Chapter 24

Beth knew Mick had been married before and that -- what was her name? -- oh, yes, Coraline -- was the one who had turned him. But what she didn't get is how he could mistake Morgan for this Vampira? That whole fire scene he acted freaked out, like he knew her.

And Beth had been really buying into his whole act of caring about her when he just starts becoming obsessed. With another woman. Granted, her photographer friend was beautiful and drew men in like flies. There was something exotic about her. Maybe Hawaiian? And God knew, all the Buzzwire guys and even Maureen seemed to trip over each other to please her. Morgan seemed unfazed by all the attention and Mick.

Beth just couldn't get a handle on Mick's reaction. He acted suspicious around Morgan and for the first time since she had met him, almost boorish. Really, when she had brought Morgan over to his office, to investigate the assault and burglary, she almost had to force him to take the case. And then later, at Morgan's apartment, his actions were almost hostile, asking if she was alone. She'd never known him to be uncivil and was aggravated that he treated her friend in that manner.

Yes, he grudgingly took the case but it was definitely not for her. No, it was obvious he had another agenda. Yet after thinking about it -- and even tentatively trying to get him to admit his attraction -- she was even more puzzled. This just wasn't the Mick she knew.

She doesn't see him for days, other than to report an embarrassing finding of nothing in Morgan's past. But he still seems convinced of something. But what?

Finally, he comes over and he's ready to admit defeat, telling her everything, even about the cemetary. Could he really have believed he would find the fleur-de-lis? That a vampire could be transformed back into a human? He had hoped but that hope had finally died when he saw no brand on Morgan's shoulder. Now he was remorseful.

All Beth knew was that Morgan now avoided her at work and she had lost a friend.