Dracul's Revenge 01: Dracul's Blood (16 page)

“Wait.” Bobby crossed the room and took a handful of shots. “All yours.”

Nik stepped forward, cleaning his glasses. He settled them back on his face and ran a gloved hand over one of the spines. “This is more like it.”

“Something interesting?” Bobby asked as he continued to snap pictures.

Nik gently removed a book and opened the cover. “Wow. This looks like one of the editions published by Sir Richard Burton in 1883.”

“The actor?”

Nik chuckled and rolled his eyes. “No.” Nik replaced the book after noting the year, 1973 MAT. “But this one was obtained by Morgan Thompson.”

“So I guess Morgan brought his lovers here?”

Nik nodded. “Whether or not he truly believed it, this room would probably be considered as a sanctuary for him to practice his religion.”

“Found something,” Bobby called from across the room.

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

103

Nik moved to Bobby’s side. His lover held a cigar box, the same kind that had been in the Vanderlist study. “Okay, so there’s definitely a connection between Thompson and Vanderlist. Can you use it?”

“I can sure as hell try. If nothing else, it should be enough to get a warrant to search Vanderlist’s house for one of these fancy hidden lairs.”

“Open it.”

Bobby used a pencil to unlatch the humidor before lifting the lid at the corners with his gloved hands. Nik gasped, his hand covering his mouth. “That’s it.”

“The journal?”

Nik quickly closed the lid, protecting the ancient journal from the overhead lights. “I need to study this under black light.”

Bobby bit his bottom lip and rested his hands on his hips. “What’re you asking?”

“Surely Morgan has a lamp around here. The man’s a collector of rare antique books.”

Bobby threw up his arms and turned around in a circle. “By all means enlighten me.

Where am I supposed to find this magic lamp?”

He was about to snap right back at Bobby when a loud noise, coming from the outer room, startled them both. Bobby immediately drew his weapon and motioned for Nik to hide behind a large wardrobe.

Before he scurried off to the corner, he grabbed the humidor and clutched it to his chest. He swallowed around the lump in his throat as Bobby made his way towards the study.

For the first time, Nik was suddenly very aware of just how dangerous Bobby’s job could be. The box Bobby had opened so carefully smashed between Nik’s arms and chest. He heard the sound of breaking glass followed by a grunt from Bobby.

Without thinking things through, Nik reached into the humidor and pulled out the journal, stuffing it under his shirt in the waistband of his khaki pants. He stepped out from behind the wardrobe, picking his way towards the study, listening.
Come on, Bobby, make some
noise.

Before he reached the hidden doorway, he was hit by the smell of smoke. Nik blinked his eyes as he surged from the windowless room. If he was going to burn alive, it wouldn’t be without a fight.

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

104

“Bobby!” he screamed, trying to cover his mouth. The entire outer wall of the mansion appeared to be on fire from floor to ceiling.

“Nik, get out of here!”

Nik spotted a blur of movement he assumed was Bobby. “What’re you doing?”

“Get out. I’m getting my briefcase.”

Knowing he had the journal, Nik shielded his midsection with his arms and tried to find his way towards the hallway. “Come on!” The scream ended in an uncontrollable cough.

Bobby grabbed Nik’s upper arm and pulled him towards the front door. “Shit.”

The smoke was so thick at the front of the house, they had no choice but to try to find an alternate way out. Nik was forced to release one hand from the journal to pull his shirt up over his mouth and nose. Unlike modern houses, the Thompson mansion was built in the days of large rooms in a maze of twists and turns. He sure as hell hoped Bobby had a better sense of direction than he did.

A whoosh came from the front of the house as fire exploded one of the windows.

Never in his life would he forget the sound of the raging fire behind him. Nik feared the sound alone could swallow him alive.

“This way!” Bobby yelled over the roar, pulling Nik into yet another room. They ran into what appeared to be a dining room filled with smoke. The good news was the room appeared to be flame-free.

Before Nik knew what was happening, Bobby threw a dining room chair through a large picture window. “Hurry.”

Nik didn’t need to be told twice. With the new supply of oxygen coming in through the broken window, the flames appeared to magically appear in the doorway.

With one arm securing the journal, Nik braced his other hand on Bobby’s shoulder and climbed onto the window sill. “Give me your briefcase.”

Bobby coughed and shook his head. “Just go.”

Nik jumped as far from the burning house as he could and rolled out of Bobby’s path.

He gulped the much needed air as he heard a thud beside him.

“Come on.” Bobby grabbed Nik’s upper arm and pulled him to his feet.

Sirens wailed in the background, as Nik struggled to stay on his feet long enough to make it across the street. He sat on the sidewalk, hugging the journal to his stomach.

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

105

Bobby handed him the briefcase and gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll be right back, I’m gonna move the car while there’s still something left to move.”

“Forget the car.”

“And be forced to fill out mountains of paperwork? No thanks.” As Bobby started to turn away, Nik saw the blood running down the side of his lover’s head.

He jumped up. “You’re hurt.”

“I’m fine. Stay here.” Bobby jogged across the street just as the first police cruiser pulled up.

Nik stared at the burning house across from him. How close had they both come to dying? Was it worth it? He watched as Bobby said something to the policeman before pulling the sedan away from what was left of Thompson’s house.

“Are you okay?” A woman in a maid’s uniform asked.

Nik assumed she worked at the house he sat in front of. He wanted to scream a big fat no, but nodded. “I’m okay. Thanks.”

As the fire trucks arrived on the scene, neighbours seemed to be pulled from their houses to watch the once impressive mansion being consumed by flames. Nik was no fire inspector, but even he could tell some kind of accelerant had to have been used. It seemed the warning Professor Lattimer issued was well deserved.

* * * *

Bobby winced as the EMT poked at the wound on the side of his head. Nik hovered, worry clouding his eyes. Reaching out, Bobby snagged Nik’s hand and drew him closer.

“Are you okay?” He wanted to run his hands over Nik’s body to reassure himself that his lover was fine.

“The EMTs already checked me out. Aside from a little smoke inhalation, I’m fine.”

Nik leant against him and Bobby slipped his arm around Nik’s waist, frowning when his hand encountered something square under Nik’s shirt.

“You need to sign this release form since you won’t go to the hospital like I suggested.” The EMT handed Bobby a clipboard and a pen.

“Wait. I thought you said you were fine.” Nik eyed him.

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

106

“I am fine. I’ve been hit harder during street football when I was younger.” Bobby signed the form and stood, smiling as Nik slid under his arm to support him as they made their way to Bobby’s car.

“What the hell happened here, Marks?”

Both of them stiffened when the lieutenant’s voice cut through the noise of the police cars and fire engines. He dropped his arm away from Nik and eased a few inches to the side.

No point in getting her worked up about him mixing business with pleasure along with the fact that he let someone torch a crime scene while he was in it.

“There was a fire,” Nik spoke up.

She stared at him for a second before re-focusing on Bobby. “How the hell did someone manage to start a fire while you were in the house? You didn’t hear anything?”

“We were investigating something when I heard a noise. “

“What something?”

He glanced around, not wanting to talk about an open case in the midst of all those people, especially a case that had the potential of being extremely explosive.

“Let’s go to your car. You look like you should be in the hospital, Detective.”

The lieutenant led the way to Bobby’s car where she pointed to the driver’s seat. “Sit before you fall over.”

Nik opened the door for him and he slumped in the seat, resting his pounding head on the steering wheel while organising his thoughts. Thank God he managed to save his briefcase and the camera. Hopefully, Nik grabbed the journal and, along with the pictures of the cigar box, that would be enough of a connection to start investigating Vanderlist.

“We found a secret room.”

She raised her eyebrows and he laughed.

“Yeah, I know. There’s no way for you to see it now. I took some pictures. It looked like a place he took his lovers. There were books and pictures all over the place.”

“I want to see those photographs, but why do I think you have more than just a room?”

He fumbled through his pockets to find his phone. Opening it, he scrolled through the few photos he had on it to find one in particular. Bobby handed the phone to his lieutenant.

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

107

“I haven’t had time to email it to the tech guys to get it cleaned up, but I took it at Vanderlist’s house. It’s a cigar box with a seal of the same kind that was found on the cask at Thompson’s.”

A dawning expression of understanding appeared on Lieutenant O’Donnell’s face.

“You’re accusing…”

“I’m not accusing anyone, Lieutenant, but we found a box in that secret room of Thompson’s that looks remarkably like Vanderlist’s.”

After handing back his phone, she rubbed her forehead with a sigh. “Are we seriously considering accusing one of the richest men in the city of paedophilia and murder?”

“No, but we have to look into every possibility. We can’t gloss over a viable suspect simply because he’s rich and friends with the mayor. That isn’t how justice works.”

He ducked his head. Preaching to the choir wasn’t smart because he knew the lieutenant wouldn’t bury something like this, but he understood she had to walk a careful line.

“What if you’re wrong?”

“I don’t think I am.”

Nik shifted, drawing Bobby’s gaze, and he saw the dark shadow under Nik’s shirt. He looked back at his lieutenant, hoping she wouldn’t notice it. A small voice in the back of his head whispered that the journal was important, but he didn’t want to let it out of his sight until Nik had a chance to read it.

“Shit,” O’Donnell swore softly. “All right. I’ve trusted your gut so far in this case. I’ll have to warn the mayor and commissioner about what’s going on, but keep digging. If Vanderlist’s our guy, you’ll take him down, but I want it to be an iron-clad case.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.”

“I’m going to have one of the uniforms drive your car back to the precinct. You take a cab back to your place.” She strolled off.

Bobby grabbed his jacket and briefcase before gesturing to Nik. “Let’s get out of here before she wonders why you’re standing like that.”

“Like what?” Nik glanced down at his stomach.

“Like you’re hiding something under your shirt.” He walked them past the barricade to the corner where he flagged down a cab.

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

108

“Why didn’t you tell her about the journal? I’m pretty sure this would be considered withholding evidence and is probably illegal.” Nik slipped into the back seat of the cab.

“We’ll discuss it when we get to my house.”

He wasn’t about to talk about the case in the back of a taxicab. God knew if the driver listened in, he could sell the information to a newspaper or TV station and Bobby wasn’t going to let his case get tossed out because of leaks to the media.

“Okay.”

He wrapped his arm around Nik’s shoulder and pulled the smaller man closer to him, burying his face in Nik’s curls. Taking a deep breath, he inhaled the scent of smoke and cursed silently to himself.

So close. Twice he’d been so close to losing the man in his arms and all because he’d drawn him into the case. Of course, if it wasn’t for the case, he would never have met Professor Nikolay Radin. They definitely didn’t run in the same crowds. He smiled. Nik didn’t emerge from his house or the library long enough to meet anybody.

“We need to go to my house, so I can get some clothes and my school stuff.” Nik snuggled closer. “I assume you’re not going to let me stay by myself.”

“Hell no. This is the second time someone’s tried to hurt you. I’m not going to risk you again. Anyone who tries to harm you again, I’ll do whatever I can to stop them.”

Nik eased back a few inches to study him for a moment. Bobby didn’t care what the cabbie thought. Leaning down, he pressed their lips together, sweeping his tongue in to stroke over Nik’s. His lover shivered and moaned, gripping Bobby’s shoulders as they kissed. He almost pulled Nik onto his lap when the cabbie coughed.

Nik jerked away and his cheeks turned beet red. “Sorry,” Nik murmured to the cabbie.

“No big deal, but where am I taking y’all?”

“To Chelsea first.”

“Okay.”

After getting Nik’s belongings, they headed to Bobby’s apartment. Bobby sent Nik in to take a shower while he set up the camera to download. He didn’t touch the journal after Nik warned him against even breathing on it. He opened his briefcase and pulled out the folder with all his case notes.

DRACUL’S BLOOD

Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase

109

Bobby’s phone rang as the water shut off in his bathroom. Wandering to his bedroom to grab a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, he checked the ID display.

“Hey, Jablonsky. What’s up?”

“You can tell me all about Thompson’s place burning down when you meet me in the Village.”