Absolution - The First Book Of The Vampire Immortalis Trilogy by Elizabeth Mitchell Page B

Spar, Liam cut through the Wynd and then made his way along Buccleuch Street to Abbey Street. By the time he got as far as Gordon Rousseau's Melrose salon, half the bottle of Buckfast had been guzzled. Looking at the brightly-lit hairdresser shop from the other side of the street was like staring into a goldfish bowl. Liam could see Gordon laughing and joking with a young blonde woman who was wearing one of the red tunics that his Mum wore to work. The two of them looked far too touchy-feely for Liam's liking.
    He took a big swig from the bottle of Buckfast and then launched it towards the shop. “Bastard!” he yelled, just seconds before it smashed on impact.
    Gordon was just about to set the alarm and close up after another busy day, when he heard something hit the shop window and then explode. There was the sound of breaking glass, but the window itself appeared intact. That's when Gordon saw Liam.
    “What the hell was that?” asked Stephanie, the blonde stylist who Liam had seen flirting with Gordon.
    “The little bastard!” Gordon said, as much to himself as to Stephanie. He then marched out of the shop to confront Yvonne's son. “He'll not get away with it this time!”
    By the time he got outside, all there was to see was broken glass on the pavement and Liam disappearing into the distance.
    “I've phoned the police,” said Stephanie joining her boss outside the shop. “They're on their way. Did you see who did it?”
    “Aye, I saw who did it. Liam Cameron.”
     
     
     
    Walter Miller was pleading for his life. Adam had dragged him at unimaginable speed to a small wooded area further down the river and away from prying eyes.
    “Why are you in Melrose?”
    “We were sent here by the Sabbatarians to investigate a report of vampire activity.”
    Adam didn't have to ask how the Sabbatarians knew that there had been vampire activity in Melrose. It had been known for sometime that someone in the Vatican with sympathies for the Sabbatarian cause was feeding them information. “Who told you I was here?”
    “Nobody,” said Walter. “Nick had this with your picture on it.” He slowly retrieved the piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Adam. “Did you kill Nick?”
    “Not yet,” said Adam, looking at the artist's impression of himself. He had to admit, the likeness was a good one, and recent too judging by the hairstyle. He'd have to change its colour again.
    “Please let me go. I promise I won't say anything to anyone.”
    “I'm sorry, but you must know I can't do that. The rules of engagement between the Immortalis and the Battalion are very simple. Very simple indeed. Kill or be killed.”
    Walter was now crying. “Please. I couldn't kill anyone. I just want to go home.”
    Adam ignored the begging. He'd seen it countless times before. “How do you contact your handler?”
    “Nick has a phone number to call,” Walter sobbed. “I don't have it.”
    “May you rest in peace.”
    Walter didn't even have time to respond. Adam moved in for the kill at such speed that Walter probably didn't even know what was happening. Within seconds of hearing those words he was dead. His body was never found.
     
     
     
    Buchan was helping himself to a coffee and a chocolate biscuit when DSI Carver joined him in the station's small kitchen. “Sir, officers have just brought a man in who wants to make an official complaint against our friend, Liam Cameron.”
    “Who?”
    “Gordon Rousseau, the owner of the hairdressing salon on Abbey Street. Apparently, Liam just tried to put his shop window in.”
    “Bloody hell. He only left here ten minutes ago.”
    “Mr Rousseau is also claiming that Liam threatened to kill him with a kitchen knife a couple of years ago. Rousseau and Liam's mother are partners and the boy used to live with them in Kelso.”
    “Right, bring the wee bugger back in and let's see what he's got to say for himself this time.”
     
     
     
    Lisa waited until Liam had walked to the back