Vampire - Deep Midnight Part 23

"What?"

She had breezed through the lobby; they were already out on the street.

He took the costume from her, throwing it over his shoulder. "You walk exceptionally fast, for such a small person."

"You walk exceptionally slowly, for a giant."

"Why are you afraid of me?"

"Because you either lie or evade all my questions."

"I've answered your questions. My name is Ragnor Wulfsson. I'm originally from Norway. I deal in antiques."

"And you loathe the contessa, but you were with her in the Square. In a very friendly manner, according to Raphael. What is it between you two?"

"There is nothing between us. I met her before- and we are definitely antagonistic."

"Where did you meet her?"

"Scotland, years ago. We are natural enemies. Is that enough?"

"No."

"It will have to do for now. And if you distrust me so very much, why are you with me?"

"Because I can't seem to shake you."

He didn't reply. His long strides were now pa.s.sing hers, and she was puffing somewhat to keep up with him. They reached the Arte della Anna Maria shop. Lynn was outside, smoking.

"Buon giorno!" she cried happily, stamping out her cigarette and greeting them both with the customary kisses. "We were growing worried. Afraid you had decided not to come to the ball!"

"I'd never miss Anna Maria's ball," Jordan a.s.sured her.

"Come in, come in, both your costumes are ready!"

In the shop, Raphael left a slender woman to study a row of costumes and hurried to Jordan, his enthusiasm at seeing her very warming. He kissed her, fussed over her, greeted Ragnor, and relieved him of the vinyl costume. He had Jordan's costume ready for her, but ushered her into a corner to look at masks. "You heard about the head?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes."

"In Venice! At Carnevale." He was indignant that such a crime should mar the beauty of his city, and the occasion. "But it must not worry you. No one knows where it might have come from-the police are on it. They are really very good here. We are hard on criminals. You have seen the officers with the automatic weapons, yes?"

"Yes, Raphael."

"You must still love Venice."

"I do."

Raphael sighed, smoothing the ostrich feather on the mask. He glanced over his shoulder at Ragnor. "But you have found a good friend. Big! It is good to walk the streets with such a friend. Mucho macho. That's Spanish-" "I know."

"For a very manly man."

Jordan laughed. "Or chauvinist," she mused.

"Perdoni?"

"Nothing, Raphael, nothing. Hey, if I ever want to read the Italian paper, will you help me?"

"Of course. I will help you with anything. After today, our ball is over, we collapse, and then we are like free people again. I would love to spend time with you, help you read Italian."

"Thanks." She kissed him on the cheek. "What will you be tonight?"

He grinned. "Something very flamboyant. You'll have to wait and see."

Ragnor had been deep in conversation with Anna Maria. As Raphael walked Jordan to the entrance, apologizing that he must get to other customers, the door opened, and Cindy and Jared entered. Cindy looked tired. Wan.

"Hey!" Jordan greeted her cousin-in-law.

Cindy's face lit up with a smile. "Here you are. I was worried about you."

"You shouldn't have been."

Cindy glanced at Ragnor. "No, I guess not." She seemed pleased. Jared didn't. Anna Maria was coming forward to greet Cindy. Jared came over to Jordan, whispering to her.

"Aren't you spending too much time with this guy? We don't know anything about him."

"We were walking in the same direction," Jordan told him.

"Where have you been all day?"

"In my room, working."

That seemed to satisfy him. She wanted to believe that Jared was acting the part of the protective older brother today; she sensed it was more than that.

Anna Maria called to Jared, who stepped forward, dutifully kissing her cheeks, and responding with pleasure to something she said. Cindy stepped back to Jordan, smiling then with wicked delight. "You go, girl! He's a hunk. If it weren't for Jared, I'd be tempted.

Oh, h.e.l.l, I adore Jared, and I'm tempted!"

"Cindy, it's not-"

"His eyes are never off you!"

"How can you tell, behind those gla.s.ses?"

Cindy giggled. "I can tell."

"There's nothing going on-"

"There should be! Steven has been dead a long time now," she added softly.

"Tiff has a thing for him. That's why she planned that little c.o.c.ktail party tonight."

"Are you sure we're invited?" Cindy asked. "I haven't heard a word from Tiff."

"We're all definitely invited, though I admit, I'm surprised she hasn't called."

"Girls, are you ready?" Jared asked, turning toward them.

"I didn't even get my costume," Cindy said.

"I have it," Jared told her, glancing at his watch. "If we're planning on getting to Tiff's and then the ball ... it's time to make tracks." "Yes, if we're to change and be ready," Cindy said.

"We'll see you at the ball. What are you going as, Anna Maria?"

"The hostess," Anna Maria said.

"I'll be someone you'll never expect," Lynn volunteered.

"Raphael?" Cindy asked.

He drew his finger to his lips, smiling mischievously.

"He'll be flamboyant," Jordan volunteered for him.

"Til later," Ragnor said, kissing Anna Maria goodbye. He started out the shop first.

Jordan started to follow. Jared caught her arm.

"Why are you going with him?"

She pulled her arm back. "Honestly, Jared, we're going to the same place. And by the way, did you hear that they pulled a head out of the ca.n.a.l? Not a fish head, Jared, a human head."

He sighed with exasperation. "Yes, I heard. That must mean there are bodies by the truckload floating in the water, all from the contessa's."

"It means that someone was killed-and that his head was severed."

"Hey, guys, you're blocking the door," Cindy warned.

Jordan moved ahead, catching up with Ragnor, who had both their costumes under his arm.

She slipped her hand around his free elbow. He looked down at her. She saw a brow arch behind his gla.s.ses, but an annoying smile was on his face, so she knew that he was aware she was merely irritated with her cousin.

"Be careful of him," Ragnor whispered.

"He's my cousin. I adore him. He's not a stranger."

"There can be no one stranger than a person you think you really know," Ragnor said.

"Oh, my G.o.d! Quit being so cryptic!" she implored.

He was silent as they walked along, several yards ahead of Cindy and Jared. Then, after a while, he startled her when he spoke.

"She doesn't look well."

"What?"

"Cindy. She looks very tired and pale."

"Naturally, she's tired. Everyone parties all night."

Again they walked in silence. Nearing the hotel, they went by the shop with the mannequin in the window that had twice seemed to look at her with Steven's face.

She hadn't realized that she had stopped, staring at it again. It was just a mannequin.

"What is it?" Ragnor queried.

"Nothing." She looked up at him. It was dark now, and he had shed his sungla.s.ses at last.

She was surprised by the intensity of his stare. "Nothing," she repeated. "Nothing at all. I like that outfit."

"And you say that I lie!" he told her softly.

"We have to hurry if we're to make Tiff's. Now, Mr. Wulfsson, there's a woman who is fond of you."

"She is a pleasant person." Jordan smiled. She liked Tiff very much herself; there was just something about her.

But she wasn't sure that "pleasant" was a word she'd use to describe her.

"I believe she finds you far more intriguing than merely pleasant."

He paused, gazing at her. "Perhaps the right person-under ninety-will come along for her. You knew absolutely nothing about her c.o.c.ktail party tonight until I told you about it, did you?"

"I wasn't surprised. I told you, I saw you two together."

"We weren't together."

"She wants you to visit her palazzo."

"I've seen her palazzo."

"Okay, so she wants you to see her palazzo with her in it."

He didn't reply as they kept walking. Nearing the Danieli, he asked her, "And you have no interest in me .. . yourself?"

Jordan laughed, actually enjoying the conversation. Yes, maybe once she could have been. If she had met him under different circ.u.mstances. If she didn't dream of Steven, if...

"I don't trust you," she said.

"But you have to trust me."