“But I didn’t swindle anybody,” the vampire protested. “Those two offered me a job helping them sell magic charms. I didn’t know they weren’t genuine until Matt said the customers were mad and we had to run. I suggested we hide out here because it’s the only place I know besides the Bazaar.”
“Uh-huh,” I said, studying the sky. “Next you’ll be saying you didn’t frame my partner or sound the alarm on us when we tried to spring him.” Vic’s wings dropped as he hung his head.
“That much I can’t deny . . . but I was scared! I framed the demon because it was the only way I could think of to get him off our trail for a while. I really thought he could get loose on his own, and when I saw you at the Woof Writers, I knew he was going to get away. I sounded the alarm hoping you would all get caught and be detained long enough to give us a head start. Looking back on it, they were pretty ratty things to do, but what would you do if you had a pack of killer demons on your trail?”
Now that I could identify with. Chumley’s words about Vic and I being alike echoed in my ears. I had had to improvise in some pretty hairy situations myself.
“Wait a minute!” I growled. “Speaking of killer demons, what was that bit with you dangling Luanna over the edge of the building back there?”
“I was bluffing,” the vampire shrugged. “Your friends were threatening to shoot me if I tried to fly away, and it was the only thing I could think of to try to get them to back off. I wouldn’t deliberately hurt anyone . . . especially Luanna. She’s sweet. That’s why I was trying to help her escape with me after they caught Matt.”