Blue Twilight by MAGGIE SHAYNE Page A

to see the woman for himself. He had to know…
    â€œCome, Jason,” he said. “We have to get you back to the mainland now.”
    The young man obeyed, hating to, hating the vampire with everything in him. The only emotion strongerthan his hatred was his love for his sister. The vampire was counting on that.
    He took Jason back through the halls of his home and outside into the beauty of the night. But all the way along the paths of his island, he was acutely aware of the soft crying coming from that bedroom, the tearful sobs of those two young girls.
    He could easily kill Fieldner for getting him into this. And yet now that he’d seen that face—he had no choice but to follow through.
    Soon they were back in Beck’s motel room. And he was, at last, on the telephone with the girl-detectives, rather than their answering machine. Fieldner was listening on the other line, but the vampire had no patience for that. He crossed the room, held out a hand, his command unspoken but clearly understood. Fieldner handed him the receiver and backed away, stationing himself near the door without being told.
    The vampire brought the telephone to his ear and closed his eyes in a mingling of hope and despair at the sound of the woman’s voice. It wasn’t the same.
    â€œJason, thank God. We’ve been trying to call you for hours.”
    â€œI had to go out,” he replied. “Sorry about that.”
    The vampire sighed. The voice was not the same, but that didn’t mean he could let this go. He looked at Jason Beck and sent his words directly into the young man’s mind, without ever parting his lips to speak them aloud.
    You will tell them to come here. Immediately.
    Jason Beck’s eyes widened as he stared at the vampire.
    Do it! Need I remind you what will happen to your sister if you disobey?
    Beck closed his eyes slowly, nodded to tell the vampire he understood, and turned his attention to the woman on the telephone.
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    By the time Lou joined them in the office, Stormy was hitting the speaker button and setting the receiver down. He found himself a chair and waited, listening to the conversation.
    â€œJay? I put you on speakerphone, hon, so we can all get the full scoop. Now, just be calm. We’re here for you. Tell us what the hell is going on.”
    She listened. So did Lou. He came up out of his chair when Jason spoke, because he could have sworn there was a thickness to the other man’s voice. As if his throat were tight, the way it would be if he’d been crying.
    â€œI don’t know exactly, Storm. But damn, it’s good to hear your voice.”
    â€œYours, too.” She sent Max a searching look. “Are you okay, Jason? You sound—”
    â€œFine. I’m…” He sniffed. “Is Max with you?”
    â€œI’m here, Jay,” Maxie called. “And so is Lou. You remember Lou Malone?”
    â€œYour cop?”
    Lou shot Max a look. Since when had he been considered her cop?
    â€œJason, what’s happened to Delia?” Maxie asked quickly.
    â€œI don’t know. That’s just it. She was on a trip withher best friend, Janie. Headed up the coast to celebrate spring break. Senior year, you know? Then I got this call from her. She sounded terrified, Storm. Said she was in trouble. We got cut off after that. And to be honest, the entire call was broken, full of static, I could barely hear her most of the time. But I’m sure she said the name of a town—Endover, New Hampshire.”
    â€œAnd that’s where you are now?” Stormy asked.
    â€œYeah. It’s like a freakin’ ghost town here.”
    â€œYou’ve tried to call her back?” Max asked.
    â€œThat was the first thing I did. First through hundredth. No luck. It’s freaking weird, Max.” He sighed, a broken sound. “But I believe she’s here—I think they both are.”
    â€œWhen did you get that phone call,