Page 77 of Whispers at Dusk
He knew they wouldn’t survive if he didn’t respect her abilities. Different situations could arise in the future. They needed to be intelligent and careful.
But not afraid to do the job.
“She’s right,” Mason said. “Not to mention the fact that...well, I don’t believe Stephan Dante is here. I think he has been here, and whatever time he had, he found someone willing to play his game. As absurd as it may seem, there is always a fragile and vulnerable person ready to believe the most ridiculous tale. I believe this young Canadian woman was taken by a so-called vampire—but not Stephan Dante.”
“Where do you think he is?” Edmund Taylor asked.
“Home.”
“But home to a vampire—” Lapierre began.
“He kept talking about books,” Mason said. “Della and I have been over this and over this, and several of the bestselling books referring to vampire lore of modern history place their vampires in the United States.” He looked at Della, grimacing ruefully. “In New Orleans,” he said quietly.
He believed what he said. It was important they were here; they had a chance to save a woman. If she could be saved, they were the team to do it.
But despite the disappearance of the young woman, he was convinced Stephan Dante was not here.
He had been gone when he’d spoken with Della. By air or sea, he had reached Transylvania that night. He’d met a man, most likely at a bar, someone lost and disillusioned with life, looking for something to cling to, a belief he could be stronger, better, far more powerful than he was.
“The headquarters is straight ahead,” Alexandru said. “We’ll get the electronics we need.”
“The commander and I will retrieve them so we can get close to Bran and get started immediately,” Bisset suggested. He was next to Alexandru, who was driving, but he turned to look at Mason, seated by Della in the middle row. “I am not, as you’ve seen, usually in the field. Today, we are seeking a woman, alive, we hope, and I will be a working member of the team.”
“We will all be in earshot, all taking grave care. We know how the women are killed, but we saw what Dante did in Kirkwall when he wanted to taunt us and get away.”
“We’re all fair game,” Lapierre said.
“We’ll get the earbuds,” Alexandru announced, stopping and putting the car in Park.
He didn’t turn off the engine. As he had promised, he and Bisset were quickly in and out of the headquarters.
In the car, Bisset explained he’d arranged for the easiest and best electronics possible. The earbuds were small; the microphones were tiny buttons that pinned easily on a shirt.
They drove through the valley.
Alexandru pulled off the road, stepped out with a large paper map in his hands. They all joined him as he spread it out over the front of the car.
“Water here, pond...stretch of river. Turn to your left and look... Castle Bran there on the hill, and you can just see the restaurant next to it. Then you have scattered homes, most have wood-burning fireplaces that will add smoke to the fog that will roll in soon. There’s a small cemetery here, hundreds of years old, pond...another waterway here,” he said, pointing. “Police started farther afield. We’re closer in. They are near, moving centrally toward the position of the castle. If we—”
“Divide. Della and I can go west through here, taking parallel walks along these trails. Bisset and Lapierre will go there on the eastern trails. Commander, you and Detective Taylor will follow along the direct path toward the hill, either side of the road here.”
His plan covered the most ground.
“We can walk all day and find nothing,” Taylor murmured. “But we must find this girl! Whatever crazy idiot has her, we must find her.”
Mason walked across the road, determined to test the equipment.
“Loud and clear?” he asked, his microphone secure on his shirt.
“Perfect!” Edmund said.
“Della? Jeanne, François, Commander Alexandru?”
Each replied in turn. It was as if they stood just feet away.
“Time to move,” he said. “Della?”
They split up, nodding to one another as they started out in different directions. Entering the thickness of the forest on the side of the road, Mason saw the sky was already changing. It seemed incongruous just how beautiful the coming shades of mauve over the deep green beauty of the forest appeared, especially with the mountains in the backdrop and the castle glowing in shimmering pastels in the distance.
