Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. I sure am glad that I can still play with the characters when I want.

We are now heading into the closing chapters of this story. I hope you enjoy them.

Chapter 24

After an hour, Mick could see that Beth was tiring and he insisted that she should get some sleep before heading to work the next day. He knew that the nap had not been enough to replenish the sleep that Beth had been missing out on. They returned to Mick's apartment and then Beth decided that she would go back to her own apartment for the night. She argued that she hadn't brought enough clothes to stay another night and she did not want to face Talbot in the same outfit she wore today.

"I also have to produce a witness report without giving away Laslo and his group. Thank goodness I got straight A's in my creative writing classes in college, I'm going to need all the skills I have to hide the truth," she grinned up at Mick as she leaned back against her Prius. Mick hovered over her and then bent to kiss her.

"You are getting way too good at this," he said shaking his head but Beth could see the pride in his eyes. "Go home, lock your doors and stay put for the night. I'm going to hit the freezer since tomorrow will be a long day again. I plan to be there when Chuck sees that Christa is okay just in case Laslo develops second thoughts," Mick added.

Beth was touched at how seriously Mick took his job. The concern he showed for his clients always impressed her, especially when it also involved dealing with those of his kind. She hugged him tightly, loving how safe she felt when his arms wrapped around her.

"Sleep well and I will lock my doors, I promise. I will text you as soon as I learn anything about the dumpster," she assured him with a smile.

With his Beth in his arms, Mick felt content. He was amazed at how totally Beth accepted his world and all that went with it. It was surprising when knew that there were things she still didn't completely understand.

"I'll see you tomorrow Beth," he murmured. "I love you." He kissed her slowly, savoring the taste of her.

"Keep that up and I'll never go home," Beth sighed, her eyes glowing. She reluctantly released her hold on him and gripped the car handle. "Good luck tomorrow with the reunion. I'll do my best to deflect Ben."

"I know you will," Mick smiled and kissed her quickly once more before letting her get into the car. He was aware of how once he let the barriers down with Beth that he didn't mind letting her get close. Now he fervently hoped that nothing would happen to make him regret it later. Feeling tired from the long day, he headed up to the apartment and his freezer.

*M*M*

Once Beth reached the office the next morning, she made checking on the dumpster her first order of business. Forty-five minutes later she confirmed Mick's suspicions. Ordinarily that dumpster would have been emptied on a Wednesday, not a Monday. If things had played out normally, Tammi's body would have been buried under two more days of garbage and not as easily discovered.

Pulling out her phone, Beth sent a quick text to Mick, sending him the information. She knew he would still be in his freezer but would awaken soon and she hoped that he could make some use of what she had learned. All in all Beth wasn't sure what knowing this would really tell them.

With that taken care of, Beth turned her attention back to the report that she needed to file on yesterday's interview. She felt she had to do a delicate blending of fact and fiction to keep the name of Dark Nightmare Pictures out of the report and keep the police from looking at them too closely too soon. As she finished her report, she put it in a manila folder and then hesitated. She wanted to delay taking it to Talbot and having to explain who she interviewed and why. With cold determination she set the folder aside and picked up another one from her inbox. Her greatest hope was that the next case would be interesting enough to make the day fly by.

At eleven-fifty her phone rang and Beth was surprised to see Darla Wilson's name on her caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Ms Turner, this is Darla," a soft voice spoke to her. "I really need to talk to you. Can you come to the studio…now?"

"Is something wrong Darla?" Beth asked in concern.

"Please….just come here. I don't want to talk on the phone," Darla said.

"Darla, Mick should be at the studio by now, you can tell him anything you could tell me," Beth urged as she got to her feet and grabbed her bag.

"I'm in my dressing room and if Mick is here I haven't seen him. Please Ms Turner….I have no idea where Laslo is but I really need to talk to you. I cannot discuss this with a vampire," Darla insisted.

"Okay Darla, I'm on my way," Beth assured her as she left her cubicle. On her way out she saw Ben heading out of his office but she waved him off when he looked like he would stop her.

"I'll leave your name at the gate," Darla told her before hanging up.

Once in the vehicle and heading to the studio, Beth dialed Mick. He picked up almost immediately.

"Hey Beth. I got your text earlier," Mick answered.

"Good. Mick are you at the studio?" Beth asked quickly.

"Not at the moment. Laslo thought it would be better if Chuck and Christa met at his office off the lot. Why?" Mick replied, concern lacing his voice.

"Darla just called me and wants to talk. I'm heading to the studio now to meet her," Beth responded. "I am not sure what she wants."

"Okay," Mick said. "Hold off Beth, I'll meet you there."

"I'm meeting her in her dressing room," Beth told him. "I'll be fine; there are a lot of people on the set. I'll see you there."

Mick stared at the phone that was now disconnected. Sometimes Beth just didn't see the danger and that made him crazy. He looked at Laslo standing across the room from him.

"We have to get back to the lot now," Mick said sharply. "Darla called Beth and asked her to meet her at the set. She has been hiding something and I don't want Beth alone there," he concluded as the two headed down to the car. Chuck and Christa had left five minutes earlier to do some catching up. The reunion had gone very well but now Mick feared that the other part of the case was going wrong and he needed to get to Beth.

*M*M*

Beth parked her car on the lot of Dark Nightmare Pictures and headed towards the sound stage building. There were several people moving around the lot, going about their business but once she got inside the cavernous building things were strangely quiet. Beth felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up but shook off her uneasiness and headed to the dressing rooms in the dim light. As she passed the mock up of the motel room it felt as if someone was watching her so Beth hastened her steps and went down the hall to the dressing area. Her heart rate was increased by the time she got to Darla's room and she rapped on the door sharply.

The door swung open rapidly as Darla looked out and then motioned Beth inside urgently. After Beth entered, she shut the door firmly and then spun around to look at the blonde seriously.

"Thank you for coming Ms Turner."

"Call me Beth. What do you want to tell me Darla?" Beth asked as she sat down on a chaise lounge pushed against one wall.

"You said I should call you if I remembered anything," Darla began. She sank down on the vanity stool facing Beth. "Well there is something but first I have to ask you something." Her eyes begged Beth to be understanding. She smiled when Beth nodded and leaned towards her. "Are you really dating that handsome vampire?"

"Yes I am," Beth answered, not expecting that question. "Why?"

"So it is possible for them to see us as something other than food?" Darla asked earnestly.

"Oh….."Beth said realizing what had motivated the girl's question. "Darla, I can't speak for other vampires, Mick is a special case. He rescued me when I was young and just recently have we become close. Are you in love with Laslo Masterson?" she asked shrewdly.

"No…..uh….I, well….I guess I am," Darla stumbled through her confession, dropping her gaze to her intertwined fingers. "I can't help it. I never dreamed that maybe there was a chance…."she trailed off as she looked back up at Beth.

"Whoa…" Beth said holding up one hand. "I can't tell you that Mr. Masterson is interested in freshies that way Darla. You need to talk to him about that. But that isn't why you called me here is it?" she prompted, steering the girl back to the reason she had called Beth. "What did you want to tell me?"

Darla took a deep breath and slowly nodded.

"Okay, I didn't tell you everything I knew yesterday. I didn't know if I could trust you," the girl admitted guiltily. "I saw Tammi later on Saturday. I came back here to get my script and when I reached the soundstage I saw Tammi meeting someone. I hid and watched." Darla's eyes glowed angrily. "I always suspected that tramp was going behind Laslo's back but I had no proof. So I snapped a picture." She produced her cell phone from her pants pocket and smiled triumphantly. "I caught them in the act." She touched the screen and brought up a picture and handed the phone to Beth. "I was going to show Laslo on Monday morning, I wanted him to know she was betraying him. But then she didn't show up for filming and everything got crazy here. I never got the chance to show him."

Beth looked at the picture on the phone and felt a chill sweep over her. It was a dark shot but you could clearly see Tammi feeding Laslo's assistant; Calvin Simmons. She looked back up at Darla.

"Why didn't you say something to him later?"

"Calvin is always around; I didn't get any time alone with Laslo. Since Tammi disappeared he stopped feeding fresh. I think that Calvin suspects I know something; he has been looking at me strangely. I couldn't keep this to myself anymore, I'm frightened," she said just as the door to the dressing room flew open.

End chapter.

So….all of you who figured that Calvin is the killer, raise your hands. Be honest now. Thank you for reading; I will look forward to your thoughts.