“Ben! Don’t be such a tease! Was it really the governor?”

“Yup. But-” He paused, shifting awkwardly from one leg to the next. “You know, Christina… back at Glancy’s office, when you were hurt…”

She leaned forward a bit. “Yes?”

“I know you were half out of your head and probably weren’t aware-”

“I heard every word you said.”

Ben swallowed. “You did?”

“Damn straight. And I haven’t forgotten, either.”

He looked down at her, the billowing red hair he had become so fond of, the deep blue eyes, the adorable freckles. He couldn’t imagine getting through a day without her. And didn’t want to try. “I know I’ve-I’ve-never really said-”

She reached out and took his hand. “You don’t have to, Ben. I already know.”

“Really? Really?” He laughed with relief, and she laughed, and then they were both laughing, and then all at once he crouched beside her, picked up a pair of scissors, and snipped off her hospital ID bracelet.

“What on earth are you doing?” she said. “You’re going to get thrown out of here.”

“A woman like you deserves jewelry of a higher order,” he replied. He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a two-inch-square felt-covered box. And opened it.

Under the bright fluorescent lighting, the diamond sparkled with a thousand colors.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’d like to tell you that I made up all the information Shalimar and Morticia offer regarding real-life vampires, but of course I didn’t. For those who would like to learn more about this growing American subculture, I recommend Piercing the Darkness: Undercover with Vampires in America Today by Katherine Ramsland, and Bloodlust: Conversations with Real Vampires by Carol Page. In case you’re wondering, the epigraph by Ty King comes from “Some Assembly Required,” a second-season episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, easily one of the best-written television shows ever produced. Homages to Buffyspeak and the Buffyverse permeate this book, as seemed appropriate.

I am greatly indebted to the sources who have supplied information about the workings of the U.S. Senate, but who, for some odd reason, have all chosen to remain anonymous. Special thanks to Jodie Nida and James Vance for reading and commenting on an early draft of this manuscript. Friends and readers of this quality are invaluable.

Readers are invited to e-mail me at [email protected], or to visit my official website at www.williambernhardt.com. See you next time.

– WILLIAM BERNHARDT

About William Bernhardt

William Bernhardt is the author of many books, including Primary Justice, Double Jeopardy, Silent Justice, Murder One, Criminal Intent, and Death Row. He has twice won the Oklahoma Book Award for Best Fiction, and in 2000 he was presented the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award "in recognition of an outstanding body of work in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." A former trial attorney, Bernhardt has received several awards for his public service. He lives in Tulsa with his children, Harry, Alice, and Ralph.