Thank you for reading and following the story. Your reviews have given me ideas on how to change/add to the story! I'm happy there are Moonlight fans out there who still love the show.
Chapter 11
The music was deafening, especially for a vampire. Josef stood at Logan's door holding an expensive bottle of single malt scotch and hoped his knocking could be heard over the din inside. Logan looked at the video screen to see who was there. Holy crap, Josef Kostan! Logan quickly muted his current game and flung open the door.
Josef walked in with the noblesse oblige of a squire calling on one of his lackeys. His meeting had ended early so he decided to pay the computer geek a personal call to thank him for his help in the current crisis. Logan had also been a help when Emma Monahan went crazy and almost exposed them all. Money was a good motivator, but the personal touch went a long way with loyalty.
"Mr. Kostan," Logan said, "what are you—I mean, what can I do for you?"
Josef surveyed the basement, loaded with computers, shelves with collectibles and the essential freezer in the corner. Now he turned and smiled at Logan, flicking a bit of fluff off his Armani sleeve. "I wanted to come by and thank you for all your help with this blood supply business. Mick's told me you've worked with the Cleaners and contacted almost everyone about the new system."
"Thanks, I did my best." Logan was shocked that Josef Kostan would come to see him. Logan was only about 35 years old in vampire years, and when he was human had been among the first to work with computers in what was now Silicon Valley. After he was turned, he continued to work on all the latest technologies and software. He didn't worry about having to move around; he just created another paper identity and never left his basement. Computers were his passion, not that he didn't like the ladies, but they weren't usually interested in his techie obsession. However he had heard about Josef Kostan's supermodel freshies…
Josef put the liquor on a table and turned to Logan. "Have you been able to find anything on the tenants of that building? Mick said you were working on it."
"Just got the information about a half an hour ago." Logan said eagerly. "I left a message for Mick." He turned to his computer screen. "Here they are. On the first floor is ATD Resources, a medical building company owned by a bunch of doctors. They're all human, I checked them out. On the second floor is LPL Financial, also human-owned. The third floor is Yukon Investments. I really had to hack into this one and trace it through about six different subsidiaries and holding companies." Logan's fingers raced across the keyboard "The guy who owns everything is William J. Raffray."
Josef froze. William Raffray was the name he used when he was mining for gold in Canada. Could this be some kind of coincidence? Josef didn't believe in those. "Do you have a picture of him?" He asked in a sharp tone.
Logan could feel the tension from Josef, and busied himself trying to find more information. "Uh, here's the only one I can find. It's a group picture, but I can blow up that portion into a headshot. It'll be a little grainy ….."
Josef stared at the computer screen, getting closer for a better look as Logan brought up the photo. It couldn't be, not after all this time. Shit. It looked like him. Josef felt sick. It was him; it was Jared Gibson, his partner who had supposedly died the true death all those years ago.
"Could you email all that to my office address?" He said tightly. Josef pulled himself together to thank Logan and went to his car. He sat in the Ferrari thinking about what happened to Jared. How was he still alive? Josef remembered the last time they had seen each other up in Dawson when they were closing out their gold mines. Jared had gone missing in a storm and disappeared completely. While Josef searched the weather closed in, forcing him to stay another winter. When the spring came, he had to get out of Dawson; he was close to being exposed as a vampire by a jealous saloon girl. He took their acquired wealth and went to Chicago to start a new identity.
He shook his head, clearing his mind. As he put the car into gear the smooth-running engine soothed him. He needed to get up to that office and see Jared for himself. He was about to call Mick to get the address when he got a text from Simone to get back to his office. Damn, what now? He thought.
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Beth drove, trying not to let tears obscure her vision. She left Josef's office and mercifully found her loaner car. With no direction in mind, she continued to drive through the night. Her life was shattered and she didn't know where to turn or what to do. She knew she needed blood but she couldn't go back to the loft and she didn't want to go to one of the clubs in her current state. She pulled into a parking lot and tried to think. She couldn't go to a regular hotel—no freezer. Beth knew she would need one along with the blood.
She didn't want to call any of her friends; she didn't want to have to tell them what happened and replay the whole nightmare. Even if she went to Josef's she'd have to endure Simone's sympathy. She knew there were a couple vamp-friendly hotels, but they wouldn't have blood. Finally, she thought of someone that could help.
Opening her cell phone, she dialed the number in use all over the world to contact the Cleaners. The call was answered immediately. "Name and location."
"Um, I'd like to speak to Annie, please." Trying to keep her voice steady.
There was a silence on the other end and Beth knew she'd probably broken a zillion vampire protocols. "If she's not there, could you get her a message? It's rather important." Beth continued.
"Yes, what's the message?"
Beth gave them her name and number, and hoped that Annie would be able to call her quickly. She sat back in the seat, and thought if she didn't get a call back soon, she would have to go to Josef's house after all. After a few minutes, her phone rang with an unknown number. "Hello?" She answered.
"Beth?" Annie's voice came weakly from a bad connection.
"Hi, I'm sorry to bother you, but I was hoping you could help me."
"Sure. I take it this isn't a regular Cleaner call?"
"No," Beth took a deep breath. "I need some blood and a place to stay for the day."
This isn't good, Annie thought. There must be something really wrong. But, she owed Mick and she liked Beth. "I'm helping out the crew in Northridge, but I'll be done in a few minutes. If I text you the address, can you find it?"
"Yes." Beth said, relieved. Her borrowed car had a GPS unit.
"Great, I'll send you the pass code to get into the underground parking garage. If you get there before me, just wait and I'll find you." Annie said reassuringly.
"Okay, see you there." She felt relieved as she waited for the text. At least she had a place to stay and maybe she could start to pick up the pieces of her life.
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"You're going to have to buy Josef new carpet if you keep that up." Simone commented.
Mick didn't respond, continuing to pace up and down in Josef's office. Simone sent Josef a message to return as soon as he could and she was having a hard time keeping Mick quiet until he showed up. At least she had gotten him to drink some blood, and that calmed him for a short time. Now he was roaming like a caged animal, even growling occasionally. He stopped momentarily and looked at Simone. "I have to find her."
"Mick, we've called everyone, even her human friends. They've all promised they'd call me, at least to say she's safe."
"She probably won't want to talk to me." he exclaimed, his agony apparent. He had hurt her, hurt his Beth. They were mated not only though love, but also through their vampire bond. Now he had destroyed what they had, and he didn't even remember what had happened. He had called Logan and tried to trace the GPS on her phone, but it was turned off. That made him want to go out and scour the streets for her, but Simone wouldn't let him leave until he'd spoken to Josef. Yes, he'd be talking to Josef, especially about those paparazzi photos. Mick couldn't bring himself to be angry with Beth after what he had done, but Josef was another story.
The elevator dinged, and Josef came in, looking grim. He saw Simone sitting at his desk and felt her worry. He looked up at Mick, who seemed ready to blow up. "What happened?" He asked with narrowed eyes.
Simone sighed. "Lots," she started, "and none of it good."
Josef felt Mick's anger directed at him, and casually made his way to the bar, pouring them both a drink. "Okay, what's the problem? What have I done?"
Mick ignored the drink. "Those pictures, the ones that Foster took. Beth came to you and you had him killed, didn't you?"
It took him a moment to remember, then he shrugged. "Yup. He was a danger to you and all of us." His eyes glinted dangerously. "You know what I do in those situations."
"Yeah, and you got Beth involved—you both lied to me." Mick's almost yelled.
Josef continued to face him, not backing down. "That's your fault. She knew you'd be against dealing with that crook and it would put you at risk. She has a better grasp of the vampire world than you give her credit for." Josef swirled the bourbon in his glass. "Tell me, if it had been Simone coming to you to protect me, wouldn't you have done the same thing?"
At that, Mick's shoulders slumped, the anger draining away. He remembered what he had done to Tejada. "Yeah, probably." He muttered.
"Then we're good." Josef took another swig of his drink, noticing both Mick and Simone still radiating sadness. "What?"
Mick looked down at the carpet. "I screwed up. I don't remember, but I screwed up big-time." Mick recounted what had happened, and Simone filled him in on her side. Josef was amused that Simone would have the nerve to slap a vampire. She is something, he thought proudly. His musings were interrupted by Mick.
"I have to go find her." He said distractedly.
Josef morphed into his step-sire mode. "And what will you tell her when you see her? 'Sorry honey, I was making out with Natalya, but I don't remember anything?' Uh-huh, that'll go over great."
Simone cracked a small smile, and Mick shook his head in frustration.
"Just a minute. Josef pulled out his phone and made a call. After an interval he was connected to Emmaline Martin in New York.
"Josef," she said gruffly. "Did you find anything about the blood centers?"
"I think so," he replied, "but that's not why I'm calling. I have an issue with Natalya and it's causing a major problem." When Josef was done explaining, there was silence. Then a soft "Damn."
"What is it Em?"
"I've always suspected Natalya has more gifts than she lets on, and now I think she's able to glamour."
"I wondered about that, but I thought it was a myth." Josef glanced at Mick, who looked puzzled.
"It sounds like what happened to Mick. Dammit," she swore again, "I told her to keep her hands off him."
"You really think she could have done that? He can't remember a thing."
In New York, Emmaline sighed. "From what I've heard, some of the old ones could mesmerize and alter memory. Most of the bloodlines that had those powers have died out, but Natalya was psychic before she was turned so it's probably a carry over from that. Where is she?"
"Beth staked her and she's on ice for now."
He heard Emmaline chuckle. "I warned Natalya not to piss off Beth. Keep her where she is and I'll be out tomorrow night to collect her. She hasn't violated any laws, but I'll get her out of your way "
"Tell her if she comes back to my region, I'll not only let Beth take her head, I'll help her." Josef said meaningfully.
Emmaline's voice became hard. "She'll understand when I'm done with her. If she's causing trouble with her powers she won't be sponsored by the Council any longer. Please tell Mick and Beth I'm sorry. I'll let you know when my plane arrives."
Josef ended the call and looked at Mick, knowing he heard all the conversation. Mick asked, "Do you think that's possible?"
Josef shook his head. "I don't know, but it explains everything that's gone on. I'd unstake her and ask, but I don't want Natalya running around loose. I'll let Emmaline handle her."
Simone hadn't heard the conversation, but knew Josef would fill her in later. "C'mon Mick. Come home with us and get some freezer time."
Mick started pacing again. "I need to find Beth." he repeated.
Josef looked at him and knew Mick would drive himself to exhaustion and they had no idea where Beth was. He dialed a private number that only a select few had. "Bella?"
"Yes, Josef." The head Cleaner responded.
"Can you ask your crews to be on the lookout for Beth Turner? She and Mick have had a little disagreement and she left, probably driving. I know you don't usually do this, but she's young and Mick's worried." Josef proceeded to give Beth's company car information, hoping they'd spot her somewhere in the metro area.
"Okay, Josef. Wait a moment and I'll let the guys know." He was put on hold and then Bella's voice came back, "No need to look for her. Apparently, she called and left a message for Annie." Bella gave Josef Annie's private number.
"Thanks, Bella. I owe you." Bella laughed as she hung up. "What else is new, Josef? See you."
"I think Beth is with Annie." Josef said for Simone's benefit.
Mick jumped up. "Let me call her."
Josef held up his hand. "Let me call first." He punched in the numbers and heard Annie answer softly.
"It's Josef Kostan. I'm looking for Beth Turner, is she with you?"
"Huh. Who wants to know? Is Mick with you?" Annie asked suspiciously.
"Yes, and as Elder, I'm asking."
Annie sighed. "She's here but I just got her settled in the freezer and she needs to sleep. She's had a rough time."
Mick now grabbed the phone from Josef. "Annie, is she all right?" He asked anxiously.
"She's calmed down now, but I'm about ready to take a flame thrower to you, St. John."
"Stand in line—Simone already slapped the hell out of me." Mick said without humor. "Would you tell her I'm worried and to call me please?" He handed the phone back to Josef with a sad look.
"Annie," Josef began, "let me tell you what I think went on here tonight. Mick needs to explain to Beth. Could you tell her she needs to talk to him?" He let Annie know their theory about Natalya's gifts.
After getting Annie's assurance she'd speak to Beth, Josef hung up. "Okay. We know Beth is all right and in good hands. No more to do here tonight." Josef glanced out the shaded windows to see the dawn breaking over the skyline. "Time to get some rest, buddy."
Simone had gone to her office to get her things, and stood at the door. "Let's go guys. You need some blood and I need my beauty sleep." She was thankful she didn't have any meetings on her agenda for today. Normally she kept to a modified human schedule, but tonight was an emergency.
Mick got up reluctantly. "I'll go back to the loft …"
Simone went up to him, taking his arm. "No, you're staying with us. We have extra freezers and lots of room."
Josef grinned at Mick. "Don't mess with her, Mick. She gets cranky without sleep."
Mick smiled back at them and rubbed his cheek. "Yeah, once was enough."
Simone smirked and turned off the lights as they left.
TBC
Now they know about Natalya, but Mick and Beth still have to talk. Also, Josef needs to find Jared Gibson, aka William Raffray but that might not be so easy. I'm going to be out of town next week and can't take my laptop, but will update as soon as I get back. Thanks for reading!