Moonlight, the Next Chapter: Darkness

Chapter 16

The Plots Thicken

Intro Song: Plotting and Plotting, Dario Breaker

Jamie stared at the phone for a long moment after she hung up with Beth Turner. What the hell is going on? And what have I gotten myself into? She had no clue what the answer was to either question, but she believed Beth when she said Carl was in danger. There would be no reason she could think of for her to lie about something like that. And if he were in danger...

Jamie took a deep breath and punched in his number.

"Hey, Jam-?"

"CARL... I NEED HELP!" "Someone is trying to break in!"

"Call 911!" the detective shouted frantically into the phone as he jumped up and sprinted toward his front door.

"No! No police, Carl! Please, I'll be arrested! I can't! OH MY GOD, HE..."

She disconnected the call and sat back to wait, her conscience nagging at her. What in the world would she tell him if he arrived on her doorstep as she hoped?! I have no idea.

"I appreciate the fact that you agree with me, Tom. You know I value your opinion." Durand smiled across the dinner table at L.A. County's District Attorney, the remains of their expensive gourmet meal littering its surface.

Tom McNeil had been appointed by the governor to take over that position after the murder of D.A. Robert Quinlan by Donovan Shepherd, a messianic cult leader and mass murderer. He had also been a newly-turned vampire, something few others knew. The new D.A. was quickly becoming a community favorite for his no-nonsense approach to crime in the city - and a media darling because of his knack for coming up with quotable statements.

The Crucis leader had taken the killing of Quinlan as a sign that God was on his side in the fight against the scourge of vampires. How else to explain one of those monsters killing the very individual he'd been plotting to have removed in order to advance his own candidate? He'd immediately contacted Edward Garfield, knowing he would be instrumental in supporting McNeil for the emergency appointment.

"He'll be a great choice, Edward. Look at the guy's record. Career prosecutor, started as a law clerk and worked his way up. He's an experienced litigator - taken over seventy-five cases to trial. Has a great conviction rate too. And, best of all - his nose is clean as a whistle."

"So, what's the catch, Christophe?" Garfield had played in politics long enough to know that there was almost always a 'catch'.

"Edward, you are so very cynical."

"Uh-huh. What's the catch?"

Durand had sighed, exasperated. "Nothing! You're getting way too jaded in your old age. Tom is a very old and dear friend who's done a lot of work for CHOIR over the years. Gratis, I might add. He's done everything right, but he's not a very flashy guy. Easy to overlook. I just felt that, after this terrible tragedy, he would be the perfect man to step in. And, without some nudging and a little 'divine' intervention, he'll be passed over again. I don't want that to happen." And I need him in place.

After reviewing McNeil's credentials and resume, Garfield had agreed with Durand's assessment and had been a major factor in his candidate being chosen.

D.A. McNeil toyed with his espresso before speaking. His eyes, behind wire rim glasses, were cautious. Choose your words wisely. "I completely agree with having everyone standing down right now, Christophe. Letting these animals settle back into their burrows. I just wonder-" He paused to take a sip of the hot liquid, gathering his courage. It was always risky to challenge the Crucis leader. One never knew what would set the big man off. Don't be a coward! "I just wonder if it's enough."

"What do you mean, Tom?" Durand was truly puzzled.

"I mean, I wonder if this whole episode with St. John has put this vile pack in such a state of suspicion and alert that we should perhaps move the final operation elsewhere. Chicago maybe. Or Denver."

"No," Christophe responded flatly. "It has to be L.A. With your appointment, we have all the key players in place. There are infiltrates at every level of government and law enforcement. We have a network of spies interacting with key vampires, feeding us information. It's taken us years to accomplish all this. Everything is set up, ready to go as soon as we push over the first domino in New York. To change now..." He rubbed his forehead tiredly, deep lines etched into his face, a sign of his weariness. "To change now, would set us back at least a year or more - and then, all the work that's been done so far to remove some key vampires would be for naught. They'd have time to regroup, replace the missing. It has to be L.A.," he repeated.

McNeil nodded, the look of concern in his eyes the only sign that he didn't fully agree.

Durand continued. "I understand your unease, Tom. Especially since a good portion of the responsibility for the California operation rests on your shoulders. But you have Mark Welch to help run things from the Crucis end and he's an excellent resource. Capable, level-headed, not given to romanticism...or fanaticism. Both mindsets that carry great risks, in my opinion."

Tom busied himself with pouring more expresso from the small pot at their table. Not for anything would he meet Durand's eyes while the man was going on about the dangers of fanaticism, for fear of giving himself away. In McNeil's private opinion, his companion was the poster child for that particular trait. Even so, he believed in the Crucis mission of eradicating vampires, so he would be a good soldier for the cause.

"What about John Giles?" the D.A. asked. "I noticed you didn't mention him and he's been instrumental in helping to set up our network of supporters and spies."

Christophe Durand sighed heavily. He was beginning to think that his strategy for focusing the attention and efforts of his second-in-command was one of his few true mistakes in all this. "John is still coming to grips with the loss of his beloved Rebecca. His loathing of vampires right now is almost…pathological…in its intensity. He needs time to work through it. He will be back fully-functional for this operation though," he emphasized firmly. "I promise you." Or he'll be gone…

"All right. I certainly trust you on that." the D.A. responded, sitting the expresso pot down on the table with a thud. "Let me know if there is anything I can do to help there." Swallowing his reservations along with his expresso, McNeil acquiesced. "If it has to be here, it has to be here. We'll make it work, Christophe. How long do we have?"

"I think we'll be safe to proceed again by the end of the summer or early fall at the latest. That will be several months after Mick St. John was shot by that idiot, McGowan. Enough time for the vampires to settle down. The exact date will, of course, have to be fluid as it depends on their gathering together in order for the initial strike to have the maximum impact. Thank the good lord we have someone in their inner circle that we can count on to feed us information."

"But you aren't going to tell me who it is."

The Crucis leader shook his head. "Don't misunderstand. It's not because I don't trust you. It's just that something this critical to the success of our operation has to be on a 'need to know' basis. There're only two other people right now who have access to that information. I hope you understand."

McNeil knew when to stop pushing with this man. He nodded. "I do. I'd probably be doing the same thing in your shoes. I don't need to know everything to be effective in my job."

Durand smiled across the table. "I do appreciate your attitude. Some of my subordinates would do well to emulate you," he added, thinking of his son.

"I'll plan on that timetable then, and trust you to alert me as to the exact date. I'll also reach out to Mark. I'm sure we can come up with some excuses to get together. It'll be important for us to coordinate things out here."

"Well, we finally have sufficient money in our coffers to fund our operation, so if there's anything at all that you need, let me know right away."

The D.A. decided this was probably the best opportunity he'd have to put forward an idea he'd been mulling over. "As a matter of fact, there is something. We have a lot of people positioned in law enforcement now, especially with D.A. offices. I think it would be good to get some of us together, make sure everyone is communicating. I could set up some kind of seminar or forum under the auspices of the D.A.'s office that would give us an excuse to meet." He eyed his superior, trying to gauge his reaction. "What do you think?"

Durand turned the idea over in his head. It might be a good idea to bring his top 'troops' together. But not under McNeil. No... "I like it. But I think it should be under a non-law-enforcement banner. No political agendas. CHOIR could fund an summit to discuss ways in which we can work together with law enforcement in times of crisis. That would give us the excuse to extend invitations and you could put the word out that you expect your direct reports to participate. We'll get some good keynote speakers, invite some people for that aren't part of our organization for cover. Yes," he added, his quick mind picturing the event, "I like it."

McNeil frowned. "That sounds a lot bigger than what I was envisioning. Can we support something of that scope?"

"We've had a significant influx of funding that now allows us to do pretty much whatever we need to be successful. We will not fail because of lack of resources. That used to be a major worry, but no more."

"Is there anything that you think could cause us to fail?" McNeil asked curiously, nodding to a couple that stopped by their table to thank him for his efforts to clean up crime in L.A. With his gray temples and wire rim glasses, he looked more like a college professor than a crusading crime fighter, which worked to his advantage. People found him very approachable.

Christophe waited impatiently for the pair to leave before resuming their discussion as if there had been no interruption. "Misguided sympathy. That is what must be guarded against. Vampires may look like humans - but they're not. They are animals, pure and simple. And just as you would with any animal that is vicious and a threat to people, you put them down."

His companion shook his head. "I don't understand people who don't get that. Haven't they seen enough examples of what they can do? Rebecca-"

"Ah, yes. Rebecca. A lovely woman - and a very valuable operative. That was a true tragedy, one from which John is recovering very slowly. My only consolation is in knowing that she was truly committed to our mission and willingly put her life on the line for it. We cannot fail her, Tom."

"We won't," the D.A. responded quietly.

"To tell you the truth," Durand said candidly, "There is one aspect of our plan that concerns me even more. The possible reluctance to kill collaborators if necessary. There have been rumblings when humans were killed alongside these beasts and that has to stop. Our operatives must understand that, by supporting and nurturing vampires, these people have chosen their course. And they will be a danger to our people. Not to kill them along with the monsters would be a terrible mistake and invite disaster. It has been...challenging...to convey that in a way that most can accept." Peering seriously at McNeil, he sounded for all the world like a college professor talking about a student that was in danger of failing his course.

"I don't think that's a problem with any of my people, Christophe."

"Don't think, Tom. Know. Scientia non habet inimicum nisi ignorantem." When the DA looked at him, puzzled, Durand translated. "Knowledge has no enemies but the ignorant. When Domino begins, we must be sure of our colleagues. There can be no hesitation, even if it is a woman or a child. Fraternization with vampires is cause for execution. Period." Durand signaled for the check, signing it with an illegible scrawl.

McNeil raised one eyebrow when he noticed the paltry size of the tip, but said nothing. Apparently, the almost unlimited funding Christophe had alluded to didn't extend to decent tips. Damn cheapskate.

Durand looked up from his task. "Do you agree?"

Tom recovered quickly. "I do, Christophe. There will be none of that here. When the fight comes to California, we'll show no mercy. I promise you that." The D.A.'s voice was firm. On this point, they were in alignment. He also saw humans such as this Beth Turner as traitors to their race. In their own way, they were more dangerous than the vampires they courted because they could help ensure the survival of the monsters.

"There is one other thing you could do to help right now."

"Of course, Christophe. Just name it. If it's within my power, I'm happy to help."

"I sent Ben Talbot the resume of a trusted member of Crucis – and CHOIR, of course – and I want her hired for his team. She's imminently qualified, I assure you. I want another set of eyes and ears in his office with Beth Turner working there – and I want someone who can get close to Talbot. Jen has the right…qualifications…for that too."

"Did Ben push back on it?"

"No, no, nothing like that. In fact he seemed in favor of it. I just wanted a little extra insurance."

"Consider it done."

The two men stood and shook hands, then walked out of the restaurant together.

"Thanks for suggesting 'Cut', Tom. I'd never been here before but I'll be back.'

McNeil grinned. "Good, huh?"

"Good? I swear, when I sawed into that steak, I could hear the angels sing. It was perfection. And the name is somehow...appropriate."

"It is, isn't it? I hadn't thought of that. Glad you liked it." McNeil clapped the much-larger man on his back. "When are you leaving?"

"Monday probably. Tuesday at the very latest. No offense, but I can't wait to get back to New York - and I need to be there. I've got things to do." John and I need to have a little talk. It was time for his second-in-command to shape up...or else.

End Song: Enemy, The Plot In You