Page 38 of Patrick’s Seduction

“No, it doesn’t, but—” An idea sparked. “—we might be able to place him at the Presidio if we compare his photo to the security footage that we pulled from the neighbors in the area. Eddie?”

“Yeah, we can totally do that. We just finished checking if any vampire in our database was in the area that morning, but we came up empty. I can do facial recognition using that guy’s photo. What’s his name?”

“Cameron Gallagher. He’s got a California driver’s license, but it’s expired.”

Eddie tapped something on the computer console, clicked on a few links, and moments later, Cameron’s driver’s license appeared on the large monitor on the wall.

“Handsome guy. That him?” Eddie asked.

“Yeah.”

“I’ll get on it.”

Patrick nodded and turned back to the others in the room. “I also need somebody to talk to Hank Corcoran. He used to work at Dr. Doyle’s lab at UCSF. He was beaten up by Cameron, but he denies it, and he never pressed charges.”

“Why would he beat up a lab assistant?” Ryder asked.

“Because that lab assistant hugged Fa—Dr. Doyle to congratulate her on the grant she got, and Cameron saw it. He considers her his property.”

“Wow,” Ryder said shaking his head. “If that’s true, he’s a piece of shit. I mean I get jealousy, I do, but there’s a line you just do not cross. Women don’t like to be treated like property.”

“Is that why she broke it off with him?” Benjamin asked.

“Yep. She confronted him after she saw what he did to Hank.”

“Yet, Hank denies it happened?” Ryder asked.

“Who knows what Cameron threatened him with,” Patrick replied. “I questioned him, but he stuck to his guns and said that he fell down the stairs.”

“That might well be—if Cameron pushed him,” Ryder said dryly. “I’ll go speak to this Hank guy.”

“Thanks, bro. Use mind control if he still denies it.”

Ryder tilted his head to the side. “Why didn’t you use mind control to make him tell you the truth?”

Patrick shrugged. “The situation didn’t warrant it. When I spoke to him, I didn’t know that Cameron was a werewolf, and it was also before the attack on Fal, uhm—”

“Patrick,” Amaury interrupted. “A word outside.”

Patrick stared at Amaury. “What the—”

“Now!” Amaury bellowed and marched toward the door.

He had no choice but to follow him, while his colleagues stared at them in confusion. Once in the hallway, he closed the door and turned to Amaury.

“What is it?” Patrick asked, taking the offensive. He wouldn’t let Amaury steamroll him, whatever this was about.

Amaury narrowed his eyes and took a step closer, going nose-to-nose with him. “Are you fucking suicidal?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Patrick grunted. “Are you challenging my authority? ‘Cause I don’t remember my father putting you in charge during his absence! Or have you forgotten that?”

Amaury made a dismissive movement with his head, before jabbing his index finger into Patrick’s chest. “You think I don’t know what’s going on here? You’re sleeping with this werewolf’s ex!”

Shock made him take a step back. “How the—”

But he didn’t even get a chance to finish his sentence.

“Oh please! Every time you speak of Dr. Doyle, you wanna call her by her first name, which wouldn’t be suspicious at all if you weren’t trying to correct yourself every time. And you’d only do that because you’re trying to hide that you’re fucking her.” He paused for a moment. “Besides, you reek of sex.”