problem.”

  She was quick to shake her head. “No, not at all.”

  “Good. Then you’ll start planning. Right after you organize the press conference.”

  “The fundraiser should be on December 23rd,” Nicholas suggested. “People have all the Christmas feels by then.”

  Two days before Lee’s coronation and the potential day she planned to take him out? Violetta curled a fist under the table. If she didn’t already have to make a hit on Lee, she would sharpen her stake for Nicholas right this second.

  “My assistant will do her best to keep things running smoothly.” Lee stood. “I expect weekly progress reports from you, Violetta.”

  What did he think she was doing, a science project for 8th grade Show and Tell? She disguised her gritted teeth with a clenched smile. “You got it.” Great. Now she was stuck planning Lee’s Christmas party while thinking up ways to kill him.

  She did her best to maintain a pleasant stance as they got up to leave the conference room. Instead of focusing on the additional project she was given, she turned her thoughts towards the real business at hand: trying to figure out her Armani-suited target. Did Lee secretly allow Felix or the vampire gang permission to suck the blood from the crewmen? She didn’t believe so. Why would he risk putting his business reputation on the line just so a few vampires could get a nightcap? She figured it was a separate incident. Either the vampire gang acted independently or Felix went rogue. She’d find out once she reached the dock after work later tonight. Until then, she had a press conference and a Christmas gala to plan.

  Chapter Four

  Violetta made the phone calls to the media as Lee requested. By eleven, reporters formed a line to the main conference room on the first floor of the building. While cameras were recording, Lee gave a statement condoning the attack on the crewmen at the docks. He wished them a speedy recovery.

  She watched him from the corner of the room. He held the media’s attention with his confident stance and calm demeanor. His deep voice resonated and carried easily to the back of the room. The crowd hung onto his every word.

  It was amazing the effect he had on people. She continued to o
bserve the hold he had on the crowd until he finished his brief statement. He declined answering questions as he exited the stage.

  She returned to the fiftieth floor of the building with him. He disappeared into his office and shut the door. Violetta used the remaining part of the night to set up her computer and initiate plans for the Christmas gala. Where was she even supposed to start?

  By four in the morning, she was ready to call it quits. Her brain was still adjusting to working nights. She clocked out a few minutes before five and headed on the other side of town to the dock.

  She held onto her tote bag which held her slayer kit. She remembered to use her aunt’s special neutralizing agent to disguise her scent in case any vampires were lurking. Water lapped against the wood posts of the dock. The winds were high tonight. Violetta crouched to get under the yellow caution tape police used to seal off the area. She detected vampiric energy in this place. It wasn’t active, but more than a few vampires had been there in the past twenty-four hours.

  Violetta saw the anchored carrier where the attack on the crewmen took place. She recognized it from seeing it multiple times online in the news that night. She looked around to ensure no one was there before moving forward. She kept one hand on her silver blade in her belt just in case.

  The energy got a little stronger when she approached the vessel. No cameras were present. Holding on to the anchoring cable tied to the dock, she stepped from the dock to the carrier deck. Wind moved through the vessel, creating an echo among its wooden and metal structures. It creaked each time it bobbed up in the water.

  She moved slowly along the deck to maintain her balance. She kept near the wheelhouse, looking for anything out of place. The deck had been thoroughly swept of evidence, thanks to the forensic work of the police. Damn.

  A shadow moved. Violetta got behind the wheelhouse and withdrew the silver blade. She heard footsteps and then they stopped. She turned the corner and caught sight of Lee standing at the stern of the ship. Light from the dock shone on his face. She did not expect him to be here tonight.

  He was going to walk towards her eventually. It was the only way to exit the ship. The blade handle was cold in her hand. Could she slay him now while it was dark and there were no witnesses?

  A small wave knocked at the ship. It creaked in protest, louder this time. Lee’s head turned in her direction. She ducked down below the window of the wheelhouse. If she came at him with the knife, she would face him head on. She lost the element of surprise.

  The waves became choppy, making the ship bob like a rubber ducky. None of Violetta’s slayer training involved fighting on watercraft. She didn’t trust her footing, especially not when going up against a vampire alpha. She couldn’t be here any longer.

  She moved along in a crouched positioned until she got to the front of the ship. She looked behind her. Lee was moving towards the wheelhouse. She waited until he pulled on the door handle. It creaked. She took advantage of the noise by jumping onto the dock. Within a minute, she made her way out of the area and headed for the train station.

  Violetta hated that she missed her chance to get Lee yet now her suspicions were heightened. Had Lee been there to see the crime scene for himself? Or was it to help his fellow vampires cover their tracks? She had to watch him closely from now on.

  THE NEXT NIGHT AT THE office, Violetta saw Lee and he acted normal. Initially, she worried he had spotted her at the dock. She lucked out that time. Since her search on Crane’s ship came up empty, she returned her focus to learning the ropes at Desmond Industries.

  The following two weeks were rough. Lee kept his business and social calendars full. She juggled them for him, keeping track of the business dinners he had with the mayor as well as other hopeful politicians who wanted his support in upcoming elections. For a couple evenings she had to be at work early at six to attend Happy Hours with him. The company driver Harry, who was also a vampire, drove them to fancy cocktail lounges where people in the marketing and tech industries tried to gain Lee’s attention over Bloody Marys and dirty martinis.

  Violetta noticed the more affluent human population of Briar City fell over themselves trying to curry favor with him. Did they do it because Lee was a powerful and influential businessman? Or did some of them know he was a vampire, and they came to give him their respect so he wouldn’t kill them?

  One Friday, she sat in her office, going over a bunch of catering menus from Briar City’s top restaurants. Once she had the PR department get out the word that Lee was throwing a Christmas gala, restaurant managers wasted no time vying for the chance to feed his guests. Her stomach grumbled just from her reading descriptions of rack of lamb and filet mignon.

  “Knock, knock.”

  She looked up from reading a description of vichyssoise. A perky twentysomething girl wearing a beanie and a blue puffer jacket with the name Stacy stitched on the front stood in her doorway. The zippered cooler bag on her shoulder matched her jacket. “Yes?”

  “I have a delivery for Mr. Desmond.”

  A courier service at three in the morning? She looked towards Lee’s closed office door. She sensed his energy. Maybe he ordered some takeout to eat while he worked. “If you want to leave the package with me, I’ll be sure he gets it.”

  She noticed a small pause before the courier responded. “Mr. Desmond usually wants his packages brought directly to him.”

  “He does?”

  “You must be new here. I’m Stacy from Fast Dash Delivery Service.”

  “I got that from your jacket, Stacy. Nice shade of blue.” Violetta became curious. Everything else Lee had delivered went through her office first and usually by eight-thirty or nine at the latest. What was so special about this mystery package from Fast Dash? “If he wants you to bring it to him, go ahead. I’ll call and let him know you’re here.”

  “No need.” Stacy’s brown ponytail moved when she shook her head and stepped back into the hallway. “I always leave it on his desk.”

  “Wait.” Violetta got out of her seat. When she reached the hallway, Stacy had already opened the door to Lee’s office like she owned stock in the company. Violetta stormed after her. She was not about to let Stacy get her fired.

  The courier set the cooler bag on Lee’s polished ebony desk and exited. She saluted Violetta on his way out. “Thanks. K, bye.”

  Violetta peeked inside Lee’s office. Lee wasn’t there. She stuck her head in farther and saw the door to the second portion of his office was partially open. His voice drifted out. It sounded like he was in on a conference call. She closed the door to the front portion of his office and returned to her own.

  Twenty minutes later, after she narrowed the catering service for the gala down to two restaurants, she decided to take a break. Violetta logged out of her computer and went to go tell Lee that she was grabbing a snack at the twenty-four hour café across the street. She knocked on the closed door. “Lee?”

  He didn’t answer. She tested the door and discovered it was still unlocked. She pushed it open. His chair was empty, but the cooler bag was gone. He had to be somewhere within his expansive office.

  The stapler on his desk was turned on its side. She set it upright. Her movement stirred the screensaver on his personal laptop. The Desmond Industries logo disappeared to reveal a graphic that looked like a grid system. The words BRIAR CITY were in bold letters at the bottom.

  She squinted at the graphic’s series of lines and angles. The whole thing resembled a maze. She came over to the other side of his desk to look at the computer screen straight on. She still had no clue about the graphic. What website was it from? She used the touchpad to move the cursor to the top of the webpage. Instead of a standard webpage starting with www. and ending with .com, she encountered a bunch of random letters and numbers. But they couldn’t be random. Maybe it’s a code. She heard her aunt and uncle speak about the vampires using a secret code in their communications via satellite and internet. If this grid and the series of letters and num
bers atop the screen made up a code, she knew someone who might be able to help her crack it. Violetta removed her phone from her skirt pocket and took pictures of both the grid and the code at the top of the screen.

  A noise came from the other room. She slipped the phone in her pocket. Was Lee in the other room or was it another vampire? She sensed his energy, but this was his office. It would always linger there unless he left it for a long time.

  She tiptoed to the other door. It was open just as she first saw it about a half hour ago. She got closer to the frame and peeked far enough in to where she could see the office furniture. Lee was seated in a chair in front of the couch. His back was turned to the door. His head was bent. He held something in his hands. She leaned in closer. Her shoulder bumped against the doorframe.

  Lee’s gaze locked onto her. His eyes were piercing green as though lit from within. She retracted at the sight of his lips coated in a deep crimson red.

  He didn’t blink as he maintained eye contact. It felt like he had her locked in place with his gaze. Her muscles tensed. The hair on her arms stood on end. The reptilian part of her brain screamed to turn and run, pretend like she saw nothing. The practiced, more collected part of her that utilized her slayer training told her to remain in place, show calmness, but be prepared to defend or escape.

  Lee looked down. Violetta’s momentary paralysis went away. Dammit. She let herself get caught up in the allure of his gaze. Her brother had always warned her about that old vampire charm trick. This was the first time she had actually seen it done and performed on her.

  Lee withdrew his handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped his mouth. “Since you’re still here, I have some things to go over with you.”

  She couldn’t believe his casualness. He spoke to her as though she caught him with queso dip on his mouth instead of blood.

  “You’re shocked. Don’t be.”

  She remembered to pretend to be absolutely distressed. “What?” She grabbed the doorframe as though she needed it for support. “What are you doing?”