August "Augie" Ryan was shaking his head as he approached her car. "Vicki, where in tarnation are you going in such a rush on a quiet Sunday morning?"
Vicki looked up at him through the window. Augie was the oldest policeman in town.
Augie was a big teddy bear of a man, with twinkling blue eyes and a winning smile. By rights, he should have retired years ago, but the people of Pear Blossom Creek wouldn't hear of it, and since his youngest son was the mayor and his oldest son was the chief of police, it was pretty much a given that Augie would be around until he was ready to retire.
Vicki summoned her sweetest smile. "I was on my way to Mass, of course. Where else would I be going on a quiet Sunday morning?" Where else, indeed, since everything was closed except the corner cafe and the hospital.
"Now, honey, you're just lucky it is Sunday and there's no one else on the road. Girl, you might have caused an accident a 'speeding along that way."
"But I didn't, and I'm really late, so can I go?"
"I should write you up this time, you know that, don't you? It would serve you right."
"But you won't, will you?"
He rocked back on his heels. "I reckon not. But you slow down, girl, hear?"
"I will, Augie. Thanks!"
She pulled away from the curb at a sedate speed, then glanced in the rearview mirror.
Augie was still standing beside his police car, watching her.
With a sigh of exasperation, she kept to the speed limit the rest of the way to church.
She was driving home an hour later when she saw Tom Duncan walking down the street. She had a date with him tonight. How could she have forgotten?
Pulling over to the curb, she honked her horn.
He looked her way, frowning, then smiled when he recognized her.
Vicki rolled the window down. "Hi."
He nodded. "Hi yourself. What are you doing out and about so early?"
"Church."
"Ah."
"And why weren't you at Mass this fine morning?" she asked, then blushed. Just because be wore a cross didn't necessarily mean he was Catholic, and even if he was Catholic, that didn't mean he was in the habit of going to church. "I'm sorry, it's none of my business."
Duncan laughed. "Don't worry. My soul's in pretty good shape. I've relied on heavenly intervention far too often to turn my back on the church."
"Really?"
"Faith comes in handy in my line of work."
"I never thought of that, but I'll bet it does. Is there good money in bounty hunting?"
"Sometimes. Depends on who you're hunting and how bad your client wants him caught."
"You mean someone is paying you to hunt for Sharlene's murderer?"
"No. This time it's on me." He glanced at his watch. "Listen, I've got some business to take care of. Are we still on for tonight?"
Vicki nodded. "Sure. See you at six."
With a wave, he continued on down the street.
Vicki was on her way home when she saw Mrs. Heath outside watering her lawn.
After parking the car, Vicki got out and walked up the narrow path. "Morning, Mrs.
Heath."
" Victoria, dear," the older woman said, looking up from beneath the brim of a wide straw hat. "How nice to see you in one piece."
Vicki frowned. "I beg your pardon?"
"I saw you earlier. You were driving your machine way too fast."
"Yes," Vicki said with a wry grin. "Augie thought so, too."
"Oh, dear, I hope that old fool didn't give you a ticket."
"Not this time."
"Well, that's good, though you really should slow down. So, how are you, dear?"
"I'm fine. And guess what?" Vicki could hardly wait to see the expression on Mrs.
Heath's face when she told her about Duncan. "I have a date tonight!"
Mrs. Heath stared at her in what could only be described as alarm. "He doesn't have rusty yellow eyes, does he?"
In spite of the warmth of the sun, Vicki felt a sudden chill crawl over her skin. "Yellow eyes?"
Mrs. Heath placed her hand on Vicki's arm. "I saw him in a dream, dear. A horrid man with yellow eyes. He was knocking at your door." Her hand tightened on Vicki's arm.
"Whatever you do, you must not let him in."
Vicki shivered. "No. No, I won't."
With a smile, Mrs. Heath released her hold on Vicki's arm, then turned off the water.
"Have a good time, dear. And tell me, who's the lucky young man? Is it someone I know?"
"No, he's new in town. I met him at the diner a few days ago. His name is Tom Duncan."
Mrs. Heath's eyes widened. " Duncan? Did you say Tom Duncan?"
"Yes. Do you know him?"
Pressing one hand to her heart, Mrs. Heath sat down on the wrought-iron bench located in the midst of her garden. "Forgive me, dear, the name just took me by surprise, that's all."
"Do you know Mr. Duncan?"
"I dated a man by the name of Thomas Duncan years ago, before I met Mr. Heath. I might have married him, if he didn't have such a dreadful occupation."
"Dreadful in what way?" Vicki asked. The only dreadful occupation she could think of was being a mortician.
"He was a vampire hunter."
Feeling as though the earth had suddenly stopped spinning, Vicki stared at Mrs. Heath, and then she laughed. "You really had me going for a minute there."
"It's no laughing matter, dear. It's hard to believe that they exist in this day and age, but they do."
Vicki stared at the elderly woman.
"I know what you're thinking," Mrs. Heath said. "I didn't believe my Thomas when he told me, either, but then one night I saw one." She stared into the distance. "He tried to kill me. I'll never forget the sight of that creature, his eyes glowing like a wildcat's, his fangs coming toward me. It was Thomas who saved my life. I was young back then and easily frightened. When Thomas asked me to marry him, I ran away. Sometimes I wonder…
No matter. What does your Mr. Duncan do?"
"He's a bounty hunter. People," she clarified, "not vampires."
Mrs. Heath patted Vicki's hand in motherly fashion. "Run along and have a good time, dear. It's time for my nap."
With a nod, Vicki returned to her car. Maybe Mrs. Heath was losing it. Vampires, indeed. They were the stuff of myth and legend.
After parking the car, she picked up the newspaper and carried it into the house.
Dropping it on the kitchen table, she fixed herself a bowl of cereal and some toast and then sat down to read the paper.