Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. I do plan to continue to play with it when I feel like it and I doubt that CBS and the WB mind.
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Chapter 7
As the sun moved towards the western horizon, the vampire community began to stir. After feeding, Mick kissed Beth goodbye and headed to Tyson's place to work with the couple on the search for the missing women. Rayna drove Beth out to Granny's home to meet Charity and discuss wedding plans. Then they would tackle the job of tracing Blake Winters' movements over the past five years.
Once Josef was alone in the house except for the staff, he grabbed a glass of blood and went to his office. After booting up the computer to check the market, Josef then placed a call to Los Angeles on his secure phone line. Even with the time difference he knew that Curtis Draper would be in his office. Draper was the vampire in charge of Josef's more sensitive accounts, all pertaining to vampire business.
"Hello Josef, how can I be of assistance?" Curtis asked when he answered on the second ring. "Did you have a good trip to Europe?"
"Europe was interesting," Josef told his trusted employee with a slight smile. "Now I need your special skills Curtis. I want you to extend some feelers in the New Orleans area that AOB Fresh, LTD is looking to purchase a large quantity of blood. Dangle an above average price and stress that it's needed quickly," Josef instructed.
"Damn Josef….are you throwing a major party down there without me?" Curtis chuckled. Then he voice took on a more serious tone. "You do realize that the Southern Cartel has a strong hold on blood dealings in that area of the south, don't you? They will not appreciate you horning in on their territory."
"I understand it will get their attention but this is important," Josef said firmly. "This city has an illegal blood harvesting group operating in its borders. It is a careless group; who have all ready dumped one body where the humans could find her. Moriah Fortuna and I feel we need to try and smoke this gang out to find them. I'm sure the Cartel will forgive us once we put an end to this practice."
"I see," Curtis replied. "This might just work. Of course I can make the plan work and I will get on it right away."
"Good, I trust you Curtis, make it work," Josef responded, confident that his long time assistant would find a way to contact the harvesters.
"I'll keep you informed Josef," Curtis promised. "I'll call the minute I'm contacted by them. We'll nail these idiots. And I am also going to check all our usual contacts and see if they've heard of any new suppliers in the country."
"I knew I had the right vamp for the job," Josef said with pleasure. "I will be waiting for your call. Contact me on my cell since I may not be at the house the whole time. I need this information as soon as you get it." He hung up after Curtis assured him that he would get right to work. Josef was happy to have taken a positive step and had agreed with Moriah when she suggested this method of smoking out the harvesters. He quickly sent a text to her telling her that the plan was in motion and all they had to do was wait. Then he turned to his computer and focused his attention on his other business interests.
*MC*MC*
When Mick arrived at Tyson's apartment, he discovered the couple had just finished feeding and were cleaning up their glasses. Watching the couple work together reminded him of how things were at home with Beth. Mick enjoyed these visits to New Orleans but Josef and Rayna's house was large and didn't make him feel at home. Maybe Beth had the right idea when she suggested that they should look for their own place in this city.
"Savannah is going to access the NOPD missing person's reports from our computer. Once she prints out the reports, we can go over them and see what the humans might have missed," Tyson explained as Savannah seated herself at the desk and began to type. Once she found them she began to print out the five reports and Tyson grabbed the paperwork. He handed Savannah the one pertaining to Angela Schroeder and gave Mick a couple and kept two for himself. They made themselves comfortable and began reading. Over the next hour they exchanged reports until all three had thoroughly studied all five reports.
"This is so frustrating," Savannah finally sighed as she set a report on the table beside her. "These women have nothing in common according to what the investigators have learned."
"They didn't cross paths in the usual places. No common health club, work place or hair stylist," Tyson observed. "They didn't live dangerous lifestyles."
"But the harvesters spotted them somewhere," Mick murmured, looking over the paper in his hand. "They were able to take these women without anyone seeing them. They have to have been in common place."
"Maybe we should go out to the Quarter and keep watch. We might see something going down," Tyson suggested.
"Good old fashioned legwork, welcome to my world boys," Savannah smirked.
"She's just as cheeky as Beth, isn't she?" Mick grinned at Tyson. "You appear to have adapted to our life very well Savannah, I am glad."
"Thanks Mick, I feel complete. Who knew that jumping to the dark side would fit me so well," Savannah said with a shrug. She liked Mick; he maintained his touch with humanity like Tyson and cared about the humans.
"Do you want to come with us to the Quarter Savannah?" Tyson asked. "Perhaps Angela frequented one of the places there."
"No, I'm going to call Chaz and see if we can plan our interviews for tomorrow. We're going to have to do them in the daylight. I will need some extra freezer time to prepare. Besides, I don't want to cramp your style with the waitresses," she grinned.
"I'll behave," Tyson laughed as he leaned down to kiss her. "I'll look but not touch."
*MC*MC*
Beth and Rayna discovered that Charity was all ready at Moriah's when they arrived. The water edged property was serene in the twilight and the lights glowed softly in the windows. Inside the comfortably furnished home of the older vampire they found Charity and Moriah seated at a table going over a white binder filled with photos and lists.
"Good, more input," Charity said in delight when the two women entered the room. "Come look, these are my flowers."
They joined them and saw Charity had displayed several photos of flowers on one page. One shot was a close up of a bouquet of pink edged white roses accented by baby's breath and greenery.
"They're lovely," Beth approved.
"I want it simple," Charity replied. "I'm too old to do the whole fancy bit. This will be a quiet ceremony."
"A bride should have the wedding of her dreams no matter what her age," Rayna stated firmly. "You deserve the best."
"I'm getting the best, I'm marrying Anthony," Charity said smiling happily. "And simple is best for me."
"Then it will be," Beth promised.
"And now I think that this is the perfect time to show Beth and Rayna your dress choices. I know Savannah has told you her favorite one but we have yet to weigh in," Moriah suggested.
"Do you have photos?" Rayna asked.
"Better, I have them here. The shop owner knows Granny and she allowed me to bring them over tonight. I can't wait to get your opinion," Charity said eagerly, her face lighting up.
"Then go girl and put one on," Beth ordered with a laugh. "Don't keep us in suspense."
Charity hurried to Moriah's bedroom where the two dresses hung on a hook behind the door. She selected the first choice and quickly slipped out of her jeans and top and into the gown. After zipping it up she paused to admire the look in the large, free standing mirror in the corner. Nodding slightly she went down the hall to face the opinions of the three women. As she halted in front of them, she anxiously awaited their verdict.
Rayna twirled a finger, indicating that she wanted to see the back. Spinning slowly, Charity chewed on her lower lip, sensing that they weren't overjoyed with it. Turning back to face them, she fingered the skirt nervously.
The ivory dress was covered in lace and the A-lined shape ended just at mid-calf. Small cap sleeves of lace adorned the bodice that had a scoop neckline. The back hemline was slightly longer than the front.
"Very pretty," Beth finally spoke.
"Yes, it is lovely," Rayna agreed.
"It is nice but I want to see the other choice before I decide," Moriah told her.
Nodding Charity hurried back to the bedroom to change into the second dress. Carefully she slipped into the floor length flowing dress, tugging the lacings as tight as she could in the back. Instead of lace this ivory gown was gauzy and the full skirt flowed from the waist, the bodice was V-necked and sleeveless. Small fabric flowers of the palest pink were bunched at the left side of her waist and a small train trailed behind her as she moved down the hall.
The three women watched her as she turned before them, her face aglow. Smoothing the skirt and adjusting the train behind her, Charity looked up expectantly when no one spoke for several moments.
"You don't like it," she said dejectedly. "I know it is for a younger woman…..but I couldn't resist it."
"Hush child…this is the perfect dress. We can all see how this dress makes you happy," Moriah announced firmly. "You will be a lovely bride."
"You look amazing," Rayna agreed.
"Oh Charity, it is lovely and Moriah and Rayna are right….this is the perfect dress," Beth added.
"So this is settled. I happen to know that Savannah agrees with us," Moriah said. "Now we must move on to other business."
End chapter.
I do hope I did a good enough job describing the dresses. I happen to agree with Rayna, a bride of any age deserves to have what she dreams. Thank you so much for reading. Please share your feelings and thoughts.
