Chapter 10

What is wrong with me?

I stood in front of the hangar for ten minutes watching the Gulfstream taxied to the runway for takeoff, and watched it fly into the early morning sky until even my vampire vision couldn't pick it up anymore.

I am letting the former love of my human past, and the love of my vampire present and future, two women who are basically tied in the "Let Me See What I Can Do To Piss You Off" contest ... fly to Michigan on the same plane. To meet with another vampire.

Half of me wanted to call Beth and have her tell the pilot to turn around, but she is too selfless to go that route. Once she puts her mind to something, it's hard to distract her from that path.

I feel like such a dumbass. Let me call her.

Mick pulled his cellphone out just as it started vibrating. He grimaced when he saw the name of the caller on the display. "You're up early," he said.

"Well, I was on my way to a meeting with several brokers and I realized I didn't get a call from security letting me know you had left the airport."

Damnit, Josef. And he thinks I'm paranoid? "Really? You're keeping tabs on me?"

"What did I tell you last night? That I could read your mind. You're thinking about calling Beth to tell her abort mission and turn the bird around."

Mick said nothing, causing Josef to laugh. "I knew it. I swear, I can sell this for screenplay rights, but it would just serve to piss the Archivist off even further."

"Happy to amuse you," Mick muttered.

"Look, I was serious when I said I would have someone look out for them. Trust me. Anyway, duty calls. You heard from your friend Logan?"

Mick started to tell him about Logan's findings from last night, but thought better of it. "I'm headed over right now. Come by after you get done with your meeting. I'll text you the address."

"All right. Oh, by the way. I'll let you know when the plane lands."

Mick sighed as Josef hung up on his end. He stared at his cell for several seconds before looking back into the sky where the jet had long since disappeared.

I am such a dumbass.

Talbot walked into his office ten minutes before seven with a small spring in his step, oblivious to the disorder he had left from the night before. He walked over to the windows and began opening the blinds to let the morning sun in.

The note was visible on top of his desk when he had turned around. He noticed it was in Beth's handwriting before focusing on what was written.

So she left early yesterday. Probably to meet with St. John. And I am willing to bet she had emailed me all the particulars about the gallery case.

Talbot brought his computer up and checked his account. Sure enough, not one but two emails were awaiting him in his inbox from Beth. He opened the oldest and began reviewing the notes, nodding with satisfaction at the attention to detail shown.

This case was below what she normally deals with, but she worked it out and got everything done.

He began printing the notes for his file and remembered the second email. He noted the subject line saying TIME OFF, and it was sent around 10 p.m. last night. Seven hours after she sent the report, he noted.

Ben,

I need to take Friday off for personal reasons. I didn't know the procedures for that but it's very important. I have to go out of town to help a friend.

I finished the prelims for the gallery break-in. As it being Friday, I should be back tomorrow and at work Monday morning.

Would have called, but I was hoping you would be getting some sleep!

See you Monday.

Beth

Ben frowned at the email for several minutes before a knock on the door shook him out of his reverie. "What? Huh?"

"Whoa, Ben. Calm down." The district attorney walked in with a newspaper folded under his arm. "You looked like I sent you a pink slip email."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Talbot hastily closed out the email and rose from his chair. "One of my investigators forwarded me some notes on another case and I was wondering how to proceed."

"Well, unless it has dead bodies or arson I want it put to the bottom of the stack or pawn it off on one of the other reps. We got to close out the Monaghan case."

He threw the newspaper down on Talbot's desk for emphasis. The front page showed a picture of the remains of the Monaghans' residence with the couple framed in an inset photo. Details of the case starting from the Dominic Michaels murder and bullet points from yesterday's courthouse steps interview dominated half of the cover.

Talbot shrugged. "We're still looking into the fire to see if it was arson or an accident. My gut is telling me it's an accident."

The D.A. considered this. "It will be a lot simpler," he decided. "Let's stay on the fire chief about this and try to get this done by close of business next week."

Talbot nodded. "I'm going to see him later today, sir. I'll let you know what develops."

"Okay." The D.A. turned and departed, leaving the newspaper on Talbot's desk. He glanced at it for a second before turning around to stare out of his window at the city.

Where are you, Beth?

- Chapter 10 -