The hired limo driver deposited Gideon's suitcase on the bricks in front of steps that led up to double doors of polished wood.
"Shall I wait, sir?" he asked. Gideon had been a little uncertain himself when he saw the unkempt grounds, but this was the address and there were lights inside.
"Just until I make sure this is the right place," answered Gideon. He didn't want to be stranded out here in the middle of Ohio.
Gideon rang the bell. It was answered in a minute by a petite brown girl with a profusion of ringlets.
"Gideon?" she inquired in the alto he recognized from their phone conversations.
"Evelyn? My pleasure," he said, extending his hand. They shook and he waved the limo away.
So this was the one vampire Simms couldn't bring himself to kill, thought Gideon. He could appreciate her beauty, in the same abstract way he could appreciate a flower or a Grecian statue, but he didn't see how that had stood up to Simms' sadistic obsession with ridding the world of their kind.
"How was your flight?" she asked as she took his coat.
"Fine."
"Please come in," she said, leading him across the parquet floor toward a door. "I had some unexpected company. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all," answered Gideon automatically. And then he walked into the room and saw Adrian Talbot.
"I believe you two know each other," said Evelyn.
Adrian smiled. At least, his lips curled up in an expression that might have been called a smile if there had been a shred of warmth in it. Gideon inclined his head, but his eyes narrowed.
"Professor Talbot," he said.
"Baron Redoak," Adrian replied, in the exact same tone.
Any wise person would have vacated the room. Joe and Jake looked at each other, then at the three vampires in turn; but stayed, too fascinated by what was carefully not being said.
"This is Jake Fowler," said Evelyn, since Adrian seemed to have forgotten him, "And my friend Joe Cheney."
Gideon didn't have anyone to introduce, but found himself violently wishing he'd brought Joshua, who would have easily reduced the tension in the room without even trying. He had not expected That Actor to be here. Adrian had been about the last person on earth that Gideon had expected to see. What was that upstart rogue doing here?
"We've met, actually," Jake found himself saying. He swallowed as the Baron's eyes turned to him. They didn't look particularly friendly. "At... a party," Jake continued lamely, feeling he had to fill the dreadful silence but unsure why. Even Evelyn was staring at him. "In Maine," he added, wishing someone would make him shut up.
"Yes, I remember," Gideon said. It didn't sound like he considered the memory one of his fonder ones. Jake, recalling that the occasion in question had been when he had pulled Adrian out of a well, bit his lip. He didn't know exactly what the problem was between these two vampires, but he knew he didn't want to get into the middle of it.
"Uh, can I get anybody anything to drink?" asked Joe. Gideon wasn't sure if he was changing the subject or looking for an excuse to flee the room.
I'd like something to drink, Adrian insinuated in Joe's mind.
"I wouldn't mind a brandy, if you have it," said Gideon. "And by the way, I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance, Joseph. Without you, I understand, some of us might not be here, myself included."
Joe shrugged, clearly embarrassed. "I did it for Evelyn," he said and shrugged his way out of the room to get the brandy.
Well, thought Gideon, that about covered everything he had come to say. He had meant to make more of it.
"Please, have a seat," invited Evelyn. Then tension between him and Adrian didn't seem to be affecting her. Or maybe she had been expecting it.
"Hey, I think I'll give Joe a hand," said Jake, getting up.
Gideon sat down on a soft leather couch and Evelyn took one of the wing chairs facing it, while Adrian continued to stand behind the matching chair and glare at him.
"We were just talking about going to a club," said Evelyn.
"A club?" repeated Gideon. He had hoped for a short visit. A chat, Evelyn had promised him a safe place to spend the day, and then it was back to Maine. Nice and quiet, Tammi had said: Evelyn's house was like a tomb.
"Some of us haven't forgotten how to live," sneered Adrian.
Joe returned with a his brandy in an old-fashioned glass. Jake followed a little like a lost puppy and hung back at the door. He clearly didn't want to get between the two older vampires. In fact he didn't look like he even wanted to be there.
"Thank you, Joseph." Gideon took a sip of his brandy. It was good, no matter what glass it was served in.
"Of course," cut in Adrian, "if you'd rather not go, I'm sure Evelyn wouldn't mind if you stayed behind...."
"Why, no, that would be just fine," answered Gideon, if only to annoy That Actor.
"So what am I gonna do?" asked Joe.
"Oh," said Evelyn, her mouth turning down at the corners. "I forgot...."
"Don't worry," said Adrian with a magnanimous smile. "I'll get you past the bouncer.
Gideon didn't know if Evelyn saw the look that flashed between Talbot and Joseph, but he hoped not. He sipped his brandy and told himself it was none of his business.
"Well, if you'd like to come in my car, Gideon, Jake and Adrian can follow. It's not far," she assured him. "Or would you like to finish you drink first?"
"It will wait for me," said Gideon, sure he'd probably need it, if not something... stronger by the time they got back.
