Sunday evening

"Mick, what an excellent time for you to show up. Plenty of room for both of us in here, why don't you join me?" Josef smiled as Nick made his way across the room. Mick sighed as he shook his head.

Josef sat, libertine that he was, in the icy part of the "hot" tub he'd had specially built, licking someone's blood from his lips as he leaned over to take a sip from Marena, who was lolling on the hot side of the tub, mesmerized, awaiting Josef's bite. All of the girls were in with him, looking eager or sated. Mick shook his head.

"Sorry…exactly what is this that I'm interrupting? Cooking dinner before you eat, Josef? That's new." Mick grinned.

"He can't help it, he can't help it," Josef repeated to himself. "Not the interruption you might think. The Nikkei opens in an hour, I've got trouble in Africa. I really must get to work." Wistfully, he licked the wrist from which he'd just fed, and rose from the cold water, naked and smiling. "Please Mick," he gestured toward his ladies, "enjoy yourself while I shower and we'll talk in a few minutes. Oh wait, that's right, you're the vamp who doesn't enjoy himself when beautiful women offer fresh hot blood. Maybe you can catch "Murder She Wrote" on the Pension Channel while you wait."

Mick glared, but knew Josef would never stop making that particular point. If he were honest with himself, as he watched the women rise from the steaming water, he'd admit it was getting harder to resist. They were beautiful, willing and frankly, they'd prep him for Beth. Since his very brief stint as a human, he'd rediscovered the joy of food, knew just how fortifying a hot meal was. He had to admit he'd felt much better, and thought fresh blood might be like pot roast, satisfying. Yes, maybe he should…

"Oh my God. You're really considering it."

"Not if Angela's on." He made his way to Josef's study to wait, was there a Pension Channel?, he'd always liked that show.

Josef appeared, fifteen minutes later, suited up and ready for action.

"Why are you dressed like that. You're at home -" Josef rolled his eyes.

"I do not work in my jammies, Mick. It's for me. I have just a short time before both my secretary and my new business manager come through that door, so make it quick, And please, if it's about Beth again, let's just play a hand of poker, shall we?"

"This is definitely not about Beth. It's about Foster. He's been missing for over a week, no trace. I've checked with my usual sources and… nothing. "

"Clearly you didn't call The Cleaner. He's dead. Are we done?"

"How…what did you do?"

"A couple of his pap friends agreed he was dangerous. I think you met them. Are we done?" The door opened and, as predicted, the small cadre of Josef's trusted employees, usually not found in his home on a Sunday night, entered in a blaze of pda's and laptops. Something was up, Josef was in go mode, and Mick knew he wouldn't learn anything about it now.

"Boss? Boss? Yes or no on the Tangier project? Robertson says needs to know now."

Josef refocused his attention. This was trouble. Maybe half a billion dollars worth. He had to go to London, at least. He hated having to leave L.A. Oh, he enjoyed skiing the Andes, catching an exhibit in Tokyo, a concert in Zurich. But he'd orchestrated this life so that business happened in, and from, Los Angeles. Shit. Damn, he'd have to ask Mick's help, too. Damn.

"Tell that bastard he'll know when I tell him."

Mick was mulling over what he'd seen. Josef was not himself. There were hard and fast rules about work and play, and Sunday night was for poker, not that ridiculous tub, at least not before he'd cleaned out a few of his buddies. This was not good. When he stopped his car, he found himself in front of Beth's place. Not where he'd intended to land, but good. He'd love to see her. Maybe she'd like some dinner, or a drive to the beach. His heart was racing. Okay, of course it wasn't, but it felt like that, every time he thought of her. He really loved her. He'd always loved her. He hadn't been able to wait to see what sort of woman she'd become. She was more than he'd ever imagined. Brilliant, beautiful, tough, sweet and completely at ease with him, with what he was. Which should probably tell him that he'd have to deal with the sex thing sooner or later. Later. Right now, he just wanted to see her.

"Mick, I wasn't expecting you." She didn't look good, tense, he thought. This was turning into a hell of a night.

"If it's a bad time…" She hadn't even realized she was still blocking his entrance, "Oh, no, come in." She sat down wearily on her couch. "I'm glad to see you." She tried to smile, but it never reached her eyes. "It's just late, I'm tired. I was going to bed."

"Lost track of time, I'm sorry. I just saw Josef, he told me Foster's dead, he was dealing with the Japanese markets, or something, and I just didn't think." Beth blanched. "Beth, what's the matter?" He tried to hold her, but she her eyes blazed, furious and she pulled away.

"But Josef swore he could keep a secret-"

"What secret?" Shit. Shit. Josef hadn't betrayed her. She'd just blown it.

"I asked him to take care of Foster," she whispered. This was it. "I asked Josef to get rid of him. He had pictures, of you getting hit by that car, I was afraid for you. I wanted to protect you," she held her breath, waited.

"I do not need your protection, nor Josef's" His voice so cold, her breath caught. This was the end, she knew it. "But I guess this means you really are awfully fond of me, " he smiled broadly at her. She grinned like an idiot back at him, threw herself into his arms. He held her, close and tight. Kissed her, and again. "Alright, he said, suddenly uncomfortable, "it is late, I'll call you tomorrow. Ah, today, you know, later." And closed her door behind him.

She was going to kill him.

She did love him, but at times like this, she wondered if he'd been emotionally stunted before he'd become a vampire. He'd left her now? Now? He'd just looked at her as if she were the most glorious woman on earth, eyes brimming tenderness and he'd left? What was he, twelve? "I am a woman, his woman," she thought, "drained, frightened, needing and in love and instead of sweeping me into his arms for a night of mind-numbing sex, he kisses me and leaves?" Oh, to hell with it. He was who he was; she'd have him or not.

She'd take a nice long bath, sleep well for the first time in days. But first, she'd call and thank Josef.

He'd sunk into the gloriously perfect seat of the yellow Lamborghini, hoping a drive through the hills would clear his head. He needed to see Mick, needed him to agree to take the job tonight. His phone rang for what had to be the fiftieth time that night, "Josef Kostan." Christ, he was distracted. It was his personal cell, anyone who had this number knew perfectly well who would answer.

"Hi Josef, it's Beth." Beth? "I just wanted to give you the heads up, Mick knows about Foster."

"And he's off flaying himself. Okay, where is he, I'll save him. Oh, wait. If you ask me, he could use a good flaying, and I'm certain it won't kill him." Beth laughed.

"No, he seemed to take it really well. I just wanted to thank you for not telling him about my involvement. I'm really grateful to you. "

"I gave you my word. Trust that. I don't give it lightly, nor to everyone." He smiled to himself. Time to thicken the plot "About dinner Tuesday. Mind if we go out?"

"Josef, there's no need to take me to dinner. I just wanted to discuss strategy, maybe get you to pat my head and say everything would be okay. But now that Mick knows…" Don't cancel, don't cancel.

"I'd still like to have dinner with you. Passport up to date?" He'd be holding his breath, if he had any.

"Passport? How far out is this dinner?" Good girl. That's why he liked her.

"Something's come up, and I'll be in London. So, about 8 or 9,000 miles out. We'll get on my plane tomorrow night and be there early Tuesday. I plan on being there for several days, so you could have some breakfasts and lunches, too, if you so desire."

"London. UK? Yea, okay, I haven't had warm beer with fish and chips for…ever. I mean, I've never had it. Yes. I'd love to have dinner in London." She couldn't hide her excitement, and he was glad he was in his car and didn't have to hide his.

"Pack your brollie, set your watch for Greenwich Mean Time and I'll call you tomorrow with the flight time. Goodnight, Beth."

"Josef, this is so wonderful! What the heck's a brollie?"

"Goodnight Beth." Perfect. Now to get Mick on board.

Josef let himself in. The place was dark, Mick was probably snoring away in his freezer. Figuratively speaking. No. Josef could smell him right here and switched on a light.

"I am not going to ask why you're sitting in the dark sucking A positive through - is that a straw? I am tired, it is late, and yes, you could pour me a glass." Mick rose silently, did as he was asked.

"I need to engage your services."

"Engage my services? I'd do anything for you Josef, what do you need?"

"I need to hire you, Mick. This has to be strictly business. I've got a problem in Morocco, but I'm nearly certain it's origin is in London and I am too tired to go into it now, I just need you to agree to get on a plane with me tomorrow and I'll fill you in then." Josef hung his head, suddenly weary.

"When do we leave?"

Josef smiled. "Thanks Mick. You'll know soon how crucial your help is." Josef rose, made his uncharacteristically slow way to the door.

"I'll send a car for you around six. I think. I haven't had them register a flight plan, but I'd like to leave by eight. See you tomorrow."

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