TWENTY-SIX.

THEREUNION.

INorder to sneak up on the Pennybaker mansion, Breisi parked the 4Runner at the bottom of the hill, where the gates were open.

It was a far cry from that first visit, when they'd been shut and secretive.

As night echoes sought refuge in the darkness, the fighters silently armed themselves: among other toys, Breisi had her death- dealing saw-bow for backup, while Dawn wore whatever she could manipulate with her left hand. This meant that her weapons didn't includeshurikenor a stake. She didn't think she could summon enough power to pierce a vamp's heart with the sharpened wood, so she stuck to carrying the gun, putting a new vial of holy water and a crucifix in her jeans for any other vamp breeds that might show, plus wearing a silver-edged machete from the weapon collection under Breisi's tarp in back of the car. Dawn slidthatbeauty into a sheath at her right hip, believing that she'd be able to swing the blade with enough force to do some damage if the need arose.

As she rubbed more garlic on her skin-for all the good it might do-she focused on Kiko and Frank. Especially Frank.

Would this next encounter with Robby yield any results about her father? If she had to, she was going tochopsome information out of Nathan Pennybaker and his son.

If they knew anything.

"I can't help you,"Robby had said earlier when she'd asked him about Frank. So what the h.e.l.l had that meant?

Dawn turned on the earpiece both she and Breisi were wearing so the boss could monitor. Her sling-ridden right side was chewing at her, demanding to be recognized for its dull nagging. Screw it.

Ready to go, she turned to the other woman. "Let's do this for Kiko and Frank."

Breisi's jaw hardened, and when she looked at Dawn, it was with conviction-the gaze of a comrade in arms. In her eyes, Dawn saw a love so deep that it could drown. A love for Frank.

Overcome, Dawn held out her hand to her partner.

Breisi grabbed on, gripping Dawn's wrist in something that felt like a sisterhood promise.

Another voice joined them, the sound in Dawn's ear a million miles removed from emotion.

"Try not to harm Robby, if possible," Jonah Limpet said. "I want to talk with him myself. And if you can persuade him to leave the premises and come to mine, that's even better."

"How can we do that?" Dawn asked, releasing Breisi's hand.

"Normally I would recommend a crucifix for binding a vampire in fear and controlling him, but that doesn't work with Robby.

He's a creature from a line I've never encountered. Hypnosis is our best risk. That's why I want you to put him in a position- alone-to hear my voice on the cell phone. Or if you can get close enough to fit an earpiece-"

"I'm thinking Robby won't let us do that," Dawn said, on the cusp of asking why the boss couldn't just come out here to hypnotize the vamp himself. But then she remembered that he hadn't even been able to get out of the house for Kiko's emergency, so she knew there had to be a good reason for his absence. Too bad n.o.body was bothering to tell it to her.

Why? And was the possible escape of Robby worth preserving The Voice's isolation? Evidently, yes.

Breisi was holding her cell phone like it was another weapon, readying it for Robby. "With the loss of the crucifix's powers, I need to work on some sort of binding weapon."

"I'll look into it." Jonah's tone had gone even darker. "But for now, protect RobbyandMarla. And..."

"Yes?" Breisi asked.

Dead air crackled. "And...go with G.o.d."

He abruptly signed off, leaving them to their own devices, even though they knew he'd be listening in.

Ruffled by his closing, Dawn fell into step with Breisi and embarked up the hill.

Try not to harm Robby, Jonah had said. But the specter of Kiko's pain-steeped eyes kept haunting Dawn.

So did the vampire's savage attack on her memories.

She brushed off the dread, instead trying to concentrate on the information she needed to get through this night: The Voice had told them that his "Friends" had seen Robby come home. However, these mysterious pals didn't have enough strength to protect Robby from any possible Guards for an extended period of time, so Dawn and Breisi had to hurry. To make matters even more urgent, Marla Pennybaker, who'd been so eager to find Robby in the first place, was rejecting her son's otherworldly form, refusing to invite him inside the mansion. This left Robby-the vampire they needed for questioning-vulnerable to attack.

As the imposing roof came into view, Dawn wondered ifshemight've triggered Robby's homecoming by telling him how much Marla missed him. Had she actually convinced the vampire to return to Mommy? Was that why he'd left Bava so suddenly?

Earlier, Marla Pennybaker had called Limpet from a closet in her room, wailing that her son was watching her through a window.

Despite Breisi's previous hints to the woman that Robby might turn out to be a vampire, Marla was still in denial. But now she was going through that surreal process of accepting the truth that Dawn was enduring. Seeing was believing.

The mansion loomed before them, looking as paralyzed as it had been the other night. Wind made doubtful murmurs while it combed over the trees plus the hedged maze that Robby had confessed to hiding in.

The scene was too peaceful for Dawn's comfort.

"Where is he?" she mouthed to Breisi.

The other woman shook her head, her dark hair brushing her jawline.

Without warning, a gust of wind barged into Dawn, and she aimed her revolver at...h.e.l.l, atnothing.

As a shaky breath escaped her, she realized that it had only been a false alarm, a ghostly taunt trailing a low, chilly howl and a trace of...perfume?

Jasmine-reminding her of the invisible hands that had guided her to Limpet's- Crash!

Something hit the window near the front door. Both Dawn and Breisi targeted the sound, only to find Marla plastered against the gla.s.s, her face a mask of panic. The woman darted toward the door."Someone came out of her closet," Breisi said.

Before Dawn had time to process that her partner had actually made something resembling a joke, they made a run for the entrance, which Marla Pennybaker was now pulling open.

"Mr. Limpet called to say you were near!" she screeched. "Hurry, get in here!"

When Breisi sprinted to Marla, Dawn guessed that they would quickly return outside to secure Robby after they'd calmed his mother. Unfortunately, that might expose them to the Guards who'd been chasing Robby on previous nights. Dawn only hoped they could contain the young vampire for questioning before those red-eyes showed up.

Following Breisi, Dawn started for the door, too, but was halted by another blast of air. At her jerk of surprise, it swept back, as if it'd only been inspecting her, leaving the scent of jasmine to linger like a delicate threat.

"Dawn!" Breisi was waving her in and watching the lawn.

Behind her, a cry shattered the darkness.

She'd heard that screech before. Tonight. At Bava.

s.h.i.t.

She took off, flying across the threshold. The door slammed right behind her, leaving Marla hugging the oak.

"I can't stay in here alone. I-"

Interrupting herself, Marla rushed to the window, peeking past the wooden frame and into the black of nothing outside.

"Robby's fighting off the boss's protection," Breisi muttered to Dawn as she scanned the room. "And they aren't going to be able to waste their energy on him forever."

They.Jasmine perfume. Dawn was getting an idea about just who these Friends were.

Discomfited, her gaze roamed over the nooks and crannies with their hidden shadows; over the modern iron sculpture that watched the foyer like a mercenary with a honed sword extended at a severe incline from its blob of a body; over the stark paintings; over the hushed staircase.

"What did Robby look like?" Dawn asked Marla. Forget the gentle, now-do-you-believe-your-son-is-a-vampire? talk.

"He looked...like Robby." Her wrinkled face slack with fear, Marla turned to them, her back to the window. "My G.o.d, he hasn't changed a bit. He kept asking me to let him in, kept asking me if I really did love him."

Just as Dawn had thought. If Daddy didn't want him this time out, maybe Mommy could take Nathan's place. Robby was dependent on parental care.

"What's going on?" Marla added. "I don't understand..."

But before Dawn could begin the Nosferatu 101 lecture that Marla was now ready for, a scream lodged in her chest.

Behind the fragile woman, Robby had strolled into sight, c.o.c.king his head at his mother through the window, eyes glowing.

A bash of terror lit through Dawn: Kiko, splayed over the floor. Dawn, fighting off the mind a.s.sault...

Cowboy up, d.a.m.n it, she told herself.Cautiously, she went to drag Marla away from the gla.s.s while avoiding Robby's gaze. Yet, even then, she caught a glimpse of the head wound she'd inflicted on him earlier. It'd already healed to a gummed scar.

The vampire pressed a hand to the gla.s.s, his voice muted but audible. "Mom?"

Marla yelped, but Dawn shoved her toward Breisi before Robby's mother could spin around. In turn, Breisi kept Marla from turning back to the window and witnessing her son's pleas. In fact, Breisi set down her saw-bow and secured her charge in the corner by that mercenary sculpture, as if it could guard her. Then she took off her jacket and threw it over Marla Pennybaker's head to block her sight and soothe her.

The Voice sounded over Breisi's open phone and in the earpiece. "We need to invite Robby in, Mrs. Pennybaker. My friends tell me it's not safe for any of you outside now."

Dawn's body washed into itself, recognizing the lulling tone-the hypnosis. She pushed against it, mostly because she wasn't enjoying this "invite Robby in" change of plans. Was it because Jonah knew that his "Friends" were being overcome by the vamp?

Or was he antic.i.p.ating the Guards' arrival within the next few minutes?

Could they even protect Marla from Robby inside the mansion while they were trying to keep the vampire himself safe?

"I won't have Robby near me!" Marla yelled.

Blinking, Dawn didn't fully understand at first that the woman had refused Jonah's hypnotic command. But then she recalled what Kiko had once told her about The Voice.

You have to leave some kind of door open for him to get in.

Marla was shut tight. Jonah had no access.

Would it be the same with Robby, too?

Oh, man, they were upmerdecreek.

As Marla wept in fright, Breisi came to Dawn's side.

"I wonder if Robby'll change to that form you described," she said. "The angel of death. He'd be harder to control."

"And he'd be inside this room with us."

"But the Guards could be on their way. And"-Breisi gestured toward the window-"Robby won't be able to hear the boss on the phone through this gla.s.s."

The Voice spoke up. "If Marla won't invite him in, you need to at least try. Guards are coming."

This was really going to happen. They were going to issue an invitation for a monster to join them.

And what did Jonah mean by "try"? Couldn't any person invite a vampire inside?

Robby tapped at the window, tangling her nerves.

Ttch, ttch, ttch.

Then, out of nowhere, the vampire's body jerked, twisting as he fought off an invisible force. There was a boom against the house's exterior, an ear-splitting yowl, then...Silence.

"Jonah's 'Friends'?" Dawn asked, pulse twittering. The Voice didn't answer, but Breisi nodded, gave her a look that said, "You're already acquainted with them, I believe."

Man-oh-man-oh-man. Limpet's paintings. Did they really contain spirits-ghosts? Ones that could step in and out to help "the boss"?

"They can't fight off Robby's unwillingness much longer," Breisi said. "Not with the limits of their powers."

Dawn didn't have a chance to dig deeper, because Marla Pennybaker was getting anxious under the jacket.

"What's he doing?" she asked.

Stalking closer to the window, Dawn chanced a glimpse outside. Leaves waving in the night. Moonlight peeking over the treetops.

The calm before a storm.

"He's gone for now," she said, reaching for some curtains. But the window frame was bare. d.a.m.n this modern decor.

"When he comes back," Breisi said, "we'll get him inside and have the boss start talking to him and binding him right away while we cover Robby with our weapons. That way we'll at least keep any Guards out of the house."

"No!" Marla was quaking under the black jacket. "Keep him away! He wants revenge, that's all. A ghost's revenge. He's a mean, justice-seeking spirit. He knows that I know..."

Dawn gripped her revolver. "What're you talking about?"

Marla's words were m.u.f.fled. "I...I left Robby up to Nathan." She sank lower against the wall. "And by the time I found out about the 'dates' and the parties, it was too late to undo any of it. Oh, G.o.d help me, G.o.d help me."