This would not be possible, if it weren't for my Beta and muse, greenleaf9. She stayed up with me from 8-3am editing my entire story!!! (over 110 pages) I will be reposting the edited editions today.

Thanks for your comments and reviews. I have been overwhelmed with such nice reviewers since my last thanks that I don't think I have anything to say but…

YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So this is for all of you… Enjoy!

Evacuation

Mick arrived downtown among the hustle and bustle of police, fire and medical crews. He noticed Adriana running through the crowd toward him.

"Mick. Mick. Over here." Adriana motioned for Mick to drive around behind the building. Once he had parked in a semi-discreet place (how discreet can a red Ferrari be?) Adriana approached the car.

"Jesus, I've been worried. Why didn't you want me to leave?" Adriana asked.

Mick explained that he thought the elevator was an attempt on her life and that he feared her car might be compromised too.

"But I don't have a car. I was driving Josef's Shelby Mustang," Adriana said.

Mick turned to see the classic car parked a few spaces from his. "It doesn't matter, they still could have tampered with it. I'm going to get you back safely."

"What about the freshies? I can't leave them there. Please help me," Adriana begged.

"You mean the club's still open?" Mick was surprised.

"Of coarse. They wouldn't close for something as trivial as an elevator crash. Hell, the customers will probably demand to stay until they can ride the elevator back down," Adriana chuckled.

"Fine. But what do you think we can do? Do you have a way back in that doesn't get you caught?" Mick asked.

"We can use the back entrance. The coordinator said he placed Josef's guards back there to stop the intruders who came yesterday."

"Intruders? Who was intruding?" Mick asked.

"Not sure. The coordinator was cryptic, but he said two people used the back stairwell last night to gain entrance. They think the intruders are the cause behind the freshie and the vamp's death." Adriana said. "Funny, the coordinator made it sound like the dead vamp was the result of some freshie contamination. Guess I forgot to mention I was the cause of his death."

"Two intruders. In the back stairwell… Adriana, that was probably Beth and I. We slipped out the back to go visit the Agency," Mick said.

Adriana stared at Mick. "If that was you, then we're back to square one. What is going on up there?"

"The coordinator knows more then he's saying," Mick said. "And the Agency is definitely behind this." He got out of the car and looked up the building. "We need to get the freshies out of there before anything else goes wrong. You said Josef's guards were stationed at the back?"

"Yeah, do you think we could sneak the girls out that way?" Adriana asked.

"Maybe. Do you think it would be safe for you to reenter the club?"

"Probably. As long as you know that I am in there. Do you want me to distract the coordinator while you sneak the girls out?"

"No, I don't want to scare the Agency off. Besides, I don't have a way to get all the girls out of here."

"Hum… we would have to be discrete. All the ambulances and police out front might notice if 20 plus girls snuck out the back. And God help us all when they see the bite marks on the girls' necks." Adriana and Mick stood silently for minute, contemplating their options.

"Well," Mick said, finally, "The safest option seems to be closing the club. Are you sure the patron's won't leave?"

"It would take nothing short of an incendiary bomb to get them out," Adriana joked.

"That will have to do," Mick said. He started toward the back doors.

Adriana rushed after him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you tell the customers that the police believe there is an incendiary bomb in the building and have them evacuate."

"But if the Agency is behind this, won't they know that there's not a bomb?" Adriana asked as they climbed the stairs.

"Yes, but how could they refute your claim? You are the owner and they would expose themselves if they claim to know more about the attack thAn you." Mick continued up the stairs. When they reached the top, Mick noticed the lack of guards. "Where are Josef's guards?"

"I don't know. The freshies and the coordinator said they would be here." Adriana said. She was starting to feel uneasy. "Are you sure we should do this?"

"Yes. Just go in and act like the police questioned you. Say that you only just got away and you snuck up the back to tell the customers to clear out, before the police get here." Mick suggested, "I will be in the back, getting some info and doing some sneaking around. Where did you say the video feeds went to?"

"In the supply room. There is a small security station in the cupboard next to the first aid supplies. Here," Adriana handed Mick a small key. "This is the master key. It should open every lock in the place."

"Thanks," Mick said. "You ready?"

Adriana took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Yes, let's do this."

They walked through the doors. Nothing seemed wrong. There were freshies in the beds in the small supply room. Some looked up, recognizing Mick and Adriana as they entered. None asked what they were doing there. Rule one of freshie protocol: Never ask questions.

Mick made his way to the security cabinet and Adriana walked out to the club.

"What are you doing here?" the coordinator asked. Adriana was pleased to hear a note of panic in his voice. You can't get rid of me the easily.

"I got interrogated by the police downstairs about the elevator crash. Surly, you've heard?" The coordinator nodded slightly. "Then why haven't you cleared the club? The police will be here soon and we don't want our customers to be detained for questioning, do we?" Adriana asked.

"No ma'am. But… but the police can't get in." The coordinator was babbling, "You don't want to lose the revenues. Do you?"

"No, but I don't want to lose future customers because all my current clients are being detained downtown." Adriana was starting to lose her patience. She looked around the club. The customers seemed to be a little on edge. Of coarse, they heard the elevator crash. And no doubt they can here the sirens too.

Adriana spotted a freshie acting funny from across the room. She looked drunk. The freshie was staggering and stumbling toward her and the coordinator. Adriana noticed the coordinator stiffen out of the corner of her eye. He seemed to regard the young woman as a threat.

Adriana caught the woman as she stumbled in front of her. The woman seemed to be fighting for consciousness. The coordinator tried to take her from Adriana's arms, but Adriana held on.

"She needs to rest ma'am." The coordinator looked panicked. Adriana sensed his fear. The entire club was watching them with rabid attention. The girl tried to speak, but it only came out as a murmur. Again the coordinator tried to take the girl.

Now Adriana knew something was up. Why doesn't he want me to talk to her? She asked him, "Why haven't I seen her before?"

"She….she's… um… new," the coordinator answered.

"All the girls should be new tonight. They should all be the ones I sent over yesterday. She was not with them, so why is she here?" Adriana was starting to get pissed.

"She must be someone's personal freshie," the coordinator prompted, but the woman shook her head 'no,' weakly. "She's lying." Adriana could hear the panic in the coordinator's voice.

Adriana motioned to the DJ to cut the music. "Does this freshie belong to anyone?" Adriana called to the crowd. No one responded.

"Her keeper must have left." The coordinator said.

"Keepers are not allowed to leave their freshies. Besides, I don't think she has a keeper," Adriana stated. "Come with me, she motioned to the coordinator."

"But, I need to stay here and coordinate…" the coordinator tried to protest, but Adriana's eyes bored into him.

Adriana laid the poor girl in a booth. Then she turned to address the club. "As you probably heard, there has been an incident in the hotel. One of the elevators has crashed. There are swarms of police outside trying to clear the building. I have been talking with them and they believe that it was a deliberate attack and they think there might be another incendiary bomb in the building. I ask you to please leave discretely through the back. I know it is an inconvenience, but don't worry about the bills." The coordinator's eyes grew wide and he tried to protest, but Adriana continued, "The important thing is for everyone to get out safely without the police knowing."

As Adriana finished, the room suddenly came alive. People were hurrying to find their companions, their belongings, and get to the exit. The guards were occupied with organizing the crowd, so Adriana turned back to the freshie in the booth. The girl had finally passed out. Adriana looked around, but the coordinator had disappeared into the crowd. She saw Mick working his way against the crowd towards her.

"Did you find anything?" Adriana asked.

"No. The tapes were gone. The agency must have already taken them. Who is she?" Mick asked.

"One of the freshies," Adriana said.

"She isn't one of Josef's," Mick replied.

"I know. I think the agency sent out for some of their girls once I left. She looks new. See how she doesn't have any scars on her neck or arms." Adriana motioned to the girl.

"Hum…we'll have to take her with us," Mick said.—picking the girl up from the bench. He turned to leave, but Adriana didn't move. "Adriana, come on." Still she didn't move. Mick turned around and saw that she was staring at a TV screen.

He looked at the screen and nearly dropped the girl in his arms, Beth?! What is Beth doing on the news? Mick noticed that her neck was healed and thought, It must be an old piece the networks picked up. But the corner says live? Then Mick recognized the scene. Beth was standing out front of the hotel. She's here. I am going to kill Josef.