But thats probably what she wants, Claire finished, and handed him another plate. To get us both together so she can use us against each other. Right?
Michael nodded, eyebrows going up. All she has to do is grab you and shes got him. So be careful. Imnot much use, outside of here. Or any use, actually.
She felt bad for the flash of anger in his eyesit wasnt directed at her but at himself. He hated this. Hated being trapped here while his friends needed him.
Ill be fine, she said. I got a new cell phone. Mom and Dad sent it.
Good. Youve got us all on speed dial?
One, two, and three. And 911 on four.
Sweet. Michael hip-bumped her. How are classes?
Okay. She couldnt work up any enthusiasm for them right at the moment. Were not talking about Shanes dad?
Nothing to talk about, he said. You stay out of Common Grounds, and stay away from Oliver. If Shanes dad was in there, he was probably just taking a look around. Oliver might have sent him on his way. He does a good regular-guy act. Michael ought to know, Claire reflected. Oliver had done a good enough regular-guy act to charm his way into the house, where hed killed Michael, trying to make him a vampire. The house had saved Michaelpartly. A kind of supernatural apology for having failed to protect him in the first place. The house did things like that. It was creepy, and occasionally flat-out scary, but it was at least mostly loyal to whoever was in residence.
Oliver, thoughOliver was loyal to Oliver. And that was about it.
So we do nothing? Claire asked.
We do the best nothing youve ever seen. Michael put the last plate away and tossed the towel over his shoulder like a bartender going on break. Meaning, you do nothing, Claire. Thats an order.
She gave him a cockeyed mock salute. Yes, sir, sorry, sir.
He sighed. I liked you better when you were this timid little kid. What happened?
I started living with you guys.
Oh, right.
He fluffed her hair, smiled, and ambled off toward the living room. Its game night, he said. I made Shane swear, no video games tonight. I think hes blowing the dust off of Monopoly. I wouldnt let him have Risk. He gets crazy with Risk.
Didnt they all?
So, I got a new job, Eve said brightly as they sat on the floor around the Monopoly board. Shane was kicking ass, but Michael had the railroads; Eve and Claire were just mostly watching their money stacks dwindle. No wonder people like this game, Claire thought. Its just like life.
You got a job already? Shane asked as Michael rattled the dice in his hand and then tossed them out on the faded, warped board. Jeez, Eve, throw the brakes on full employment. Youre making me look bad.
Shane Collins, permanent slacker. If youd book more than one interview a month, and actually, you know, show up to them, you might get a job, too.
Oh, so now youre a career counselor?
Bite me. Youre not even going to ask me where?
Sure, Michael said as he moved his cannon across four squares. Where?Oh, crap.
Thatll be five hundred, my man. And extra for clean towels in the hotel. Shane held out his palm.
I got hired at the university, Eve said, watching Michael count out cash and hand it over to Shane. In the student union coffee shop. I even got a raise.
Congratulations! Claire said. And youre not working for an evil vampire. Bonus.
Bosswise, a definite step up. I mean, hes a slack-jawed loser with bad breath and a drinking problem, but that pretty much describes most of the male population of Morganville.
Hey! both Shane and Michael chorused, and Eve gave them both a brilliant grin.
Excluding the hotties in the room, of course. And cheer up, guysit includes most of the female population, too. Anyway. Better hoursIm working days, so not a lot of vamp worriesand bigger paychecks. Plus, I get to check out campus life. I hear they party hard.
From the other side of the counter, all youre going to see is people dissing you and complaining about their drinks, Shane said without looking up. You watch yourself, Eve. Some of those ass**les on campus think that if youre wearing a name badge, youre their own personal toy.
Yeah, I know. I heard about Karla.
Karla? Claire asked.
She works at the university, Eve said. Karla Gast. We went to school with her. Michael and Shane both looked up and nodded. She was kind of a party girl in high school, you know? Real pretty, too. She went to work on campusI dont know what she was doingbut anyway, shes missing.
It was in the paper, Michael said. Abducted last night walking to her car.
Claire frowned. Why would it be in the paper? I mean, they dont usually put stuff like that in the papers, right? Because in Morganville, murder was sort of legitimate, wasnt it?
They do if it wasnt vampires, Eve said, and nibbled on a carrot stick as she rolled the dice. Oooooh, pay me my two hundred, Mr. Banker. If shed been dragged off by vamps, even rogue vamps, it would have just been swept under the carpet like usual. Payoffs to the family, end of the story. But this is different.
Is that, you know, unusual? Crime? Crime that isnt vampire related, I mean?
Kinda. Eve shrugged. But people tend to get nasty around Morganville. Nasty, or drunk, or timid. One of those.
Which are you? Shane asked. Eve bared her teeth at him and growled. Ouch. Right. Gotcha.
SoEve, I heard your brothers out of jail, Michael said. Claire was rolling dice for her move, and by the time the plastic hit the board it sounded as loud as plates shattered on a tile floor. Nobody was making a sound. Nobody was breathing, so far as she could tell. From the expression on his face, Michael was clearly rethinking having brought up the subject, and Eve lookedhard and fierce and (deep down) scared.
Shane was just watching, no expression at all.
Awkward.
Um Claire cautiously slid her Scottie dog the six squares that shed rolled. You havent said much about your brother. She was curious what Eve would say. Because clearly Eve was not happy Michael had brought it up.