I can see vindication rising up in Avet, so I intervene before he has the chance to go on a tirade. The explanation rushes out of me so succinctly that I am proud I’ve learned to communicate this well. I am used to going days without speaking to anyone at all. Perhaps that adds to my ability to cut to the meat of a story without adding too much fat.
As I tell the story, Sargis’ eyebrows raise until they are nearly touching his hairline. When I finish, he glances at the door. “Good thing that’s shut. You sound insane.”
“I’m really okay with that.” I point to the purple diary. “I take it that means you haven’t heard anything like this happening elsewhere? A woman disappearing after a mysterious stranger shows up with all the right things to say?”
Sargis shoots me a wry look. “Well, that’s not an uncommon story—vampire or no vampire. If I were you (and I’m glad I’m not), I would pull up any missing persons reports featuring a young girl being seduced and winding up missing.” He goes to the kitchen and tugs down a platter, where he still keeps his laptop stored out of sight.
Some things never change.
Sevan folds her arms over her chest. “Why on earth would you keep your laptop in your kitchen cupboard?”
Sargis smirks at her. “To keep thieves from making off with my valuables. Also, this platter is the perfect conductor. Do you know how old this laptop is?”
She tilts her head to the side. “I’m guessing older than me?”
Sargis chortles at the dig. “It’s never broken once. The platter helps the laptop, and the laptop helps me.” He cracks his knuckles. “And now this old laptop is about to help you.”
Sevan casts a dubious look in Avet’s direction. No one would dare insult Sargis to his face—he sells the best equipment in the world—but it’s clear Sevan is not optimistic that this was a worthwhile trip. She gives me her chair, restless as she begins pacing around the dining area.
Sargis settles into his chair, shoving the diary toward me. “Hop to it, kid. I need a lightning round from you. I ask the questions, you dig through Cher’s brain for the answers.” He motions to the fridge. “Avet, get out the juniper cheese. You barely tasted it last time. Sevan Aramagyan, you have to try it. Made with milk from my own sheep. I’ve got two of them out back.”
Avet grimaces behind Sargis’ back while Sevan stands in the space between the kitchen and where we sit a few feet away.
Sevan glares at the back of Sargis’ head, clearly not liking that he throws her full name around easily, as if her privacy is irrelevant.
It’s my turn to crack my knuckles as déjà vu sweeps over me. I remember several times sitting in this exact seat across from Sargis and his ancient laptop. The thing whirrs so loud, it constantly sounds like it’s on its last leg. I would have a stack of newspapers or files in front of me, and he would wait for me to call out names for him to search.
It’s much like being on a game show, hoping you have the correct answers.
“Alright, Keran. Cher was living near the college, right? Get specific. I need an address or something.”
Avet calls from the kitchen before I even open my mouth. “She was living in a sorority house off campus.” He spouts out the name of the place, and Sargis starts typing.
Sargis doesn’t type like anyone I’ve ever seen. It fascinates me every time. He has limited dexterity on his left hand from a run-in with a viper when he was harvesting some of its venom. He can use it just fine for normal things, but fine motor skills, like typing, would be a struggle for him if he hadn’t learned to compensate.
Sargis types faster than even the most astute writer, and he uses only his right hand to do it. The one hand flies over the keyboard, punching letters without looking to see if he is correct or not. “Okay. Good. That was easy. First lead, write it down, kids. Taline Petrosyan went missing two weeks ago to the day. Sorority sisters with Cher. That’s not too long after Cher disappeared, huh.”
“Cher has been missing two and a half weeks,” Avet croaks. “So Taline went missing a few days after Cher disappeared.”
Sevan reads over Sargis’ shoulder, her eyebrow raised. “Two girls gone missing from the same sorority inside a week’s time? Says here there were statements given by the sorority sisters that they were both spending time with older men who hung around the house more than they should. That’s not a coincidence.”
The black hairs on my arms stand up, so I know we’re onto something. When my arm hair gets spooked, I know to pay attention. It’s my barometer that never fails. “Print out whatever you can find on Taline Petrosyan. I don’t know that last name. Is she a trapper?”
Sargis knows everything about everyone, so my question is directed at him. “Taline, no. But her grandfather went up against a werewolf back in the day and lived to tell about it. No idea if Taline knows anything about trapping.” He clicks the keys to do some digging on the subject. “Get hunting, Keran,” he commands me.
My fingers leaf through the diary, but I know that name is not in here. I read the thing from cover to cover, making notes of every person she mentions along the way. But I do my due diligence and search again to compensate for human error.
“You taking vitamins?” Sargis asks me quietly, his eyes on the screen before him.
I shift in my seat. “Yeah.”
“You flossing?”
My mouth pulls to the side as I fight off a smile. It’s been a long time since a parent has worried about me. “Every day.”
“That’s good.” He clacks a few more keys. “You happy?”
I don’t answer that one.