Read Online Stalking the Vampire by Mike Resnick - Free Book Online

your path,” said Mallory. “Any damage is already done.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” shrieked the little vampire. “It has claws, hasn't it? And teeth! And it can see better in the dark than a bat can!”
    Mallory's eyes narrowed.
    â€œAnd vampires don't like that?”
    â€œWe positively hate it! Let's turn down a side street. It might come back.”
    â€œThere might be another one on a side street,” suggested Mallory.
    â€œYou're ruining my digestion, and I haven't even eaten anything!” wailed the vampire.
    â€œThank you, Bats,” said Mallory. “You've finally been a help.”
    â€œI have?” asked McGuire, blowing his nose on his sleeve.
    Mallory nodded. “You've told me what kind of weapon I ought to have with me.”
    â€œMe? Really?” asked McGuire, his chest puffing up proudly. Suddenly he frowned in confusion. “What kind?”
    â€œThe inefficient kind,” admitted the detective, “but it's the best I can do on short notice and limited information.”
    â€œWhere will you find this weapon?”
    â€œUnless I miss my guess, it'll be sleeping on top of the refrigerator in my office,” said Mallory.

Mallory opened the door to his office and turned on the lights.
    The first thing McGuire saw was the pair of Playmates (on which Winnifred had meticulously drawn undergarments with a Magic Marker) tacked to the wall behind Mallory's desk. Then there was the photo of Flyaway parading to the post; it was getting difficult to distinguish his features after the hundreds of times Mallory had thrown darts into it. There was the omnipresent Racing Form on the detective's desk. There were the fresh-cut flowers and the copy of Byron's poems on Winnifred's desk. But there was no Felina.
    â€œThank goodness she's gone!” breathed McGuire with a sigh of relief.
    â€œNo one else would put up with her,” answered Mallory. “She's here.”
    â€œNow, you're sure she doesn't eat vampires?” asked McGuire nervously.
    â€œOnly when I'm hungry,” purred a feminine voice from atop the refrigerator in the next room.
    â€œOnly when she's hungry,” repeated Mallory.
    â€œIs she hungry now?” asked McGuire, stepping hesitantly into the room while peering into shadows and corners.
    â€œI'm always hungry,” said the voice.
    â€œThat's it!” said McGuire. “Nice knowing you, Mallory, and I'm sure you'll get your man. Or bat. Or whatever.”
    He turned and started walking toward the door, but Mallory reached out and grabbed him by the back of the collar, pulling him back even as his short legs kept moving.
    â€œCalm down,” said the detective. “Felina, get over here.”
    â€œBeg me,” purred Felina.
    â€œI don't have to,” said Mallory.
    â€œOh?” said Felina, puzzled. “Why not?”
    â€œBecause I'm on a case and I'm in a hurry, and if you don't come here right now I'm leaving, and there won't be anyone around to feed you.”
    â€œI'll just eat your friend.”
    â€œHe's coming with me.”
    â€œAnd vampires taste terrible!” added McGuire urgently.
    â€œOh, all right,” said Felina, and suddenly ninety pounds of feminine fur and sinew flew through the air, cartwheeled across Mallory's desk, and landed on her feet right next to him.
    â€œHe doesn't look very tasty,” she opined, staring at McGuire. “Were they selling the runt of the litter?”
    â€œHis name is McGuire,” said Mallory, “and he's working for us. I don't want you hurting him.”
    Felina walked once around the little vampire, who eyed her nervously.
    â€œI can't hurt him?”
    â€œThat's right.”
    She studied him for a long moment. “It'll take all my skill, but I can do it.”
    â€œDo what?” asked McGuire uneasily.
    â€œKill you so fast it doesn't hurt.”
    â€œI don't believe you were paying