"I know a vampire attack when I see one," Karrin says at that neck check, her voice low. "This was something else."

But she can hear the sirens too, and she grits her teeth. "Not your case?" she asks, with a sinking feeling. That puts her back exactly where she expected to be before Kate asked that question. What a short-lived relief. At least she can be glad she wasn't acting in defiance of California's particularly strict gun laws. Not even a tiny pistol in her sock tonight.

"You suspected it, so you arrived before homicide did. What's at the hotel?"