Vampire Philip Archer and his team of successful art thieves -- black panther shifter Duff, ghost Rob, and Duff's human girlfriend Liddy -- are asked by the handsome Ian Croft, a potential client, to break with tradition and rescue a kidnapped child. When the caper turns out rather differently than expected, Philip is bitterly reminded why he has remained single for so long. Yet, surrounded as he is by loving friends, he is not desperate. This is why, when he meets the newly-made vampire Ephram, he suppresses his attraction and focuses on being a mentor to the Fledgling.<br><br>Ephram was turned by Virgil Ionescu, an ancient vampire known for casting off his Children before they are ready. Living off the streets, Ephram's future is precarious until he meets Philip. Ephram is immediately attracted to Philip and only too happy to be taken under his wing and taught the skills of surviving in modern New Orleans.<br><br>But Philip keeps secrets. Ephram can sense it, but he can't penetrate the thousand-year-old Philip's reserve. What will Ephram do when he discovers the big secret his new group of friends are keeping from him? Will his love for Philip trump all, or will he betray them? And, to complicate matters, Ionescu arrives unexpectedly in town, coming to check on his Child.

Art Theft 101

I nodded. “I can do that, but wouldn’t explain the blank spot on the wall where it used to hang.”


Liddy snapped her fingers. “So you give him something to replace it. Can you find out the approximate size?”


“Probably,” I replied, turning to the computer. I did a search for Geraldine Clifton, specifically for paintings she’d done while she lived in New Orleans. It took a while, since her early work hadn’t been as well documented as what she’d done once she became famous. Finally, remembering Flo had mentioned the Arts and Crafts Club, I searched for it and got lucky. Clifton was mentioned, with images of her work while she was a student there.


“That looks like Flo, in a sort of cubist/modernism way,” Ephram said, tapping the screen.


Chapter 59