Chapter 7

The drive home from her doctor's office was trying. Allowing Beth to say what she would about the horror she had experienced by receiving that box, rather than ask the questions that formed in his mind was not an easy thing for Mick. His concern for her well-being was equal to his concern for Josef, but she was still in shock, and drifting in and out of some drug haze. So he settled for listening attentively to her disjointed account of her morning.

"…And then, when the car was still there, and that woman lied to me… I couldn't help wondering why I got the head. But it wasn't the head, was it?"

"What car and what woman?" She'd thrown that out, so he felt comfortable asking about them.

"Didn't I tell you? This car was illegally parked at the crime scene, and it wasn't impounded, it was still there in the morning and I met this woman who said she owned it, and she did drive off in it, but trust me, Ms. Alexis Bath would not be caught dead in that clunker. Langman said he ordered it impounded, and now he has to find it."

"Hmm," was his response, as he controlled the urge to scream "Alexis Bath?" So she was the darling he'd overheard the other night, bragging about her first kill. His investigation was by necessity secret, so he couldn't tell Langman he would never find his evidence, but Josef would be happy to know that the charmers who planned to kill him were both known entities. He and Logan had seen to that. Now if he could fathom a way to approach the topic of what she'd meant by "it wasn't the head." His eyes flicked over to find her leaning against the window, asleep. His answer would have to wait until tonight.

After tucking Beth safely into her bed, and promising to return in a few hours, Mick headed straight to Josef. Filling him in on what little information he was sure of, Josef fell into thoughtful silence.

"This is good, Mick. The little one bought a ticket to the private cocktail hour, as did seventeen other people. Of course, it would have been nineteen, if I hadn't had to comp you and Beth."

Only Josef would shake him down for a donation when he was smack in the middle of the crosshairs. "Hey, I'll be working, and we've met. Don't worry; you'll get your check."

"The homeless thank you and I thank you. Now, about your girlfriend, I suppose you've informed her that she doesn't know me?"

"Not yet, she wasn't in any condition to remember, and she doesn't know about your case yet. How much can I tell her?"

"Enough to keep her safe. We've never met, and she certainly doesn't know that we're vampires. I've seen her webcasts; she's a good actress. She convinces me on a regular basis that she believes the prevaricating government officials she interviews. She'll do fine, Mick. And so will I."

Mick was sure he did not want to know what punishment Josef planned to mete out to the two women, but he was certain they deserved whatever he had planned for them.


The second knock at her door woke her thoroughly. It was time; the last flickers of sunlight faded in the sky through her window. This had to be Mick, returning to reassure himself that she was all right.

"Hi, Beth, how are you feeling," Mick said, depositing a bag on her counter. "I brought Chinese; I thought you might be hungry."

"You're so kind, I am hungry, thank you. Mostly I'd like a shower. Do you mind? I'll just be a minute."

One look at her sleepy eyes told him he'd woken her. "No, you go ahead, I'll wait."

She wanted to say, "Join me, Mick," but she already knew his answer. It would not happen, and she really didn't need more negative thoughts right now. "I'll just be a minute."

He called Logan to see if anyone else had sent threatening emails to Josef. He called the machine at his office, wondering if any new clients had need of his services. Mostly, he fought with himself, wanting to join Beth, wash away her horror, and hold her in his arms, comfort and reassure her. Not to mention make love to her.

That last desire became even more overwhelming when she reappeared, a fluffy pink robe wrapped around her, towel drying her hair, drops of water still clinging to her lashes. God, she looked beautiful. "All done," she announced, wrapping the towel turban-like around her hair. "Where's the food? I'm starving."

"Oven. I thought you might prefer it hot."

She looked at him, spread comfortably across her couch, thinking, "Yes, I prefer it hot." It must be the drugs affecting her thinking, she reassured herself. "Do you mind if I eat?"

He smiled. "I just hope you like my menu choices. I don't have a lot of experience with Chinese food, and the menu was really large." He had to ask about the box that lay unopened by her front door. "What's that?"

She eyed the box warily between bites of plump shu mei. "I don't know, and after this morning, I am not about to open another unsolicited box to find out."

"Would you like me to do it?" He knew damn well it was the extremely un-scary dress, but she didn't need further anxiety, so he unwrapped it, peeked in the box to be sure, and placed it beside her. "Nothing scary, I promise."

"Right now, I'm more hungry than curious, and you made menu excellent choices. It can wait. What did you do today? Any spying on errant husbands?"

"Not today. I went and saw Josef after I left here. He has a problem, Beth. Someone is threatening him, he is taking it very seriously, and he thinks it's probably better if you pretend not to know him when you're introduced at the gala tomorrow night."

"Are you working on it?" She waved off his answer with her chopsticks. "Of course you are. If he thinks it will keep him safe, I will say, 'Mr. Kostan, it's such a pleasure to meet you!'"

"Josef said you were a fine actress. That was a good read. He's actually worried about you, and me, and everyone else who knows him."

"Ah. Got it. I've only seen him on TV and in magazines." She set down her food, adding, "Frankly, I'm glad he's thinking about us. I've had my maximum daily requirement of terror for this week, thank you very much."

Another knock at her door. Mick rose to answer it, and she opened the box as an enormous bouquet of Birds of Paradise appeared at her door. Mick placed them beside her.

"This is gorgeous." She read the card, as well as the one attached to the flowers. "Mick, you really shouldn't have."

"It was a late invitation, and I thought I could at least make sure you had something to wear."

She rose to hug him, and he was all too aware of her sweet, clean scent. "Well, I know where I'm going tomorrow."

"To the gala?"

"Back to the Beverly Center. I need shoes, and a bag, and… "

"Got it. A dress does not an outfit make." He would appreciate her efforts tomorrow. Tonight, he would keep unseen vigil to ensure her safety.


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