Night of the Vampires by Heather Graham Page A

new interments had to be outside the city line…but there are crypts and vaults in the oldest churches,as well. Most likely new vampires would find rest in a cemetery—I don’t think they’d be able to endure the burn of trying to sleep within an actual house of worship.”
    â€œMy bet is on Prospect Hill,” Cody said. “It is all hallowed ground, but many who would have been buried there perished on battlefields far away, and their remains were never returned.”
    â€œThough Prospect Hill is German-American,” Cole noted, “I remembered reading a small article on it the day it was consecrated.”
    â€œYes, but many bought plots there,” Megan said.
    Cody stood and looked at them with determination. “We’ll flag down a carriage,” he said. “It’s not walking distance.” He was thoughtful and then shook his head wearily. “Oak Hill is possible, too—its natural landscape lends itself to many places where a vampire might find enclosures in which to rest.”
    â€œAnd if one of the older, seasoned vampires survived, he might have a place already set up… anywhere, ” Megan said.
    â€œWe’ll just keep searching. We’ll start with Prospect Hill, move on to Oak Hill…and go from there.”
    Cole nodded in agreement. “The surviving attackers must be found, but we also must get into the hospital morgue where the remains of the deceased were taken. Quickly. I don’t want to wait for nightfall—better that we handle the situation now.”
    â€œAll right,” Cody began. “Brendan will come with me. We’ll start on the cemeteries. You can bring Megan—”
    â€œWhat? Oh, no,” Cole said.
    â€œYou know, cowboy,” Megan said, irritated, “one day, you’ll be grateful to have me at your side, when yourweakness is shown to be great next to those you choose to pursue.”
    â€œI know my business. You ask your brother. I learned to hold my own the hard way,” Cole said. “Why, I nearly killed you last night.”
    â€œOh, no, you did not,” Megan corrected him. “I could have killed you, but instead, I saved your skin. You were with Cody. And then I offered you my services.”
    â€œYou were at my mercy,” Cole said softly.
    â€œI—”
    â€œAll right, stop!” Cody said. “Cole, you come with me, and I’ll send Megan and Brendan—”
    â€œNo! I know she’s technically on our side, but you’re not going to risk Brendan going with her,” Cole said.
    â€œIt’s early enough,” Megan said. “And, Cody, you’re a trained medical doctor. It will make sense if we both go to the hospital. Then, we’ll go to the cemeteries together. We are talking vast tasks at each location. The hospitals are huge, and—”
    â€œEven the morgue area will house many,” Cole interrupted quietly.
    â€œI think, since resources are limited, the murdered family might be kept separately,” Megan concluded. “In the morgue area, but separate from those who have died of their battle wounds, or of disease.”
    â€œAll right. We go together. Cole—Megan is my sister,” Cody said.
    â€œOne you’ve known for less than twenty-four hours,” Cole pointed out.
    Megan moved toward the door. “Sheriff Granger, we need to leave. You may come—or not. As you see fit. But I am going.”
    She wasn’t sure what he said; it was beneath hisbreath. She didn’t think that it was good. She didn’t much care.
    â€œI need my coat,” he said. “You’ll wait.”
    â€œI’ll get Brendan and my medical bag,” Cody said.
    Cole was heading to the rear, for the hooks by the kitchen door, to retrieve his railway frock coat.
    It was a long coat. Megan thought that it was also probably well supplied—with stakes, a mallet and a number of sharp knives.