Beyond the Grave by Lina Gardiner Page A

out of him if she had a partner tagging along every time she saw him. No, this one had to be handled by her and her alone.
    She smiled at the Chief. Somehow he didn't look assuaged.
    "Pick whoever you think is best,” he said, before going back to his paperwork, thereby dismissing her.
    Jess left his office and strode to the roof of the building, her favorite place to think. She scanned the city. Working with humans was necessary to combat vampires. After all, besides James, there weren't very many vamps lining up for the job. And even if they did, she'd never trust them. But she did trust her Black Ops operatives. They were good people. Brave people, who were willing to put their lives on the line to save their friends and neighbors from the evil bloodsuckers. She sighed, and pressed two fingers against each temple. Maybe she'd come to trust one of them too much? Could she ever walk away from Britt? Even if it was for his own safety.
    A wave of dizziness rippled through her, then ebbed away. If she was reverting into one of the evil creatures of the night, Britt might be the least of her worries.
    And if that did happen, how long could she trust herself alone with people she loved?
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CHAPTER SEVEN
    Drago Vaslov cursed and slammed his cell phone shut before firing it against the wall. It bounced off and landed with an unsatisfactory thud on the floor. “ Goddamnit. ” One wall was completely covered with mirrors, but the rest were padded, soundproofed, and covered with rich burgundy leather.
    He glanced at the two beautiful, barely dressed women lounging on a settee in the corner. They looked sufficiently crestfallen to win an Oscar when they saw he wasn't in the mood to party tonight.
    Drago pushed the button on his headset. “Mannie, get in here.” Drago raised his voice, but just barely. That's all he had to do. His people were at his beck and call. Or else.
    "Yes, sir?” Mannie stepped into the office, adjusting his wireless earpiece which was connected to Vaslov's intercom system.
    "Why isn't Jess Vandermire here yet? The Mayor told me she would be."
    "Not sure, sir. She was late the other night too. Seems she's a woman with her own schedule.” Only Mannie would dare talk to Drago like that. He'd been with him for ages.
    "I guess that's why she's so appealing to our phone-in client. She's certainly not my type.” Drago rolled his eyes toward the ladies on his couch. Wanton and ready, and alive, that's the way he liked them.
    "If the Mayor gave her orders to be here, she'll have to come. I'll tell security to keep an eye out for her and let her in immediately."
    "Do that."
    Mannie started to leave.
    "Have you seen today's paper?” Drago picked up the paper and threw it at him. Mannie twisted and caught it in midair, but not before several sections fell out. He bent and gathered the sheets, putting them back in order without a change in expression. Vaslov liked that about him. He kept his cool.
    "Check out the front page with full color photo. It seems Beverley Kellerman was found dead yesterday.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. The constant droning headache increased in intensity at the back of his brainstem. “What if their investigation leads back to us?"
    "Even if it does, why should we worry? We're not involved in Kellerman's murder."
    "Take a better look at that picture, Mannie."
    Mannie stared at the paper. “I'm looking.” He tilted his head this way and that. “How'd reporters get this picture, anyway? That alone must've pissed off the cops to no end."
    "My point, Mannie...” Drago held out a magnifying glass to Manfred Constantine, and snapped his hand back when his number one thug took it. “Is her neck. Look at her neck."
    Mannie squinted through the glass. His eyes narrowed and his lips formed a thin line. “I see what you're getting at."
    Drago sat on the edge of his desk, legs stretched out in front of him. “Now, reconsider the problem that Beverley