A Wolf's Heart (Harlequin Nocturne) Read Free Page B

magnifying glass, he examined the loops and swirls of the prints exposed on the white paper. He looked at all of them front and back then set the scope down on the desk.
“Looks like four distinct prints.”
Gabriel nodded. That’s what he’d thought. According to Lily’s statement, four people had touched the envelope—the courier, who they’d tracked down and had come down to give his statement and submit his prints, the studio guard, Lily and Elise.
“How about the letter?”
Dane plucked it from the machine, laid it flat on the desk and examined the dark swirls on the edges of the paper. Gabriel waited patiently as the analyst peered at the paper intently, knowing Dane was the best at what he did. Even if there’d only been smudges, the vampire would be able to decipher them.
“Three different prints.”
Gabriel’s heart skipped a little. “Are you sure?”
Dane nodded. “Definitely.”
“All right. Scan them and run them against what we’ve pulled from the witnesses. There’s going to be one that doesn’t match.”
The vampire smiled gleefully. “Suspect?”
“I’m hoping.”
According to Lily’s statement, only she and Elise had touched the actual letter. So if there was another set of prints, Gabriel had to assume they might belong to the perpetrator.
“Righto, boss man. I’ll call you when I get something.” Dane saluted him.
With a nod, Gabriel left the analysis room to head back to his office. He had to make sure he got someone to pick up the other letters from Elise’s house. They would have to print them all.
He reached his closed office door but before he could open it and escape inside, he heard his name being called.
“Gabriel, if you have a minute.”
He glanced toward the superintendent Jakob Weiss as he marched toward Gabriel. Another man strode beside him, his aristocratic face pinched in annoyance.
Gabriel cursed under his breath. He didn’t really need a problem like Mayor Benoit Dubois. Since the witch had taken office he’d been constantly in his face, inquiring about this, asking about that. Gabriel had a strong feeling that the man had delusions or boyhood aspirations about being a cop.
“Superintendent.” Gabriel nodded at the vampire, then toward the witch. “Mayor.”
“We have concerns about the Elise Leroy case,” Jakob announced.
Of course. Gabriel mentally sighed. He opened his office door and beckoned the men in. “Let’s talk inside.”
It shouldn’t have surprised him. Elise had many influential friends. She’d probably called the mayor the second he’d left, telling him about Gabriel’s lack of fawning over her.
Gabriel sat behind his desk and gestured to the two visitor chairs. The superintendent sat but the mayor chose to remain standing. Hands clasped behind his back, he wandered through Gabriel’s office glancing at the framed commendations on the wall. Gabriel puffed out his chest with the knowledge that there were a hell of a lot of them to look at. Although the mayor and he had several differences of opinions, the witch couldn’t deny the number of times Gabriel had saved the lives of citizens of Nouveau Monde.
“This case needs to be handled delicately,” Benoit said, his back to Gabriel.
“It’s being handled like any other case we get in this office—efficiently and effectively.”
Benoit turned to face him. “Well, we both know, Bellmonte, this isn’t like any other case.” He began walking again. “Elise Leroy is a beloved member of this community, well respected here and in the human community. She’s an ambassador of sorts. We would all be greatly upset if any harm came to her.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to her,” Gabriel said. “Trust me, Elise can take care of herself.”
“Trust you.” Benoit smiled. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“My people are working hard on this just like they always do. Sure we’re a little short staffed, but it’s nothing we can’t handle as usual.”
Benoit put up his