“Disposing of Corinna,” literal-minded Pam said. She pointed to the body lying by the white car. Fortunately, the corpse was on the side of the car concealed from the view of the rare passerby. In the poor light it was hard to be sure, but I believed Corinna was already beginning to flake away. I’d never seen a dead vampire in the rain before.

“I thought Bruno was such a great fighter. How come you didn’t take him on?”

“I gave you the knife,” Pam said, giving a good imitation of surprise. “He didn’t have a knife.”

“Right.” I coughed and, boy, did that hurt my throat. “So what do we do now?”

“We’re getting out of here,” Pam said. “We’re going to hope that no one noticed my car. I think only three cars passed since we pulled over. With the rain and poor visibility, if the drivers were human, we have a very good chance that none of them will remember seeing us.”

By then we were back in Pam’s car. “Wouldn’t it be better if we moved the Lexus?” I said, wheezing out the words.

“What a good idea,” Pam said, patting me on the head. “Do you think you can drive it?”

“Where to?”

Pam thought for a moment, which was good, because I needed the recovery time. I was soaked through and shivering, and I felt awful.

“Won’t Victor know what’s happened?” I asked. I couldn’t seem to stop asking questions.

“Maybe. He wasn’t brave enough to do this himself, so he has to take the consequences. He’s lost his two best people, and he has nothing to show for it.” Pam was enjoying the hell out of that.

“I think we get out of here right now. Before some more of his people come to check, or whatever.” I sure wasn’t up for fighting again.

“It’s you who keeps asking questions. I think Eric will be here soon; I’d better call him to tell him to stay away,” Pam said. She looked faintly worried.

“Why?” I would have loved to have Eric appear to take charge of this situation, frankly.

“If someone is watching his house, and he leaps into his car and drives in this direction to come rescue you, it’ll be a pretty clear indication that we’re responsible for what happened to Bruno and Corinna,” Pam said, clearly exasperated. “Use your brain, Sookie!”

“My brain is all soggy,” I said, and if I sounded a little testy, I don’t think that’s any big, amazing thing. But Pam was already hitting a speed-dial number on her cell. I could hear Eric yelling when he answered the phone.

Pam said, “Shut up and I’ll explain. Of course, she lives.” There was silence.