Let Them Speak (Vampire Assassin League #13) Read Free

picked a realtor with a smaller mouth.”
    “And m aybe you shouldn’t run around with ‘studio location scout’ emblazoned across the back of your jacket.”
    “ Oh, shut up and help me.”
    “I’m not pulling weeds if this isn’t our site . Do I look that stupid?”
    “Do I have to answer that with a straight face?” she countered.
    “Cute.”
    “Anybody see the realtor yet ? We can’t select a site if we don’t get in and check rooms! ”  She yelled it over her shoulder toward her three-member crew before turning back to shine her flashlight on what might be a courtyard of a late eighteenth-century mansion. It was also the eighth building they’d checked. All vacant-looking. Most intact. Most of them with the characteristics of the vampire pilot the studio wanted. All she needed now was the inside layout. Damn realtor.
    “ We’re early, Syd. You said two. It’s five of. And you know those Southerners.”
    “Do tell.”
    Hmm. That looked like the innards of an old mattress against one wall. A rust pile that might be a chair. Sydney shuddered and kept moving her light. Oh look. Right next to her was a big fountain. Or bird bath. It was crafted of stone. And heavy. Probably why it hadn’t been carted off.
    “Everything is slow down here. Like molasses. I can see why. Who could move fast in this heat?”
    “Must you go on and on about it?”
    “Shit. Me? You know the actor they’re considering for the lead. Franklin. He’s pure prima donna. At this rate, we’re going to need air conditioning in every corner of every room.”
    “Well . All of that is contingent on finding the right house in the first place, now isn’t it? And then we have more trouble. Get on the cell. Call the realtor. Find out what the holdup is.”
    “On it.”
    “And check on building codes. Modifications. We’re going to need more than air conditioning. We’re going to need municipal power. And wiring that won’t fry the place the moment we flip a switch. Jeez. This just gets better and better. They probably don’t even allow air conditioning in this section.”
    “Oh . They allow it. Look up. The place next door has a little air conditioner unit attached to every upstairs window. Like a cheap motel.”
    “Looks like they quit working sometime around the Vietnam War era , too. Thanks Stan. Thanks a lot. Why did I bring you again?”
    “Mule . You got heavy equipment. I get to haul it.”
    “And nowhere in that job description does it say smart-ass remarks . Oh, look. We got another one. Where the hell is security?”
    Sydney pushed her glasses up her nose and looked across the yard at yet another gorgeous fellow. Stan hadn’t been exaggerating earlier. She’d seen enough hot males this evening to populate a male revue show. And yet, she instinctively knew they had nothing on this guy. His face was half-shadowed by the street lights behind him, but the half she could see gave her heart a healthy punch. Wow. If handsome had a visual description, she was looking at it. And he was tall. Extremely broad-shouldered. Thickly muscled. Black slacks rode his thighs all the way to his open coattails. And that old-fashioned velvet coat was gapped open, as if he needed those abs and pecs framed and displayed. He was leaning against the gate post and he was focused entirely on her.
    Entirely.
    Her heart gave another lurch.
    “All right, guys !   Who ordered a male stripper? ‘Fess up, and I won’t—”
    “Stan,” Sydney stopped him.
    “What?”
    “Stop that . As far as you know, that’s the realtor.”
    “Not hardly…unless he sounds like a sixty year old woman on the phone.”
    “ Go give him a card. One of mine.”
    Her employee gave her a look that spoke volumes before sighing heavily and approaching the newcomer .
    “Hi . Listen. Buddy. You’re encroaching. We got private business here. And we’re not casting extras until next month. Here’s a card. Okay? Next month. See you then.”
    Stan handed the guy a