Part six

Julia's house outside the city proved the perfect location for the plan that was slowly taking shape in Mick's head. They parked the Benz a short distance away and slipped quietly through the back streets. It was late and the streets of the residential area were so deserted that stealth was hardly necessary. But Beth took such a childlike delight in using her new found vampire skills to skulk in the shadows that he didn't have the heart to stop her. But he did restrain her from trying the 'sexy vampire jumpy thing' she had always been fond of. It would have to wait until after they attended to the business at hand.

In no time they were inside using the secret key her friend left for her at the back door. Beth moved around easily but when she automatically reached to turn on a lamp out of sheer habit, Mick stopped her. "Let's check things out first. Besides, we don't need it." She realized he was right. The room was bright as day to her in spite of the darkness outside.

After a quick look around, Beth gave a sigh of relief and moved into his arms. "Now what?"

"Now we pretend you've been here all day."

She smiled up at him and was about to speak when the telephone interrupted them. Poor Beth was so startled she would have literally hit the ceiling if Mick hadn't been holding onto her and tightened his grip. After a momentary hesitation to calm down, Beth picked it up. It was Julia.

"Hi, Julia. What's up? She did? A boy? 7 pounds, huh? That's great!" Beth replied, holding the phone away from her ear as she winced in discomfort. Mick looked on sympathy. He could still remember how hard it was to get used to all the enhanced senses that went with becoming a vampire. The supersensitive hearing had been the worst. Right now, it probably sounded as if Julia were using a bullhorn.

"

"Really?" She grimaced. "Yeah, I've been here for a while but I fell asleep. I wasn't feeling well. Mick? No, I haven't heard from him." She replied at the negative shake of his head. "I'm fine now. I just woke up with a headache. Yes, PMS is a pain." Beth rolled her eyes at resorting to such a trite excuse but knew her friend wouldn't question it.

After more small talk, she hung up with a look of relief. "Thank goodness that's over." She returned to the comfort of his embrace. "Boy, I guess Josef wasn't kidding. I may not have any of those fledgling issues but this vampire stuff does take some getting used to."

Mick chuckled against her hair as she rested against him. "So how do we go about substantiating this alibi thing?"

"Call me."

"Huh?"

He took out his cell and held it up. "Call me."

She looked at him perplexed and started to speak, but he merely pointed to the phone again. With an exasperated huff, she went back to Julia's house phone and dutifully dialed. When his cell phone predictably rang, he answered immediately. "Hello." Beth just glared at him. "Who is this?" He asked.

"Who do you think it is?!" She snarked back.

"BETH?!"

"Who else?!This is ridiculous!" But when she started to hang up, he prevented her, urging her non-verbally to play along.

"Beth, where are you?!" She just rolled her eyes dramatically and decided to humor him.

"I'm at Julia's house, Mick."

"Don't move! I'm on my way." Abruptly, he hung up so she did the same.

"What was all that nonsense about?" She demanded.

"Just more evidence for your alibi, my dear sweet Beth. If anyone bothers to check they will find that you placed a call to me from Julia's home phone thus establishing your whereabouts."

"All right; so we've established I was here. I guess I have to come up with an explanation of what I was doing all this time."

"You already did."

She recalled her earlier conversation. " A headache and PMS?! Do you really think people will believe that?"

"Julia did. Sometimes the simplest lies are the most plausible, Beth. Since we have the basic foundation worked out, we start acting as if it were truth and behave accordingly. The first person I'd probably call would be Carl Davis."

"Not Josef?" Beth teased. Mick always called Josef when things got emotional.

"Beth, be serious! This has to be believable." Quickly, he dialed the precinct and asked for the police detective. "Carl, it's Mick St. John. I just spoke to Beth. No, this isn't a joke! She's been at her friend Julia's house all day. Yes, I'll have her call you as soon as I get there. Yes, it is a miracle. I'm glad she's all right,too. Talk to you later." Hanging up again, he pulled her back to him for a long leisurely kiss.

"That takes care of part one. Let's look at this from your end. You just woke up, talked to Julia, called me and then what?"

"Uh oh! I think I found a flaw. Why would I call you on Julia's phone? Why not use my own cell?" She instantly answered her own question. "Because it was in the taxi under the truck along with my bag. OOH, I know! I'd notice my purse was missing and call the taxi company!"

"Now you're getting it." He encouraged dropping another quick kiss onto her lips as she dialed the cab company.

"Hi, this is Beth Turner. I think I left my purse in one of your cabs earlier today." While Beth talked, Mick moved around the darkened house, checking things out as he began to turn on the lights.

"I thought we didn't need those."

"That was before when we didn't want to be seen. Now we want people to know you were here." Glancing out the window, he saw an older gentleman in the yard next door in spite of the late hour. "Is that the neighbor you were talking about?"

"Yes, that's Mr. Johnson. He likes cigars but his wife makes him smoke outside. They are very fond of Julia. "

"Go out and talk to him. I've got an idea." Mick turned and headed towards the back door, his mischievously boyish grin telling her in an instant that he was plotting something. "Mick, I know that expression. You're up to something!"

"Just do what I ask, ok? Please?" She sighed dramatically, but grinned as well.

"It better be worth all this trouble, St. John or you're going to pay for it later." Soon, she was turning on the outside front light as she called a greeting to Mr. Johnson.

Mick quickly slipped through the night, returning once again to the Mercedes. Starting the car, he headed towards the street where Julia lived. While the phone calls were tangible proof of where Beth had been, an eyewitness who could put her there would be irrefutable. Mr. Johnson could do just that and what he had planned would make sure of it.

As he turned the corner near the house, he gunned the engine and the motor revved as the car rapidly shot forward. The tires screeched loudly in protest as the car came to an abrupt halt right in front of Beth and Mr. Johnson chatting on Julia's doorstep. Drawing on his earlier feelings from the hospital, Mick plastered what he hoped was an anxious expression on his face. He literally bolted out of the car and flew up the steps as he covered the ground between them. "Beth, Beth! You're here and you're ok! Thank God!" He exclaimed as he lifted her off her feet and spun her around before drawing her to him and clamping his mouth down on hers enthusiastically.

When they finally broke apart, Mr. Johnson regarded them with great amusement. "Little lady, I'd say this young feller is mighty glad to see you."

Mick returned his grin. "Sir, you have no idea!"