Sucking in San Francisco (27 page)

“No, it didn’t.” He looked at the pictures a moment longer before he put them away. “Where did you learn to be a tattoo artist?”

Thorn’s face froze. Was this just curiosity or still part of the interview?

“I was an artist first. Then I studied the art of tattoo in Japan, New Zealand, England, and all over the States.” Thorn shifted in her seat and took a sip of her coffee. “Tattooing is an old art.” She studied his eyes, trying to determine how much to tell him. “Its history is a mix of mysticism and magick.”

“Why do you think someone would want to cut these symbols off a person?” Sé asked.

“I have no idea, Detective. Why would anyone kill?” He lingered, looking past her. She needed him to go. She had a client coming in at three a.m. A vampire. One of the special clientele she kept separated from her everyday customers. There was blood involved, and she didn’t want to produce undue temptation from other humans being near. Besides the fact that the mixing of human mundanes and vampires, was strictly forbidden in her licensing agreements, with the vampire council. And she needed some time to recover from this shock.

“I didn’t ask why someone would kill. But I guess you’re right,” he said. “We never really know why these guys kill, and even less why they mutilate. Thanks for your time, Thorn.”

He met her eyes and then, as if needing to prolong the conversation, he thanked her for the coffee too.

She walked him back out of the shop and saw him to the door. He gave a little wave as he strode into the night and she locked the door behind him. She stood in the doorway for a few minutes watching his figure get smaller as he faded amongst the shadows. The street was dark, hiding the homeless that used doorways for shelter once the sun went down and the shops closed up. The scent of rain was on the wind. This made her think of Sé again and she smiled to herself.

“Trouble, that one.”

“Oh Raven, I can look at least, can’t I?”

“Our kind, don’t mix well. Trouble.”

“Clap your trap, Raven. I think I need to do some investigating of my own. Let’s go hunt.”

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