Mick parked the Benz next to Josef's Ferrari, and looked at Beth seriously as he shut off the ignition. "I already let know Josef know we were stopping by so he's expecting us."

"That's good, I wouldn't want to surprise him." Beth fought her nervousness as she got out of the car, remembering her last conversation with Josef.

"So what do you want me to do about this Foster character?"

"I thought you could handle it. You know, pay him off or something."

"You think that'll work?"

"No."

"Well then, you know how I'm gonna handle it."

"Mick has protected me, saved me more times than I can count."

"And you're returning the favor."

"Just don't tell him we're doing this."

"I can keep a secret." He walked away but he wasn't finished. "But as long as you're involved with Mick and you work at Buzzwire, his secret will always be in danger."

The gasp over what she had done came again and Mick looked at her questionably. "You okay?"

Beth quickly faked a cough, clearing her throat. "Yeah, I just had a tickle in my throat." She rolled her eyes at her slipup as Mick turned to open the door. They could hear Josef arguing with someone as they moved through the house toward his office. Mick smiled back over his shoulder. "The Asian markets must be open."

"Oh." Beth didn't say more as Josef suddenly appeared in front of them. "Well, well, the lovebirds. To what do I owe this pleasure?" He gestured to the seating area overlooking the pool. "May I offer you some liquid refreshment?"

Mick took a seat beside Beth, giving Josef a pointed look. "No, thank you." He glanced at Beth and she nodded towards Josef, her eyes telling him "Go ahead."

Josef sat down with an exasperated sigh. "Don't tell me you two are getting married?"

"No!" They answered in unison.

Josef gave a bark of laughter. "I was kidding." He crossed his legs, leaning back into the couch. "What's so important you had to see me tonight?"

Beth took a deep breath. "You know I'm working for the DA now?" Josef nodded. "Well, Talbot has me looking into some names for an investigation. Mick and I talked to Guillermo and Chance Whitmore today."

Josef looked quickly at Mick, his expression solemn. "And why would the DA be investigating two vampires?"

Beth answered for him. "I don't know. He just asked for basic investigative stuff. Employment, background check, criminal record. I didn't find anything to be suspicious about but," she offered a brief smile, "I really didn't follow up on Jim Morrison."

Josef stood and began to pace. "He was supposed to stay away from LA for awhile. He draws too much attention."

Beth continued. "Talbot said he would probably have a couple more names for me tomorrow. He must have a list or something."

Josef stalked to the bar, pouring a shot and tossing it down quickly. "We need to find out where he's getting his information." He clicked his teeth, showing a hint of fang. "Any investigation is a threat to our secrecy and needs to be stopped now."

Mick gave a tight smile, rising from the couch to pull Beth up with him. "Beth came to me as soon as Talbot gave her the names. We're on this."

Josef followed behind them as they moved back to the front of the house, his voice lowered to reach only Mick's ears. "I'm going to send someone in. Beth does not need to know."

Mick turned back with a sharp nod. "We'll let you know if we find anything."

Josef closed the door behind them, immediately flipping open his phone. The call was picked up on the first ring and he fought the urge to growl, keeping his tone clipped and businesslike. "Breach. ADA Talbot's office. Full retrieval tonight."

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Beth unlocked her apartment door and gave Mick a tired smile. "Do you want to come in for awhile?"

Mick wrapped his arms around her and Beth snuggled into his embrace. "I better not stay tonight. You need to get some rest and that's not going to happen if I'm here."

Beth sighed. "I guess you're right." She tilted her head back, smiling softly. "Can I at least get a good night kiss?"

Mick slowly lowered his head, brushing her lips with his. "I wouldn't think of leaving without one." He closed his lips over hers and Beth threaded her fingers through his hair, molding her body to his. Mick broke the kiss with a groan. "Good night, Beth." He gave her a smile of regret, brushing his thumb softly over her lips. "I'll see you in the morning."

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

With a final glance at Beth's window, Mick pulled away from the curb, moving slowly down the block, his thoughts still with her.

In the moonlight, Beth's hair flowed in a golden wave across the pillow, her eyes aglow with love. He shifted on an elbow to lean closer and she slid her hand around his neck, her warm lips parting in expectation.

A flash of headlights in the rearview brought him from his reverie and his eyes narrowed as the vehicle paced him through the next two stoplights. Shaking his head, he decided to end the chase. "Well, let's see how bad you really want to follow me."

He veered into an alley, shutting off the lights and the Benz's engine roared as he sped down the narrow dark path, quickly leaving his pursuer behind. After a moment or two, he changed direction completely, watching warily for another tail. Traffic flow seemed normal and he gave a sigh of relief as he reached home and the safety of the parking garage. In his relief, he never noticed the shadow that separated from the darkness of a doorway across the dimly lit street, the whispered radio transmission announcing his arrival unheard.

MLMLMLMLMLMLMLMLML

Ben Talbot closed the file, rubbing his eyes tiredly. The last case he was finishing up for Josh Lindsey was ready for closing arguments tomorrow and he looked forward to the shorter hours his own workload would allow. He closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair, reciting his argument one last time. The phone rang and he opened one eye in disgust. "It's 11:30, leave me alone."

The ringing continued and he sat forward with a frown, his hand hovering over the receiver. "Could be important. Okay, okay."

"Talbot."

"The list was for your eyes only. Do not reveal anymore names."

"What is this list? There are people on here who have been dead for a hundred years."

"The significance will be revealed when we feel you are ready, Mr. Talbot. Until that time, you will keep the existence of the list and the names on it secret. You have been chosen very carefully for inclusion in this endeavor. Do not disappoint us."

"But . . " The line went dead and he slowly replaced the receiver. "Chosen? What the hell is going on?" He slid the list into his center desk drawer and locked it, placing the key back in it's hiding place on the bottom of his keyboard. "I'm too tired to deal with this right now."

He closed the office door, and strode toward the elevator, giving a good night wave to the janitor. The old man nodded and continued to mop the long hallway, his eyes following him to the elevator.

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

Beth slid the report across Ben's desk, two single sheets stapled together. Talbot scanned it quickly, obviously expecting more information. "This is it?"

"I interviewed them both, Ben. I don't think there's anything to find. Gasol has been with the coroner for ten years, no criminal record. He's a workaholic. Whitmore is some kind of music mogul. He's rarely in LA but I spoke with him at his nightclub. He's odd, but I don't get the sense he's a criminal." She could tell he wasn't satisfied. "I'm not sure where else you want me to take this investigation?"

Ben frowned, sliding the report into a folder. "Let me study this and I'll get back to you."

Beth rose to leave. "Okay. I have a couple more cases to work on. Just give me a call." She hesitated at the door, watching as Ben drew a black folder from his desk. "I should be here the rest of the afternoon."

Ben nodded, his focus on the file. "I'll let you know."

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

Josef exited the limo before the wheels had rolled to a stop. A Cleaner stood near the service entrance, her black leather blending into the shadows. She opened the door, gesturing up a dark stairway. "Upstairs, end of the hall."

The Cleaner, herself, stood at the end of the hall, flanked by two muscular assistants. Josef raised his eyebrows in question. "Well?"

She pursed her lips, looking through the open door. "We have a problem." She motioned for him to enter the room. The staked bodies of three women and one man lay neatly aligned, their headless corpses joined by linked hands. Studying each body carefully, Josef paused at the male body. He squatted to look closer at the intricate carving on the stake. "This isn't Morrison."

The Cleaner pulled the stake from the first female, handing it to one of her assistants. "We know. He's the one who called." The second stake came out with a sucking pop. "He's already left for Paris. I instructed him not to return until summoned."

Josef pulled the stake from the man's body, being careful to avoid the silver inlay. "You recognize this?" He pointed to the series of symbols encircling the shaft.

Eyes glittering, the Cleaner nodded. "So do you."

Josef dropped the stake into her gloved hands, and bending, wiped his hands on the crumpled sheets piled on the bed. His eyes faded to white and he took a deep breath before facing her again. "Do you have the list?"

The Cleaner withdrew the black folder from a small tote bag. "I've already issued an alert. Four teams are searching as we speak."

Josef flipped the pages, his anger growing as he read the names. With one last look at the severed heads lying in a pile on the bed, he moved to the door. He started to speak but his control was slipping and he waved a hand to encompass the room. "Make sure you bill that bastard for this. I'm not paying for his cleanups anymore."