"Elrod, P N - Vampire Files 10 - Cold Streets" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elrod P N)

From what seemed like the far distance came the rumble of the Cadillac driving
across the bridge above me. Escott would return Vivian to the Gladwell estate,
and there they'd have a long, grim wait for news of the daughter's pickup
location. Hopefully, it would come from me, not the gang.
I hovered close, wondering if I dared move off, find a secluded spot to hide,
and melt back into reality to get my bearings.
"Hurry!" called a man's voice. Urgent. Not close, but too close.
Someone rushed up, apparently grabbing the case. I shifted to wrap around him.
He muttered a curse against the sudden chill but kept going. This was familiar.
I'd had plenty of practice hanging on to people in such a manner.
He moved fast, puffing hard with his burden. I stuck with him as he ran,
stopped, turned, and sat. We were in a car. A door slammed, the motor gunned,
and away we went.
It seemed safe to flow clear and explore the confines of the vehicle. I reached
out with what would be my hands and felt my way around, craving orientation. The
buoyant freedom of this form was extremely enjoyable, but going on for this long
was turning it into too much of a good thing.
The front seat held two men, the back was empty but cluttered with
unidentifiable stuff. I bumbled my way behind the seat, down to the floorboards,
and cautiously went solid amid a debris of cast-off clothes, musty blankets, and
empty beer bottles. Drained and dizzy, I ached to stretch. It had been a while
since I'd spent so extended a period in a formless state. If either of the two
men happened to turn, they'd spot me, but I was willing to chance it for the
reassuring relief of having my body back to normal again.
For the time being, the men were too distracted with jubilation to bother.
They'd just picked up the ransomЧa neatly packed hundred grandЧand the guy on
the passenger side was doing a rough count. Eavesdropping, or in this case
backseat-dropping, I'd learned his name was Ralph; the driver was Vinzer.
Mine is Jack Fleming. I should mention that I'm a vampire. I drink blood and can
hypnotize most people into doing what I want, but vanishing's one of the best
aspects of the condition. No turning into mist or fog, but absolute
invisibility, more presence than person, very handy in tight spots.
It made me the ace up the sleeve for the kidnap victim's family, so forget the
stakes and garlic, I'm one of nature's good guys.
"Anyone following?" asked Ralph.
"No."
"Then let's go back."
"Dugan said to be sure. I'm gonna be sure."
A third member to the party? I decided to hold off breaking heads until we met
up with this Dugan bird. Maybe the girl they'd taken away was with him.
Turns were made; so far as I could tell, speeding laws were observed; then
Vinzer slowed and stopped, motor running. "There he is."
A window was rolled down. I felt a wash of icy air.
"Is it all there?" a man called to them.
Vinzer repeated the question to Ralph.
"Gimme a minute."
It took Ralph longer than that to count the cash, during which I remained
absolutely still and quiet, easy enough with no beating heart or need to
breathe. These clowns were in for a truckload of trouble. I could afford to wait
before running them over with it.