#ben talbot

"The fifties...what does that have to do with...?" Ben frowned as the dial tone reached his ears for the hundredth time. He grunted in frustration, tossing his pen on the table. "Talbot?" He blinked when he recognised the boss who was standing at his desk with a curious expression on her face. "Serena, sorry. Just hit a wall with a lead." Serena Sandringham smiled wryly. "Not much of a lead then, Ben." She leaned against the desk. "Still hung up over the Monohan case?" "I know it's been over a year, but..." Ben gave a sharp shake of his head. "It bothers me, that she escaped. I have no idea. The security should've been enough." His brow furrowed faintly. "And the accident..." Serena's eyes narrowed as she scanned Ben's desk. "Well, we have a new case. So that will have to take a backseat." Ben straightened in his chair. "Of course, what is it?" Serena smiled as she held out a Manila file to the ADA. "Have a look at this and come talk to me in an hour." She checked her watch. "I have an appointment I need to keep. So, you're in charge until I get back." Ben nodded, smiling at her in a conciliatory manner. "Right." Serena smiled back then turned on her heel and strode out of the office. Ben glanced down at the file and flipped it open and began to peruse its contents. * Mick swirled his glass and frowned at Josef who was sprawled out on his settee a catlike smile on his lips. "You don't know what you're asking me to do, Josef." "No?" Josef smirked. "I'd think it's obvious what I'm asking." Beth had just left after she and Mick had argued about the whole blood drinking thing. It wasn't the first time and Josef was trying to convince his friend it wouldn't be the last. "I can't do it, I would never wish this life on her." Josef rolled his eyes. "Of course not..." His voice trailed off as his phone vibrated in his pocket. "Who's that?" Mick asked. Josef snorted, looking at him in surprise. "What? A friend can't ask?" "It's a friend," Josef dead-panned. Mick's eyebrow twitched upwards. The older vampire shook his head. "You don't know her, Mick. She was born way before your time." He paused then muttered half under his breath. "Way before my time." Mick frowned. "Your friend a vampire?" Josef laughed sardonically. "All my acquaintances are vampires." "You say acquaintance as if it's a curse." "This woman is cursed." Josef shook his head. "But, I trust her." Mick scoffed. "Trust her?" Josef looked dourly at his best friend but said nothing to deny his query. Mick smirked. "You don't trust anyone." "I trust you." "Yeah, because I don't love you for your money." Josef bristled, which was unusual for the male who was always so unruffled by life. "Serena doesn't love me for anything." He lifted his glass to his lips and muttered, "She doesn't love anyone." Mick nodded. "Hard to when you're cursed." Josef shifted on his seat. "Trust you to make that connection, Mick." He glanced at his watch. Mick laughed softly. "You can go if you need." "That really won't be necessary." Mick jerked his head around. His nostrils flared as he found himself looking at a woman who had just appeared in the middle of his condo. "How?" The female vampire smiled tightly, "The window was open." Josef stood to greet her. "Serena. Mick prefers if you knock..." The female laughed and nodded to Mick as she kissed Josef's cheek. "Apologies for the intrusion." Mick just frowned at her. "I've seen you before." Serena smirked, "Hazard of being in the public eye." "Oh?" She held her hand out to him with a smile. "District Attorney Serena Sandringham." Mick blinked not bothering to hide his surprise. "The DA?" She kept her hand out; after a second he took it and shook it firmly. "The DA," Serena affirmed. "So... You know...Talbot..." Mick said carefully. She chuckled as she perched on the edge of the sofa. "He speaks quite...well of you." Josef scoffed, "If that's what being suspicious looks like these days..." "He's a professional," Mick pointed out. He glanced at the female vampire in front of him and studied her for a moment. He couldn't figure out how it had slipped his radar that the DA was a vampire. Serena smiled at him, "I'm a pro too, Mick St John." He tilted his head and she met his gaze dead on. He shook his head and stood just as his phone rang. He looked at the screen and sighed. "Well, I need to be somewhere. Josef, lock the door when you leave." Serena lifted an eyebrow as Mick walked out, lifting his keys and coat from a hook as he left. * "So, you have no idea what could've caused this?" Beth was crouched down next to an officer glancing over a scene that was laid out before them. Mick could hear them from where he was standing twenty feet away. He frowned, before making his way toward them. Beth glanced up as he approached and gave a tight smile. "Mick?" Mick nodded to her. "What've you found?" Beth just looked at the officer who frowned as he answered, "White female, mid-twenties...two pierce marks in her neck." Mick narrowed his eyes. "And what do you think caused the wound?" The officer raised his eyebrows. "Some kind of animal?" It came out more like a question than an answer. The vampire lifted his head slightly as he caught the whiff of vamp on the air. "Could be," was all he said, as he cast a knowing look at Beth. She smiled grimly at him then nodded to the officer. "Anything else you can tell us?" The officer shook his head. "You'd have to ask the Lieutenant." Beth smiled and glanced at Mick. "We might go do that. Thank you." The officer returned to the body where an M.E. was now examining it and Mick and Beth headed toward the flashing lights of the police vehicles. "So, were vampires involved?" Beth asked casually. Mick grimaced but nodded. "Yes. Just one." Beth frowned. "The vic wasn't drained, though." Mick's nostrils flared. "Caught off guard." He scanned the scene and caught Lieutenant Carl's eye. Carl left his car and joined them. "Thought I'd see you two here. What do you want to know?" Beth smiled, innocently, "Who says we want to know something?" Carl snorted. "Beth, this is you we're talking about and considering Mick's with you...you're not on a date." Mick lifted an eyebrow at that, and Beth almost looked offended. "We could be." Carl gave her a strange look. "Odd choice of place for a date." "Carl, what can you tell us about the vic?" Mick asked, tone serious, cutting through the awkwardness. "Not much. Mid-twenties, two pierce marks. No one knows her." Carl shook his head. Beth frowned. "An out of town-er?" Carl nodded, "Possibly. Anyway, if I find anything more-" "You'll let us know? How kind of you," Beth grinned. The Lieutenant sighed, a long suffering sound. The 'of course' was left unspoken. They bid the lieutenant good night and made their way back toward Mick's car. "So, what do you think?" Beth asked once they were on the highway. Mick didn't answer straight away, his mind having wandered to his encounter with Josef's friend. "Mick?" "Hmmm?" "The girl?" He glanced at her as he steered lazily. "Well, it wasn't a vampire I recognise. But, that doesn't mean much. I don't know every vamp in LA." He looked out on the road a contemplative expression on his face. Like Serena, he thought, wonder what her story is? "Who's Serena?" Mick blinked, realising he had said her name out loud. "Friend of Josef's." He frowned. "Didn't know her either." Beth nodded then said, "Why'd you mention her?" "Just a name that came to mind." He grimaced. "She's also Talbot's boss." Beth shifted in her seat surprise on her face. "And she's a vampire?" Mick snorted. "I didn't say that." "No. You said she was Josef's friend." Mick laughed. "True." He shook his head. "And yes, she is a vampire." "Wow." Beth turned her gaze out to look at the blinking city lights. "Wonder how she manages it?" Mick sighed. "Being DA? Good question."