Moonlight: The Next Chapter

Chapter 3, The Devil's In the Details

Josef is worried that our secret is in danger of being exposed. His paranoia has hit an all-time high. I've tried to convince him that everything has been taken care of at the Monaghan house, that our secret is safe, but...I get Josef's concerns. He has seen a lot over the past 400 years.

After his 15 minutes of fame as a pirate, he witnessed and survived the slaughter of thousands of vampires in Spain. Memories like that don't just disappear over the years – and they leave a mark. Me, I'm only 85. I haven't lived through anything like that. And, I have something he doesn't - I have Beth. I trust her with my life. It's a good thing she works for ADA Talbot now - although, there's something about him I just don't trust...

Wow, now who's paranoid?

Speaking of Beth, she called my cell while I was meeting with Josef – and the news wasn't good. Not good at all. Just as he seemed to have calmed down a little, I had to tell Josef that the Cleaners have overlooked something.

Josef's paranoia is peaking again. "Go do your job, Mick!"

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Chapter 3

The Devil's In The Details

Intro Song: The Mission by 30 Seconds to Mars

Mick St. John floored the accelerator of his Mercedes convertible, desperately trying to take advantage of the small gap in the midday Los Angeles traffic. As his car hydroplaned slightly, he cursed the unusual storm that had dumped torrents of rain on the road off and on all day. Easing up on the gas slightly, he shot through the narrow opening, drawing irate shouts from his fellow drivers, and a cacophony of horns. Mick winced at the close call – his car didn't have the recuperative powers accorded vampires.

His mind raced as he tried to process what Beth had said in their too–brief conversation. She had sounded panicked on the phone – and panic was definitely NOT her style!

Beth said The Cleaner had missed something. I've never known her to miss ANYTHING. I hope Beth's mistaken.

His eyesight suddenly blurred. Pushing up his sunglasses, he rubbed tiredly at his eyes; the lack of freezer time was starting to catch up with him. He shook his head to clear it, frustrated with his apparent weakness. This was no time to be acting like the 'delicate flower' Beth had once teasingly called him.

Adjusting his sunglasses and stomping on the accelerator again, Mick went roaring down the highway toward the Monaghan house – and Beth.

At that moment, Beth Turner was pacing up and down in front of her car, oblivious to the fine mist still falling from the pale gray sky. The bad feeling she'd been harboring all morning now had a focus. How could these mysterious 'Cleaners' have missed something out in plain sight like this?! She remembered that Mick had once said that 'The Cleaner is very good at what she does.'

Beth shook her head, fuming. Maybe it's just me, but this certainly doesn't look like a job done by someone who was 'very good at what she does'!"

Her phone rang, interrupting her train of thought. She had to smile to herself as the display popped up her favorite picture of Mick. Relieved, she hit the icon to connect the call. "Mick! How close are you?!"

"Nice to hear your voice too, Beth!" His tone was sarcastic – Beth had a tendency to plunge right into a conversation, completely skipping over any pleasantries. "I've parked on a back street a couple of blocks away – just in case."