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Chapter 4

The next day Rayna came downstairs and discovered that Josef had not left for his office downtown. Grabbing a quick glass of blood, she went searching for him and found him in his private office. From the moment that she entered the room she could feel the tension radiating from him. His back was to the door as he stood before his desk looking down.

"Josef, what's wrong?" she asked in concern as she hurried toward him.

He turned towards her and gestured to the plainly wrapped box sitting on the desk. Rayna stopped dead at the grim expression on his face.

"Another one?" she said with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Beth's concern and Josef's anger had made her see this wasn't a game. She set her glass down and reached for the box. Josef quickly grabbed her hand, stopping her.

"No! Don't touch it," he ordered sharply.

"Josef?" Hurt and fear laced her voice.

"Oh Beauty," he murmured softly and carefully gathered her into his arms. He stroked her hair and kissed her temple. His anger cooled as he held her safe in his arms. "I've called Mick and he's coming over. I'm sure there are no prints worth collecting here but I want him to try," he soothed.

Rayna nodded numbly, hugging Josef tighter and burrowing her head into the crook of his neck.

"I don't want to open it. This isn't fun anymore," she sighed. "Josef why can't my life just be simple?"

She felt a deep rumble in Josef's chest as he chuckled.

"You, my love, were never a simple soul. A dull life was never in the cards for you. Please trust that I will not allow anyone to harm you," he promised.

"I do trust you," Rayna answered tilting her face up to him. Josef bent his head to capture her mouth. Rayna sighed in satisfaction as she responded.

"He tells me to hurry over, it's an emergency and we get here to find him indulging himself with Rayna," Mick's voice interrupted them. "To think we could have been similarly occupied," he added to Beth, standing beside him.

Josef and Rayna grinned at their friends.

"Go ahead, I won't stop you," Josef smirked. "Just keep it short, I want this new delivery checked out before we open it," he added.

Mick approached the desk, pulling on surgical gloves as he came over. He removed a fingerprint kit from his satchel slung over his shoulder. Beth hurried to Rayna's side to give her a reassuring hug. They watched Mick go to work.

"Whatever is here is smudged beyond identifying," Mick commented as he dealt with the packaging. He removed the paper and dusted the box. Looking up at Josef with disappointment he commented," You have a very smart stalker here. No prints on the box, different delivery services and no one there who remembers who brought the packages in for delivery. The first one can't recall the person, the second thinks it was a woman and this last one said maybe it was an old man but they were too busy to pay close attention. All transactions were in cash. I believe that whoever it is has hired people to handle the delivery services."

"I thought as much," Josef growled in agreement. "Thanks for confirming it Mick."

"Rayna, do any of these gifts give you a clue to whoever might be sending them?" Mick asked.

"No, nothing. I've gone over and over where I've lived through the years and I can't connect them. Neither the dream catcher or the carving seem related," she said in puzzlement. Mick handed her the small box.

"Open it. Maybe this clue will help jog your memory," he instructed.

Rayna accepted the box with distaste, her fingers fumbling with the taped lid. With a frustrated growl she tore it open and a small plain jewelry box fell to the floor.

"Oh no," she gasped, making no move to pick it up.

Josef bent to retrieve it and then carefully pressed it into her hands.

"Go on Beauty," he urged gently. "Open it."

Rayna nodded and slowly cracked the box open. Peeking in she opened it wider to reveal a pair of elongated gold nuggets on slender wires. She then looked at the others in confusion.

"How lovely and so unusual," Beth stated.

Rayna's grey eyes were frustrated as they met Josef's. She shook her head.

"I should know why these gifts are coming. I should know Josef; I feel it is just beyond my grasp. Why can't I make the connection?" she asked in a small voice.

He took the box from her trembling fingers and looked at the earrings critically.

"It will come to you," he said confidently. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brushed his lips over her cheek. "You will figure it out."

"I hope so," she said forlornly.

"It's okay," Mick assured her sympathetically. He took the box from Josef, examining the earrings. "These are unusual like Beth said. They aren't mass produced and I am sure I can trace them to a particular artist who created them. We have a lead," he said with confidence.

"Thank you Mick," Rayna said in relief.

"No problem. I'll take care of this and you help Beth create the perfect commitment ceremony," Mick answered lightly.

"Oh I will," Rayna said feeling the tension leave her. She stepped over to him and impulsively kissed his cheek. "It will be spectacular," she promised.

"As long as we keep Coraline away," Beth groused.

Josef's attention snapped to her sharply.

"Has she contacted you?" he asked quickly.

"Dimitri stopped by with her request to attend the commitment," Mick said slipping the box into his coat pocket. He grimaced at Josef and Rayna. "It seems she needs closure."

Josef roared with laughter.

"Oh that is rich. She is an original."

"This isn't funny Josef," Rayna growled, her eyes flashing to silver. "That witch is out to ruin Beth and Mick's celebration."

"She's desperate Rayna," Josef answered calmly. "It's a last ditched effort to get Mick. She's played her last card."

"She never quits," Rayna said heatedly. "I will stop her if she comes near here."

"Rayna, it's okay," Beth said, touched by her friend's defense. She took Rayna's hands in hers. "We told Dimitri no. He accepted our decision graciously," she told her. "I feel sorry for him, he cares for Coraline."

"Well good for him," Rayna snorted. "He'll come to regret that."

"I think that he knows her better than you think," Beth observed. "But that didn't change our minds. Coraline must move on without using us. She has no claim on Mick anymore."

"I'd pay good money to see Beth and Coraline go one on one," Josef told Mick under his breath. "Our French beauty wouldn't stand a chance. Your girl is smart and tough."

"And I'm willing to bet Rayna could take Coraline out too," Mick whispered back with a grin. He tried to look serious when Beth gave him a reproving glare.

"We did make it clear we were finished with Coraline. But Beth is right; Dimitri does care a great deal for Coraline. He came to us on her behalf."

"Well it's about time someone told her no," Josef remarked dryly. "Now ladies, don't you have a magazine to get published? Go get Sam and head off to work," he ordered with a wave of his hand.

"Bossy man," Rayna laughed lightly and kissed him quickly. "Beth would you like to ride with Sam and me?"

Beth glanced at Mick, unsure. He went to her and hugged her. It was clear to him that she was still annoyed with Coraline's brazen request. It angered him that Coraline could still reach out and hurt Beth.

"Call me when you are finished with work and I'll pick you up. We'll go do something special," he whispered in her ear.

His reward was seeing Beth's face light up in joy.

"I'd love that. I should be finished sometime around midnight," she said happily.

"Perfect," Mick told her and kissed her gently. "Now hurry off to work so you are done on time."

"You heard my man," Beth grinned at Rayna. "Let's go."

They headed out to find Sam after Josef claimed one more kiss from Rayna.

"Smart move," Josef approved. "Distract Beth and she may forget that your crazy ex-wife is in town."

"I will not let Coraline ruin this for Beth. I should have known that New Orleans didn't settle things," Mick said in frustration.

"Solve the mystery of Rayna's stalker and I will get rid of Coraline for you personally," Josef quipped.

"And risk bringing Lance and the bloodline down on us? Josef, you constantly amaze me," Mick chuckled.

"She won't ruin your commitment Mick," Josef promised seriously. "Count on that."

End chapter.

So we have another clue. I hope you are enjoying the mystery. Please reward the author by pressing the review button and sharing your thoughts. Thanks.