The eastern sky was barely beginning to lighten as Josef climbed the steps to Beth's apartment. He moved quietly along the hall, hesitating briefly before knocking on her door. Getting no response, he knocked louder, satisfied to at last hear a rustle inside, smiling as the pad of barefeet approached the door. Beth's sleepy voice came muffled through the door. "Who is it?"

Josef grinned. "It's me, Beth. Open the door."

Her heartbeat quickened. "Josef?"

"Yes, Beth. Open the door."

The door opened a crack, the security chain still latched and Beth peaked around the door. "It's five in the morning, Josef. What are you doing here?"

Josef smiled in reassurance. "We need to talk. Can you let me in?"

She looked at him carefully. "Talk about what?"

"Your investigation and possibly some other secrets."

Her eyes widened and she closed the door slightly to release the chain. "Uh, um, okay. Come in." She stepped back to admit him and closed the door, replacing the chain. She brushed self-consciously at her mussed hair, embarrassed to be standing there in an old tee shirt. "Let me grab my robe. I'll be right back."

Josef smiled after her retreating form. "Old ragged clothes apparently do have good uses," he thought, noting no panty line on the shapely bottom. Beth returned quickly, belting the robe securely around her. She went straight to the small kitchen to start coffee. "So, what do you want to know?"

He leaned on the bar, smiling as she moved to keep it between them. "Do you know who's supplying Talbot with these names?"

"No, I don't. He's been very vague about the whole thing." She frowned. "He wasn't happy with my investigation. I think he was hoping for more. More of what, I'm not sure, . .wait" her eyes brightened. "he did put my report in with a file in a black folder!"

"Now, we're getting somewhere." Josef nodded. "And do you have access to this black folder or can you get him to discuss it?"

"I know where he keeps it, but I just can't snoop around in his office." She didn't like what he was asking her to do. "Is it that important that you see this file?"

"Our secrecy is all we have, Beth. So, yes, it's that important. Can you get the file?"

Beth studied his face, undecided. There was really only one choice. Her priority was protecting Mick and, by association, Josef as well.

Josef gave her an additional incentive, his voice gentle. "You know, since the Foster incident and our little secret, I thought you trusted me. I haven't mentioned anything to Mick." He gave a tight smile. "Friends do favors for friends. Right?"

Beth lowered her head, and nodded. He was right. "I'll get the file."

"Good." Josef returned to the door. "You might want to let Mick know when you have it. He can bring you to my office." He opened the door and gave her an amused smile. "We're really becoming partners in crime, Beth. I'll see you both tonight." He closed the door, his smile widening as Beth cursed within. "Damn it!"

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"I'm sorry, Beth. Ben's in court this morning." His secretary didn't even take her eyes from her monitor. "You can leave the files on his desk if you want. The doors open."

Beth forced a smile. "Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks."

Her heart began to hammer as she spied the black folder next to his keyboard and, keeping an eye on his secretary, she slipped it quickly under her jacket. Pushing the other files into a neat pile, one label jumped out at her. "Why does he have a file on Mick?" She glanced at the secretary again and opened the file.

Her eyes widened as Foster's picture of Mick being hit by the car slid from the file and she flipped to the following pages, recognizing Josh's handwriting. An intense feeling of dread began to build as she read briefly. "Shit!" Mick needed to see this. The filed joined the one under her jacket. She moved her purse to cover the bulge of the files, thankful that Ben's secretary was on the phone, and hurried to the elevator.

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Mick closed the file, his face solemn. "You didn't know anything about this, did you?"

Beth took his hand, linking her fingers through his. "I knew he was jealous of us working together so much, but I had no idea he was investigating you."

Mick squeezed her hand in return. "Talbot's picked up where Josh left off, though he does admire my investigative skills." He rubbed his hand tiredly over his face. "Let's get this list to Josef. We'll worry about me later."

"Okay." She held tightly to his hand. He was scared. She could feel it slowly wrapping around them both.

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

The parking garage in Josef's building was oddly dark, and Mick put his hand on Beth's arm as she started to exit the car. "Wait, something's not right."

"What wro . .?" Mick shooshed her with a finger to her lips. He probed the darkness, picking up the distinct echo of human heartbeats AND a lot of decay. As he turned to look at Beth, the first dark figure separated from the shadows, human not vampire, and began to advance toward the car. A second figure moved on the right and Mick vamped, the predator incensed at becoming prey. The twenty feet to the elevator remained clear and he turned to Beth with a hiss. "Get to the elevator." He vaulted over her, landing defensively between her escape route and the advancing threat.

Beth bolted for the elevator, slamming into the door to pound frantically on the Up button. "Open, open!!" Glancing back over her shoulder, she could see a third figure join the others as they advanced toward Mick. She pounded the button again, almost falling in backward as the door suddenly opened and strong arms encircled her, pulling her quickly inside.

"Stay here," Josef growled, shoving her to a corner. He leapt away, his roar echoing through the structure. Landing beside Mick in a crouch, he cocked his head, motioning to the humans. "Shall we?"

Mick gave a gentlemanly bow. "After you." They attacked, the hunted becoming the hunters. Beth cringed as a sword slashed through the air toward Mick and he barely ducked under it, his opponent falling away as Mick's long legs swept his from beneath him. Mick used the sword to remove his head with a flourish, spinning to impale the second as he raised a sword to strike.

Josef made quick work of the third, snapping his neck as the man struggled in his arms. Mick stood, his chest heaving, searching for more assailants, the sword still gripped in his hands. Josef stalked to him, his feral grin one of primal glee. "That was fun."

Mick turned to assure that Beth was still safe. "Glad you enjoyed it." He looked at the sword in his hand, spinning it with swordsman's grace and offered it, hilt first, to Josef. "Your building, your cleanup, brother."

He scented the area again, searching for the source of the decay, and his brow furrowed when he couldn't pick up the scent again. Beth moved to meet him as he approached the elevator, her eyes wide. "Who was that?"

"I don't know." Mick swiped the sweat from his brow with his forearm and turned to Josef with the same question. "Who are they, Josef?"

Josef nudged a body with his toe, rolling it face up. He gave them a tight smile and thrust the sword into the man's chest. "I think we have vamp hunters."

Mick and Beth exchanged shocked looks and he gathered her into his arms. "Are you sure?"

Josef pulled out his cellphone, motioning them toward the elevator as he called the Cleaner. "Yeah, I'm sure. They're vamp hunters. I've been through this before." He punched the floor button for his office, his face grim. "I'm guessing the Legion has arrived in LA."