This Man and Woman — Jackie Ivie

WE KILL FOR PROFIT
NO QUESTIONS ASKED

THE CAVALIER
Vampire Jean-Pierre de Margolis is a romantic. Lonely. His free time spent wandering the earth in search of the one thing he craves and cannot locate: His mate - the person that will make him whole. Nothing else about this afterlife appeals to a man of his talents. Amid penning poems to his missing love, he prowls the nights, honing his abilities as a master swordsman and a deadly duelist. If only he could find her…

THE NINJA
Takaiya isn't just talented, she's deadly. As an honored member of a hidden warrior clan, she's spent two decades honing her abilities and perfecting her skill in the ancient arts. No one would ever guess the innocent-looking translator attached to the Japanese Embassy has a secret side �" one that deals death. And that's exactly as she likes it…

THE DUEL
When the Vampire Assassin League gifts Jean-Pierre with a perfect Samurai sword, one of the few known as a ‘five-body' blade, nobody realizes they've trafficked in stolen goods. That is - not until Takaiya is given the mission of retrieval of the sword �" at whatever cost. An easy task until she finds the sword in the hands of a Frenchman with a penchant for swordplay and a flare for the melodramatic. Now, if he'd just die...


EXCERPT

Jean-Pierre put a hand to his forehead in a dramatic fashion. “I am in love!” he announced.

“You're always in love. What else is new?”

“This time is different! I swear.”

“Right. Go on. And remember, I have a conference call coming in. A very large offer I cannot possibly refuse.”

“I found her, Akron.”

“Who?”

“My mate.”

There was a heavy sigh, loud enough to echo, as though the man used a microphone. “Again?”

“Non. You do not understand! This time it's different!”

“And so, you decide to ruin what looks like an expensive, albeit archaic, ensemble by swimming in sewage?”

“Non. This is her fault.”

“She likes to go swimming?”

Jean-Pierre shook his head.

“You want to toss me a line with this bait?” Akron asked.

“She got my sword.”

“Your 4.8 million Euro sword? The one-of-a-kind sword you picked out and had us bid for?”

“Oui. That one.”

“Fine. You love her so much you gave her your new sword. Invaris is going to have your ass. He spent weeks pursuing that.”

“I didn't give it to her. She claims it was stolen from her clan. She wanted it back.”

“Very well, then. You let her waltz off with a 4.8 million Euro sword and then you went swimming. Got it. Anything else?”

“I did not allow her to waltz, or anything approaching a dance. She cheated.”

“Well…you just can't trust a woman. How many times have I said that?”

“I need your help, Akron. Please? I am desperate here.”

“That's why I'm still listening.”

“I need help finding her.”

“I thought you just said you found her.”

“I did! And it's wondrous!”

“You know, Margolis, I've been told finding your true mate is a wonderful thing. I have to go by what I'm told, unfortunately. I am not that lucky. But I have to state the obvious. You don't look to be experiencing much wonder at the moment.”

“You are no help! I should have found a drunken sot and drowned my sorrows in his blood. That would be better than this!”

“I can't help you if you don't tell me what you need. Let's start at the beginning, shall we? I'll need specifics. What's her name?”

The scraping sound of a chair being moved and then the creak as it got used came from the shadowy recess. Margolis stared at the unlit fireplace as if it had answers.

“I do not know,” he finally replied.

“Hair color?”

“I would say…it is dark.”

“Would say?”

“Oui.”

“Okay. Eye color?”

“Dark, as well. I think.”

“Size? Build?”

“Oh. Of that I am certain. She is of perhaps…five feet, five. Approximately 120 lbs. Athletic build. Very athletic.”

“Heritage?”

“I would say…Asian. But again, I am not sure.”

“Do you know what she looks like, or not?”

“No.”

“It's not the voice at the other end of the all-night drive-through again, is it?”