Part 22 (1/2)
”I knew that Julia had to have a reason for still being at Collinwood. She's not one to back down from a challenge. As a hematologist, she would consider curing a vampire as a true challenge to her abilities in that field.”44.
”You really believe that there was a vampire?”
”I had a look at the slides of Maggie's blood that Dave Woodward sent Julia. I agreed with the conclusions that she obviously came to. Maggie had been attacked by a vampire - and managed to escape. Julia's an expert hypnotist. Even better than I am. She used it to discover where Maggie was during that time, then, suspecting a vampire, went to Collinwood. I a.s.sume she found him, and has been trying to find a cure. A permanent cure.”
”You sound, Lee, as if you know who this - vampire is.”
Lee made his move, both on the board - and off. ”I do, Barnabas.”
Barnabas looked up then, meeting that grey gaze head on. ”And what do you intend to do with that knowledge?”
”I don't intend to go to the authorities.”
The chess game was momentarily forgotten. ”You don't? May I ask why?”
”Oh, several reasons. Since I never went to the police originally with my suspicions, I suppose I was as fascinated as Julia, I could be considered an accessory after the fact in Maggie's kidnapping. When I last saw her, she seemed to be suffering no ill effects. Then, there's my suspect. I've had ample chance to get to know him recently, and he would seem to be anything but a monster. I don't believe he's unredeemable. Finally, there's Julia to consider.”
”Julia?”
”She's spent the last four years protecting him. She's covered for him, lied for him, done who knows what else. So if I were to expose him, it would cause trouble for her.”
”It might - unless he denied her voluntary involvement.”
”Do you really think she would let him do that, considering the way she feels about him?”
”You're right, of course.”
”Once she cures him, I'm hopeful she'll decide to come back here. And even if
she doesn't, I can always go where she is.
Barnabas, I'd prefer Julia not to know about
any of this. Not right now. Later, perhaps,
when it's all over.”
”You do love her, don't you?”
”Very much. Why don't we finish our
game? it's your move, I believe.”
Julia was just coming from the lab when she heard Lee call her name. He was standing at the nurses station with a young man and a wheel-chair bound girl. It was she who drew Julia's attention. Young, she had red hair, but from this angle Julia was unable to see her features. Julia found herself reminded of Amy Jennings. ”Yes, Lee?”
”This is Mark Danvers. Dr. Julia Hoffman, head of Wyndecliffe.”
”Mr. Danvers.”
”Dr. Hoffman. I'm glad you're here. When I called this morning and couldn't reach you -”