Part 2 (1/2)

”A fluke,” I said, and went toward the kitchen to get a drink. ”Do you want a gla.s.s of mineral water?” She nodded yes. ”Frizzante or or naturale naturale?” I asked her, using the Italian for water with bubbles or without them.

”Frizzante, with a slice of lemon if it wouldn't be too much trouble,” she said, following me. ”What kind of a fluke?”

”You remember Cormac O'Reilly?” I opened a bottle of Pellegrino, took a piece of lemon from a dish in the fridge, and handed the gla.s.s to Mar-Mar.

She took it from me and said, ”You mean the dancer? The one who was in A Chorus Line A Chorus Line twenty years ago? I thought you two weren't speaking.” twenty years ago? I thought you two weren't speaking.”

”Well, we weren't, but I ran into him a while ago and we made up. He's working on this historical theater project and thought I might be good at it too. It's definitely an advantage when you've seen the items actually in use.” I grinned. ”The NPS was still hiring-it's just a temporary position-so I got the job. I think it will be interesting. I've been bored lately.”

”Idle hands are the devil's workshop,” Mar-Mar muttered. ”You know you can always work with Greenpeace.”

”Someone else is going to have to save the whales, Ma,” I said. ”This job is enough for me. And I can work at night.”

”As long as you're happy,” she said with a sigh that meant she wasn't, and got back to the point of her visit. ”You know, it wouldn't hurt to go out just once with Zoe's son. At least try it. He seems like a nice boy.”

”I don't think so, Ma.”

”For me. Just do it for me. Look, you don't even have to go out on a real date. Come by my place next Sat.u.r.day night. I'll have Zoe and Louis in for drinks.”

”Louis?” I said.

”He's French, from Louisiana. It's that that branch of the family, you know, but he's quite nice.” branch of the family, you know, but he's quite nice.”

I really didn't know anything about that that branch of the family except some nasty rumors. Although I didn't care about Louis's lineage, I was sure I wouldn't like him. I am not attracted to most vampire men. In any case, I knew my mother wouldn't give up until I agreed. I gave in. ”Sure, Ma, drinks will be fine.” branch of the family except some nasty rumors. Although I didn't care about Louis's lineage, I was sure I wouldn't like him. I am not attracted to most vampire men. In any case, I knew my mother wouldn't give up until I agreed. I gave in. ”Sure, Ma, drinks will be fine.”

A brilliant smile lit up my mother's face. Her mission accomplished, she quickly finished up her mineral water and announced that she was meeting friends in the East Village. After bestowing a quick kiss on both my cheeks, European style, she left. I must admit that my apartment felt empty once she had gone.

After a few hours of meditation and listening to Bach's Goldberg Variations, I fell into a deep sleep at dawn. When I finally heard the alarm-I must have hit the snooze b.u.t.ton five or six times without regaining full consciousness-twilight was falling. I had less than an hour to get dressed and down to Twenty-third Street. I threw on a sweater and a pair of jeans. I didn't mind being rushed. Where there had once been a dull ache in my heart, I felt light and giddy from both adrenaline and optimism. I could be a great spy; I just knew it. Whatever J wanted me to do, I felt confident I could handle it. It wouldn't be long before I realized how self-deluded I was at that moment. But ignorance is bliss, and I never again felt so happy as I did that day. I never again slept so soundly or so long.

J was waiting for me in the conference room. A grin on my face, my footsteps light and quick, I burst through the door. Seeing his grim face felt like hitting a brick wall.

”Sit down, Miss Urban,” he said flatly. I did.

”We have a lot of material to review. You will meet your target tomorrow, so you don't have much time to prepare.” He avoided my eyes. I sought out his, but failed to make contact, so I stared at his strong jaw, noted the shadow of a beard beginning to show, watched the movement of his mouth. I began to imagine how those lips would feel tracing down the center of my naked back. A warm, s.h.i.+very feeling chased up and down my spine where his lips left little kisses...

”Miss Urban, when you contact us,” he said roughly, stopping my sweet dreams, ”you should use your code name, Hermes.”

”Ah, the Greek G.o.d. The messenger. And what is yours?”

”Ringmaster.”

”So you're calling the shots.”

”Whatever. I don't pick the names, Miss Urban,” he said. ”Now, to get on with this. You represent a private collector of aboriginal art. The collector is real. The art is real. Bonaventure knows of the collection and very much wants to purchase items from it. The collector refuses to have direct contact with him. Bonaventure has tried. He has been turned down. Finally the collector has agreed to work through a middleman-you. This gives you entree into Bonaventure's apartment. You have an appointment tomorrow at seven thirty P.M.”

”What's the address?”

”It's in this file.” He picked up a nine-by-twelve brown envelope and handed it to me. ”In there is all you need to know about the collector and the art you are going to sell. Read it, memorize it, then destroy it. And by destroy I mean burn it.” I slipped the envelope into my Louis Vuitton backpack. ”You need to insinuate yourself into Bonaventure's life. That is where you can put your beauty and charm to use.”

I finally managed to look him in the eyes. His held mine for a brief moment; then he deliberately looked away. It was enough. The chemistry was there. He knew it, and I knew it. I pulled my attention back to my coming a.s.signment. ”What am I supposed to do, exactly?” I asked.

”Your first task is to plant some listening devices inside Bonaventure's apartment. We haven't been able to pick up much from outside the building. We think he's jamming our directional mikes.”

J handed me a small box. ”The devices and the instructions about where to plant them, and how, are in here. Again, memorize your instructions, then destroy the paper and this container. Transport the bugs themselves in with your pocket change. Their cases look like dimes. The devices inside the case are much smaller.” He handed me the small package. I dropped it into my backpack.

”Now, your second objective. We need you to get information on the recipients of Bonaventure's next big weapons delivery. We already know they belong to a terrorist cell operating in this area, somewhere near New York City. And we know they will pay him in diamonds...”

”Ah, the Benny Polycarp connection,” I said.

”You're very quick, Miss Urban. Yes, that is how your fellow operative will be connected to this mission. She will be called in to evaluate and appraise the payment. We've worked hard setting this operation up. You're the linchpin that holds it all together. You are going to be our means to identify the terrorists and stop them.”

”What does 'stop them' mean?” I said. ”Am I supposed to kill someone?”

”Probably not. You're not there to terminate anyone, just to get us information. The art deal gives Bonaventure the need for major cash, and fast. You might look at your role as a conveyer of knowledge. You plant the listening device. You pick up information on who is bringing the cash to Bonaventure, who is getting the weapons, and when the exchange will take place. Anything beyond that will be a bonus. Other members of our agency will prevent the terrorists from getting the weapons and arrest them. Maybe we will be able to turn one of them to our side and make him a double agent. We haven't had much success in infiltrating these groups. But that's not your job. Your job is to make sure we have enough data to interrupt the exchange and catch the buyers.

”As for Bonaventure himself, there will always be merchants of death like him. Frankly he is more useful to us alive than dead. We know his weaknesses, and through you, we hope to be able to control him.”

”And what are his weaknesses?”

”Greed, for one. An obsessive personality, for another. He is a collector and he'll go to extraordinary lengths to obtain an item he wants. Don't make it too easy for him. The quest is part of what gives him pleasure. The art collection you represent has pieces he desperately wants to acquire. Some of them were used in New Guinea witchcraft rituals. Most people would find them repugnant, but Bonaventure likes that sort of thing. He also likes beautiful women, and that is another weakness you will need to exploit.”

”Do I have to sleep with him?” I said, my voice hardening.

”What you do to get the information is up to you,” J said, and looked at me as if to measure my reaction.

”Well, I won't have s.e.x with him,” I said, glaring at him. ”I'm not a wh.o.r.e.”

”I never implied you were, Miss Urban,” he said more softly, almost kindly. ”What you do in the course of the mission-what any of us do-we do in order to get the job done. I believe you will do whatever it takes. But how you win Bonaventure's confidence, how you capture his trust, to the extent he ever trusts anyone, will be your decision.” He was still looking at me then, and a hot wind seemed to stir my blood. I was drawn to J as if a golden wire reached out from his soul and wound around my heart, reeling me in. Such feelings could lead only to hurt and pain, I knew. But at that moment I thought of nothing but of having his mouth cover mine. I wasn't thinking very clearly. No, that's not true: I wasn't thinking at all.

I leaned closer to J. He didn't draw back. ”In other words, s.e.x is a weapon I may choose to use. Or not.” I could feel his breath touch my face. I knew his desire was rising up to answer mine. I expected him to kiss me...

Instead a flicker of something like surprise crossed his face. He pulled back as if he had been burned. His eyes changed, becoming flat and angry. ”Let me get something clear. Miss Urban. We will be working closely together, but my my relations.h.i.+p with relations.h.i.+p with all all Darkwing team members is the same. It's a professional one. I am your team leader. Nothing less, and certainly nothing more.” Darkwing team members is the same. It's a professional one. I am your team leader. Nothing less, and certainly nothing more.”

Liar, I thought to myself. I know you feel the same pull I do I know you feel the same pull I do.

He stood up and pushed his chair back. ”Furthermore, and I will not repeat this again”-he spit the words out-”what you are disgusts me. A wh.o.r.e would be more moral. You are a monster, not a woman. I know about the vampires' magnetism and the magical attraction that pulls humans to them so they can satisfy their l.u.s.t for blood. You are depraved. All of you are nothing more than beasts. And no matter what your powers, I would never-do you hear me?-never so much as touch you.”

Something snapped in me then. An emotional gate opened and white-hot anger poured through. He had rejected me as a woman, and more than that, he had demonized my entire race. His arrogance and his belief in his human human superiority pushed me over the edge. I returned his words with ones of my own, hard as adamantine. ”You are right, J. You are so, so right. I am superiority pushed me over the edge. I returned his words with ones of my own, hard as adamantine. ”You are right, J. You are so, so right. I am not not human. I human. I am am a monster.” I paused for moment and slowly got to my feet. ”I am a a monster.” I paused for moment and slowly got to my feet. ”I am a vampire vampire,” I hissed. ”You need to know exactly what that means.” To his shock and amazement I pulled off my sweater and s.h.i.+mmied out of my jeans as fast as any quick-change artist. And then, having committed myself to what was about to happen, I let the transformation into my bat shape begin...

A dark veil began to swirl around me, blurring the very air. I felt myself hover between two worlds before a jolt of energy surged through my blood. I grew taller, I saw my nails extend and become claws, I felt wings spring out from my back with a rustling like a death rattle from infinity. My white skin metamorphosed into a dark, soft pelt. I felt immeasurably strong; power surged through my veins as a laugh escaped my throat. I rose up then, above the floor, suspended in the air, a creature more beautiful than a bird, more terrifying than a bat, sleek and s.h.i.+ning, a dark phantasmagoria, glistening with rainbow colors that broke forth from prismatic silver crescents clinging like water droplets to my fur. A glow surrounded me as I ascended. My head came close to the ceiling. As I extended my magnificent bat wings, they reached from wall to wall. When I spoke, I knew J could see my fangs.

”Look and fear me, human,” I said in a voice of silk and flame.