Moonlight Dwelling

It started off like a normal day. I woke up and had some blood. I saw that I was running low on it so I decided to head over to the morgue to get some.

Mick opened the door only to find Beth there quite upset. Without a word she reached out for him and held on bursting into tears.

Stroking her hair Mick said, “Beth what’s wrong?”

Beth pulled away and started looking in her purse for a tissue. Mick guided her over to the couch and they both sat down. Beth wiped her eyes and blew her nose.

“It’s horrible my cousin Rebecca’s gone missing. She’s the sixth one in the past three months.”

I couldn’t bear to see Beth in so much pain so of course I agreed to help her.

“Tell me what happened. Did you want a drink?”

“That would be great.”

Mick walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a kettle which he filled with water to make some tea.

Beth watched him and called out, “You’re the delicate flower not me. I need something stronger than chamomile tea. Do you have any of that single malt I gave you?”

Mick poured some malt into two glasses and walked back to the couch and handed one of them to Beth.

“Thanks.”

“So your cousin went missing?”

“Rebecca was supposed to get married this weekend but she hasn’t been seen since the rehearsal dinner. No one’s seen her for the past three days and this isn’t like her. I just know something’s wrong. I also found out that this is the sixth woman about to get married in the past three months that‘s disappeared.”

“Were they all from LA?”

“No one was from Anaheim and the others were from San Diego until my cousin.”

“So you think they’re all related not cases of cold feet?”

“No my cousin isn’t like that and all of these women vanished right after the rehearsal dinner.”

“Did you find some connection between all of the brides?”

“I did some digging and discovered that they all went to the same bridal boutique and had the same wedding planner named Bella.”

“Don’t tell me you want to pose as a couple? Wouldn’t Josh be a better choice?”

Beth gulped down the rest of her drink and looked up at Mick.

“Josh is out of town again and you’re the private eye not him.”

If I was Beth’s boyfriend I wouldn’t be taking all these trips. It seemed like he was always taking off leaving Beth behind. I need to stop thinking about this because I’ll never be human again and able to fall in love. If only I could find a cure but I know that won’t happen.

“You want to contact this Bella to find out the connection to the missing women?”

“I have a fitting at the bridal boutique so I can look around. Since I knew you’d want to help I set up an appointment. She’s coming by at six. I hope you don’t mind that I’m having her meet us here.”

“Sure no problem but I need to make a quick trip to the morgue.”

“Are you working on a case?

“No I just need to pick up some blood?”

“Well I’m off to the bridal boutique. I’ll meet you back here this evening.”

Beth walked out the door and Mick followed locking the door behind him. He thought to himself that he should speak to Josef about security since so many people find it some easy to break into his place. He handed Beth a key to let herself in just in case she got back to his place first.

Mick went to the morgue and found Guillermo who’d been scarce lately.

“Can I interest you ion some O-neg?”

“Sure whatever you’ve got is fine I’m in a bit of a hurry today.”

“Do you have a date with that hot blond that comes in here almost as much as you do?”

“Beth? No she has a boyfriend.”

“Here’s the blood and enjoy.”

“Thanks Guillermo and have fun texting. You’re such a twelve year old.”

“Oh shut up.”

Mick decided to stop by to see Josef. As usual he was yelling at someone on the phone.

“I’m not sure what the guy does for a living but I do know it involves a lot of threats which pays well.”

Josef got off the phone and said, “Care for some liquid refreshment?”

“No thanks I’m good. I need a favor. Do you know someone that does security because I’m getting tired of all the break-ins.”

“Sure I know a guy. I’ll call him and send him right over.”

“Thanks.”

“So what are you up to tonight.”

“I’m working on a case.”

“Is she working with you?”

“Yes Beth cousin is missing and she’s just the latest of six women that have disappeared.”

“Always the knight in shining armor.”

“Shut up Josef. So you’ll send that guy over.”

“Sure buddy.”

“Later Josef.”

Mick decided to take a shower after getting a workout in. While Mick was upstairs Beth came to the door and knocked. Since he didn’t answer she figured he wasn’t back yet so she used the key he gave her.

“I guess he isn’t back from getting blood and whatever else he was doing.”

“She searched in her purse for the key and opened the door. Beth decided to have a drink while waiting for Mick to return. After her drink she went upstairs to go freshen up before Bella showed up. She even managed to borrow an engagement ring to make Mick and herself a more believable couple.

“People keep asking me if Mick and I are a couple so we should be able to pull it off.”

Beth walked to the bathroom where flashes of that shower raced through her mind. She opened the door to find Mick walking out of the shower.”

“Uh hi.”

“Sorry I uh didn’t realize you were home. I just wanted to freshen up before Bella gets her.”

Mick grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist.

“I’ll come back when you’re done here.”

“No it’s fine I’ll go grab something to wear and get dressed in the other room.”

Mick walked out and Beth turned to the mirror over the sink. She splashed some water on her face.

“Get it together Beth,” she whispered.

There was a knock on the door so Beth went back downstairs where Mick was letting in a woman that had to be Bella. The woman looked up as Beth walked down the stairs and smiled.

“You must be the lucky bride Beth?”

Beth shook hands with her and Mick offered Bella a drink and asked her to sit down.

“So when’s the big day?”

Beth looked at Mick and replied, “We were thinking this weekend.”

“We don’t have much time but it can be done.”

“Well I’ve brought you a bunch of samples of wedding invitations and a list of places but since you want a quickie wedding I have an idea.”

“Really?”

“Yes there’s this new show that’s about weddings called Wedding Bells. All you have to do is sign this form. I’ll leave it with you so you can talk among yourselves.”

“Sounds great I’ll call you and let you know what we’ve decided.”

Mick walked Bella to the door and let her out.

“Did your cousin mention this show to you?”

“Actually she did. The show foots the bill if you agree to air it on TV and do a follow up interview. Rebecca and Derrick were doing this show so I guess we’ll have to do this. Oh I forgot we’ll need a marriage license.”

“Marriage license?”

“Mick I have to find my cousin no matter what I have to do.”

Mick touched her shoulder.

“Don’t worry we’ll find her. So let’s get that license ok. I’m sure Josef can handle that for us.”

Mick went to see Josef about getting a marriage license.

“I know a guy but why do you want a marriage license?”

“It’s for a case I’m working on. It’s no big deal. It doesn’t have to be real as long as it looks authentic.”

“This is about her isn’t it?”

“Josef she does have a name you know. I’ve even heard you use it. We aren’t really getting married, She has a boyfriend.”

“Whatever you say Mick I’ll call the guy and get back to you.”

“Thank you Josef.”

The next day Josef stopped by to drop off the license. Mick called Beth to tell her about getting the license. She came over and they signed the paper.

“Mick Rebecca’s disappearance has to be connected to this show. I did some more digging and found out that all of them were going to be on this show.”

Beth called Bella to set up a meeting.

“She be by at 5:30 so I’m going to check in at Buzz Wire but I’ll be back later.”

At 5:30 on the dot Bella showed up and Mick let her in. A few minutes later Beth let herself in. Beth walked over to Mick and kissed him.

“Hi honey.”

Mick smiled and walked over to the table where the release papers were and handed them to Bella.

“This is great you two and I have good news for you. Another couple had to drop out at the last minute so this weekend’s free.”

The slot that opened up was for her cousin Rebecca and her fiancée Derrick. Beth wondered where her cousin was along with the other women that went missing. She just had to find out what happened to all of them.

“There’s a dinner planned for tomorrow for you along with the other couple. See you at six at La Lucia.”

“Thank you very much we’ll see you there.”

Bella left and Beth walked over to sit down on the couch.

“I wonder what will happen now.”

“Was there another couple scheduled to get married with Rebecca and Derrick?”

“As a matter of fact yes.”

“Did the other missing women have double weddings planned?

“Now that you mention it I’m not sure. I can’t believe I forget to check that. My reporting skills must be atrophying or something.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself you’ve had a lot on your mind. You’re really close to Rebecca aren’t you?”

“Yeah we were like sisters when we were growing up but she moved away and we haven’t kept in touch as much as I would have liked. She had just gotten a job and was moving back right before the wedding.”

“We need to find out if every bride involved has gone missing.”

Beth went over to Mick’s computer and turned it on.

“Let’s see they started filming six months ago. No there have been twelve couples that have gotten married with no problem.”

“Is there some common link between the missing women?”

“Let’s see what the missing women look like?”

Pictures of all the missing women appeared on the screen. They were all blonde and blue eyed.”

“Looks like I make a good candidate for whatever these people are doing.”

As a PI I’ve accumulated gadgets and seeing that Beth would be in danger of getting taken made me ache inside. I would give Beth a tracking device to make sure I didn’t lose track of her in case we got separated.

Beth turned around to Mick and said, “So what’s the plan?”

“I’m giving you a tracking device so I’ll know where you are at all times.”

“So you think they might try to grab me too?”

“It looks like but don’t worry I’ll know where you are with this little device.”

“Ok I trust you.”

The next day Beth went to Mick’s to get the tracking device so the could find out what happens to the women that were taken. Beth went to the show’s website and found out that the other woman was also a blonde.

“Mick you wouldn’t happen to have an extra tracking device?”

“Yeah I have a few why?”

“The other bride to be is a blue eyed blonde.”

“Here you go but I think you should take care of putting the tracking device on the woman.”

“You could always use your vampire charm on her.”

“No I think I’ll let you do it and I’m sure her fiancée wouldn’t enjoy some strange guy hitting on his woman.”

“Shall we got or do you need to have some blood first?”

“No I already ate.”

They drove over to La Lucia’s and went inside. There was a film crew and Bella was talking to a couple. Mick and Beth walked over to them.

“Oh good you’re here. Beth and Mick meet Jinny and Ted. There’s a table ready for the four of you.”

Beth turned to Jinny and asked her if she’d like to go freshen up. They went to the ladies room. She had the other tracking device in her hand so she tucked it in with her tag.

“The tag was sticking out.”

“Thanks and don’t hesitate to tell me if I walk out of the bathroom with toilet paper trialing behind me.”

“Sure. So how long have you been with Ted?”

“Twenty years.”

“What did you meet in kindergarten?”

“Actually we did.”

“So he was your only love?”

“Yes he was.”

“Did Bella tell you about the suite she has arranged for us and the guys after all it’s bad luck for the bride to see the groom before the wedding.”

“Really? She didn’t mention a suite to me.”

Beth wondered just how far she’d have to go with this plan but she was determined to go all the way if it meant she found her cousin. She smiled at Jinny and asked her to fill her in on the details.

They went back to the table and ordered dinner. Mick excused himself while they ate.

“Is Mick all right?”

“Yes he’s just getting over the flu so his stomach is still a little delicate. I’m sure he’s getting some crackers.”

After dinner Bella led them out to two cars one for the guys and the other for the girls. The film crews that were around earlier and throughout diner were nowhere to be found.

“Say goodnight because we don’t want to jinx our big day do we?”

Mick gave Beth a quick kiss and assured her that he’d be near. Beth got in the car with Jinny and asked where they were staying. She felt a small prick and looked up to see Bella with a syringe and a unconscious Jinny in the seat next to her.

“Mick,” she whispered before passing out.

“Ok Mick in you go.”

He saw a syringe moving towards him out of the corner of his eye and grabbed the hand knocking it to the ground. He punched the guy and he crumpled to the ground. Ted was hanging half out of the car unconscious.

Mick picked up the guy he knocked out and put him in the car. He called for an ambulance for Ted to make sure he was all right although Mick could tell that Ted would be fine since it was just a sedative and appeared to be harmless. He left a message for Carl and turned in on the tracking devices.

The car was moving with Jinny and Beth inside. They were headed towards Long Beach. I had my suspicions that they might be selling the women into a sex ring so traveling by boat was a good plan. He ended up at the marina. Mick jumped out of the car as Bella and the driver were carrying an unconscious Beth out of the car.

“Hey Bella could I have one last kiss from my fiancée?”

She looked up with a stunned look on her face unable to say a word when she saw Mick’s vamp face. She turned and started running towards the boat. The driver starting running still holding onto Beth.

Being a vampire has some perks like speed and strength although the guy was slowed down by carrying Beth.

He grabbed for Beth as he kicked the fleeing man who released his hold on and her and hightailed it for the boat. She was coming to and starting to struggle.

“Beth it’s me.”

“Mick,” she slurred.

“Will you be able to call for help while I go after them?”

“Sure and make sure to find Jinny. They took her in first. I was fading in and out of consciousness but they took her first.”

She pulled out her cell phone while Mick ran towards the boat that was getting ready to take off. Mick jumped aboard right as the boat left the dock. No one came running so Mick looked around and found a cargo hold where he found Jinny and two other women.

“How many are on this boat?”

One of the women answered, “Bella and two men.”

“Stay here and I’ll take care of them so you can go home. One of you wouldn’t happen to be named Rebecca would it?”

“Yes I’m Rebecca.”

“Your cousin Beth is waiting for you.”

“You must be Mick”

“Yeah that’s me.”

Mick left the women and worked his way through the boat. He came across the driver and grabbed him by the throat and slammed him against the wall.

“I’d let him go if I were you. It would be a shame to kill such a handsome man but I will.”

Great another bullet to add to my collection.

The gun fired as Mick reached for Bella.

“That wasn’t nice.”

The two were terrified by Mick’s face so they weren’t any threat which meant there was only one more to deal with. He found the guy at the wheel singing along to the blaring music. Mick turned off the radio.

“What the?”

Mick knocked him out and found some rope to tie up the three criminals. Mick turned the boat around and headed back to shore. Beth was standing there waiting and started smiling when she saw Mick along with the three women that got off the boat and one of them Rebecca.

“Beck,” Beth cried as she ran to her cousin and hugged her.

“Thank you Mick.”

“No problem.”

“Yes thank you Mick. I can’t wait to see Derrick.”

“No need I’m right here.”

“Oh Derrick.”

Rebecca ran over to Derrick and he picked her up and swung her around.

“Ted is at the hospital so I’m sure one of the officers would be glad to take you to see him.”

“Is he all right?”

“I called an ambulance to have him checked out.”

Jinny hugged Mick and thanked him wiping away tears as an officer escorted her to a cruiser to take her to the hospital.

Derrick turned to Mick and said, “Mick is it? Let me buy you a drink it’s the least I can do.”

“I could use a drink.”

Two officers walked by with Bella and the two men who cringed and started walking faster when they saw Mick.

Derrick drove off with Rebecca while Beth went with Mick. The police took Jinny to the hospital where she was reunited with Ted.

Beth woke up the next day all groggy. After a second she remembered that her cousin had been found along with the other women who were being held over at Catalina before sending them off to who knows where. She realized that she wasn’t along in bed so she reached over assuming it was Josh but it turned out to be Mick.

“What the?”

She noticed a ring on her left hand. Mick rolled over and he was wearing a matching ring.

“I don’t remembering drinking that much last night. Could we really be married?”

She looked again and the ring was still there and Mick was still in the bed so she rubbed her eyes thinking she might still be dreaming but Mick was still there in her bed.

“Mick wake up?”

Mick opened his eyes and saw Beth looking quite confused. He heard the sound of a key in the door and Josh calling out.

Beth had turned away when she heard Josh and said, “Shit what am I going to tell Josh?”

“Tell me what?”

She noticed that Mick had slipped away before Josh came to the door.

“What?”

Beth rubbed her eyes and looked up at Josh.

“Sorry I just woke up. Was I talking in my sleep again?”

“You wanted to tell me something.”

“Is that coffee I smell?”

“Yes and I have muffins from that bakery you love.”

“Great but first I need some aspirin.”

“I’ll get them for you.”

“Thanks.”

Beth grabbed a rube and went to the kitchen and found two coffees and a bag of muffins. She didn’t really need the aspirin but she wanted a few seconds alone so she could hide the ring and try to act natural when Josh came back in.

Mick made it back to his place and went to bed. He’d just fallen asleep when he heard knocking on his freezer.

“Forget to set your alarm clock?”

Josef handed Mick a towel which he wrapped around his waist as he got out of the freezer.

“We were supposed to play pool at the club and lighten a few newbie’s pockets.”

“Sorry about that I have other things on my mind.”

“Does it have something to do with that ring on your finger?”

“You could say that. What am I supposed to do? I can’t remember a thing.”

Josef started laughing.

“What?”

Mick threw Josef against the wall who was still laughing as Mick started shaking him like a rag doll.

“Relax Mick it’s a joke.”

“You better start talking right now or I’m reaching for a stake.”

“Could you let me go and perhaps offer me some liquid refreshment?”

“Help yourself. I’m going to get dressed.”

When Mick came out Josef was sitting in a chair drinking a glass of blood.

“Start explaining.”

“Simple you’re not married. I decided to lay a practical joke on you. Guillermo helped me take you to Beth’s and put you in the bed next to her and added the rings which I thought were a nice touch.”

“Son of a bitch.”

It was strange but a part of me was disappointed to find out that the marriage wasn’t real. Beth has a boyfriend and I’m a vampire so I shouldn’t even be thinking about things like this.

I grabbed my cell and left Beth a message.

“So movie and takeout tonight?”

“Sure that would be great.”

Josh kissed Beth goodbye and went to work. Beth reached for her phone and noticed that she had a message from Mick.

“Hey Beth I just wanted to let you know that we aren’t really married. It was Josef’s idea of a joke.”

“Son of a bitch.”

Beth put down the phone relieved to hear the news but at the same time she felt a sliver of disappointment.

By Barbara Desmond