Chapter 28

Truth

Intro Song: Gimme Some Truth, John Lennon

Author's note: Happy Mother's Day to everyone! I hope you enjoy this next chapter…

A stream of profanity spilled angrily from Mick St. John once he'd reached the relative privacy of his old Mercedes. After leaving the disastrous meeting with Ben Talbot and Carl Davis, he'd stormed out of the DA's offices, grabbing his contraband copy of the case file from Jamie's desk on his way. He contemplated leaving the missing admin a note to thank her, but was too livid to take the time. Fuck it, she'll figure it out... Now he flung the offending file on the passenger seat in fury. He'd been played by Ben Talbot, maneuvered into going on this fucking San Diego trip in order to protect Beth. You've got no one to blame but yourself.That may be true, but he was right to want to investigate the case for the vampire community. That much he was sure of. He just didn't like being out-maneuvered by a candy-ass weasel like Talbot.

The implied threat to Beth had shoved the ADA from the merely annoying list to the "catch you later" category, formerly occupied by one Lee Jay Spalding. He cranked up his engine, and allowed himself one singular, prolonged roar of frustration... punctuated by the sound of his cell phone ringing.

"Yeah, Josef" he answered tersely, struggling for calm. "Yeah... I've got an update for you on New York. I was going to come see you anyway about it lat–." He listened for a moment. "Fine, if you want to meet now, I'm on my way." His phone went silent almost immediately. So much for sleeping this afternoon!

Mick decided to try Beth once more, hoping to hear from her before this impromptu second meeting of the day. After the fourth ring, he knew her voice mail was going to pick up and he forced down his disappointment. "Hey - it's me. I'm done at the D.A.'s Office, but now I have to meet with Josef to give him an update on the New York investigation. Not sure how long it'll take, but I'll be home as soon as I can. I know you're researching a case, so I'll see you tonight, okay?" After a pause, he added, "I love you."

He was disconnecting the call to Beth as another came in, the caller ID listing only 'private'. Now what?

"Mick St. John here."

"Well, hello, Mick St. John. Wow, that sounds so...Dick Tracy-like. Victoria Silver here," the New York City vampire said with a smile. Gabrielle's words had been weighing on Victoria. Much as she had hated to admit it, the younger vampire was right - they needed allies. Good or bad, Josef Kostan and Mick St. John were their only backup outside of New York if something went wrong with their plans. She hadn't been able to bring herself to call Josef, but Mick on the other hand...

"How are you feeling, Victoria?" Mick frowned into the phone. He liked the vampire leader, but she was trouble with a capital T – both professionally and personally.

"I'm fine, Mick, completely back to normal, although you may hear rumors to the contrary. Gabrielle tells me she has updated you on our little ruse to tease out our adversaries."

"Yes, she did. She probably also told you that I wasn't in favor of it." His tone was guarded. What do you want? A woman like Victoria always wanted something.

"She did mention something to that effect. We just don't have the luxury of a choice, unfortunately. We have to do something here to get the council the proof they are demanding in order for them to accept that there is a conspiracy and agree to do something about it. I'm not good at waiting around to have someone try to kill me again. After all, you might not be there to rescue me the next time," she purred.

Inwardly, Mick groaned. All he needed to make his home life a nightmare would be to have Beth intercept one of these loaded comments from Victoria Silver, especially after the vampire had answered his phone when he was in New York. He kept those thoughts to himself, afraid of fueling the fire. "I just think it's very risky for the two of you, especially Gabrielle. As I understand it, she is the one who has to intervene if Durin is attacked."

"Yes, that's true. But our little Gabrielle is more than capable of handling it, Mick. You haven't had a chance to see her in action, but I have. Trust me, she can take care of herself. Your concern is touching, however."

"I just don't want to see either of you get hurt."

"I know she appreciates that - as do I. But I really just called to say 'thank you' for your help last week. It has been very busy here, but I was remiss in letting so much time go by before I contacted you. If you hadn't been there with your quick thinking, Dr. Spector assures me that I would have died. I am very appreciative - and I'd like to show my appreciation."

"I'm just glad I could help - and, you don't need to do anything." The last thing he needed was some special 'thank you' from Victoria Silver.

"Yes, well, I knew you would say that. Still and all, I will come up with something. I'll talk to you soon, Mick. Stay safe." With that, she was gone.

"Damn it!" He threw the phone down on the seat next to him in exasperation and started up the Mercedes. Life was just too complicated at the moment. Maybe visiting with Josef and having a few stiff drinks was exactly what he needed. And he needed to see Beth. Always, he needed Beth…

After a brief drive, during which he replayed the meeting with Talbot over and over in his head, trying to figure out how he could have avoided the ADA's trap, Mick parked his car in the special parking slot reserved for him at Josef's office building. He had negotiated the spot with Kostan years ago to ensure that his precious Mercedes was safe from harm when he visited him there.

Jumping into the direct elevator to Josef's office, he punched in the security code that gave him access to the top floors. In the moments he had before the elevator opened at the entrance to Kostan's suite of offices, he went back over the phone call that brought him here. Though his friend had sounded casual enough during their brief conversation, Mick's instincts, both vampire and detective, were on high alert. This was the first time he had seen Josef since their return from the difficult trip to New York City and, although Josef had denied it, he suspected that the billionaire was still suffering from his loss. What other reason was there for his shortness on the phone?

Mentally reviewing his checklist of follow-up items from the trip to New York City, he strolled into Josef's domain, newly reconstructed after the firebombing that had almost killed him - and had killed several other vampires who had the misfortune to be playing poker with the billionaire when the attack occurred. He found his best friend and mentor surrounded, as usual, by various traders and underlings, deep in discussions on the latest multi-million-dollar deal. Mick inhaled the familiar scents. Cigars, cognac, leather, women, vampires...sex. Even Beth's scent was present from her visits there. Kostan looked up with a smile as the P.I. entered the office and, with a few murmured words, sent his entourage from the room.

"How are you doing, Josef?"

"Oh, I'm fine. The question is," the elder vampire began, walking over to rummage behind the bar, pulling out various bottles as he talked. "What are you doing, Mick?"

The P.I. stopped short, pulling his hands out of his pockets and spreading them in front of him as he stared at his friend. Perhaps the comment wasn't meant as an indictment of his investigation of Sara's death, but it was hard not to take it that way. "I'm not sure I understand that question. What is it you want to know?"

Kostan shrugged. "It's a simple question, Mick. Ahh, there we are!" He lifted a distinctive bottle from underneath the bar. "I knew I had a bottle stashed here. Damn! Couldn't Ryder have gotten to me before I smashed all the Hardy Perfection Cognac at the house? I'll never forgive he and Victoria for not stopping me - I probably ruined half of the world's supply." Josef looked over at his friend, his dark eyes unreadable. "You want a drink? You look like you need a drink – Beth keeping you up at night?" When Mick frowned, he smiled evilly. "Or…is Beth not keeping you up at night?!"

Mick gestured for his friend to pour him a drink, but refrained from rising to the bait about Beth.

Kostan poured the amber liquid into delicate, hand-blown glass snifters, continuing as if it was a normal conversation. "So, Mick! How are you? Catch any good movies? What have you been up to? How 'bout those Yankees? You remember New York, the whole blowing up Sara thingie?" He handed Mick his drink, locking eyes with the younger vampire for a long moment. If he weren't so pissed, Mick's discomfort would be amusing.

St. John realized that his friend was nowhere near back to normal. Josef's humor had a biting edge to it that wasn't his usual style. "I'm working on it, Josef. Are you interested in what I've got so far, or would you rather just pick a fight?"

The lines of Josef's mouth went straight. "Oooo... edgy aren't we? I'd have thought getting laid regularly would have mellowed you out a little more. But if you're not being laid regularly, I guess I could understand..." He trailed off, smiling expectantly as he sampled his drink.

Mick ignored the jab - he had no intention of discussing his and Beth's sex life with Josef, regardless of how much his friend might like that. "I'm fine, Josef, thanks. I just wanted to update you on the situation in New York. Do you want to hear?"

"Any reason why I wouldn't? Or do you think I really don't have anything better to do with my time?"

"Come on, that's not what I meant. I want to find Sara's killer almost as much as you. What the hell's gotten into you?"

Kostan downed another swallow of his cognac. He toyed with the idea of stringing Mick along a little more before going for the jugular... so to speak... but he was in no mood to play today.

"I'm certainly interested in your progress toward finding Sara's killer. But, is New York the only thing you need to discuss with me?"

"I cannot even begin to imagine what you are talking about. At least, let me bring you up to date before you start in on me." Keep your cool, he's still grieving.

Josef said nothing, but raised his snifter to St. John as a sign to continue.

Mick began pacing, sipping from his own glass. "Okay. Logan and Ryder have been trying to track down the nurse. She's disappeared, and apparently booked any number of flights out of New York with a variety of destinations – which puts her pretty damn high on our list of persons of interest. We haven't been able to figure out exactly where she went yet…but we will, Josef. I promise you, we will." He stopped, trying to evaluate his friend's mindset, but Kostan was, as usual, tough to read.

Josef shook his head slightly. "Look, I appreciate all you're doing on that front - you know that I do. But..." he paused long enough to take a deep draught of the exceptional cognac, "…we both know that's not all you've been up to."

Mick raised an eyebrow at his friend. What the hell...? "Josef, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Kostan smiled without humor. "So, other than the usual, you have nothing going on? Nothing you want to run by me and talk about?" Come on, Mick. Don't make me do this.

St. John was genuinely puzzled and growing increasingly perplexed – and pissed off. "Josef, what are you talking about? I came over to talk to you about the investigation into Sara's murder. And I'm getting tired of the 20 questions game. Isn't her case what you care about?"

Josef's patience was also beginning to wear thin. "Of course, I care about Sara's murder, Mick!" He calmed himself - for most people, human or vampire, he would not temper his anger... but this was Mick. It was quickly obvious to Josef that he was clueless. There was no guile in him, no attempt to obfuscate. Damn, he wasn't going to make this easy on either of them. As usual.

Mick tried again. "Look, we are checking rental cars and flights out of cities close to LaGuardia - but I have to tell you, that's a lot of databases to check. It may take us a while and it's going to be hard to find anything." He eyed Kostan warily, uncertain of just what was making his friend so edgy.

"Mick," Josef began, "Sara was everything to me when she was alive. Even..." he swallowed hard. "Even just lying there, she was irreplaceable to me. I do appreciate your investigating this, more than I can say." He looked down, away from his friend. "I need you to believe me when I say that."

"I know, Josef." Mick was touched by his friend's emotions, which made Kostan's next comments all the more jarring.

The elder vampire turned back, his eyes now tinted with blue. I hate coming down on him. He's like my brother… "That makes this conversation even harder. There are things you are not sharing with me... plans that you are making without my knowledge or input. And, you know what I'm talking about."

What the fuck? Was he talking about the DA case in San Diego? How could he know? Suddenly, Mick remembered Beth's peculiar absence from the DA's office that afternoon and clenched his jaw in anger. Dammit, Beth!

"Let me ask you something, Josef. Have you been talking to Beth lately?"

The billionaire's expression was unreadable, and he didn't answer - which told the P.I. everything he needed to know. Mick's nostrils flared as he focused in on Beth's familiar scent. It gave him a brief glimmer of her presence in the office earlier in the day. It had been there in the background all along, but he had attributed it to earlier visits, neglecting to take into account the recent bombing of the office, which had burned away most traces of people and events. A near-fatal error. "Don't lie to me, Josef! I can tell she's been here today."

"What does talking to Beth have to do with you working with the D.A.'s office on something outside of L.A.? Something that doesn't involve our community. Something that does involve you working with cops. Without at least running it by me first?!" Kostan's voice was rising.

"Since when do I have to run everything by you? You want me to call you every time I take on a client or drink blood?!" Mick was indignant.

"Don't be an ass! This is not just another case. You're going off the reservation with this one – literally and figuratively." Kostan was fuming now.

"Josef, what do you actually know about all this? Do you know what they've found?"

Kostan stepped closer, mere inches separating them. In a deadly calm voice, he said, "The point is - if you'd shared this with me before now, I would know, wouldn't I? Why did I have to find out about it all from your human girlfriend?!"

Mick was caught off-guard. Stepping back from his friend, he raised his hands in self-defense. "I'm not trying to keep things from you. You don't have the time to be involved in every little thing that I do. I just need to go down to San Diego to check out some evidence. That's all. It wasn't even finalized until this afternoon, for god's sake!" He was fighting to maintain his calm.

Josef's face betrayed his anger, his eyes glowing. He was not sure if his anger was due to Mick's serious breech of protocol - the fact that he hadn't even thought to talk to him about this situation - or because of the danger it represented to the P.I. If it were anyone other than Mick, he would think that he or she was trying to break ranks. But not him.

"I think perhaps you have spent too much time in the company of humans lately. Maybe too much time in the sack with Blondie? It's clouded your judgment about them, about being careful around them." Josef knew that his comment about Beth would, in all likelihood, set Mick off, but he was past caring.

He was right.

Mick exploded. "What the hell does Beth have to do with my job or how I do it?! Are you jealous, Josef?! Is that it?!" He stepped back up to Kostan until they were nose-to-nose, each of them flashing blue-white eyes and fangs.

"Get out of my face, Mick," Josef snarled back. Best friend or not, he wouldn't tolerate this – and the comment about being jealous hit closer to home than he cared to admit.

The younger vampire realized he'd crossed a line. After staring down Josef for a long moment, he turned away and sat down on one of the sleek, black leather couches that decorated the new office. "Look, I don't want to fight with you – especially not when we seem to have the rest of the world on us. I'm sorry, that was out of line."

"Yes. It was. Apology accepted, though." Josef strolled over to sit down on the matching couch across from his friend, his emotions once more under control. "For the record, I'm not jealous of you but I am envious. There's a difference, you know. I shouldn't have made that comment about Blon–Beth–either." He paused, then added, "The last thing I want to do is mess up your relationship with her. Beth is good for you, Mick. Even I can tell that."

"Thank you, Josef. I know she is." Mick sighed. "I hear a 'but' coming though…"

"Well I don't want to disappoint you, so…yeah. But, going into the desert is never a good idea for a vampire, no matter who it is – and doing it with humans is even more foolhardy. Humans who don't know that you are a vampire. Or even know that vampires exist. I mean, this must violate about every self-preservation rule in the vampire handbook, if there is one. And quite honestly, you are too important for me to let you go off half-cocked on some hair-brain case. Hell, for all you know, it's a trap of some kind!"

"Josef, do you think I want to go there? The police report says that there were bodies burned to ash and decapitations out there. It could just be that damn HEM drug cartel that killed Josh Lindsey, but I won't know for sure until I check it out. What if these are vamps being killed and dumped in the desert? What if it's somehow connected to what's happening in New York? Don't you want to know?!"

No. Josef sighed heavily. I don't want to know... But his position in the L.A. vampire community didn't afford him the luxury of burying his head in the sand. He drained his glass and got up to grab the bottle and pour each of them a fresh drink, stalling for time before answering.

Mick accepted the refill gratefully, swirling the expensive liquor. "There's something else. Talbot basically threatened Beth today. I was going to back out because I realized that it was dangerous, but then he said he would send her instead. If it is the drug cartel that killed Josh, they marked her before and they could do it again. What was I supposed to do?"

"The sonofabitch blackmailed you! I should have him wacked!"

"Oh, that would be a good idea. Have a second ADA murdered. Nope, no scrutiny there!" Mick's voice dripped sarcasm.

Sitting back down on the couch, the billionaire ran his hand through his short, auburn hair in frustration before admitting defeat. "Okay, Mick, you win. If you think this could involve vampires, I agree. You have to go. But, I want to hear what you are doing to ensure that you don't get into a jam like you did in your last little expedition into the desert. Beth might not be able to get to you quickly enough next time." He continued, "Oh, and speaking of her, I don't want to hear about you going off on her over this. She came here to talk to me because she was concerned about you. Because she loves you, Mick. Really loves you." When he saw St. John shaking his head negatively over the mention of her name, he leaned forward. "Do you have any idea how lucky you are?"

Mick's jaw clenched. Yes, he was lucky and he knew it. But Beth had to stop interfering. He did not make this comment aloud, however, fearful of starting Round Two with Josef.

The vampires continued talking, discussing the evidence in the case and the precautions Mick could take for his dangerous foray into the desert. Their normal, comfortable banter, however, was missing. There was a strain between the two that hadn't been there before. Each man noted it sadly, but, in the manner of men everywhere, did not talk about it. Each resolved to fix it...eventually.

"Rebecca, you have no idea how much I miss you." The smile on John Giles' face was, for once, genuine, as he listened to the voice on the other end of the secure line. He had met his wife ten years ago, when she first joined Crucis after making her way through the indoctrination program run for those individuals working for CHOIR who seemed... sympathetic... to the Crucis cause.

The attraction had been immediate, their love affair intense. In the years since then, it had shown no sign of diminishing. He still pinched himself daily over his good fortune. Crucis had not only supplied him with a sense of purpose, it had also given him the love of his life.

In response to his questions regarding Chicago, Rebecca had been enthusiastic. "There's still a lot to do, but they've made wonderful progress here, John. We have contacts, recruits, supplies - and a good mole. I think we'll be ready to go here no more than a week or two after New York."

She droned on about the plan that was in place, but Giles wasn't really listening. It was just the sound of her voice that he was interested in, not the status of Crucis in Chicago. Finally, he broke in, straining to inject enthusiasm into his tone.

"That's wonderful, Rebecca! We should be ready here soon, now that we have access to Whitley's money. I can't wait to get there and see you again." He hesitated, then said, "It's getting late; I guess I'd better go."

"Yes, me too." The reluctance was evident in her voice. "We'll be back together soon. I love you more than life, John."

That was their standard goodbye to one another whenever they parted.

"Me too, Rebecca. Me too." He felt lonely as soon as he disconnected the call. I love you more than life.

Beth rode the private elevator up from the parking garage level to the penthouse apartment, thinking back to when Mick had first shown it to her, the night he insisted she stay with him when he returned from New York. Was that really less than a week ago? She had been surprised to learn about it, but when he had explained that it was there as a back-up escape route... just in case, Beth...it had driven home to her just how dangerous his world was.

Was it realistic to think she could protect him from any of that? This time, you're protecting him from himself. If that was true, why did the burden of her conscience weigh her down like a backpack full of rocks. Now that she was returning to face Mick, she also had to face the consequences of lying to him. Not lie, she told herself. I haven't lied to him. I just haven't told him… Even in her own head, that twisting of circumstances sounded–and felt–like a betrayal.

She slumped against the side of the elevator, and looked into the mirrored surface, disgusted with what she saw. She was not a deceitful or manipulative person by nature, and the heaping of omission, on top of half-truth, added to deception, was creating a stew that made her stomach churn with worry and regret.

Her mind reeled at the thought of the still-undisclosed pact she'd forged with Josef when Dean Foster tried to blackmail her. Making matters worse, she was, once again, in partnership with Kostan in this web of… Say it. "Lies," she muttered into the empty space as the doors slid open, emptying her into the hall leading to Mick's penthouse. If Mick were to discover that the two of them had conspired together behind his back, he would be doubly wounded by the duplicity.

He had left her a voice mail earlier in the day, telling her had told her not to expect him until later in the evening; he was meeting with Josef to talk about the New York investigation. Mick thought that she was working late, doing research on a case for the DA's office. She had actually done just that after meeting with Josef, to cover her tracks and have something to show for her time. More lies.

At least, he won't be there. That thought alone gave her pause. 'At least'? When was the last time you didn't look forward to seeing him? She couldn't remember a single time. She had never before approached that door with dread - not even on her first visit to the private investigator after discovering that he was a vampire. Then, she had been frightened, but fascinated, cautious, but curious. And drawn to him in a way she couldn't explain. She still felt that attraction, but the sad truth was that his absence would give her time to regroup and put this latest transgression behind her, at least for the time being. She couldn't help shaking the thought that each day she kept these secrets, another block was added to the wall she seemed to be erecting between them.

Dammit! Doesn't it count that we are doing this to help him, to save him? In her heart of hearts, she knew that it didn't. With a sigh, she hit the key fob he had given her, triggering the door to pop open. She pushed her way into the penthouse…

... and came face to face with a seething Mick St. John.

End Song: Complicated, Avril Lavigne