"Hi, Jerry."

"Gloriana, what happened last night with the person you found?"

"She's now a vampire, thanks to me." I dropped the bag with Lucky's coat, punched in the security code and pulled open the outside door. "And I'm stuck with her. She's a very complicated person." I waited inside while Valdez darted to the park across the empty street and took care of business.

"Obviously she has enemies, unless you think the attack was random."

"Doubt it. She's a loan shark. Here to collect a debt. I figure someone owed her more than they could pay and decided to settle things permanently."

"This doesn't sound like someone you need to be involved with."

"Too late. I'm involved up to my eyebrows." Which could stand plucking. Lucky's had been perfect. Sure, our bodies never change, but our hair, nails and brows still grow. Fast if we've been drinking a lot of high-octane blood. And don't get me started on my legs.

I picked up the bag with her coat again. "Listen, Jerry. I've got to go. No one's answering in the shop and I've got to check on things."

"I'll be home tomorrow night. Be careful, Gloriana."

"Thanks for the concern. See you tomorrow." I snapped the phone shut and stepped outside, stopping to clip on Valdez's leash. Hmm. Shop lights on. I could see people inside, several gathered in front of the vampire mural Flo had painted on one wall. I know, but my roomie's not into subtle. She's studied under, if you get my drift, a lot of famous artists. So the mural was cool. I pushed open the shop door and looked around for the hired help. Lacy, the were-kitty, was one of them. A student, Melissa, was another. I knew I was late, but at least one of them should have greeted me when I came in. Customer Relations 101.

"I'm the owner here. What's going on?" I tied the bag closed and dropped it by the door. No need to start a freak-out over a bloodstained coat.

"She's hurt, but she won't let us call the paramedics." A brunette in faded jeans ran up to me. "She says someone attacked her right here in the shop."

"Who's hurt?" I surged forward, Valdez at my side. Lacy sat in one of the overstuffed armchairs a friend had consigned. She was pale as a ghost and I could see a bloody bandage wrapped around her neck.

"My God! What happened?" I looked around. No sign of Melissa. Had she taken off before or after Lacy had been attacked?

After and she was so fired.

"I'm okay, Glory. Just after Melissa left, I was in the shop alone. Someone"-she looked significantly at the small crowd of interested mortals-"came in and put a, um, knife to my throat. I guess he wanted to rob us, but two more customers came in just then and the guy panicked and took off."

"That was us!" A blond college-student type, her boyfriend hugging her like he'd never let her go, seemed thrilled to have been so close to death.

"Let's close the shop." I turned and smiled at the group. "Sorry, folks, but obviously Lacy needs medical attention. Come back in about an hour and say, 'I helped Lacy,' and I'll give you twenty-five percent off anything in the store."

"Good deal." College girl dragged her boyfriend to the door. "We can get a snack at Mugs and Muffins next door, sweetie. Check our e-mail on your laptop." She patted him on his stuffed backpack. "We'll be back."

"I told Barbie she didn't need to be hangin' out in a place called Vamps with a vampire painting on the wall." A middle-aged man in jeans, a plaid shirt and a sleeveless down vest elbowed his friend, who was dressed in similar fashion. Like they'd interrupted a hunting trip to check us out. "You see where she was hurt? Neck wound, Earl."

"Don't mean nothin', Leroy. And you can't tell a teenager where to shop, how to dress or who to date. She'll just start sneakin'

around. I figure she'll get over the black lipstick soon enough if you leave her be." Earl hitched up his pants. "Lady wants us to leave. Coffee sounds good. Got to admit though, that painting's pretty creepy."

"Told ya." Leroy and Earl headed out the door.

They weren't the first worried parents to check us out. Usually we passed with flying colors. Too bad they'd picked tonight to drop by.

Finally I turned the lock and got a good look at Lacy. She was pale and getting paler. I reached for the makeshift bandage.

"Not here. Let's go in the back." She got to her feet. Lacy wobbled and made a face. Once we were both in the back room, I helped her to a chair.

"What did he look like, kitty girl? Did you at least scratch his eyes out?" Valdez was right beside me.

"He was butt ugly. And he caught me by surprise. I got in a few good swipes, but I never thought another vamp would come right here in the shop and attack one of us when a customer could have shown up at any time." Lacy put her hand to her throat.

"Ugly and dumb as dirt if he thought he could get away with this." Valdez sniffed. "Security cameras, Glory. We need them in here. I'm talkin' to Blade about them when he gets back. What do you bet this guy was lookin' for you? It's your shop."

"Valdez, I don't want to make this all about me." I grabbed Lacy's arm when she swayed. "Go watch the front door. Lacy's hurt. Save this for later. And leave Blade out of this for now-until we know more."

"Just doin' my job," he muttered as he turned tail and walked stiff legged back to the door.

"Think, Lacy. Did you recognize this vampire? Ever see him before?"

"Someone from the EVs, I think. I didn't get to go to their headquarters with you guys, but Derek took pictures with his camera phone. I think this man was in one of them and not on our side."

EVs. Energy Vampires. The leader had wanted to drain my energy for his top-selling drug. Would you believe it? Vampire Viagra. But I'd managed to get the best of him, and I thought we'd called a truce. He'd promised . . . I pulled off the bandage. Fang marks.

"Oh, God, Lacy. I'm so sorry."

"Why? You're not responsible for every vampire in Austin. And I figure the EVs are wild cards anyway. Hey, I'm okay. I did fight the bastard." She shuddered and touched her throat. "He was so damned strong!"

"It comes with the territory." I grabbed a cloth, wet it and dabbed at the wound. "It's stopped bleeding."

"I know. I wrapped it so the customers couldn't see the marks. We get enough vamp-wannabes because of our name and the mural."

"Damn it. Maybe this is all about me. I'm really, really sorry. At least let me heal you." I put my hand on her throat and thought healing thoughts. Cool, huh? Just like with Lucky, I felt the wounds close under my fingertips. The back door crashed open, and I do mean crashed. With double dead bolts?

"Get your hands off my daughter, vampire!"

I jumped back from Lacy like my hands were on fire. "Hey, I'm healing her." Okay, so I was a wimp, but if you've never seen a mama were-cat with a mad on, don't judge me.

Valdez landed in front of me on legs that were springloaded. "There's nothin' that tastes nastier than were-kitty, but, lady, you come one step closer to Glory and I'll take a chunk out of your hide that even a designer suit won't disguise." The woman, who stood a good six feet tall not counting her four-inch heels, merely sniffed. "And why did she need healing in the first place?"

I took a second to admire her shoes, this season's Dolce & Gabbana pumps, before I realized she was stalking me. Valdez growled and Lacy edged toward the door. I grabbed Lacy's arm.

"Oh, no, you don't. You're not leaving me here with your mother." Not that we'd been introduced, but even if she hadn't screamed

"daughter," I could smell were-cat on the lady. And then there was the fact that she had Lacy's red hair and creamy skin. Who knew Lacy even had a mother nearby? She'd begged me for a job here. Was always short of funds. And, while she usually had a boyfriend, I'd never known her to entertain family.

"Mother, please leave. I'm okay. Glory would never hurt me. She's my friend and boss." Lacy gave me a look that said let her go before her mother decided to take on Valdez to defend her. I dropped her arm and put a foot between us.

"Listen to Lacy, I'd never hurt her." Mom-cat just gave me a look like she'd be a fool to believe a vampire.

"Another vampire attacked me. And I'd like to know how the hell you knew about it anyway? It only happened twenty minutes ago." Lacy was braver than I was, actually stepping around Valdez and going toe-to-toe with her simmering mother.

"Darling . . ." Mom-cat gave me a look that had me edging toward the door. "I had this feeling. You know how I am about my kittens, especially you, my little one. And I could smell vampire a block away."

"I'm not a kitten, Mother. And it's not like we're pack animals. I'm an adult. I have a life. And you can see I'm fine." Lacy was a few inches shorter than her mom, but she matched her stare for stare.

Both were impressive, slim hipped, toned and athletic. The way they were making eye contact, I expected hissing and clawing any minute.

"Ms. Devereau?" I held out my hand, maybe not my brightest move. Valdez sure didn't think so. He practically knocked me back, but I stopped him with a look. "I'm Gloriana St. Clair. I can't tell you how much I rely on Lacy. She's a wonderful asset here." My reward was a snarl. "Sheila Lyons. Devereau is her father's name, which I have never taken."

"Here we go again." Lacy sent me an apologetic look, then grabbed her mother's arm. "Come on upstairs. You can check me out for any lingering ill effects from the attack. Let me describe the vampire who came after me. I've even got a friend who can e-mail a picture to show you. Maybe you can help me hunt the attacker down."

Ah. Lacy definitely knew how to handle her mother. That lady was practically vibrating with the urge to take charge of a vamp hunt. I watched them go, then turned to smile at Valdez, who was still snarling.