Night of the Vampires by Heather Graham Page B

With his height and the length of the coat, his heavy supply of armor might not be noted beneath its folds.
    She made it out the door first, walking purposely for the street and seeking a carriage to hail. Cole was right behind her, towering over her and lifting his hand high as he hurried her along. Just as Cody and Brendan caught up to them, a carriage for hire pulled alongside them and Cole asked that they be delivered to the Lincoln General Hospital. The four of them climbed in, Brendan being the one to first appear the gentleman and hand her up the footstep so that she might take a seat.
    In short time, they reached the hospital. It was immense, founded in 1862 because of the staggering number of war injuries and diseases that plagued the soldiers. When they set foot at the emergency arrivals area, it seemed that the place was nothing but chaos, which was good for their purposes. Cole had a letter of authority from the Pinkertons—who were ostensibly investigating the mysterious murders—and a grim medic, hurrying from one tent to another, directed them to the far rear of the encampment.
    â€œDid we really need all four of us for such a task?” Brendan grumbled, wincing as they walked past a pile ofamputated limbs. “My dear!” he added, pulling Megan close to him. “These are not sights really fit for a lady.”
    â€œHow kind, sir. But I’ve been on many a battlefield.”
    â€œI’m sure you have,” Cole said.
    â€œWhere is your actress–Amazon warrior friend, Sheriff?” Megan asked sweetly. “Wouldn’t she have better directed us on this mission?”
    â€œMiss Annalise is a superb actress and songstress, in the city to warm the hearts of the injured and those working on the home front, and even those just waiting, raising their children,” Cole said pleasantly. “She is otherwise occupied by her very important work.”
    Megan tried to restrain from an unladylike snort. She did manage to suppress the sound to a barely audible sniff.
    She didn’t like Lisette Annalise. She was sure that the woman would happily propel enough bombs to obliterate the entire South, heedless that it would kill countless innocents and take out half the Northern troops, all in her determination to exterminate her enemies. Did Cole realize that? she wondered. It hadn’t taken any great intellectual mind to realize that the woman was a Northern spy, working with the Pinkertons. Though Cody had not told her so directly during Cole’s absence, he hadn’t denied her query about the woman, either.
    A soldier suddenly barred their way. “What business have you here?” the man demanded. “If you’re seeking the body of your kin, you’ve passed the tent where the latest casualties lie.”
    â€œI’m here under a matter of government concern,” Cody said, and Cole produced their letter of authority.
    The soldier nodded, looking a little white. “Dr. Mansfield examined the bodies earlier. I shall conduct youand remain with you throughout your own examination, sir.”
    Megan knew that her part in the charade was at hand.
    â€œOh!” she whispered suddenly.
    Making sure that she was far enough from the men, she brought the back of her hand to her eyes and pretended to waver.
    â€œMiss!” the soldier cried, rushing forward to catch her before she could fall.
    â€œOh, thank you!” she cried, circling her arms around him. “I don’t know what’s come over me! I’ve nursed men on the fields…. I just need…perhaps a bit of water.”
    â€œMy poor dear sister!” Cody said, starting forward.
    Cole caught him by the shoulder. “Dr. Fox, we’ve been asked to make a report as soon as possible on the condition of the poor family!”
    â€œIndeed,” Cody said, distressed.
    â€œI have the young lady,” the soldier said, now staring at Megan with something like puppy