Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. I cannot claim any monetary value from this writing…..but reviews are always nice.

Thank you for all who have read this. I really do hope that you enjoy it.

Chapter 15

"Josef could tell you had been at my place. I couldn't keep that a secret. He is my sire," Kira said in amusement. "And after all Mick, your issues with biting are not some big secret to any of us."

"Relax Mick, I won't tell a soul," Josef grinned. "But I would be glad to give you advice on how to handle Blondie if you like."

"Thank you, no," Mick said with a sigh and a shake of his head. He would not win a battle of words with Josef on this subject. "What I really need to know from you is if you have any contacts in the film industry. Beth has a dead body in the morgue with bite marks and a broken neck and I have a missing girl who I believe is in danger of sharing the same fate. What can you tell me about one of the tribe who likes to use freshies to make horror films?" Mick asked going on the information that the waitress had given him. He didn't know what else Beth might have learned from her sources but his gut told him the stories would be similar.

Josef instantly sobered at Mick's questions. He straightened up and crossed the room, wiping his hand over his face. Turning back to the Mick and Kira he smiled tightly and shrugged.

"Offhand no vamp springs to mind but I haven't been keeping close tabs on all the Hollywood crazies lately. All the class vanished with the old studio days," he sighed. "I can ask around though. Are you sure that this girl was mixed up with a vamp?"

"Well I don't know about my case just yet but the girl that the DA's office is investigating was involved with vampires and she is dead. I have to know so that Christa doesn't end up in the morgue like Tammi. All the leads I've gotten indicate that the two cases are linked," Mick insisted.

Josef hesitated briefly then smiled at Mick.

"I will ask and see what I can learn. We cannot have vampires killing starlet wannabes," he laughed lightly. "Now, shouldn't you go check on your little human and see if you can resolve your bite problem?" he added, changing the subject.

"Josef," Kira scolded softly.

"I do not have a bite problem," Mick protested in exasperation. "Really Josef, say out of my love life. And thank you, I would appreciate any help you can give me with this case," he added as he headed to the door. "Kira, I will talk to you later."

Kira nodded and watched Mick leave then turned her attention to Josef. Her eyes narrowed as she observed his discomfort and she didn't like the impression she was getting from him.

"Josef my darling, just what are you not telling Mick? You do know the vamp he is looking for, don't you?" she accused.

"Kira, please…..I do not know every vamp in Los Angeles," he protested.

"Do not lie to me Josef Kostan," Kira growled as she glared at him. "I know you know exactly which member of the tribe is making horror films. Why on earth won't you tell Mick?" she asked in confusion as she got to her feet.

Josef walked over to her and took her hands in his.

"I need to speak to someone before I turn Mick loose on him," he said quietly.

"Who is he?" Kira asked.

"I'll tell you later, after I have a chance to speak to him," Josef countered.

"You don't trust me," Kira said jerking her hands free, the hurt laced in her voice.

"I do not want you in the middle of this," Josef stated firmly. "I know how you feel about the humans and what Mick does to protect them. This may be more complicated than it first appears so please give me a chance to check things out before I say anything," he added as he once more took her hands in his.

Curiosity gleamed in Kira's eyes as she did not resist his touch this time. While it stung to have Josef doubt her ability to keep his secrets, she had to admit she was torn on the subject. Her loyalty and love had always been to Josef but she would find it difficult to stay quiet about someone who was a threat to humans and could violate vampire secrecy. So perhaps it was better that she did not know who this person was until Josef could talk to the vamp. Feeling his fingers tighten on hers, she looked into his warm brown eyes and was surprised to see painful regret flash in them.

"Please trust me my girl," he said softly.

"You have a history with this vamp," Kira stated with conviction. "Do you owe him something? Talk to me Josef, help me understand this strange behavior. It is not like you to protect someone who could blow our secrecy out of the water."

Josef dropped his gaze to the floor for a moment and then back up at her. He pulled her close, into his arms and held her.

"Yes, I owe him. And I promise I will explain as soon as I have had a chance to talk to him. Please trust me," he whispered in her ear.

"You exasperate me Josef, but I promise I will wait," she replied. She pushed back a bit to meet his eyes again and laid one hand on his cheek. "Don't take too long to deal with this problem, a girl's life may hang in the balance and Mick is good at his job. He may find your friend before you talk to him and then it will really get messy," she warned.

"I will my pet," Josef promised as he leaned in to kiss her lightly.

*M*M*

As Mick drove away from Josef's office he knew that he had time to stop by Logan's before Beth arrived at his place. Mick didn't like the nagging doubt that insisted on buzzing in the back of his skull that kept telling him that Josef was once again lying to him. It wasn't the first time that Josef had not been totally honest with him, in fact the older vampire often kept information from him claiming that it was for his own good. It did surprise him that with the chance of their secrecy being exposed that Josef would lie but Mick was sure he had his reasons. And he also felt that Kira had been surprise by the lie as well.

With Christa's life possibly on the line Mick had no intention of backing down while Josef played whatever game he was playing and now Mick would get his information somewhere else. He parked outside Logan's place and went to the door.

Logan buzzed Mick in and then glanced up at the PI as he came down the stairs. The techie was hunched over his keyboard, fingers flying fast.

"Mick, what can I do for you?" he asked as he looked back at his monitor.

"Hey Logan, I need your help locating someone," Mick said coming to a stop next to him. He looked at the monitor in puzzlement. "Just what are you doing? Writing a book?"

"Oh this?" Logan said grinning sheepishly. "Not a book….I ….write fan fiction for anime. I….uh…never mind," he mumbled as he saved his work and shut down the screen. Mick stared at him in confusion.

Shaking his head slightly, Mick decided not to pursue the subject further. Logan certainly had some different interests but now was not the time to figure them out; he had a more pressing issue to pursue.

"I need to find a vampire working in the film industry," Mick told him.

"And how do you expect me to do that? It's not like they list vampire on their job resume. Could you narrow down the search somewhat? A name….anything?" Logan groaned and rolled his eyes.

"I have a name…..Laslo; I am just not sure if it is a first name or last. And he is involved in horror films," Mick said referring to the name that Boyer had mentioned.

"Well that I can do something with," the curly haired vamp said brightening and bringing up a new screen. "Are you going to wait or shall I call you?" he added extending his hand out, palm up.

"Call me, I need to meet Beth," Mick answered, slapping a few bills into Logan's hand. "Don't you get paid for that writing?"

"No," Logan said looking offended. "I do that strictly for fun… and the reviews, of course."

"Of course," Mick chuckled shaking his head in bemusement.

"I'll let you know as soon as I find anything," Logan assured him.

"Thanks Logan," Mick replied and headed up the stairs. He knew he could have conducted his own computer search but never at the speed Logan could do it at. Mick's plans for the evening did not include chaining himself to the computer all night. He was eager to see Beth and while he was still uncomfortable with the biting subject coming up again, he knew it wasn't going to go away. The reality was that he and Beth needed to talk more.

Kira's advice came back to him. She told him to trust himself but after several decades of hating what he was, it was difficult to come to terms with biting the one person who meant more to him than his own life. But then again, faced with Beth's determination to explore this further, he knew he would not be able to avoid it forever.

Arriving home, his first order of business was to go to his hidden fridge and get a drink. It was much easier to deal with Beth when he wasn't hungry. After taking care of his thirst, Mick went to his office to work while waiting for her arrival. The ding of the elevator some time later brought a smile to his lips and he rose and headed to the office door. Pausing with one hand on the handle, he inhaled and picked up the wonderful scent of Beth along with the spicy odor of Chinese takeout. His smile widened as her footsteps paused on the other side and he pulled the door open, surprising her as she reached up to knock.

"Mick!" she exclaimed, startled by the door swinging open before she touched it. Her takeout bag started to tumble from her grasp and Mick quickly rescued it before it hit the floor.

"Sorry, I head the elevator and smelled your dinner," he greeted her as he handed the bag back to her.

"You and your vamp senses," she laughed as she entered the office. "I guess there is no surprising you."

Mick watched her set her things on one of the chairs in front of his desk and turn back towards him, her face glowing in happiness.

"Oh you have ways of surprising me," Mick said as he went to her and pulled her into his arms. He was always amazed how merely being in the same room with her made him feel alive. He couldn't imagine not being able to be with her. "You just can't sneak up on me," he finished as he leaned down for a welcoming kiss.

End chapter.

Once again we have Josef keeping secrets and Mick is working around him to learn the truth. It will not take long to find out what is going on, so I hope you will hang around for the next chapter. Thank you for reading.