Delilah Monroe gazed out over the decadent reception area of the gallery, taking in the spectacle. The hyperindulgent, ridiculous spectacle, she thought uncharitably. She had never really enjoyed large, ritualized social events, and the glamorous opening of a major New York art gallery…well, it hardly got larger or more ritualized than this. But she couldn’t afford to let these feelings interfere, especially not tonight. The first person you have to sell when you’re selling lies, her father had taught her, is yourself. And of course he was perfectly right. Delilah inhaled slowly, assuming her role. I’m a perfectly respectable individual and I’m here for perfectly innocent reasons, she told herself. I’m a successful author, everybody knows me, and I’ve never actually broken the law (which was, she thought wryly, actually the truth). I have no plans to break any laws tonight. I’m just here to support my brother in his new attempt at a clean slate. Nothing unusual is going to happen.

She stood on the second floor balcony and scanned the main gallery room, allowing her eyes to alight on the major players in the evening’s scheme. Her brother, dark and elegantly disreputable in a pair of dark...   read more »

The book was just out of reach, Kellie Laskey stood on the very tips of her toes, fingers stretched as far as they could go and she still couldn’t reach the damn book. It—the book—was one the wrong shelf, and it was her job to put the books where they belonged.

She fell back to the flats of her shoes, put her hands on her hips and glared hatefully at the book. A second later she stuck her tongue out at the book and turned to find one of those little stool things.

“Were you trying to reach that book? I can get it for you if you like,” Kellie turned toward the voice and she found herself facing one of the two most handsome men she’d even seen.

He was as tall as a boy she’d gone to school with, around 6’4” or 6’5” even and just as slender, but not lanky. His hair was so blonde it looked white...   read more »

Charles Duchamp POV

I pinned Aloysius’ hands to the wall and above his head as I forced a kiss on his unresponsive lips. He tried to turn his head away but I wouldn’t allow it, he needed to be brought into his power before it went away completely. Diogenes had already had his audeur awoken a few years ago, but Aloysius had been keeping his sex-magic under-wraps. Their mother had asked me to awaken it before it was too late. Aloysius wasn’t so keen on the idea; he’d been pushing me away all night, even though I had explained the situation.

“I don’t want to be ruled by the audeur.” He’d said.

“You won’t be, but Aloysius, if you don’t come into your power you’ll be an empty thing; a shell. You won’t reach your full potential, Al, you won’t be you.” I’d told him and tried for the first time to kiss him.

Aloysius shoved me away and I only grabbed him about the waist and pulled him back. “I won’t let it rule me.”

That had pissed me off, for...   read more »

She opened the door to allow her good friend, Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast, to leave as he usually did after the tea was drunk and whatever pastries she had baked for him were eaten. But this time, it seemed, was going to be different. He softly closed the door and looked her full in the face with an expression almost of pain mixed with weariness.

“Not tonight,” he murmured softly into her ear. “I’m not leaving tonight.”

She was surprised. After all this time, she knew he liked her as a friend — someone to talk to and share common interests with. But this was not what she had ever expected from the reserved and oh-so-proper Special Agent.

She sighed not quite sure what do to next. Or what to expect.

“I... I wasn’t... I didn’t think you... were interested in anything more than company,” she replied not daring to look into those incredible blue eyes that were searching her face for some sign of permission.

The sultry Southern drawl whispered intensely,” Oh, my dear. I have been more than interested, but I did not think that my attentions were... wanted.”

She moved her hands to rest lightly on his forearms. Looking into the handsome face...   read more »

( 1 )

D’Agosta groaned audibly, his body quivering with the unspent tremor of boredom that was rushing through his veins.

Some f*ck was making a scene at the airport...his airport, today. Probably some payback for Southampton...Why did they always send him on the local rabble sh*t jobs? He was a police officer, not a bellboy. He was Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta.

The ruckus had started when an old lady with a lethal-looking handbag had dragged this deathly, coat-cocooned guy with obscenely pale, feather-fine, oddly mussed hair through the turnstiles and...oh sh*t....   read more »

Woke up in Pisa with a headache. Nurse was a very tall man in drag with mismatched eyes who kept poking me. V. gentle hands, though.

Got out of the hospital today. Yay! Sun very bright. Vincent ditched me and just realized nurse was my evil little brother. Bummer.

Arrived back in America today. Don’t think anyone saw through my disguise tho’ the Customs Agent made a pass at me. Spent an hour being strip searched. Not sure if it was legal but got his phone number when we were done. Guess I am hot no matter what I do.

Found Vinnie shacked up with Laura. WTF? After all we’ve been through... Laura outranks him so maybe he is being coerced. Have obtained a position as a doorman in his building and will observe. He looked weepy this morning so maybe a good sign.

‘Eau de Armpit’ is working wonders for me. Have only been hit on twice since taking this job. Think Laura pinched my bottom the other day but cannot be sure as elevator was v. full at the time. Vinnie hasn’t made a move on me yet but maybe he is pining for his Pendergast?!? Can’t wait to tell him I’m...   read more »

First meeting with Margo Green, new editor of Museology and old friend of Bill’s. She wants to return the Tano masks — WTF? Knows nothing about Native Amer. culture. Luckily Board of Directors expected to agree with me.

At lunch w/ Bill at Bones saw Margo; they had exceedingly sappy reunion. Just found out that Bill called Margo “Lotus Blossom” while they were hunting the Museum Beast. WTF? Does he try to hook up with every woman he hunts monsters with?

Bill just called claiming that the paper’s sending him to NJ to cover some casino scandal. Whatever; he’s probably screwing Margo. Bastard.

Menzies helped with Tano masks. V. charming; if Bill continues to be a fuck may consider affair w/ him.

Huh. Apparently Margo not screwing Bill tonight as she invited me for dinner. Will go as have nothing better to do.

Margo v. good cook, nicer than I first thought. Sort of pretty, too. If had two more glasses of wine may have made out with her.

Margo’s just been killed. Disappointing, as was wondering how Bill feels about threesomes. V. odd that the Museum seems to attract every serial killer in the tri-state area.

Agent Pendergast approached me at Margo’s funeral; told me had...   read more »

Agent Pendergast’s chauffer came by for V tonight; V. now obsessed w/ hunting down Pendergast’s brother, is going to try to weasel out some personal time. Hope this does not hurt my chances at making Captain.

Whoa. Guy just committed suicide; evidently friends w/ Pendergast. V. freaking out. Must study odd knots, fibers found at crime scene.

V. acting v. strange; has new cell phone. I should buy a new one; mine’s pretty old.

Bastard. Just broke up with me. Must buy gin.

FBI agent in DC killed by antique sword; also knew Pendergast. Odd.

Received report of professor poisoned in New Orleans last month — apparently yet another friend of Pendergast. Odder.

V. called me; now claiming Pendergast’s brother behind the killings — but his brother’s dead.

WTF — the DNA evidence in the killings matches Pendergast — but I thought he was dead — and the guy seemed decent enough back when I worked w/ him — v. odd — really should have run and hid when V. contacted me about Bullard. Although the sex v. good.

OMG. Another killing — Dr. Green at the Museum; old assoc. of Pendergast. Did not get to see body; incompetent first responders, v. annoying.

V. called, told me that P....   read more »