Vampire Files, Volume Two

Being a vampire can have its drawbacks. Just ask Jack Fleming, former journalist turned itinerant gumshoe. Then again, being able to instantly vanish and reappear elsewhere in mob-controlled 1930's Chicago is handy in a jam. But when the local gang boss is more out for blood than even the local vampire, something's definitely coming to a head. Still, even the Undead need to make a living. So here are three more cases from The Vampire Files of Jack Fleming.

Art in the Blood: Rubbing elbows with Chicago's art elite isn't exactly Jack's idea of a good time, until his girlfriend Bobbi persuades him to attend a formal gala thrown by artist Leighton Brett. But something about Brett's finely-honed paintings strikes Jack as just a little too perfect, much like the man himself. Soon Jack's knee-deep in high-stakes art theft, mob-controlled forgery, and oh, yes - murder. For it'll take a vampire's aversion to mirrors - plus all his regular nosferatu skills - to see the truth behind the mask, and follow the trail of deceptions to catch a murderer before anyone else gets killed...particularly him!

Fire in the Blood: Usually the colors red, white and platinum only brought Jack's stunning Bobbi to mind - not some pricey ruby-and-diamond bracelet stolen from a wealthy client's daughter. But what starts out as a simple shakedown of the suspected thief quickly turns deadly, causing Jack to run afoul of the cruelest mobster in all Chicago. And this time not even his vampire powers can help him.

Blood on the Water: Jack still hopes to find that elusive bracelet (if only to clear his name), but his latest gangster nemesis is also in hot pursuit...of him. Plus there's a daughter of a dead mobster determined to run things herself - and who kills without blinking and tosses grenades around like party favors. The more Jack sees of her, the less he likes. But the more he tries to use his powers to elude his captors, the more those powers start to elude him!