Chapter One

Awakenings

Lieutenant Carl Davis sighed as he lowered to a crouch beside the covered corpse in the office. A pale, slender hand, the only portion of the body visible, sported a diamond ring capable of paying his salary for a year.

He held a corner of the street up to gaze at the face of the deceased woman. Through the cuts and bruises, she still somehow gave the appearance of being asleep; the healthier alternative to the gruesome reality he viewed. The bloody crowbar resting on the garage floor beside the body brought him back to that reality.

The uniformed policeman stood behind Davis as he recited from a notepad in his hand. "Name of deceased is Vivian Acree. Early forties. She's the owner of the restaurant. The manager said that she stayed late as she normally did at the end of every month to make sure the books are in order, bills paid, and so forth and so on."

Davis rose to his feet and took in the interior of the office. "No cameras. Any outside?"

"Yep." The policeman jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "The office next door. Video's being pulled up now. I think Lieutenant Joyce is looking at it."

Davis went out into the hallway, pausing to let two crime scene investigators pass with cameras and equipment in tow before entering the security room.

Two women sat facing each other at a small, wooden desk that held two computer monitors and a laptop. They both turned to him as he entered. He stopped in his tracks, unsure of whether to smile or to curse.

The smile definitely would have been directed to Danielle Joyce. The newest addition to the district attorney's office, she quickly made an impression on the veteran. So much that he has considered asking her out for drinks, and possibly more. The pleased look she gave him signified to him that the venture he sought may soon be a possibility.

While he wanted to return the gesture, he first directed his ire to the woman sitting beside Joyce. "Beth Turner. What are you doing here?"

Beth smiled. "It seems that I still have some pull in the D.A.'s office, Carl. I showed up and your uniforms let me right on through. Seems some of them remembered me. Then I -"

Davis held up his hand, forestalling further comment. "As long as you don't release any information until we get an official C.O.D. from the medical examiner."

"You have my word." Beth turned to Joyce and smiled. "It's like old times. Me and Carl, going back and forth about what I can and can't do."

Davis bit back a curse as he marched over to the desk and drummed the desk. "Did you access the video to see if we got an image of our perp?"

Joyce nodded, turning to the laptop and keying a command on the keyboard."You're not gonna like this," she said as the screen came to life.

Davis watched as a person walked down the passageway where the offices were situated. "Damnit. I can just barely make out a face, but it's too dark. The hood he's wearing is partially covering the face. But definitely a male. Above average height. Can you make out anything else in the video?"

"Negative." Joyce held up a flash drive. "I got a copy to take to our tech geeks to see if they can clean it up, but they're backed up now as it is. It may be a week minimum before we see something back from them."

Davis started to nod his agreement, but stopped when he noted Beth's silence. She stared at the frozen image on the screen intently, as if her intent staring would help in identifying the murderer. "Beth, are you alright?"

Beth abruptly straightened in her chair. "Oh! I'm fine. Just thinking about something. Obviously very hard."

She gestured to the image on the screen. "I had to restaff some of my tech support staff at BuzzWire, but they're pretty good. Mind if they have a crack at it?"

Joyce turned to Davis. He shrugged. "Only me or Joyce, Beth. If the D.A. finds out about this, we'll be writing parking tickets for the next decade."

Beth smiled as she accepted the flash drive from Joyce. She rose from her seat and patted Davis' forearm before leaving the office. Five minutes later, she was in her car navigating the empty streets west towards the residential suburbs of the city.

The satellite radio station played one of her favorite songs, but it barely registered in her consciousness as she reflected on the past three weeks.

I go to work every day and through the motions.

BuzzWire has provided a temporary, though hellish distraction as I settled into my new role as managing editor. The massive upheaval Faith Pearson enacted meant better vetting of new hires there, while still maintaining a continuity of business at the newsroom.

It's hard to put on a brave face to anyone would would know who came on board after I had resigned months ago more than likely only see a person who inherited a hot mess to unscrew and is solely focused on doing just that.

And there are the few who knew me during my reporting days at BuzzWire that see the strain in my face as I struggle to keep it together. Faith must have asked me if anything was bothering me like four times my first day alone. I would laugh and say I'm fine.

If she only knew. If anyone only knew.

My thirteen hour day at my daytime job ends, and I head home for a bite to eat. A sandwich, or an apple, whatever is in the fridge I can eat in three minutes before I start on my nighttime job: my search for Mick.

Logan, God bless him, he has worked nonstop trying to find any clue as to where he was taken. The plane left at the hangar offered no evidence or idea whatsoever. Carl Davis found it strange that someone would fly an expensive Gulfstream from Paris to Los Angeles and just leave it.

Josef initiated the search for Mick with Logan the day he was taken. His motives were unclear. It could simply be because Mick is truly his best friend, and that he felt responsible for giving him up. Or it could be that giving him up to another vampire was an unspeakable act against their code, and it warranted a death sentence for Josef.

Either way, Logan's efforts have not produced any results. And the trail grows colder every morning when I wake up.

There is only one person who can possibly shed some light on what this Malcolm Rehnquist may have planned for Mick, or where we could find them. The thing is she is acclimating herself as a twenty-two-year-old millennial. No one knows she's really in her early eighties and recently awakened after being in a coma for over sixty years.

My world is weird.

#

Faith slid the stack of résumés away from her and thumped her head on the table twice, leaving it to rest there after the second time. "I think I feel a headache coming on. Is it time for whiskey yet?"

"No, it is not." Beth picked up the top sheet from the stack and browsed over it briefly before putting it back. "We need to find another on-site reporter and we need to do it like yesterday. Sibbohn, Jesse, and Pilar are great, but they don't really have investigation skills. And I can't be there for them all the time if someone besides Carl Davis decides they overstepped their boundaries."

Faith raised her head and grinned. "You mean they don't have Beth Turner skills. You've butchered the last three people we interviewed because of lack of experience. We may have to go out of the box on this one."

Beth sighed and slid the stack back to Faith. "Tell you what. Pick the five best that we've interviewed. I'll do the same, and we'll look into them closely. Properly vet them. Deal?"

"Deal. Maybe I can stop carrying when I come to this place. And we should also be done with your flash drive by tonight as well."

"Make sure you get everything either to Danielle Joyce or Carl Davis." Beth rose from the table to walk over and take a seat behind her desk. "Any hot assignments we have pending that I need to know about?"

"There is one I'm setting up right now." Faith pulled her tablet in front of her and opened the screen. "We have a woman who's been shaking things up in the city for the past few weeks. Her family business is in real estate. Owns one of the largest development companies in the country."

Beth shrugged as she began signing forms on her desk. "Still waiting on why this is hot."

Faith laughed. "The family's headquarters is in New York, but she's thinking of opening up an office on the west coast. Name is Whitley. Sarah Whitley."

The pen stopped moving on the form Beth was signing. She looked up from it to Faith. "Sarah Whitley. How … how did her name come up?"

Faith tilted back in her chair to look at the ceiling. "Well, her family is a bit of a mystery. Her grandmother was the only child of the principal owner and founder of the company who recently passed away. She turned up missing sixty years ago. No one, not even the father knew what happened to her. But a few months ago, the father filed papers stating that she not only was alive at one point, but also had her own daughter, who in turn had a daughter of her own. Sarah was named after her grandmother."

Beth looked away from Faith, drumming the pen in her free hand. "It … sounds interesting."

"I know. I was thinking about assigning Chuck to get background on her."

"No." Beth abruptly dropped the pen on the desk. "No. I think I'll go get the background on her. Whoever we bring on board as our reporter can do the actual interview.

Faith leaned forward to look up at Beth. "You okay? You look shook up."

"I'm fine." Beth waved the question away. "I haven't done any kind of investigating since I left the district attorney's office. Need to see if I still got it. And plus I like to lead from the front."

She leaned across the desk. "Where is she staying?"

#

Beth stepped off the elevator onto the penthouse floor of the luxurious Beverly Hills hotel Faith directed her to. She regained her bearings and walked down the hallway until she found the suite number Faith provided her before leaving BuzzWire. Taking a deep breath, she rang the doorbell.

A few seconds passed before the door opened. Beth's eyes widened as she saw who opened the door. "Simone? What are you doing here?!"

Simone Walker seemed as surprised to see Beth on the other side of the door. She pulled her cellphone from her ear and motioned for Beth to enter. "Ever since we met, I've been helping Sarah through probate court concerning the legality of her father's will. It was basic stuff since he filed new paperwork months ago. It was just the process of coordinating with the attorneys in New York. What are you doing here?"

Beth took in the interior of the expansive suite as Simone closed the door. A kitchen fit for a mansion sat to the left of the dining area, stocked with stainless steel appliances. The dining room itself, capable of accommodating a dozen guests served as Simone's makeshift office, its table adorned with a laptop, manila folders and legal documents. The living room boasted two large flatscreens, a pair of couches and three loveseats. Every table held a vase of freshly cut flowers, giving the entire suite a scent of a wide open "Her name came across my desk for a possible story. I thought it would be best if I did the background instead of sending someone else, giving the fact that she's eighty-two with the body of a twenty-two-year-old."

Beth noted that double doors to the side of the living room area were closed. "Is she here?" she asked.

Simone guided her into the living room where they sat together on one of the brown leather couches. "No matter what decade you live in, you know what women still find therapeutic? Shopping. We went to Rodeo Drive and she must have spent a fortune."

The two women laughed for a moment, easing away whatever tension that remained. "I needed a good laugh, Simone."

Simone grasped Beth's hand in both of hers. "Any news about Mick?"

Beth shook her head. "Being managing editor at BuzzWire gives me more resources than I had before. But it still doesn't help. I feel bad because Logan once worked for three days straight with no rest, and all I could do was offer him a gallon of blood."

"I had a feeling, which is why I'm glad you're here." Simone leaned close and began to speak in a conspiratorial tone. "You do have options, Beth. Options that you can't find here in L.A."

Beth stared at her until she realized what she meant. "You don't mean … "

Simone nodded. "If anyone knows where to find this Malcolm Rehnquist, it's Magnus McClane. You have to ask him for your help."

Beth shook her head again. "Simone, we know more about vampires than any human should legally know. We just can't spread their business to other vampires."

Simone gave Beth a quizzical look. Before she could reply, the doors parted and Sarah Whitley exited the bedroom. "I swear, the styles and fashions have changed dramatically over the decades," she announced, looking down as she smoothed out her white silk blouse and tan trousers. Beth noted her auburn-colored, curly hair had been straightened and highlighted with a gold tint.

Simone cleared her throat. "Sarah, Beth Turner is here to see you."

Sarah looked up and finally noticed Beth and Simone sitting the couch. Her stunned look quickly switched to one of joy as she walked over. "Beth! It's so good to see you again!" She pulled the taller woman into a startling embrace.

Simone moved over to the dining table and pulled several pieces of paper from a folder. "The firm in New York forwarded a copy of the power of attorney your father had drawn up, Sarah. I need you to sign this and we can get a transfer of funds set up into your new accounts."

Sarah waved Beth over to the table. "Simone, if you're free tomorrow, I want to revisit that lingerie store. What's the name again?"

"Victoria's Secret." Simone shot Beth a mischievous grin as she gave Sarah a pen. "Sarah was in there for three hours today."

Sarah signed the form Simone produced and gave both items back to her. "Ladies, who's thirsty?" She walked over to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

"Water for me, Sarah." Simone reached for her phone. "I have to call my office for someone to pick up these papers."

Sarah looked up from behind the door. "But when you're done with your call, you're done for the day, right?"

Simone flipped through the papers on the table in front. "Uh, yeah. Everything looks to be in order on this end."

"Then champagne it is." Sarah gleefully pulled a bottle out and set it on the counter. "Now, where are the glasses?"

While Sarah peered into an overhead cabinet, Simone leaned close to Beth and whispered, "I don't know what it was like in 1955, but she can drink. You should have seen her last night."

Sarah walked up with the bottle and three glasses. "Beth, you're having one with us, right?"

Beth looked at her watch. Logan is probably tired of seeing me, she thought to herself. I'll give him a break tonight.

She smiled. "I just need to make a phone call."

#

"A toast, ladies. To awakenings."

Sarah drained the remaining contents of her glass and reached for the champagne bottle. The three women sat outside on the spacious balcony overlooking the Beverly Hills landscape. Sarah reset the champagne bottle into the ice bucket by the sliding door.

"So, Beth. I've been meaning to reach out to you. To see if you found out anything concerning Mr. St. John."

Beth shook his head. She had worked on her own glass for nearly an hour while Sarah was on her fifth. "I haven't given up hope. I will find him, but my resources are limited."

"That's what we were talking about earlier," said Simone. She was still sipping on her first glass. "Beth, you do have options outside of the vampire nation here in Los Angeles."

"Options? What options?" Sarah looked from one woman to the other. "Is there another group out there?"

Beth sighed in defeat. "In Detroit. There's this one vampire named Magnus McClane. They call him "The Archivist." He has a group there that records the actions of probably every vampire in the world, and keeps it updated in a secure database." Or, at least it's suppose to be secure, she thought wryly.

Sarah shrugged. "All right. So, what's the problem?"

"The problem is that Josef prefers to keep vampire matters in house, and by in house, I mean in Los Angeles." Beth placed her glass on the table. "He's very protective of what goes on here."

Simone snapped her fingers. "Wait a minute. We both know someone who has strong ties to the vampire community and is human."

Beth gave her a blank look until she realized who she was speaking of. "It might work," she mused. "As long as he doesn't put our name in whatever he does."

"Who are you talking about?" queried Sarah.

"Xavier King," answered Beth. "He's related to a vampire. Don't ask how that works, but his uncle is one of the most prominent vampires in Detroit. Former U.S. Marine. He could help us out."

"Well then!" Sarah clapped her hands. "I sense a trip to Detroit in our future!"

Beth rolled her eyes.

#

Josef Kostan stood behind his desk, staring out of the window. His hands were stuffed deep into his pockets, an uncustomary act for him.

So was nervousness.

Standing on the other side of the desk, Adrian Wells reviewed notes he had on a computer tablet. "It's been three weeks, and still nothing, sir. No word out of New York, Paris, or England. The associates you hired are going to look into Russia, China, and Denmark next."

He looked up at his employer who still had his back turned. "Sir, it's obvious that Malcolm Rehnquist has the resources and the centuries of vast experience to stay hidden for a very long time. I'm afraid we may never find him or Detective St. John."

Josef did not say anything, his focus still outside his window. Adrian took the silence as his cue to leave. He turned and made his way to the office door, giving the only other occupant standing in a corner a slight glance before exiting.

"Well. You heard it yourself. I may never find Mick," Josef said gravely as he turned around. "For all I know, he may be a pile of ashes by now."

The Cleaner moved out of the shadows to the space in front of Josef's desk Adrian recently vacated. Her long, red hair stood out against the matte black, skintight outfit she routinely favored as she crossed her arms, a look of disdain evident on her face.

"I can't continue to hold back everyone on this, Josef," she said. "I don't need to remind you that this does not bode well for you at all. Giving up one vampire to another is a heinous, unspeakable crime, one which you should be answering for with your life."

Josef slowly slid into his chair, never taking his eyes off of the woman. "Is that the reason for your visit today? Because since we're on the subject, I've been wondering why haven't I met my end during an impromptu visit to the tar pits. Or with a military incendiary grenade. Only thing I ask is not in the office. I just had it redone."

The Cleaner clearly was not amused. "You wouldn't have to worry about me doing it, when and if it comes down to it. But you're right. There are a few reasons why you aren't there yet." She paced in front of the desk. "One, Mick wouldn't want this for you, no matter the outcome. We all know you two have been friends for decades. Two, you were put in an unimaginable position. I heard about this Sarah Whitley, and I understood. To a certain extent."

Josef raised a quizzical eyebrow. "How do you know about her?"

"The third reason. Beth Turner. For a human, she can be quite persuasive. She and a few others had intervened on your behalf. I believe it was because it's what Mick would have even she won't be able to stop this for much longer."

The Cleaner turned and headed for the exit, leaving Josef alone with his thoughts.

#

Simone's mouth fell open in surprise. She looked at Sarah for a second before going back to Beth. "You're kidding me. All the vampires in Los Angeles want to kill Josef because of what he did?"

"They have rules, Simone. You should know that. Unspoken, uncharted rules, but rules to keep themselves safe. Which is understandable. Mick has lived here practically his entire life with very minimal issues." Beth sat back in her chair. "It's possible as long as vampires stay out of the limelight."

Simone leaned forward out of her seat. "Beth, it's been three weeks. They didn't wait that long during the Monaghan situation. Why is Josef still alive?"

Beth sighed and began playing with the ring on her finger. "I admit when all of this started, I was angry at Josef. I was pissed. I wanted Josef dead. But one of Mick's friends called and told me that Josef asked him to start looking. I can tell he's trying. So I put word out through the vampires I've met through Mick who were aware of what happened and told them as such. They agreed that Josef needs to be given a chance to make this right. If anything, Mick would have wanted it that way."

Sarah fell silent as she absorbed the news, giving Beth the opportunity to change the subject. "Well, it seems like you've been embracing your new role as owner of your father's company."

Simone nodded. "I arranged for Sarah to fly to New York to settle her father's affairs. The company's officers were happy that a member of John Whitley's family would still be in charge, though they were a bit skeptical that it's a twenty-two-year-old who not only is the mysterious quote on quote, granddaughter of the child he lost sixty years ago, but possibly also with no clue about business. So … I had to show them a thing or two."

Sarah sat back in her chair, staring at the glass resting in her hand. "My father started the company just before World War II ended. Many people were skeptical, but somehow he knew that there would be a shortage of housing for returning soldiers. Within three years, he had over 50,000 homes sold, another twenty-thousand waiting to be sold, and developed land for more than ten thousand new businesses in five states."

She glanced at a bird that had perched on the railing several feet away, smiling at the memory. "My father would take me to his offices and show me his survey maps, or plans for a new skyscraper or house. His love for his work eventually transferred over to me while I was still a teenager, and he began grooming me for a position at the company. I had just graduated from Yale in 1954, the year I met …"

Instead of finishing the sentence, she abruptly stood up. "Bottom line, I think i convinced them that I have Whitley blood in my veins. In fact, I'm working on one or two deals here in Los Angeles that will make them happy. But it's getting late, Beth, and I still have a ton of stuff to do. It just dawned on me that you may have had a reason for stopping by."

"Uh, yeah. Yes, I do." Beth quickly regained her thoughts. "Is it okay if I stop by sometime tomorrow? BuzzWire is interested in doing a story on the new mover and shaker we have here in Los Angeles."

Sarah looked over at Simone, who shrugged. "I personally wouldn't mind waiting until we figure out where did you graduate from this century, but I don't think it will be a problem provided Beth takes point. She knows enough to where she could fill in the blanks herself."

"Sure."

Sarah smiled and reached over to grasp Beth's hand. "Come by in the morning?"

Beth nodded, returning the squeeze before Sarah released it. "I have to call the New York office. Still haven't figured out the cell phone yet, so I'll be in my bedroom."

She smiled at both women before stepping through the sliding door entrance. Beth watch her navigate the living room. "How is she settling in? Truthfully?"

Simone shrugged. "You noticed she hadn't said Josef's name the entire time?"

"I caught that. Not surprised. It took me a week before I could say his name and not "that bastard" or "son of a bitch." What else?"

Simone smiled. "She has her moments. Still discovering the internet. Eleven presidential administrations. She was in awe about the moon landing mission. Then I showed her "Star Wars.""

"Which one?"

"All of them."

###