Dracul's Revenge 01: Dracul's Blood by Carol Lynne, T. A. Chase
Authors: Carol Lynne, T. A. Chase
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Nik’s shoulder, getting a closer look at the seal.
“This crest. They were used in place of signatures.” The more he examined the aging wax, the more worried he became. Nik glanced up at Bobby. “I don’t think there’s any way to get this off without breaking it.”
“Shit.” Bobby ran a hand over his short, dark blond hair. “What now?”
Nik turned to Peter. “Can you take some very detailed photographs of this for me?”
Peter looked to Bobby for permission. After Bobby nodded, the man wrapped the cask back up and carried it from the room.
Once they were alone, Bobby took a seat beside Nik. “So, what’re your thoughts?”
“Well, the crest is definitely something I can research by using a photograph. I’d still like to know what’s under the wax though.” Nik thrummed his fingers against the table. He knew even if he got to the label it would most likely be stained to the point of being illegible.
There had to be a way to get the cask to a restoration expert. It was a thing of beauty and deserved to be in a museum. A thought hit him. “I’m wondering if a call to the Mayor from an old professor of mine who now works at the Smithsonian would help.”
DRACUL’S BLOOD
Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase
41
“Help how? You’ve lost me.”
“I know you can’t go into details about the case you’re working on, but this cask is one hell of a historic find. I’d be very interested to know how relevant it is to your case.”
Bobby’s hazel eyes narrowed to mere slits. “Why does that matter?”
“Because if I call my old professor, I’ve no doubt he could have the cask in his hands within twenty-four hours. I guess what I’m asking is will this cause you a problem with your investigation?”
Bobby sighed. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but frankly, I don’t know how to answer your question. The cask was found in the study of Morgan Thompson on the night he was killed.”
Nik swallowed. He’d read the details of the murderous rampage in the Times. He knew Thompson had murdered the servants in his household before venturing out onto the street, but that was about it. “Can I ask what made you think the cask was in any way connected?”
Bobby seemed uneasy. Nik knew it was difficult for the detective to discuss an open case.
“Please. It’s important that I know, before I make my phone call.”
“Evidence shows he’d been drinking from it on the night of the murders.” Bobby’s shoulders seemed to slump. “God, I’m so going to get fired for telling you that.”
Nik shook his head. “It won’t go any further, I promise.”
“So do you have any ideas?”
“Well, I’m surprised as hell that anything was still in the cask in the first place. Since it appears there was, it surprises me further that someone actually drank it. It couldn’t have been palatable.”
Nik buried his face in his hands, something he often did when he was deep in thought. “It just doesn’t make sense. A cask as unique as this one, still full of wine, or whatever, would be almost priceless, so why would someone intentionally devalue such an investment by drinking its contents?”
“That’s why I figured it was a substantial clue. The lab is trying to analyse the contents.”
“It’s more than a clue, it’s the reason. Don’t ask me how I know, call it a gut instinct.”
Nik lifted his head and stared into the detectives eyes. “I think it’s more important than ever DRACUL’S BLOOD
Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase
42
to find out exactly where this cask came from and who made it, and the only way that’s going to happen is to find out what’s under that wax seal.”
“So, what are you proposing?”
“That we get it to a restoration expert. I don’t want to get you in hot water, so I figure an order from the Mayor to release the cask for expert analysis would help smooth things over with your boss.”
“Let me give it some thought. It would go over better if I
“This crest. They were used in place of signatures.” The more he examined the aging wax, the more worried he became. Nik glanced up at Bobby. “I don’t think there’s any way to get this off without breaking it.”
“Shit.” Bobby ran a hand over his short, dark blond hair. “What now?”
Nik turned to Peter. “Can you take some very detailed photographs of this for me?”
Peter looked to Bobby for permission. After Bobby nodded, the man wrapped the cask back up and carried it from the room.
Once they were alone, Bobby took a seat beside Nik. “So, what’re your thoughts?”
“Well, the crest is definitely something I can research by using a photograph. I’d still like to know what’s under the wax though.” Nik thrummed his fingers against the table. He knew even if he got to the label it would most likely be stained to the point of being illegible.
There had to be a way to get the cask to a restoration expert. It was a thing of beauty and deserved to be in a museum. A thought hit him. “I’m wondering if a call to the Mayor from an old professor of mine who now works at the Smithsonian would help.”
DRACUL’S BLOOD
Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase
41
“Help how? You’ve lost me.”
“I know you can’t go into details about the case you’re working on, but this cask is one hell of a historic find. I’d be very interested to know how relevant it is to your case.”
Bobby’s hazel eyes narrowed to mere slits. “Why does that matter?”
“Because if I call my old professor, I’ve no doubt he could have the cask in his hands within twenty-four hours. I guess what I’m asking is will this cause you a problem with your investigation?”
Bobby sighed. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but frankly, I don’t know how to answer your question. The cask was found in the study of Morgan Thompson on the night he was killed.”
Nik swallowed. He’d read the details of the murderous rampage in the Times. He knew Thompson had murdered the servants in his household before venturing out onto the street, but that was about it. “Can I ask what made you think the cask was in any way connected?”
Bobby seemed uneasy. Nik knew it was difficult for the detective to discuss an open case.
“Please. It’s important that I know, before I make my phone call.”
“Evidence shows he’d been drinking from it on the night of the murders.” Bobby’s shoulders seemed to slump. “God, I’m so going to get fired for telling you that.”
Nik shook his head. “It won’t go any further, I promise.”
“So do you have any ideas?”
“Well, I’m surprised as hell that anything was still in the cask in the first place. Since it appears there was, it surprises me further that someone actually drank it. It couldn’t have been palatable.”
Nik buried his face in his hands, something he often did when he was deep in thought. “It just doesn’t make sense. A cask as unique as this one, still full of wine, or whatever, would be almost priceless, so why would someone intentionally devalue such an investment by drinking its contents?”
“That’s why I figured it was a substantial clue. The lab is trying to analyse the contents.”
“It’s more than a clue, it’s the reason. Don’t ask me how I know, call it a gut instinct.”
Nik lifted his head and stared into the detectives eyes. “I think it’s more important than ever DRACUL’S BLOOD
Carol Lynne and T.A. Chase
42
to find out exactly where this cask came from and who made it, and the only way that’s going to happen is to find out what’s under that wax seal.”
“So, what are you proposing?”
“That we get it to a restoration expert. I don’t want to get you in hot water, so I figure an order from the Mayor to release the cask for expert analysis would help smooth things over with your boss.”
“Let me give it some thought. It would go over better if I
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