Always, thanks to Laurelin.


Chapter 12

While Beth continued to report via iPhone on the horrifying incident, Josef and Mick stood side-by side as the ambulances approached.

"They blew up my fucking car." Josef said flatly. "Those two crazy bitches blew up my car."

Mick knew he shouldn't be surprised, but he was. "Josef, the valet is dead, City Councilman Bernson and his wife are injured, and you can afford a new car."

"But I liked that car."

"So let the insurance company replace it. Could you at least try to seem concerned?"

"I am concerned, about the loss of my car."

"Go and ask about the valet, check in with Bernson and his wife."

"I don't like him nearly as much as I did my car. Too bad he wasn't the man assigned to bring it to me."

"Your kindness is underwhelming," Mick said.

"I'm going. Come by later."

"Maybe."

"Maybe? Mick, in case you haven't noticed, that ship has sailed. For tonight, anyway." Josef gestured toward the cameraman lighting Beth's live report. "At least she got an exclusive."

Mick sighed as he saw that Josef was right. Gone was the gentle, loving woman with whom he'd spent the evening, replaced by the sharp, probing reporter who happened to occupy the same body. He heard her sign off, and approached her quickly. "Are you done?"

She shook her head, "Just changing location." Damn. What a waste this was, beyond the tragedy. "I'm sorry; I'll probably be here for another hour or so. Duty calls."

Had she said "booty call"? "Want me to wait for you? It's only two o'clock, the night is young," he asked, already knowing her answer.

"No, that's okay. Mike will give me a ride home." She knew she shouldn't, not here, but she brushed her lips against his. "Thank you, Mick. I had a glorious evening."

He nearly groaned. "Me too. See you tomorrow?"

Her eyes lit their unmistakable fire. "I'm counting on it. Gotta go." He watched her move to where the camera was now set-up, near the smoldering shell of Josef's former car.

He who hesitates, he thought as he turned the key and headed toward home.


"Did you take a cab, Josef?" Mick asked as Josef came through his front door.

A sullen stare met his comment. "Have you ever tried to get a cab in L.A.? It's much easier to keep a driver and a Bentley."

"I'll remember that next time someone blows up my car."

Josef glared in his direction as he helped himself to Mick's very fine Scotch. "My beautiful car. Gone. Nothing will be too heinous to do to them. Alexis just dies. I loathe that woman."

"Beth would probably be happy to hold her down for you."

Josef grinned. "Beth is a very wise woman."

"Beth is a very annoyed woman. Alexis didn't stop flirting with me the entire evening."

"When I was available?"

"Hard to believe, Josef?"

"Impossible. Julia, on the other hand, is clearly the brains of their operation," Josef said, looking pointedly at Mick.

"Because she was more interested in you than me?"

"You said it, I didn't… Seriously, she asked better questions, had sharper eyes, and steered the little one wherever she wanted. So while Alexis might be a nasty little gnat, Julia is definitely the puppet master. And I'm going to feel her quake beneath me, and cry my name in ecstasy, before I tear her skin open layer by layer and rip her black heart out of her very fine body and feed it to her Chihuahua."

"Conquering the pet food industry? That's one you haven't tried. And, I think it's a Westie, though I wasn't paying much attention."

"I suppose the frustration is making you particularly clever this evening." Josef drained his glass. "By the way, you neglected to admire my ability to choose your girlfriend's attire. That dress was perfect on Beth."

"It was. Of course, I always think she's beautiful."

"Me, too. Do you think I'd waste my talent on a woman who wasn't?"

Mick cleared his throat as he glared at Josef. "Back to the subject at hand. Still going skiing?"

"Mick, I am going to Banff for a business meeting with the president of a timber company. Our people planned it months ago. I just like to annoy you."

"So I've noticed." The self-satisfied smile that often made Mick want to punch Josef spread across his friend's face.

"Forget Alexis," Josef said as he rose to leave. "Follow Julia. Find out what her problem with me is. I am hungry, and it is past my bedtime. I'll call you later."

Mick watched the door close. It was nearly sunrise, and he, too, was tired and hungry. And frustrated.

Damn those two.


"Did I wake you?" Beth asked tentatively.

"It takes more than a ringing phone to wake me when I'm asleep. I am staring at my freezer longingly, though."

"I'm in my bed. I just couldn't wait until morning to thank you, Mick. I felt like a princess, and every time I turned around, my handsome prince was by my side."

"I thought I was your knight in shining armor," he teased; glad she couldn't see him grinning at the phone.

"I was so happy that for this one night, you didn't have to be. I'm just sorry we didn't get to go home together."

"Me, too. Goodnight, Beth. I'm glad you called."

Mick finished his blood, thinking how very beautiful Beth probably looked, tucked into what he was sure would be pristine white sheets, blonde hair splayed across her pillow. Another opportunity lost, but at least this time he didn't have himself to blame.

As he rinsed his glass, he brought his focus back to the more dangerous problem. Those women were clever. Security was as tight as possible, yet somehow they had managed to smuggle in explosives and a detonator, and plant them under Josef's car. They should never have been able to accomplish the task, unless they had help. There had to have been a third person. Mick had to discover who that person was, before the police did, and before anyone else died.


Thanks to all who read. And review.