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Lost Things-Chapter 3

Mick sat in his car rubbing his temples. This could not be happening…it just can't be. The lives of the two women that he cared most about were in the hands of a woman that evidently hated him, but why? He didn't recognize her voice or anything about the woman. Why would she hate him so much? Why was she torturing him?

His phone rang. Quickly, he whipped out the phone and answered it. "Why the hell are you doing this to me?" he demanded.

"Uh…Mick…this is Josh." Josh's voice on the other line sounded confused. All Mick could do was laugh at himself. This was turning out to be the worst day of his life, and he'd had a lot of bad days.

"I'm sorry Josh…I was just…nevermind. What do you want?" he asked with a deep sigh.

"Well you just took off and I wanted to know where you went," explained Josh. "I've gave the cigarette DNA, but they probably won't have it ready until tomorrow."

Mick didn't even know if Beth would have a tomorrow. "Listen Josh you need to tell them that's it's important that they hurry."

"Why is Beth in some sort of trouble?" Josh wanted to find Beth as quick as possible too but something in Mick's voice sounded urgent and worried.

Mick didn't know if he should give Josh the whole story. After all there was no doubt in his mind that this had something to do with him being a vampire. What if Josh found out? "I'm just not sure how much time she has," said Mick.

Josh was silent for a moment. He had no idea how Mick knew this. Somehow or another though this guy seemed to know everything. "How do you know that?"

Sighing, Mick debated whether to tell him or not about the phone call. Josh was in love with Beth maybe just as much as he was and he did have a right to know anything about the case. "Because I got a call from the person who kidnapped her…and…" He paused thinking about the fact that Coraline was probably wherever Beth was. That could never be a good thing. "…And it doesn't sound very good." Taking a deep gulp he waited for Josh's reply.

"You talked to the person who kidnapped her and you didn't tell me?" Josh asked angrily. Mick was quickly forgetting that Beth meant just as much to him. "Listen Mick…I love Beth and I think I deserve to know that sort of thing."

Mick sighed at the question thinking of Coraline. That was something he couldn't tell Josh without more questions arising. "Listen Josh I'm sorry about not telling you, but they told me something rather personal…something I can't tell you. If we're going to work together on this case you're going to have to stop asking so many questions. If I tell you something…just trust me ok?"

Josh shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe this guy! There was no way he was going to trust him. "No Mick I'm not going to trust you. If we're working together that means you share everything with me. Beth means a lot to both of us and I'm not going to lose her because you can't share your stupid secrets with me!" Then he hung up the phone.

Furious, Mick slammed his head on the steering wheel. Now he knew this was without a doubt the worst day of his life. Coraline was missing and Beth was somewhere with her plus now he was going to have Josh snooping around. His phone rang again and he didn't even want to answer. Sighing, he looked at the caller ID…it was Beth. Ok try to stay calm Mick…just stay calm. With caution, he answered the phone.

"Hello…" he greeted as calmly as he could.

"Well that certainly was a much better greeting than the last time…" It was the same condescending female voice from before.

"Yeah well I suppose that I better be a bit nicer to you seeing as you've got both the women I love," said Mick. His tone was cold, without emotion.

"Hmmm…it seems you're a bit smarter than I pegged you for…"

"Why are you doing this to me?" Mick asked in a defeated tone.

"Vengeance my dear…all a long awaited vengeance."

"But what did I do to deserve this? What?" His voice still sounded more sad then angry. He knew anger wasn't going to solve this problem for him.

"You ruined my life and took away what meant most to me. I'm simply returning the favor."

"Listen I'm sorry but I don't know who you are." Mick couldn't deny that he might have done something to this woman. After all he hadn't been as tamed in his past.

"Sure you do…" The woman sounded heated but still quite calm probably because she was in charge of the situation. "You remember the woman you killed in an alley twenty years ago and the little girl who watched her mother die at your hand. Well that little girl would be me."

Mick's eyes widened at the realization. He remembered that day very well, and it was something he regretted for a long time. The woman had been turned and abandoned by her sire. By the time he found her it was too late. She was too wild to tame. He had to kill her, but he hadn't known the woman's little girl was watching. It was an honest mistake. "So I see you remember now," said the woman breaking his train of thought.

"Yes…I'm sorry about what I did to you but your mother-"

"Don't you talk about her you monster! Yeah I know what you are…a vampire. I also know you're the best at what you do… you know being a private investigator. So I'm really going to put that to the test. You're missing two things that mean the most to you…let's see if you can find those lost things before it's too late." Then the line went dead.

--

Coraline watched Beth from across the room. She could feel the blood pulsing through Beth's veins. It was calling to her, and she wanted to answer but she couldn't.

"So how long do you plan to wait?" asked Beth, defeated. There was no way Coraline would fight her hunger to save Beth's life. Beth knew it and there was no reason for her to have hope.

"Excuse me?" Coraline said. She had heard Beth correctly, but she couldn't believe her tone.

"You know until you kill me? I know you must not want to wait too long…" They were sitting across the room from each other. Beth was huddled in the corner shivering from the cold, and Coraline was huddled in the other corner simply glaring at Beth wanting what only Beth could give.

Coraline was disappointed. She hadn't expected Beth to be such a quitter. "Wow you sound as if you've already given up. I never thought you were such a quitter. I must admit I'm kind of disappointed," said Coraline.

Beth glared at the beautiful woman. She couldn't tell if Coraline was being genuine or continuing with her dreadful mind games. You could never tell with her since she was so good at what she did. "I'm not in the mood for you games. I'd rather you just kill me."

Coraline snickered a little. "This is funny coming from the woman who figured out who I was and staked me. The same woman who wouldn't quit until she got what she wanted; the same woman who made such an amazing journalist simply because of her unyielding perseverance is now giving up without a fight. Now you're talking to me as if you almost want to die just because you're in a tough situation." Again Coraline laughed especially when she saw Beth's livid face. "I for one won't let this woman win so quickly."

Beth glared at Coraline, confused. The crazed vampire had truly surprised her. "So you're not going to kill me?"

Irritated, Coraline rolled her eyes. "No, I'll fight it as long as I can…"

"But what happens when you can't fight the thirst anymore." Beth knew what happened when vampires got too hungry. They could not control their actions. Mick had shown restraint when it happened to him in the desert, but he was good with control. Coraline obviously could not control herself as well as Mick could. That was a given.

"When that happens…I hope you're stronger than you just acted a few moments ago."

Beth sighed. She hoped she was too.

--

Josh sat in his office doing all he could do which was wait for the test results. It was the only evidence they had. The surveillance was wiped out…the kidnappers had planned their attack well. He had no idea how Mick found the cigarette, but he didn't really think Mick would answer him if he asked. Mick seemed very secretive about things. His phone rang and he wasn't too happy to see who it was…Mick. "Hi…what do you want?" Josh greeted rather cruelly. He wasn't too happy with this man right now.

"I want you to look up someone really quick. It involves the case," said Mick.

"Ok…who?" Josh wasn't too happy about it, but it had to do with the case so he couldn't say no.

"Linda Nelson. I want you to find out her daughter's name and what her daughter's up to these days."

Sighing, Josh massaged his temples. Mick was just getting stranger by the second. "What the hell does this have to do with the case?"

"Just trust me ok!" replied Mick.

Josh rolled his eyes, aggravated. "No! I can't trust you because I feel like you're making me do useless things! None of the crap you've given me to do seems actually relevant! Now either you give me an explanation or I won't do it…"

"Don't you want to find Beth?"

"Yes of course I do but-"

"Then search the name!" Then the line went dead.

Furious, Josh slammed the phone down on the table. He couldn't believe this guy. First he demands these ridiculous things and then he hangs up on him. Josh didn't know if he could handle this. Beth was missing and he was being forced to work with a guy that he utterly despised. Even though he was completely resentful to the idea he decided he might as well search the name. It wouldn't hurt anything but his pride, but first he wanted to search another name.

After opening the police files on the computer, he searched a name he should have looked into a long time ago. Mick St. John he typed into the search box and pressed enter. Taking a deep breath, he waited for the results.

First thing he noticed was the birth date…November 14, 1922. That didn't make any sense even if it was his father. Then he noticed something else according the records Mick was a missing person. It said he was last seen March 22, 1952. Apparently he eloped with his girlfriend Coraline and was never seen again. "This can't be right," Josh whispered as he looked at the file. Jacob St. John, his father was dead…his mother…everyone in his life was dead. Still what didn't make any sense at all was why did a guy supposedly 85 years old look like he wasn't a day over thirty?