Dracul's Revenge 01: Dracul's Blood (13 page)

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

83

Vanderlist was dressed in jeans and a light sweater, yet his belief in his superior bloodline showed through in the slight curl of his lip as he shook Bobby’s hand. He hated people who assumed that, because they were rich, they were better than anyone else. He shook the man’s hand and stepped back, letting Jablonsky take the lead on questioning Vanderlist. His partner didn’t let arrogance and other irritating personality traits bother him.

Which could explain why he and Bobby had lasted so long as partners.

“Mr. Vanderlist, we’re sorry to have to bother you at such a difficult time, but we just have a few questions to ask.” Jablonsky shook the man’s hand with proper diffidence.

“I understand. The police must do their job. Both the mayor and the commissioner have given me their word that you’ll do all you can to find out who murdered my daughter.”

Vanderlist motioned to two chairs placed in front of a stone fireplace.

Jablonsky shot Bobby a glance. Bobby nodded slightly, giving his partner permission to ask away. He’d wander around the study, see if there might be any clues lying around.

Not that he thought there would be. Mavis hadn’t been murdered at the house, but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

“We are doing our best, sir.”

Vanderlist strolled over to the side bar, and poured a glass of burgundy liquid. Bobby tensed and the man must have noticed.

“I find a glass of merlot soothes my nerves. Would either of you like something to drink?”

“No, sir. We’re on duty.” Jablonsky settled into one of the chairs and pulled out his notebook. After flipping to a clean page, he slipped a pencil from his shirt pocket. “When was the last time you saw your daughter, sir?”

God, Vanderlist was eating up the ‘sir’ shit. Bobby wanted to gag. He moved over to Vanderlist’s desk, resting a hip on the edge. Vanderlist frowned, but didn’t stop Bobby.

“Sir, your daughter,” Jablonsky prodded.

“Right. I saw her Friday night. We all went to the opera together, then on to dinner.

She left us around midnight. My wife and I came home while Mavis went on to one of
those
clubs she likes to visit.”

“What kind of clubs would that be?”

Bobby leant back slightly, trying to read the papers on the desk. It looked like Vanderlist was going over some accounts. Probably re-working his will. A stray thought DRACUL’S BLOOD

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crossed Bobby’s mind. Where would all the Vanderlist millions go now that his only heir was dead?

“Mavis enjoyed having a variety of friends. Some of them liked to spend time in Greenwich Village.” Disapproval dripped from Vanderlist’s voice.

Bobby did roll his eyes at that, but Jablonsky kept a straight face.

“So Miss Vanderlist went to a club in the Village. Do you know the name?”

Vanderlist glared at Jablonsky. “I’m sure I have no idea.”

Straightening, Bobby paused when Vanderlist looked at him. “Maybe you could give us the names of some of your daughter’s friends. We’ll need to talk to them.”

“Certainly. I’ll have Luisa retrieve Mavis’s address book.” Vanderlist stood and walked around the desk to the phone.

“I thought your daughter lived in the apartment where we found her.” Jablonsky shuffled through his pages.

“That was where she took her men. I told her she couldn’t bring them here. It was disrespectful to her mother and me.” Vanderlist punched the intercom button. “Luisa, will you bring Mavis’s address book to the study?”

“Yes, sir.”

Vanderlist opened a drawer and removed a box. The intricately carved top caught Bobby’s attention. There was something familiar about it. Vanderlist retrieved a cigar from the box, clipped off one end, and lit it while they waited for Luisa to bring the book.

Jablonsky studied the rug under his feet, and Bobby itched to get a closer look at the cigar box. Vanderlist snatched up his empty glass and went back to pour himself more wine.

Bobby edged over to the corner where the box sat.

Luisa entered and Vanderlist took the address book before dismissing her. Bobby glanced at the engraving on the top of the mahogany square. Excitement shot through him.

He had seen that seal somewhere before recently.

Shooting a look over his shoulder, he spotted Vanderlist talking to Jablonsky. Bobby tugged out his phone and snapped a quick photo of it. The lab guys could probably enhance it.

An envelope symbol flashed on his screen. He scrolled through his missed calls to see that Nik had called him a few minutes earlier. For some reason, an odd wave of uneasiness swelled over him. Bobby shook himself. He was overreacting simply because he didn’t like DRACUL’S BLOOD

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the idea of Nik riding public transportation. He’d seen and heard too many bad things that had happened to people who rode the buses or subways.

“Certainly, Mr. Vanderlist. We’ll keep you informed and get this back to you as soon as possible.” Jablonsky raised his voice a little to draw Bobby back to him.

“Thank you, Detective. My wife and I will be happy to cooperate in any way you need us.” Vanderlist led the way back to the front door.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Jablonsky turned to Bobby. “What did you find on his desk that you had to take a picture of?”

“Shit. Did he realise what I was doing?”

Jablonsky shook his head. “Not that I know of. I distracted him until I was sure you were done.”

Bobby called the picture up on the screen of his phone. “Vanderlist’s cigar box has this engraving on it. I’m pretty sure this is the same seal that was on the cask we found at Thompson’s house.”

“Are you serious?” His partner poked him. “This could be what we’re looking for.”

“I need to have Nik look at it and verify what I think it is. If I’m right, we might have our connection between the murders and a good suspect.”

They climbed into their car. It was Jablonsky’s turn to drive, so Bobby listened to his voicemail while Jablonsky pulled into traffic.

“Hey, Bobby. It’s Nik.”

Bobby frowned. Nik didn’t sound good.

“Um-m-m…I know you said to call you when I got home, but I wanted to let you know that I’m not home yet. I’m in the emergency room at Beth Israel. I think I was mugged.”

“Fuck.” Bobby ended the call and slammed his fist against his thigh.

“What’s wrong?”

Bobby scrubbed his hand over his face and repeated what he’d heard. “I knew I should have given him a ride home instead of letting him take the bus.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get you there asap.” Jablonsky turned on the siren and lights.

His partner would do all he could to get them to the hospital, but it wouldn’t be fast enough for Bobby.

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Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

86

* * * *

Bobby rushed up to the check-in desk after Jablonsky brought the car to a stop outside the ER. The nurse looked up, ready to yell, but he flashed his badge.

“I’m Detective Marks. I was informed that a Professor Nikolay Radin was brought in thirty minutes ago.”

She typed some stuff in the computer and nodded. “Yes, he was, Detective. I’ll buzz you in and have a nurse take you to his room.”

“Thank you.”

“Hey, Bobby, do you want me to stick around?” Jablonsky stopped him.

“No. I’ll take him home with me in a cab. Thanks. I’ll call you when we get there. Let you know how he’s doing.” He slapped his partner on the shoulder.

“Okay, man. I’ll let the lieutenant know what we found out from the parents. Also, I’ll start calling the victim’s friends.”

“I owe you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll collect at some point.” Jablonsky waved him away as a nurse came for him.

“How is he?” Bobby asked the nurse as she led him back to Nik’s room.

“He’ll be fine, but I’ll let the professor tell you himself.” After showing Bobby to Nik’s curtained off area, she turned and walked away.

His heart dropped as Nik looked up when he walked in. A bandage marred his lover‘s right cheek, along with one on the back of his head. Bobby rushed to the side of the bed and clasped Nik’s hand in his.

“Are you okay?”

Nik drew a shaking breath and nodded, wincing. “I am now.”

He slid his hand around the back of Nik’s head, careful not to touch the bandage.

Leaning forward, he brushed a kiss over Nik’s trembling lips. He demanded entrance and swept in when Nik opened for him. Bobby was shaken by how afraid he’d been since the instant he heard Nik’s voice on the phone. Tasting Nik eased him a little, but his nerves wouldn’t completely settle until he could hold Nik in his arms and check for himself that he wasn’t injured worse than he imagined.

Easing away, he looked down into Nik’s eyes and asked, “What happened?”

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Uncertainty shaded Nik’s eyes. “I’m not sure. I got off the bus and walked to my house. I heard footsteps coming up behind me. I turned to see who it was. Then there was this flaring pain at the back of my head…and I don’t remember anything else.”

“I should have driven you home from the library.” Guilt soured his stomach.

Nik cradled his face and gave him a brief smile. “It’s not your fault. I told you not to worry about me.”

They broke apart as the doctor came in. Bobby listened closely to all the instructions.

“Now, Professor Radin, do you have someone who can stay with you? I don’t want you left alone tonight.”

“He’ll be staying with me, Doctor.” Bobby met Nik’s gaze, daring the man to protest.

Nik didn’t say anything, and the doctor looked happy.

“Then I’ll sign the release forms. The stitches will need to be taken out in two weeks, but you can go to your regular doctor for that.” The doctor flipped through some papers on the chart. “I’ll send a nurse in with a wheelchair.”

“Thank you, Doctor.” He watched the man leave. Turning to Nik, he asked, “Where’s your stuff?”

A wild look crossed Nik’s face. “Oh no! My backpack is missing. All the research I did today is gone.”

“Fuck.” Every instinct Bobby had pinged. “You are definitely staying with me then. I don’t think this is a normal mugging.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for, Nik. I’m sorry for not realising just how dangerous this case could end up being. I mean, even your old professor told you to back off.”

The nurse arrived with a wheelchair, and they left the hospital. As he hailed a cab, Bobby decided he’d get Nik settled and talk to his lieutenant. She’d want to know what happened, plus she should know his relationship with Nik was more than work-related.

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Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

88

Nik lay beneath the covers, his hands tucked near his cheek, and there were still black circles under his eyes. Bobby hated having to wake him, but his lieutenant demanded Nik’s presence in her office at ten, and Bobby figured it was a good time to catch everyone up on Nik’s research.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he smiled as Nik rolled over and nestled closer to him, resting a hand on Bobby’s thigh. He pushed the black curls off Nik’s forehead and lightly trailed a finger over the bandage hiding the cut on Nik’s cheek. God, he hated the thought of Nik getting hurt, especially since he was the one who brought Nik in on the case.

It wasn’t that Bobby didn’t think Nik could handle himself in most situations, but this wasn’t an ordinary case and…Bobby’s gut churned. He’d only known Nik a few days, and already the professor had wormed his way into Bobby’s heart. He’d never be able to forgive himself if something worse happened to Nik.

He leant over and brushed a kiss over Nik’s lips. Nik murmured, rubbing his face against Bobby’s thigh. Bobby shifted and his cock started to fill. His lover wrinkled his nose, and sniffed delicately. He muffled his chuckle and reached under the blankets to stroke down Nik’s chest to where a small nipple hardened under his touch.

“Hmmm…” Nik hummed, arching as Bobby pinched his flesh between his thumb and finger.

Checking the clock, Bobby noted that they had a little extra time. He eased down onto the bed, pushing the covers down until Nik’s groin was revealed. Nudging Nik’s legs apart, he settled between them and kissed along the crease where Nik’s hip and thigh met.

“Bobby?” Nik pushed up on his elbows and blinked down at Bobby.

“Who else did you expect in the bed with you?” He grinned before licking from the base of Nik’s cock to the tip, pressing his tongue in the slit, and drawing a moan from Nik.

“I-I don’t know?”

Nik’s voice lifted in a question at the end as he thrust up, trying to get Bobby to take him all the way in. Bobby pressed his hands down on Nik’s hips and eased away slightly.

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“Don’t strain yourself, honey. Let me do the work. I don’t want you hurting your head or anything.”

Nik ran his hand over Bobby’s hair. “Can I touch you?”

“I won’t argue with that.”

“Maybe I could take care of you while you’re enjoying me?”

Bobby chuckled, but shook his head at Nik’s hopeful smile.

“I’d love to, but not until your head is better.” He placed a quick kiss on Nik’s hip.

“Don’t worry. I won’t forget you owe me.”

Nik gave a little nod and dropped back down, allowing Bobby to have his way. Bobby turned his attention back to Nik’s shaft. He swept long wet trails over the pulsing vein along the underside. Quick little tastes teased the soft spongy head and crown. Pre-cum pooled at Nik’s slit and Bobby sipped like it was the finest wine.

He slipped one of Nik’s legs over his shoulder, giving him better access to Nik’s balls.

After nuzzling them and breathing in Nik’s musky scent, Bobby sucked one into his mouth, bathing it with his tongue.

Bobby grunted as Nik entwined his fingers in his hair and tugged, jerking as Bobby let one ball pop out and took the other one in, not wanting it to feel neglected. He slid his fingers down behind Nik’s balls, caressing the soft skin. Nik shuddered.