Everyone arrived at the Globe and Crown at the same time. Tybalt would have preferred a little stealth if there was indeed a vampire hiding inside, but that plan went out the window with the arrival of three cars at once. He got out of his car and sized up the situation. Lydia and Cyd Roseland were already tending to their son Jack, who looked like he'd gotten hit by a truck. Declan and Fiona were hugging Cecily so tight Tybalt wondered if she could breathe, and then Fiona marched her off to their car. Connor, his arm around his girlfriend, waved at Tybalt and walked over to where he was.
"I'm pretty sure there's a female vampire inside the pub," said Connor, "though if she's smart she's long gone."
"Go home," said Tybalt. "Declan and I can handle this."
"I want to help," Connor said, looking at his dad, who nodded.
"He's old enough," Declan said.
"Go home with my mom," Connor said to Corinna.
"I don't want you to go," she said.
"We don't have time to argue. Just please, go."
She nodded, biting her lip, and hurried after Fiona, who was waiting.
"Be careful," his mother said, and all three men nodded. As soon as all of the cars save Tybalt's were out of sight the three men crept around the side of the building.
The back door was open and they could see someone far off in the distance, running.
"We'll never catch her," Connor said.
"We don't have to," Tybalt said, taking an electronic device out of his pocket. "Go put this on her car. It has a magnet inside. Just slip it under the fender. Declan, go with him. I'm going in to look for the bartender."
Tybalt opened the door to the basement and crept downstairs. He was getting too old for this. Time to let the younger blood take over before his knees gave out on him. He heard a groan and flipped on the light. The bartender was slumped in a corner, a gash in his neck, but he was alive.
"Come on," said Tybalt, hoisting him to his feet. "Let's get you out of here." He helped the man upstairs and called an ambulance. Connor and Declan came inside to wait.
"What was your sister doing sneaking out of the house?" Declan asked. "She had permission to go on a date."
"Dad, she was going out with Jack Roseland."
"So?"
"So, Dad, he's like the biggest sexist asshole in our school. He has no respect for girls and he's a huge bully. I scared him off and she sneaked out anyway. We found them here."
"What happened to his face?" Tybalt asked. "He looks like he got hit by a truck."
"Uh, that was me," Connor admitted. "He was all over her, Dad. You'd have hit him too."
"No shit?" Tybalt grinned. Connor stared at him and Tybalt laughed. "What? You think I was always a business executive? Way to go, Connor. You are definitely a Capp."
"Oh, I don't know," Declan said. "The Patricks aren't exactly known for their mild-mannered ways either."
"So in other words I'm doomed," Connor said.
"Pretty much," Tybalt agreed, and they all laughed.
Outside a powerful engine roared to life and they heard the screech of tires as someone pelted out of the parking lot. It had to be the vampire's Rolls. The only other car was a beat up pick up Tybalt was pretty sure belonged to the bartender.
"And she's off," said Tybalt. He tossed Declan the keys. "You two go. I'll make sure this guy gets to the hospital OK."
"You sure?"
"Yes! Go! There's a GPS on the dash. The red dot is the vampire. Hurry before she's out of range. Toss me the keys to that other car."
Connor handed him the keys and they ran for the door, and Tybalt felt a momentary twinge of jealousy. He wished, not for the first time, that his body was still as young as the rest of him still felt.
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