Disclaimer: Alas, I don't own Moonlight.

All right, another update. Everyone should be able to review again now. Many, many heartfelt thanks to those who left reviews and PM'd me for the last chapter! : )

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Enjoy. : )

First Moves

Mick finished typing up his notes on a case, and glanced at the clock. It was time to head over to Josef's downtown office to see what the heck was going on. Mick was a little confused.

His wife had called him, sounding very worried and much more upset than she had let on; asking him if he would please go downtown and make sure Josef was all right. Mick had agreed, but his inner vampire was roused and it was not pleased. Jealousy snaked an ugly path through his chest. All this over a canceled fencing lesson? Mick tried his best to shove his envy aside. He knew it was unflattering, and unfounded. Beth was faithful to him, Josef as well. He knew this. But it just wasn't in the vampire's nature to tolerate other men in Beth's life, and try as he might, he couldn't completely squash the feelings.

Mick pulled on his duster, and grabbed the keys to his Mercedes. He would make just a quick stop at Josef's office, talk to his friend, and then maybe stop by the morgue. His units were running a little on the low side.

As Mick drove to the business district of L.A., he thought of what Beth had said over the phone. "Mick, you didn't hear his voice. I think something much bigger is going on that Josef's not telling me. I got the sense that he wasn't giving me the truth." Mick snorted to himself, it certainly wouldn't be the first time Josef hadn't told the complete story, but Mick thought Josef's explanation sounded plausible enough. Emergencies such as this one had happened before, and Josef always disappeared for a few days to take care of them.

Mick pulled up to the front of the Josef's building. It seemed calm enough from the street. But that meant nothing. Mick stepped out of the Mercedes and crossed the street, entering the main lobby. He would take the elevator up to Josef's office, speak with his friend, (most likely piss the hell out of him if he was dealing with work) and then would make himself scarce and report back to Beth that all was well. Just a simple mistake, a fledgling overreacting…

Lucius took a sip of B positive from his glass, watching the computer monitors. He had set up four cameras outside of Josef's home, and two outside of his little brother's office building. Lucius had been staking out Josef's schedule for weeks. It had been slow going, as Lucius had to be extremely careful not to reveal himself—Josef did have very tight security.

But though it hadn't been easy, in the end Lucius had seen enough of Josef's patterns of behavior to know when a good time to place the cameras would be. He had simply waited until Josef had left for work one night, and then had placed the cameras on the edges of Josef's property, zoomed-in on the house, and well-hidden.

It had been more difficult to place the cameras outside of Josef's office…there were more people around during the day, and at night Josef would be there. But luck had been with him—a rather large car accident drew attention away from a non-descript man lingering at the scene. Lucius had managed to secure the cameras.

He wanted to know Josef's every move. He had underestimated his brother in the past—this time he was determined. There would be no mistakes. He had set up his computers in an old, run-down office that he had rented from a surprised owner. He had paid more than it was worth and the owner was happy enough not to ask questions. The arrangement suited Lucius.

His phone rang. Lucius turned away from the computer screens to see who it was. So it was that he missed a tall, dark-haired man, wearing a long coat enter Josef's office building.

Mick stood in Josef's office. Beth was right…You are so busted, old man. The office was empty, quiet. There were no signs that Josef was even in the building.

When Mick had entered, the lobby had been as it always was, but that wasn't strange in the slightest. However, when the elevator had opened to the expensive marble hallway that led to Josef's office—that had been strange. The hall was empty, silent. Except for the quiet typing of Josef's secretary, there was no one around. Mick had dropped by Josef's work before during a crisis, and there had always been people hurrying to and fro from Josef's office, while his friend sat in the center of it, barking orders.

Mick stared around now at the deserted office. Why did you lie to Beth? Let's see if you'll lie to me as well…

Mick pulled out his phone, and dialed Josef's personal cell number.

Josef answered on the first ring, "What, Mick?" he snapped.

Beth was also right about his voice…he's really worked up over something. But what?

"I got a call from Beth earlier tonight, Josef. She said you had an emergency at work, and was canceling her lessons until it could be resolved."

Josef sounded a little less snappish when he answered, but Mick could clearly hear the tension in his friend's voice. "That's right. Something's come up and I have to handle it."

Yup, lied to me too. Time to call your bluff. "Really, Josef? That's funny you say you're handling a crisis at work…because I'm standing in your office right now, and there doesn't seem to be much of crisis."

There was silence on the line for a moment, and then Josef exploded in a rather colorful mixture of German and English.

"Want to tell me what's going on, Josef?" Mick asked.

"No. Get the fuck out of my office Mick, and stay away from it. It's not safe there for you." Josef sounded really pissed…pissed and…Worried. Scared. He's scared for me…He really thinks I'm in danger here. Why?

Mick was confused. How could he possibly be in danger here? Josef had state of the art security for his downtown office. Surely it was one of the safest places Mick could be?

"Tell me what's going on, Josef. Why did you lie to Beth? And to me?"

"Mick, I don't have time for this. I lied to Beth to protect her—same as why I lied to you. You and Beth need to stay away from me for a while. I don't want you involved."

"Involved in what, Josef?"

"Just stay away for now, all right? Get out of my office. And if you want to keep Beth from danger, then you tell her that there's nothing wrong, and it's just a work crisis."

"I can't lie to my wife!"

Josef clearly was at the end of his rope. He lost it, and snapped at Mick. "Fine! Tell her the truth. Tell her I lied and there is no crisis…and when you can't stop Beth from seeking me out, and she gets killed in the crossfire, don't you dare place the blame at my feet."

"Josef…"

"No, I'm done talking, Mick. I have things to do. Tell Beth the truth or lie. You decide." The line went dead. Josef had hung up.

Mick stood stunned in Josef's office. Shit! What the fuck is wrong with him?

He considered Josef's words. "Fine! Tell her the truth. And when you can't stop Beth from seeking me out and she gets killed in the crossfire, don't you dare place the blame at my feet." Mick didn't like the sound of that at all. His inner vampire bared his fangs at the image of Beth, concerned over another man, running to defend him.

Beth doesn't need to know about this…It will only upset her. I certainly don't want her in danger. Mick didn't like the idea of lying to his wife, but if it meant keeping Beth safe he would do it in a heartbeat. He turned on his heel and left Josef's office. He wasn't finished with the old man, but first he had to talk to Beth.

Josef had been about to dial Mick, when his phone rang. It's uncanny how he does that… Josef thought. He answered quickly, "What, Mick?" Too snappish, Josef. Tone it down or you're going to tip him off.

Thankfully, Mick didn't comment on his tone. "I got a call from Beth earlier tonight, Josef. She said you had an emergency at work, and was canceling her lessons until it could be resolved."

Alternative feelings of relief and worry swept through him. Relief that he could just expand the lie he had told Beth to include Mick, and worry because it seemed as though Beth hadn't entirely bought it. It's the damned bond. She can sense something is wrong… He answered Mick, careful to keep his voice from giving anything away. "That's right. Something's come up and I have to handle it."

He wasn't prepared for what Mick said next. "Really, Josef? That's funny you say you're handling a crisis at work…because I'm standing in your office right now, and there doesn't seem to be much of crisis."

Fuck! You bastard. You set me up! He couldn't contain his anger and expletives shot from his mouth. I don't have time for this.

"Want to tell me what's going on, Josef?" Mick's voice sounded exasperated.

Hell, no. I do not want to tell you. Another thought, Mick's at my office? What if Lucius shows up there? His voice was curt with anger and worry. "No. Get the fuck out of my office, Mick and stay away from it. It's not safe there for you." Please, for once in your unlife, just do as I say.

Mick was sounding more and more confused by the second. "Tell me what's going on, Josef? Why did you lie to Beth? And to me?"

Josef wanted to scream. He couldn't be arguing with Mick right now. He needed this conversation over. Why wasn't Mick listening to him? "Mick, I don't have time for this. I lied to Beth to protect her—same as why I lied to you. You and Beth need to stay away from me for a while. I don't want you involved." Please, Mick. Please just drop this.

No such luck. "Involved in what, Josef?"

I can't handle this right now. Every second he's there, he's in danger. "Just stay away for now, all right? Get out of my office. And if you want to keep Beth from danger, then you tell her that there's nothing wrong, and it's just a work crisis."

Mick's voice was shocked, angry. "I can't lie to my wife!"

It was the last straw. Fuck this conversation. Josef snapped, "Fine! Tell her the truth. Tell her I lied and there is no crisis…and when you can't stop Beth from seeking me out, and she gets killed in the crossfire, don't you dare place the blame at my feet." The image of Beth laid out pale and still flashed through his brain, leaving icy fear in its wake.

"Josef…"

But Josef had had it. He was finished with this. "No, I'm done talking, Mick. I have things to do. Tell Beth the truth or lie. You decide." He angrily hung up the phone. Just great, Kostan. You handled that really fucking well.

He left his study, his dark mood swirling and flowing around him. He crossed to the entrance of the living room. Lauren was lying back on the sofa, Scott was drawing and bottling her blood. At least that's going smoothly, Josef thought. James was talking on the phone, and Josef caught his eye, his expression making it clear that he wanted to talk to his bodyguard. Redmond quickly wrapped up the conversation he was having and came over to where Josef stood.

"Yes, sir?"

Josef said quietly, "Once all the girls are finished donating, take them to the safe house, along with the house staff, and security. Leave four men behind to watch the mansion. I'm going to my office downtown. I need to speak with Ryder."

"I'll see to it that everyone arrives alive and intact, Josef."

"Thank you, James. I have my phone."

James nodded and Josef turned and left, heading for his garage. He needed to see Ryder England. Maybe his techie could trace the number, or dig up something on Lucius in L.A. Either way, he needed to be at his office.

He backed his Ferrari out of his drive, and then shifted gear, roaring off down the street.

"Yes, that will be satisfactory. I'll drop by for the key tomorrow." Lucius hung up the telephone. It had been the realtor letting him know about the property Lucius had acquired out in the desert.

It was a small, adobe house, a couple of hours outside of Los Angeles. It's isolated spot suited his needs perfectly, right down to the small, dirty basement.

Lucius had filed a rental application under a false identity, and had waited patiently to hear back from the realtor. Now his patience was being rewarded. The place was his, and he would be able to take possession in a few days. What to do till then however…

Lucius watched, an amused smirk on his face, as Josef left his house. Lucius knew he would probably show up at his office in a few minutes. I think I'll have some fun messing with your head first, little brother. The idea had immense appeal. Get him so on edge, he can't think straight. Watch him suffer. Lucius smiled, his fangs gleaming in the darkness.

Yes, that is what I shall do.


Ryder swallowed nervously. Mr. K was hovering and Ryder didn't like it. His boss was super tense, coiled tightly. Ryder was smart enough to know that he could go off any minute.

Josef had stormed into his office an hour ago, a dark look on his face, and murder in his air. His employee's wisely scattered before him, sensing it best to keep a safe distance away and pray that Josef didn't want to see them.

Unfortunately for Ryder, Josef had wanted to see him. He had dragged Ryder up to his main office and had set the younger vampire to running a trace on a phone number as well as on a general search for a vampire recently come to town.

Now an hour later Ryder had the results. He knew Josef wasn't going to like them. He approached his boss hesitantly. Please don't kill the messenger. Josef was slumped moodily in his chair, his brow furrowed as he glared out at the city skyline.

"Uh…Mr. K?" Ryder gulped.

Josef swung around to fix his stare upon him.

"No hits came up on 'Lucius Konstantin' sir. If he's in the city, he's here under a different name."

Josef said nothing but continued to stare at his underling.

Ryder continued nervously, "I traced the number you gave me. He called from a prepaid cell phone. He could be anywhere with it. I'm sorry, sir." Ryder finished, wincing, expecting the worst.

To his immense relief, Josef only said, "That will be all Ryder. Stay in the building in case I need you again."

"Sure thing, Mr. K." Ryder high-tailed it out of the office, extremely thankful his head was still intact with the rest of his body.

Josef watched Ryder leave, and then turned his stare back out to the night and the city. He wasn't really surprised that Mr. England hadn't been able to turn up anything. He knew Lucius was clever.

Still, it was a hard blow. Josef would have to wait for Lucius to make the next move. He hated not being in control of the situation. He glowered at the skyline. Somewhere out there was his most dangerous enemy.

And Josef didn't have a clue where he was.

Finis

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