Title:   "Another Reunion." 

By: Arletta Asbury
g4akl@charm.net
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/4523/

This story and it's predecessors was inspired by my hatred 
of the ending of "Last Knight".  So in a complete state of 
denial, I offer you this bit of 'Fourth Season Fiction'.

This story follows my earlier stories 'Another Ending', 
'Transitions', 'The End or Not?' and 'A Reunion, Sort Of?'.  
I would recommend that you read (at a minimum) both 
'Transitions' and 'The End or Not?' in order to understand 
this story.  If you haven't read them, you may find them on 
my web site or request copies from me at the email address 
given above.

I would like to thank Cousin Shelley for her help.

Warning: This story contains spoilers for "Last Knight"
and "Ashes to Ashes".

DISCLAIMER:
Some concepts and characters used in this work are from 
FOREVER KNIGHT which is the property of James D. Parriott, 
Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia TriStar Television, 
and the SciFi Channel, and are used without permission. 
This is an amateur publication intended solely for the 
entertainment of its readers. No copyright infringement is
intended.

********************************************************************

Vachon walked into the small club, looked about for a moment,
then headed for the bar.  When he had arrived in the city a few days
ago an old friend had informed him of the new club in town for
'their' kind.  He motioned for the bartender who sauntered over to
stand across the bar from him.  Vachon sensed that the bartender
was another vampire and would therefore understand his need.  He
ordered a 'special' .  The bartender nodded, pulled a discreet
bottle from beneath the counter,  poured a generous amount into a
sparkling goblet, and slid it across to him.  Vachon pulled some
bedraggled bills from a pocket in his jeans and handed one of them
over.  As the bartender was about to turn away Vachon caught his
attention once again and whispered another request.

"I cannot provide that to you without the manager's approval," the
bartender replied.  Vachon nodded his assent.  The bartender pressed
a hidden button.  A moment later Vachon straightened as he sensed a
presence and turned to see Urse standing behind him.  With a gasp of
surprise he grabbed her into a huge embrace.  She hung onto him as
if she thought he would disappear if she let go.

"Oh, Javier, I've been searching for you!" she breathed.

"Urse, I was afraid you were dead when I couldn't sense you.  I'm
so glad you're not!  What have you done to yourself?  What are
you doing here in Paris?"

"I'm living here now".  She caught the eye of the bartender, who
had been staring at the two of them.  With a motion of her hand,
she signaled him to continue his other duties and he turned to
serve another customer.

Suddenly Vachon realized just who the manager might be and asked,
"Are you the manager of this club"?

Urse smiled shyly before she nodded in reply.  "And what brings you
to Paris?  Are you here with Tracy?"

"Yes, I was ordering extra bottles to take...." he began then stopped.
<Urse didn't know about him and Tracy; or did she?>

"Oh, I'll see to that."  Urse stepped out of his arms and quickly
went to whisper to the bartender.  "He's my *friend*.  Give him
whatever he wants and put it on my *personal* tab.  Understand?"
The bartender nodded and went into a back room.  Urse returned
to stand before her master.

"Let's go sit at a booth where we can talk,"  Urse suggested.

Once seated, they clasped hands over the table top and said
in unison, "I'm glad to see you!" and then they both laughed.

"You're looking well," Urse began again.

"And you.  How did you get to be the club's manager?" asked Vachon.

"Oh, that's a long story.  I'll tell you later.  What are you
doing here in Paris?"  Urse asked again.

"Well I'm here with a band but actually I heard thru the grapevine
that the Nightcrawler had a radio programme here in Paris now.  I
thought if I could find Lacroix, he would know where Knight is now."

Urse looked puzzled before she asked, "Why are you looking for
Nick?"

"Tracy is......what do you know of Tracy?"  Vachon asked with some
trepidation.  In the past he had always tried to keep the two women
from meeting each other and he was unsure just *how* much they each
*did* know about the other.

"Tracy was Nick's partner.  She was shot and you must have
'brought her across'.  I mean, when her body turned up missing,
that was the obvious reason."  Urse replied.

Vachon nodded before he said, "She wasn't exactly prepared for
what happened to her.  I guess she's adjusting about as well as
could be expected under the circumstances but I thought seeing
Knight would help *and* she has a few unresolved issues with him."

Urse nodded in understanding.  She remembered that she had had
a hard time adjusting to being a vampire and could only imagine
that Tracy must be going thru the same sort of difficulties.

"I might be able to help.  Come to my home tomorrow evening at
eight.  I'll give you my address.  Bring Tracy with you, OK?"

Urse scribbled her address on the back of cocktail napkin and
gave it to Vachon.  "I'll take tomorrow off."  Just then she
saw that the bartender had returned from the storeroom.
"I think your order is ready now.  See you tomorrow."

Vachon returned to the bar where the bartender handed him a large
sealed box.  Offering to pay, Vachon was waved off.  Then he left
to rejoin Tracy at their hotel.

                          *      *      *

When Urse got home early that morning, she went to the door
of the library.  Inside she found Nick sitting at the table
preparing notes for his next class.

Urse interrupted him saying, "Nick, I've got a surprise for
you.  Could you be here tomorrow evening at eight?"

"Sure,"  Nick replied.  "What's it all about?"

"I'd rather keep it a surprise," Urse answered.  But I'm counting
on you.  Don't forget!"  She closed the library door and crossed
the living room to fetch a bottle and two wine glasses from the
kitchen.  She was sitting on the living room couch reading,
with the bottle and glasses on a table beside her, when Lacroix
returned home from his evening radio broadcast.

Sensing that she and Vachon had embraced, Lacroix's expression 
changed.  He stiffened noticeably as he approached Urse. 

Urse saw the change in his manner and her own eyes widened.
She had not expected this.  "I've invited guests here tomorrow 
evening," she began.

"Do tell," he replied.

"I'm keeping it a surprise for Nick but...well...it's Tracy
and Vachon," she whispered.

Lacroix nodded but the look on his face did not express approval.

"Lucian...." Urse began then stopped.  

"What is it that you expect from me?  Acquiescence, perhaps."

Urse looked at him, mutely.  This was not going as she had expected.
and she could not understand his reaction.  That his vampiric senses 
could not distinguish between a joyous reunion hug and a passionate 
embrace did not occur to her.

"Do you intend to join him?"

Urse stood before him shaking her head.  "It's not like that."

"What of the night club?  It was purchased for *your* amusement."

"Don't do this, please," Urse begged.  

Suddenly, Nick opened the library door and entered the living
room with a puzzled expression on his face.  "What's going on?"
he asked.

Lacroix ignored his son's interruption.  "Or you'll do...what?"
he asked Urse.

Urse shook her head.  "Don't make me leave," she pleaded with tears
forming now. 

Nick looked from one to the other's face.  He couldn't understand
what was going on but the mental wallop he had received from Lacroix
indicated *something* serious was happening.  Lacroix had been
distracted enough to have forgotten to shut off their mental link.

Lacroix and Urse were standing face to face just inches apart.
She was openly crying now.  Lacroix was struggling to draw a mask
over his own emotions as he said, "Nicholas, leave us."

"Lacroix...........", Nick began then stopped.  Lacroix's tone of
voice had been cold, almost emotionless.  

"What .... what do want me to do?" Urse said thru her tears as Nick 
turned and left the room.

Lacroix stared at her with icy-blue eyes as he pondered the question.

                          *      *      *

Nick closed the door that separated the living room from his sitting 
room.  Natalie was already in there, reading.  She looked up as he 
entered the room, saw his expression, and said, "Nick? "What's wrong?"

Lacroix had by now closed the mental link between himself and Nick,
prompting Nick to shake his head and reply, "I don't know."
He shook his head again and said, "Something happened that enraged
Lacroix but he's calmed now.  I don't know what could have set him
off like that.  Urse was crying, too."

Natalie rose to her feet and would have gone to her friend but Nick
put his hand on her arm to stop her saying, "No.  Leave them alone to
work it out.  She's alright.  He won't hurt her.  At least, I think
he won't hurt her." 

Natalie looked doubtful and turned toward the door.  Nick tightened
his grip on her arm slightly.  She looked down at his hand on her
arm and then back at his eyes before she said "Nick?"

He looked into her eyes and shook his head.

Finally she nodded in acceptance.  She knew he was right.  No 
reasonable mortal would step into the middle of a heated argument 
between two vampires. 

Abruptly changing the subject in a misguided effort to distract Nat,
he said, "I forgot to tell you something.  There's a faculty wives
luncheon tomorrow.  Would you go?"

Nat looked at him in pure astonishment.  There was a major ruckus
going on between Lacroix and Urse and he picked *that moment* to
mention a luncheon she was supposed to attend.  Never mind that a
luncheon would be 'in the middle of the night' to them.  Natalie
blinked, unable to properly answer him.

                          *      *      *

The next afternoon Natalie stood in the living room of the Dean's home.
She had decided to go to the luncheon, as Nick had requested, after all.

As far as Natalie could tell, whatever had been going on with Urse and
Lacroix seemed to have been soothed over.  Urse appeared to be physically uninjured (although not necessarily unhurt) but she wouldn't talk to Nat
about it.  Natalie had tried to get Urse to open up to her but Urse had
evaded the subject.  Natalie had mentally sighed and shook his head but
she knew better than to press her.  Urse just, in general, wouldn't
talk about Lacroix and the events of that evening had seemed even more
off limits than usual.

With an effort, Natalie returned her thoughts to the luncheon at hand.
This 'luncheon' had not turned out to be a faculty wives luncheon at
all.  In fact, it seemed to be an annual event hosted by the University
Dean for the faculty and their families.  Similar to a 'company picnic'
in another setting, its purpose seemed more to introduce the various
University staff members and their families to each other at an informal
social gathering.

Of course, the daylight prevented it, but Nick should have attended this
'luncheon' with her.  With him by her side, Nat would have felt less
intimidated in this crowd of strangers.  She had never envisioned herself
as a faculty wife.  It was certainly not a role she could have foreseen
when she first saw Nick on her table in the morgue.  And to be the wife
of a professor at a small University on the outskirts of Paris seemed
even more unlikely.  Yet, she reflected, being the wife of an 800 year
old vampire was even more unbelievable and she smiled.

Nat's French had improved since their move to Paris so that she could
now understand most of the conversations going on about her, but some
subtleties *were* lost on her.  So she preferred not to join any of
the various conversations flowing about her but to eavesdrop instead.

A couple of individuals (who were apparently professors) drew her attention.
They were vehemently arguing about the authenticity of some manuscript.
Nat wondered if they were in the Archaeology Department with Nick or if
they were Professors of Literature instead.




Natalie was trying to be inconspicuous as she stood in the living room of
the Dean's home listening to the various conversations and contemplating
the circumstances that had brought her to this place.  The other guests
were milling about her both indoors and on the lawn outside the pleasant
home, when she heard a once familiar voice.

"Natalie Lambert, that is you, I thought so."  Nat turned her head
and saw David McMillan, an old classmate of hers from medical school.

"David ... McMillan isn't it?"  Nat smiled at her old friend.

"Darling, this is Dr. Natalie Lambert an old friend of mine from 
University days.  Natalie this is my wife Paula."  David
indicated the petite woman he had his arm about.

"How-do-you-do," Natalie said automatically extending her hand to
shake the one offered by the woman.

"It's so nice to meet you," Paula said in return.

"Imagine running into you in Paris.  What are you doing here at this
gathering of stuffed shirts?  Don't tell me you've joined the
hallowed halls of academia too?" David asked mischievously.

"Ah, no," Natalie shook her head in reply.  "My ... my husband is
a professor here .... I'm just a housewife .... well not *just* a
housewife .... I've been writing a book,"  Natalie stammered, unsure
just how much to tell him of her present life.

"A book, eh.  The last I heard you were up for some job as a Medical
Examiner."  Turning to his wife he added, "Darling, she may not look 
it, but Natalie here, is a very talented Pathologist.  Or so the 
professors back at our school all thought." 

"How  ..... unusual," commented Paula as if she was unsure what else 
to say.

"What are *you* doing here, if I might ask," said Natalie addressing
David.

"Oh I'm teaching pre-med courses here.  Mostly anatomy.  It's not as
lucrative as a private practice but it allows me to spend more time
with Paula and our family.  And we enjoy the luxury of living in Paris.
What kind of book are you writing, 'Tips and Techniques for
Pathologists' perhaps," David asked, only half joking and deftly
switching the subject back to Natalie as he did so. 

"No, I'm writing fiction.  It's a murder mystery.  I'm just putting
the finishing touches on it now with my editor.  I expect it to be
in the bookstores less than a year from now, actually." Natalie
answered. "How many children do you have?" Natalie asked trying to 
divert the conversation back to them.

"Three.  Two boys and a girl.  Who's your husband?  Maybe I know him.
What does he teach here?" David said switching topics again.

Natalie was non-plussed at the uncomfortable questions.  She suddenly
turned her head and addressed a non-existent friend across the room,

"Oh, I'll be right there."  Turning back to David and Paula she said,
"Excuse me.  I've got to go now."  And she hurried across the room.
She went outside thru the patio door and crossed the lawn,  moving
away from the groups of people clustered out there as quickly as she
could manage without actually running.
                       

                          *      *      *

Natalie returned to the apartment thoroughly shaken.  *That* had been
an unfortunate encounter and unlike Nick and Lacroix she couldn't just
whammy David and Paula into forgetting the meeting.  She wasn't sure
just how much damage had been done but she'd have to confess all that had
happened to Nick when he awoke that evening.  She was exhausted and upset
but she had not gotten a full quota of sleep so she went to bed and quickly
fell into a troubled slumber.

When she awoke, Nick had already left for school and it was rather late
for her to be just getting up.  It was nearly eight o'clock and time
for the surprise Nick told her that Urse had in store for him.

Natalie got up and fixed herself a small meal.  She was still in the 
kitchen putting the dishes away after her meal when she heard the 
doorbell and Urse go to answer it.

Urse opened the door, smiled at Vachon and Tracy who stood in the
hallway, and ushered them inside the apartment.  She blinked slightly
at Tracy as she realized for the first time just how much her 'sibling'
resembled herself.  She hesitated only a moment before embracing Tracy in
a welcoming hug, "It's good to finally meet my new 'sister'.

Tracy who had been unsure of her own feelings towards this stranger
who had been Vachon's girlfriend before her, found reassurance in
Urse's warm greeting.  Vachon stood on the sidelines watching the
exchange but said nothing.  He hadn't known what would happen when
his former lover and current lover met but this wasn't exactly
what he would have guessed.

"Come and sit beside me," Urse said to Tracy.  "We must get to know
each other now that we're 'sisters'," she began.

Tracy glanced briefly at Vachon before returning her gaze to Urse and
replying, "Yeah, 'sisters'.  It's kinda strange when you think of it.
I always wanted a sister and thru really weird circumstances now *I*
have one."  She smiled tentatively at Urse and would have said more
but she was interrupted by Nat entering the living room.

Tracy screamed, "Nat!" and raced across the room with her new found
vampiric speed.

Natalie found herself squeezed in Tracy's enthusiastic embrace almost
before she'd realized who the guests were.  "Tracy?  Oh, Tracy," she
said.  "We were all so worried about you."  Natalie tried to gently
disentangle herself from Tracy's over enthusiastic embrace after
she had had a moment to recollect that Tracy was a fledgling without
Nick's self control.  "Come.  Let's sit down," she said as she steered
Tracy back to the couch to sit between herself and Urse.

Vachon stood watching with some surprise.  It had never occurred to him
that Tracy would enjoy seeing Dr. Lambert so much and he wondered
just *why* she was here at Urse's home.  Then he wondered at how Urse
was affording such an obviously expensive apartment. Apparently, much
more was going on here than he had imagined.

Vachon's reverie was interrupted by Lacroix opening the door from his
sitting room.  "Ah, Vachon, so nice to see you again.  You're looking
well," Lacroix said in greeting as he joined the others.

Tracy looked up and her eyes widened as she saw Lacroix.  He was the
same man she had arrested back in Toronto.  At the time she had asked
Vachon if he were a vampire because even then she had sensed something
unusual about him.  Now she realized that Vachon had lied to her.
Lacroix was indeed a vampire -- a very old and powerful one, at that.

"Miss Vetter, I believe.  Welcome to my home," he said.

"Hello, Mr. Lacroix," she replied.  At the news that this apartment
was his home Tracy also perceived that something unusual was going
on.  'Why should Nat be at Lacroix's apartment?  Or Urse, for that
matter?'

"Hi, Lacroix.  Nice place you have here," Vachon said briefly.
Things were starting to make a little sense to him.  Urse was
obviously the mistress of Lacroix now.  That's why this was her
home and how she had managed to wrangle being the manager of the
nightclub.  'Nice gig,' he thought.  Then he took a better look
at Urse and realized that she seemed happier than he had ever known
her to be.  She was smiling at the group in general and didn't seem
to have the same mournful expression that she had all too often worn
even back in Toronto.

"I really must be going to the radio station now," Lacroix said to
Vachon before turning to Urse and saying, "You promised to accompany
me tonight...."

"Ah, yes.  Tracy, it's been so nice to finally meet you.  Javier, I
promised to be a 'guest' on Lacroix's radio programme this evening.
I'm sorry that *surprise* that I promised you is a little late tonight
but I'm sure *it* will arrive soon.  Perhaps both of you could
visit again when Lacroix and I don't have to hurry off.  Bye"
And with that Lacroix escorted Urse out the front door of
the apartment leaving Nat staring after them.

Nat suddenly realized just what their disagreement had been about
on the previous evening and just *how* it must have been resolved.
She blinked, swallowed, and turned back to Tracy saying, "Where
have you been these past few months?"

"Uh, Oh Vachon has been on the road traveling with a rock band.
I've been traveling with them too as one of the 'groupies'.
It's a really strange lifestyle.  Up all night.  Trying to sleep
all day while the band's darkened bus is driving us all to the next
gig," she answered.

Nat opened her mouth to say something then stopped as she realized
that Tracy had just evaded her question.  Tracy had avoided all
mention of her present vampiric condition to Nat.  Tracy still
didn't know that Nat was aware of vampires.  It was incredible
when she thought of it.  Moments ago Nat was in the same room
with four other individuals all of whom were vampires, yet Tracy
assumed that she didn't realize that fact.  Natalie nearly burst
out laughing but managed to contain it.

"What are you doing here in Paris," Tracy asked Nat.

"Oh, I'm living here with my husband," Natalie answered.

"Husband?" Tracy echoed.

"Yeah, husband.  I'm Madame deBrabant now.  My husband teaches
at a small University here."  Natalie watched the expressions of
the other two as she said these words but there was no reaction
from Tracy.  Vachon just wore a puzzled expression.

Clearly neither of them knew Nick's real name.  Nat wondered if she
should just tell them, but she was enjoying the game too much and
Nick would probably be home soon anyway.  In fact, he was late.
He had promised Urse to be home by eight o'clock and it was
nearly nine already.

Vachon had just figured out that if Nick's ladyfriend and
Lacroix were both here and Urse had hinted strongly that the
'surprise', meaning Nick, was due here any minute then could
Nick be the husband that Dr. Lambert was talking about?  Had
Knight, as a vampire, married a mortal?  Vachon was still 
puzzled.

Tracy seemed oblivious to what Vachon was thinking but she *was* 
puzzled by Nat's connection with Lacroix.  "How do you know
Mr. Lacroix?" she asked Natalie.

"Hmmmm.  Well he's the foster father of my husband so I guess you
could call him my father-in-law although it's difficult to think
of him in those terms," Natalie answered.

Vachon just stared at her open mouthed.  Tracy nodded, satisfied
with the explanation.  When he finally could react, Vachon shook
his head trying to rid himself of the mental image of Lacroix as
a father-in-law.  In-law problems were one thing (from what he'd
heard) but Lacroix was a whole other thing entirely.




Just then a sound at the door drew their attention.  Nick pushed it
open and for a moment just stared as he realized who was sitting 
on his couch.  Vachon blinked.  Tracy drew her breath in sharply.  
Nat smiled at her husband encouragingly.  Tracy stood as if she 
were preparing to do battle.  Nick walked over to her and
stood facing her for as moment as if he couldn't believe what he was
seeing.  Then he suddenly grabbed her into a bear hug and said, "I'm
very glad to see you.  I was so worried and I've been hoping to see
you.  Are you alright?"

Tracy nodded in reply, returned his hug and began crying.  Then she
disentangled herself and swatted at his arm before saying, "I should
be very angry with you.  You could've *trusted* me enough to tell me
the truth."

"There were reasons.  I'm sorry Tracy, but I was afraid of what the
other vampires would do to you if they learned that you knew our
secret.  Knowing about Vachon was bad enough but knowing about me
too would have just put you at even *more* risk," Nick said.

"I am ... er ... I *was* a cop.  I could take care of myself," Tracy
countered rather insistently.

"You were no match for enforcers.  You wouldn't have stood a chance.
I ... I just couldn't risk it...  It's bad enough that I put Nat in jeopardy
but that couldn't be helped."  At Tracy's questioning look, he continued,
"She's a resistor too.  Unlike you, she *can* be hypnotized into forgetting
but only temporarily.  It wears off in a few hours.  Then she remembers
everything again."

"Nat knew about you?" Tracy asked, shifting her gaze to Natalie..

Nick nodded as Nat said, "I've known about Nick since we met.  He was
a 'patient' of mine brought in after a pipe bomb explosion.
My patients don't usually wake up and start talking to me.  It was
a *memorable* occurrence."  Nick reached across Tracy who was between
them to squeeze Nat's hand.

Suddenly Tracy got it.  She said, "You two are married now?  How?
I thought vampires and mortals couldn't......"

"It's definitely a mixed marriage with it's own unique problems," Nat
answered, "but we're managing."  She smiled at Nick.

Nick smiled back as he said, "It's what we both want more than
anything else --  to be together."

Tracy understood now, for the first time, why Nick had always been
without an apparent social life.  Neither he nor Nat had ever dated anyone
during the time that she had known them.  She had been aware that
they were friends but she had never known what they had been dealing
with and just why they had never openly dated each other.  They had
kept their relationship a secret just as she and Vachon had, and for
exactly the same reasons.

"Wait a minute.  You said Mr. Lacroix was your father-in-law and that
you were Madame deBrabant," Tracy queried Nat.

"I am Madame deBrabant and I said Lacroix was like my father-in-law,"
Nat answered as Nick chuckled at the thought of anyone calling
Lacroix 'father-in-law'.

"I'm Nicholas deBrabant.  Nick Knight was a sort of alias dreamed
up as a convenience for my life in Toronto.  Lacroix 'brought me across'
so in that sense only, he's my father.  Although he often likes to
dictate my life as a domineering father does."

"You arrested him." Tracy commented.

"Yes, well, I knew he didn't commit that murder.  He wouldn't do
anything so stupid as to leave a head in a box at his bar.  One thing
Lacroix is NOT, is stupid.  Because *I* arrested him he cooperated
with the police and we were able to investigate the matter.
In fact I know who committed that crime and she is dead now!"
Nick said with finality. 

"Who did it?" Tracy asked.

"A very old and very evil vampire named Divia," Nick answered.

"Divia!  Isn't she the one that attacked me," asked Vachon.

"Yes, she's the one.  She also nearly killed Urse and me too.  She
was attacking everyone close to Lacroix as revenge against him
for something that happened nearly 2000 years ago.  In fact she
was just about to kill him, too, when she was staked."

Tracy shuddered as she remembered when Vachon had impaled himself
on the stake she held in her hand.  Vachon took the news about
Divia's fate solemnly.  Then seeing Tracy reaction's, he
moved to her side and drew her into his comforting embrace.

"It's over, don't dwell on it, Trace," Vachon whispered to her.

Tracy nodded, "I know.  It's just....."

After a moment Tracy recovered her composure and said to Nick,
"Can we come and visit you again.  I'd like to hear more,
but .... not right now.  OK?"

"Sure Trace.  Come whenever you want,"  Nick answered.

After a hasty chorus of 'bye' from everyone, Tracy and Vachon departed.

"Is she going to be alright?" Nat asked in a worried tone.

"Who knows. .... " Nick saw the concern on Nat's face and added, "Yeah,
probably.  She has Vachon and ... well she's adjusting.  It'll take some
time but, yeah, I think she'll be OK."

Nat breathed a sigh of relief and turned her attention back to Nick.
"Why were you so late coming home?" she asked.

"*That* is a very interesting tale," Nick answered.

"Tell me," Nat said.

"In a moment," Nick answered.  He went into the kitchen and returned
with a bottle and a glass.  He removed the cork and poured himself
some dinner before settling himself on the sofa next to Nat.

"Well?" she prompted.

He sighed before recalling what had happened.  "I had stayed after
class with a couple of exchange students who needed extra help with
their current assignment."

"Just after they left I was putting my notes into my briefcase, when 
I heard a strangled cry.  It sounded like it came from the classroom 
next to mine so I went to investigate."

"Inside that room I found the body of Professor Dumont.  There was
blood everywhere.  A knife was lying not two feet away from his body.
He had obviously been stabbed.  All my old police instincts kicked in
and I was beginning to examine the body when I heard a scream behind me."

"Go on," Nat said.

Nick sighed again.  "Well to make a long story short.  Being discovered 
standing over the body, .... very calmly examining it, ...  well ... 
because they don't know that I was a cop ... my behavior looks 
suspicious.  That's why I'm now the prime suspect.  I was questioned 
by the police.  And *that's* why I was late for the 'surprise' that 
Urse promised.  I take it that Tracy was the 'surprise'?"

Nat nodded in reply before asking, "Did you know him, the victim?"

"Barely, I certainly had no reason to kill him.  That's probably why
the police finally let me go tonight."

"Well you've certainly had an interesting day.  And it's not over
yet.  Something happened to me today at that 'luncheon' that you
sent me to," Nat commented.

Nick looked at her quizzically.  Nat took a deep breath then continued,
"I ran into an old classmate of mine, David McMillan.  He's teaching at
your University, too.  Worse still, he knows that I worked at the
Coroner's Office in Toronto.  Oh Nick, I didn't know what to say to
him.  I couldn't brush him off and just pretend that I was someone else.
He'd known me too well in medical school to be fooled."

"Finally I just fled.  I don't think he realized how panicked I was
but I can't even be sure of that.  I didn't tell him our name even
though he asked.  But it may not be that hard to find out.  What if
I was the only newcomer there today?  Nick, I'm sorry, I just didn't
know what to do."

Nick put his arms around Nat and pulled her close.  "It's not your
fault.  *I* sent you to that 'luncheon'.  This sort of thing happens
sometimes.  It's part of the lifestyle.  I'm sorry you were put into
such a position.  It's all my fault.  If I weren't a vampire......"

"Oh, Nick, hush!  I knew what I was getting into and the occasional
reminder of our past in just something I'll learn how to handle better."

"No, you did fine.  It's my fault."

"Nick."  Nat said with a smile.  "This is getting us nowhere.  *What*
do we do about it?"

"He doesn't know any of your friends or co-workers in Toronto, does he?"
Natalie shook her head before he continued, "Well he doesn't know *me* 
from those days, either.  So he can't just call someone in Toronto and 
announce that he's seen us here.  I think we're not in any immediate 
danger."

"Should you hypnotize him into forgetting the meeting?" Nat asked.  "His
wife was there too, by the way, and he introduced us."

Nick paused as if considering this.  "The problem with whamming them
is that *we* don't know how many of their friends saw them talking to
you.  Maybe he won't learn that our name is deBrabant.  I think it's
safe to wait and see but .... no more faculty wives luncheons for you."
He grinned.

Nat looked relieved, "I'll just have to suffer without them,"  and then
grinned back.  "What about the murder investigation?" 

"I'm going to try to sit back and watch the local police do their job.
Any competent investigation should clear me."

Nat smiled before she asked, "Do you think you can resist getting 
involved?"

Nick just grinned in reply.

********************************************************************
The End?                       

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