Ghosts of the Past VI

Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. I loved this show and this is my way of showing it…..I make no profit.

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Chapter 6

"What is wrong Beth?" Josef asked after hearing her opening statement. His tone became instantly worried. "Is Kira okay?"

"She's a bit shaken up. There is a man in the club who is a dead ringer for Tyler Carrington," Beth informed him.

"Keep her in the office, I'm on my way," Josef said without further hesitation. He broke the connection and Beth turned to observe Kira, who continued to stare at the monitor.

"Kira….Josef is on his way," Beth said softly.

"I'm okay Beth," Kira said calmly, addressing Beth's unspoken question. "I am not going to have a break down. It's just so eerie to see this man…..his looks, his manners; it's as if Tyler is alive again. That shook me to the core." She rose to her feet and went to pick up the picture frame that sat on a shelf behind her desk. She stared down at it. "I loved Tyler with every fiber of my being when I was human. He took an interest in a girl from immigrant parents and made me his wife over his mother's objections. He opened a world to me that I never dreamed I would enter. Three years later I was a widow and under my mother in law's rule, when Josef swept in and saved me," the lovely redhead confessed. "I swear I never thought about the other Carringtons after we ruined them financially. Josef always said it was his only bloodless transaction in those days, of course he was known as Jacob Holtman back then. He may know more about what became of the family, I didn't ask."

"I'm sorry your memories are so painful. So do you think this guy is related to the Carringtons?" Beth asked in concern.

"He has to be, this is too great a coincidence otherwise. No one but a blood relative could be this much of a double for Tyler. That only leaves the question…..does he know who or what I am? Why is he here?" Kira asked, her voice shaking.

On the screen the two women could see Eli stop at the table and speak to the men. The conversation appeared to be friendly with Tyler's double doing much of the talking. A few moments later Eli left them and returned to the office.

Once inside, Kira hurried over to him and grabbed one of his hands as she held the photo to her chest.

"Who is he?" she demanded.

"His name is Douglas Carrington; he made a point of introducing himself to me. He also said he had friends who had recommended that he visit the club. Then he asked to meet you."

"He asked for me?" Kira responded in surprise.

"His friends advised him to speak to the owner. When I asked why, he was evasive and mumbled something about hearing you were very lovely. I told him you were no longer here," Eli told her.

"He saw me go back to the office," Kira pointed out.

"Too bad. I was not sending you out there after seeing your reaction," Eli said defensively. "I'm your manager and I get to run interference for you."

Kira kissed his cheek gratefully and then whirled to face the outside entrance door that had unlocked and swung inward. Josef stepped inside and instantly sought out Kira, seeing the stricken look on her face. Closing the door, he hurried to her and gathered her close, his embrace gentle. Looking around the room, his gaze landed on the monitor showing Douglas Carrington. His brow furrowed as his eyes narrowed on the image.

"I really hoped he would never set foot in Los Angeles," he growled softly.

Kira pulled out of Josef's arms and stared at him in shock.

"You knew that Douglas Carrington existed and never told me? Have you been following the family all this time?" she asked eyes wide.

"I haven't been following them per se," Josef corrected. "Every twenty to thirty years I have someone check on the family. I'm briefed on what they are up to and if there is a new generation. Oh…..they've rebuilt their fortune by the way," he related. "I never told you because you never expressed any interest in the family. I didn't want to revive unpleasant memories."

Kira's surprise disappeared and she set the photo on the desk and returned to Josef's arms, hugging him tightly.

"You are right, I didn't want to ever hear their name again," she said, her face buried in the crook of his neck. "So where has the family been? I was back in San Francisco back a few years and never heard a word about them."

"They moved to Sacramento," he replied. "Connor and Isabella's son, Scott relocated there when he married."

"And they are wealthy once more?" she asked.

"Scott became a lawyer and did well but his son Marcus did exceptionally well in real estate during the housing boom after World War II. His son, James got into the technology business on the cutting edge and presto…they're rolling in dough," Josef explained. "Dougie boy is now running the company while James enjoys an early retirement in Palm Springs."

"Why is he here Josef? Why did he seek out my club?" Kira asked in bewilderment.

"That is what I'd like to know," Josef said coldly. "I've never meddled in their business after Adele and Conner died. "I've been happy to steer clear of all of the Carringtons as long as they stayed away from LA."

"Well that has appeared to have changed," Beth spoke up as she watched the monitor. "Douglas Carrington has come to town and he's asking after Kira."

"I can ask them to leave…..politely of course," Eli offered.

"No, don't let him know we're even interested in him," Josef instructed. "And what do you mean, he has asked after Kira?"

"He just requested to meet the owner of the club," Kira replied quickly. "What should we do about him?"

"We'll put Mick on this. He'll get us the answers," Josef said confidently.

"And here is Mick," Beth announced as she saw him enter the club on one of the monitors.

"Eli…please send him back," Kira added.

"I will go out and let him know," Eli agreed and hurried out to the club proper. The trio in the office watched as he met Mick at the end of the bar and spoke to him quietly. St. John nodded and headed back to the office. Beth had also been keeping one eye on the table with the three men and she couldn't miss the increased interest that her vampire's arrival had generated. They had not just shown a casual interest in a new person in the club but had given Mick an intense look as he spoke to Eli. She did not like how they huddled together to discuss Mick's entrance.

"Eli says we have a problem," Mick said as he entered the office. He went directly to Beth to hug her and give her a quick kiss.

"Kira's great, great, grand nephew is out in the club and he's asking to meet the club owner," Josef filled him in.

"And when you walked in the men in question perked up considerably as you spoke to Eli," Beth added. "Once you entered they began a very intense whispered conversation."

"I do not like this," Josef growled. He stalked over to the monitor and glared at Douglas Carrington's image. "We need to know why he's in town. Mick, you have to learn all you can about these men," he ordered.

"Hold up a minute, can someone please fill me in more on this?" Mick asked raising one hand. "Why do you think this Carrington person is a threat to Kira? He can't know she's a vampire, can he?" he questioned, trying to catch up.

"I don't know," Josef said quietly. His response drew surprised looks from the others.

"He can't possibly know that Josef, can he?" Kira demanded in fear. "Why would you think that?"

"It's just speculation."

"If you know more than you're saying, it's time to spill it Josef," Mick said sharply. "Right now is not the time to indulge your love of secrets. Is there a threat out there that we are not aware of?"

Three pairs of eyes fastened on Josef and he was able to hear Beth's heartbeat pounding in concern. He was accustomed to Mick's occasional bouts of irritation with him but the look that Kira fastened on him made him squirm inside. Her arms were now crossed over her chest and her eyes had narrowed as she stared at him. It was very clear that she did not approve of his effort to control what they were told and it disturbed him to sense her disappointment.

"All right children, take a seat and I will share what I do know," he told them.

Mick and Beth seated themselves on the leather sofa while Kira reluctantly seated herself on the leather club chair opposite them. They all gazed at Josef expectantly. He stood before the bank of monitors and looked at them as if unsure how to begin.

"First of all, I will say that I have nothing concrete to tell you. All I have heard has been in the form of rumor and guesswork from other vampires. None of the tribe seems to have any confirmed information about the stories that circulated among the older vampires." He could see the impatience in Mick's eyes and hurried on. "Okay…..there is a rumor of a group, a secret society that has existed for centuries." He gave Kira a sheepish smile. "Lola was the first to mention to me that there was a group that formed around the time of the French Revolution that was keeping an eye on us."

"Hunters?" Mick asked jumping on the idea.

"Not exactly," Josef said in frustration. "That is the problem; no one knew who they were. No one had ever met them and came back to talk about it. It was all stories passed on from one vamp to another."

"Do you suspect that Carrington has something to do with this group?" Mick again probed.

"I don't know. I just have a feeling Mick…a very bad feeling," Josef sighed in frustration.

End chapter.

So am I helping or just confusing you further? Josef is going to find out just how frustrated his listeners are next chapter. Just imagine how difficult it is for them to believe that Josef does not know all the answers. Thanks for reading.