Page 19

Chapter 18

W illa had barely needed five seconds to give them a positive match on their letter writer, tying him to the fae murders or at least one of the fae murders. Maxim had decided to interview and hunt down leads while it had fallen to Adler to get them the footage they needed. He’d gotten started on some of it, but there was still lots more to go through, and Maxim had set a five pm meeting.

When Adler smelled roses sometime in the afternoon, he glanced at the clock on his computer screen. 4:51. The scent got stronger, and Adler forced himself not to look, not to stare with a predator’s intensity, although his wolf side certainly wanted that. He managed to count to six before he turned his head at last.

Gordon was stunning. He dyed his hair, Adler thought, admiring the way the bluish purple shimmered, even in the station’s less than ideal lighting. The vampire smiled as he approached Adler’s desk.

“Hi, detective.”

“Well, you are a sight for sore eyes,” Adler said. “Your hair changed color.”

Gordon shrugged. “It does that.”

“It’s very pretty, Gordon.”

“Thanks.” Gordon’s dimples were showing.

“It really suits you,” Adler said, voice low.

He stood, stepping as close to Gordon as he dared, which was close enough for the vampire’s scent to cloud out much rational thought from Adler’s brain. Roses. Shampoo and chemicals, but also roses. I want the chemical scent gone, want him to smell like me instead.

Gordon cleared his throat. “Detective, I believe you are sniffing me.”

“So?”

The vampire shrugged. “I wasn’t sure you were aware.”

“Oh, by the heavenly sinners and all of hell’s secret circles, the two of you should find a room posthaste, because Willa was clearly exaggerating when she mentioned you spent the night,” Maxim said.

The hunter had walked up to Adler’s desk silently, and that nice and tight outfit he wore made Adler think about how Gordon would look in the same. It was a pleasant image, pleasant and stimulating.

Adler tried to push all of that out of his mind, because this was not the time. But I will make the time, very soon. If Gordon lets me.

“I brought the file in hardcopy,” Gordon said, and handed it to Adler. “To summarize, those were two healthy young fae, and they were choked to death, the handprint I found matching the one found on the very first victim.”

Adler nodded. “A series.”

“Yes. May I see? Just to be sure I didn’t miss anything the first time.” Maxim held out his hand for the file, skimmed through the entire thing with that disconcerting vampire speed that he so rarely used where humans were around to see it. That he did now gave Adler pause. “I have a suspicion, and I would like to confirm it. Let’s watch some footage.”

Three hours later, they were still busy with the footage in one of the station’s media rooms, using NAPD computers. (“Ancient. And slow,” Maxim had complained.) Maxim was the only one who had found a possible suspect. As it turned out, vampire speed helped with surveillance footage, even if the PC was laggy.

“You two are really not much help at all,” the hunter said to Gordon and Adler at around eight.

“Gee, thanks,” said Gordon.

Maxim clicked his tongue. “Don’t be mad, now, Gordon. I know you lack enthusiasm when a case lacks corpses. I would appreciate it if you two left, because frankly, the way Adler keeps trying to hide the way he is staring at you, Gordon, is distracting.”

“We still have hours’ worth of footage to go through, Maxim,” Adler said.

Maxim nodded. “Yes, yes. And I happen to have an assistant-slash-son who just informed me he has located a stable internet connection, so I’m having Heath relieve you.” He winked at them. “And do please provide everyone juicier gossip the next time you choose to have a sleepover. That would be most wonderful.”

“Gossip. Just perfect.” Gordon rubbed his eyes. “I’m not really sure that Christmas card is cutting it anymore, Maxim.”

Maxim pulled out his debutante sigh once more. “Darling, I got you a werewolf. Now hush and get thee bedded ere our murderer is caught.”

“Oddly specific,” Gordon mumbled, but Adler was ready to not care, so he took Gordon’s hand and led the vampire out of the media room.

Outside the door, he turned to Gordon.

“You look tired, and I know that’s my fault for waking you early today. But how would you feel about going on that date now? I know a place.”

And Gordon, newly blue and purple-haired, smiled like starbursts. “Lead the way, detective.”

“Tell me you like it here,” Adler said, leaning forward on the colorful table that stood between them.

“I do,” Gordon said, his voice bubbling with happiness. “How did you find this place? I had no idea it existed.”

The bar was comic book themed, Golden Age and Silver Age and current with local artists alongside international ones. The walls were lined with manga and manhwa and reprints of the classics because the originals were kept behind glass. They served a selection of a few beers and three cocktails, but people came here to read and not to drink, and if reading got too boring, there were tabletop games.

“Well, sweetheart, I’m a cop.” Adler blushed at the repeated use of the endearment, and at the way it drew Gordon’s eyes to him.

Gordon twisted his newly dyed hair around his right index finger. “You called me that this morning.”

Adler was bouncing his heel under the table, forced himself to sit still. “I can stop if you don’t like it.”

“I didn’t say I don’t like it.” Gordon looked at the table, a hand-painted creation showing someone caped and cowled with no obvious gender markers Adler could see. Adler liked it, not just because the character’s green hair harmonized well with Gordon’s new color.

“Cool,” Adler said. “So are you going to read something or what?”

Gordon glanced at the comics, and Adler had to fight the smug grin that wanted out. “I’m sure we didn’t come here so you can watch me read the latest demon hunter manhwa.”

Adler growled, a low, wolfish baritone. “I think watching you read is my new favorite hobby, sweetheart.”

“Now you’re just trying to impress me.”

“Well, is it working?”

“Ask me once I’m finished with this.” Gordon got up and reached for a volume he’d been eyeing ever since they sat down at their table.

He opened it, and Adler leaned back in his seat to observe.