Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1997 19:29:04 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: It Runs in the Family (1/6) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu This is an early season 2, feel-good kind of N&N story. Nothing very 'dark' here - sorry! Work has been 'dark' enough lately! And, yes, this is the end of this particular writing spurt - I promise! The characters are not mine - just borrowed for fun. Please let me know what you think. Yes, I really love e-mail! * * * * * * It Runs in the Family (1/6) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) The door to the morgue opened and closed as Nick strode in casually. Natalie looked up, bleary-eyed. "You're still working?" he asked, stopping in front of her desk. "Just finishing up," Natalie responded, closing her notebook and pushing the chair back to arm's length. She stretched her arms over her head and yawned. "Phew! Long night." Nick smiled. Her movements reminded him of a cat awakening from a lengthy nap. "So what are you doing here?" Natalie asked, returning his smile. "Just thought I'd stop by on my way out and see if I could walk you to your car." Nick shoved his hands into his coat pockets. Natalie stood up and stripped off her lab coat. "And I'd heard rumors that chivalry was dead!" She tossed the lab coat over the back of her chair and reached for her overcoat. "My, my!" Nick held Natalie's overcoat while she slipped into it. "Thanks," she said over her shoulder. Natalie shoved a few stray items into her bag and closed it, clicking the clip into place. Plucking the bag from the desk, she turned to Nick. He was standing with his hands back in his pockets, smiling at her. "What?" she asked, looking perplexed. The last few weeks had been so pleasant. Nick was getting used to the new 'magic shakes', and could even get them down without a grimace. Work had been busy, but not unusually so. Schanke was showing up on time. Nick was even beginning to appreciate his partner, something that truly surprised him. Life was just unusually nice. And best of all, Natalie seemed to really enjoy being with him. They had spent their last few nights off watching movies together, sharing laughter and tears. Well, maybe not actually sharing tears. Nick couldn't believe that Natalie could get so emotional about movies. It was fun, though, comforting her. She touched his heart. It amazed him that he could feel so good. "Nothing," he shrugged. "Are you ready?" Nick turned toward the door and stuck out his elbow. "Sure," Natalie responded, slipping her arm through his. They walked through the swinging doors together and left the building. The late night air was crisp. A breeze blew Natalie's coat open, causing her to shiver a little. She pulled Nick closer as they walked slowly to her car. "Do you want to watch a movie this evening?" Nick asked. "I'd love to, Nick, but I can't." "Oh." Natalie smiled at the disappointment in his voice. It was nice to see cracks in that cold shell that he usually wore. Their friendship had certainly taken longer than was typical to develop. Then again, this was definitely no typical friendship. Natalie was truly sorry that she wouldn't be able to spend the evening with her favorite detective/vampire/friend. "My aunt ... well, great-aunt, actually, will be in town. She's here for a writer's convention and has invited me to have dinner with her. I'm really looking forward to it," Natalie explained. "Your great-aunt is a writer?" "Haven't I told you about Aunt Edna?" Natalie was surprised that she hadn't mentioned her aunt in all of their long hours of conversation. Nick responded by shaking his head. "She writes mystery novels. I haven't seen her since I was twelve, but we've always written to each other. She's really sweet. Sends me a birthday present every year." They had arrived at Natalie's car. She released Nick's arm, unlocked the door, and tossed her bag into the passenger's seat. Turning back to face him, she found him smiling at her again. "Thank you for walking me to my car," Natalie said. "It was my pleasure." Nick's smile turned into a grin, suggesting that he was telling the truth. His eyes twinkled. "I hope you have a really good time with your aunt." "Thanks, Nick. I'm sure I will." Nick reached out and gave Natalie's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Good night, Natalie." He turned and walked away. Natalie started to get in her car, and stopped halfway with her right foot on the floor mat and hand on the wheel. She watched Nick disappearing into the darkness, his coat billowing behind him. His gait was strong, but relaxed, and his head was aimed toward the heavens. The last thing she could see fade into the shadows was his blonde hair. Natalie sighed, and sank into the driver's seat. Nick walked around the loft, sipping his evening meal. He didn't feel like staying cooped up tonight, and was trying to decide what to do. He could drop by the Raven. Nick frowned. Spending time with Janette was always pleasurable, but was like stepping into an emotional tornado. Things in his mortal world were going too well to take that chance. Maybe he'd just go out for a walk. The phone rang. Nick placed his drink on the table and picked up the receiver. "Knight." "Nick?" Natalie's voice was strained and urgent. "Nat, what's wrong?" Nick felt his stomach muscles tighten. "Nick, I'm at the downtown Hilton. There's been a murder. Would you mind coming out?" "Your aunt?" Nick asked tentatively. He hoped he was wrong. "No. Her assistant. Nick, I'm really sorry to bother you..." "Don't be ridiculous, Nat," he interrupted. "I'll be right there." He heard Natalie sigh. "Thanks, Nick. Room 642." "Got it." He replaced the phone and picked up his glass, polishing off the contents on the way to the kitchen. With the glass rinsed and left it in the sink, he trotted to the door. Natalie needed him. Nick felt a selfish thrill. He reprimanded himself as he grabbed his coat and disappeared through the doorway. Once outside, Nick thought briefly about taking the Caddie. It was a twenty minute drive to the Hilton. No, twenty minutes was too long. He glanced around, then took to the sky. The early night air still held remnants of the sun's warmth. Under normal circumstances, he would have enjoyed this flight tremendously, but at the moment all he could think about was the urgency in Natalie's voice. He concentrated on finding a dark alley near the hotel. Nick rounded the corner of the Hilton at a mortal run. He wasn't surprised to find a half dozen police cars parked at the entrance, and slowed to a trot just before he got to the door. Inside, he located the elevators, and tried to be patient as the mechanism wound its way to the sixth floor. Mortal contraptions were so slow when compared to vampire speed. Finding the room wasn't difficult; there were several uniformed officers just outside the door. Nick recognized one of them, and grabbed Jenkin's elbow as he passed him. "Detective Knight? Aren't you supposed to be off tonight?" Jenkins asked. "I am," Nick replied as he continued into the room. The room was a large suite. There were at least a dozen people milling about, including Natalie's substitute from the Coroner's office. Near the middle of the room was a body on the floor, and a stretcher next to it. Nick didn't see Natalie among the occupants, so he walked to the body and knelt down. The body was that of a woman slightly past the prime of life. Her hair, tied neatly behind her head, was streaked with gray. She was dressed in a conservative grey suite with a white silk blouse and grey shoes. The forefinger of her right hand was wrapped around the handle of a tea cup; the matching saucer was on the floor, a few centimeters from her left hand. The woman was on her side. It looked like she had fallen out of the chair that Nick leaned against. The only sign of injury was a small trickle of blood dripping from the right side of her mouth. Nick took a deep breath, recognizing the scent of cyanide immediately. "Knight, what are you doing here?" Nick rose and turned to greet the detective. "Walters," he responded, shaking the fellow officer's hand. "Dr. Lambert called me." "Why? She figures we can't handle this?" His voice hinted at insult. "Of course not," Nick explained. "She just called as a friend." "Ah," the older detective smiled knowingly. Nick resisted the anger he felt rising at the man's smugness. "What happened?" "Dr. Lambert called this one in," Walters replied. "Said she came over to visit her aunt, Miss Handler. The victim is Miss Handler's secretary, or nurse, I didn't quite get the connection straight yet. Anyway, Miss Handler was resting in her bedroom when Dr. Lambert got here. Said she kept expecting the victim," Walters consulted his notebook," Mrs. Georgia Leander, to answer the door. When she didn't, Miss Handler got up to answer it herself, and found the body. She managed to make it to the door to let Dr. Lambert in. Not bad for an old lady." Walters flipped his notebook closed. "Looks like poisoning to me," he added. "Cyanide," Nick nodded. Walters shot him a look of surprise. He was about to ask a question when Nick turned toward the sound of an opening door. Natalie emerged from a bedroom and closed the door gently behind her. She looked around and spotted Nick. He left Walters standing alone in the middle of the room. Nick took Natalie's hand, trying to assess her emotional state quickly. She looked worried, but relieved that he was there. He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Are you okay?" Nick asked her quietly. Natalie looked around the room before her eyes returned to meet his. "Yes," she said, smiling weakly. "I'm fine. I'm just worried about Aunt Edna." "Is she in there?" Nick asked, indicating the room from which Natalie had just emerged. "Yes. I tried to give her a sedative, but she insisted that she didn't want it. She's 85, Nick. A shock like this is tough at her age." Nick nodded in understanding. He and Natalie watched as the morgue crew wheeled the loaded stretcher from the room. Nick turned back to her. "Are they through questioning her?" "For now." "Maybe we should get her out of here." Natalie nodded, then cringed. "I can't take her to my place. It's a wreck. I haven't had time to clean it in three weeks." She met his look of surprise with one of accusation. "I've been spending all my free time at your place." Nick smiled sheepishly. "Sorry," he said. "How about we take her to the loft?" "You wouldn't mind?" Natalie asked. "Of course not," he answered. "Any aunt of yours is ... well ... something." Natalie chuckled. It made Nick happy to see her looking more relaxed. He put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "Why don't you go get her and I'll head home to straighten up. I'll meet you there." "Thanks, Nick." Natalie sighed. Nick kissed the top of her head, then released Natalie to return to her aunt. As he turned to leave, he was met by several familiar faces, grinning at having uncovered a secret. He shot them each a warning look and left the room silently. End part 1. Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1997 19:46:34 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: It Runs in the Family (2/6) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu Please see part 1 for disclaimer. It Runs in the Family (2/6) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) Nick dried the glass and returned it to the cupboard. He surveyed the room as he wiped his hands. Everything was neatly in it's place. Nick nodded to himself. The sound of the elevator grabbed his attention. Nick stashed the towel in the cabinet under the sink and walked to the elevator door. While waiting, he checked to make sure his attire was not spotted with dish water. He was surprised to realize that he was a little nervous. The only member of Natalie's family that he had ever met was her brother. Nick cringed as a picture of Richard, writhing in pain, the stake protruding from his chest, invaded his mind. He gritted his teeth and fought the memory. Suddenly realizing the absurdity of the situation, Nick turned away from the elevator door. He was indulging in emotions that did not belong to his world. The amount of time he was spending with Natalie was allowing him to fool himself into thinking that he was becoming more human. He wasn't. He was a vampire. Somewhere out there, LaCroix was laughing at his little game. Nick scolded himself. He closed his eyes and pictured Natalie, sitting on the sofa beside him, laughing at the antics of the Marx Brothers. He felt the trust emanating from her as she casually leaned against his shoulder. A calm descended. Nick took a deep breath and let it out. What difference did it make if he was living a lie? Natalie knew the truth. Natalie was trying to help him make this life real. For Natalie, he would do anything. The greatest joy he knew was making her happy. The elevator stopped. Nick turned back to the door and slid it open. He held the door as Natalie walked in, hold her aunt's arm. "Please come in," Nick said, flashing his most congenial smile. Natalie's aunt was small and thin; the top of her head just met Natalie's shoulder. Her white hair was pulled back into a tight bun. Her face was marked with wrinkles, but not as many as Nick had expected. In fact, she didn't look 85 at all, Nick realized, as she turned to face him. Her grey dress was belted around her thin waist, and was adorned with a small gold broach in the shape of a sleeping cat. She stood very erect, her right arm draped loosely through Natalie's. Her blue eyes, incredibly clear for her age, held a mischievous glint. Nick liked her immediately. "Aunt Edna," Natalie said, "this is Nick Knight. He's a very good friend." The woman released her niece's arm and extended her right hand. "Mr. Knight," she said in a clear voice with a strong British accent, "it's very nice to meet you." Nick took her hand and was surprised by the firmness of the grip. "Please call me Nick," he said. "I'm sorry that we're not meeting under better circumstances." "Yes," she said with a sigh. "Poor Georgia. I don't know what I'll do without her." Natalie helped her aunt out of her coat and hung it on the rack next to her own. Nick volunteered his arm, which the woman took, and he led her to the living room. She walked slowly, but didn't lean on his arm for support. She was quite capable of walking on her own, Nick realized. He accompanied her to the leather chair where she sat and leaned back comfortably. Natalie had followed them from the door. She perched on the edge of the sofa near her aunt. "Can I get you something to drink, Ms. Handler? Some tea?" Nick was glad that he had started stocking the typical amenities since Natalie's visits had become so regular. The woman looked up at Nick and scolded, "Call me Edna ... please. Ms. Handler sounds so formal, and I think we will be good friends." Nick smiled at the twinkle in her eyes. He was surprised when her face suddenly contorted in disgust. "Tea," she muttered, shaking her head. "Never have cared for it much. I don't suppose you have some brandy about, by chance?" She raised one eyebrow and smiled. Nick laughed. "I'm sure I do," he replied. He turned to Natalie. "Nat?" "A Coke would be great. I think I left a few in the fridge." Nick nodded and headed for the kitchen. He was also thankful for his well-stocked liquor cabinet. Most of the contents were gifts from the last few decades. He listened to the conversation from the living room as he poured the brandy and pulled a Coke from the refrigerator. "Are you all right, Aunt Edna?" Natalie asked. Her voice was filled with concern. "Yes, dear," her aunt replied. "Thank you for getting me out of the hotel. I don't think I could have stayed a moment longer. Poor Georgia." Nick returned to the living room and handed Natalie the Coke can. He had resisted the urge to pour the contents into a glass, knowing that she preferred to drink from the can; he couldn't imagine why. He handed the snifter of brandy to Edna. "Thank you, Nick," she said as she took the glass and swirled it under her nose. Nick took a seat next to Natalie, draping his arm over the back of the sofa. Edna looked at him reproachfully. "Aren't you going to join us? I hate to drink alone." Nick glanced at Natalie, who was eyeing him suspiciously. "Well, maybe just a glass of wine," he said, shrugging nearly imperceptibly at her. She conceded by raising her eyebrows. Nick got up again, and returned quickly with a glass of 'wine'. Edna had waited, and raised her brandy glass toward Nick and Natalie. "To new friends," she said. Nick and Natalie returned the toast with their respective drinks. The three of them drank, as the fire crackled in the background. Edna held her glass in her lap, smiling approval. "Good brandy," she said to Nick, then looked around the loft. "This is quite a place, Nick." "Thank you," he responded. "It's comfortable." "And interesting," Edna added as her gaze rested on the mantle. She rose from her chair, walked to the mantle, and traced the lines of the wood with her fingers. Nick and Natalie watched as she turned and surveyed the rest of the loft. "You have quite a collection of interesting things here." Nick glanced at Natalie, concern flashing in his eyes. "Um ... I guess you could say I'm a collector." The explanation sounded feeble, even to him. Edna crossed the room and leaned forward to examine a vase closely. "Ming!" she exclaimed quietly. Nick squirmed a little. "Have you two had dinner?" he asked, trying to change the subject. Natalie took the cue. "No," she said, "we haven't. What would you like, Aunt Edna? We could go out and eat, or order something to be delivered." Edna straightened, clutching the small of her back with her free hand and wincing. "How about pizza?" she suggested. "I don't have it often back home, and I love it." Natalie chuckled. "Sure," she said, standing up. "I'll order it. What kind do you want?" "Definitely must have mushrooms and pepperoni," her aunt replied. "Anchovies?" "Sure," Natalie agreed and picked up the phone. Nick rose from the sofa and walked to Edna, who was still rubbing her back. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Oh, yes," she answered. "It's just so frustrating getting old!" She reached up and squeezed Nick's arm. "But it's better than the alternative," she said with a wink. End part 2. Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1997 20:07:14 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: It Runs in the Family (3/6) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu Please see part 1 for disclaimers. It Runs in the Family (3/6) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) Nick followed Edna as she walked to the kitchen table. He pulled out a chair for her, and she sat down. Placing her drink in front of her, she looked like she was calling a meeting to order. Nick took the chair across from her, and Natalie, her phone call complete, sat between the two of them. Once they were all seated, Edna started. "Nick, Natalie tells me that you are a detective, and a good one." She wasn't waiting for an answer, so Nick let her continue without responding. "I'm worried about Georgia's death. What do you think happened to her?" She met Nick's gaze squarely. "I believe she was poisoned," Nick replied. "It was probably in the tea." "That's what I was afraid of," Edna said quietly, dropping her gaze to her glass. "Poor Georgia. I think that poison was meant for me." She looked back up at Nick. "How can you be sure?" he asked. "I'm not sure. I'm guessing. You see, my agent started a rumor, ages ago, that I love English Breakfast tea. He thought it would enhance my image. I really can't stand the stuff, but Georgia loved it. Everywhere we went, there was a pot of English Breakfast waiting for us. And that was well-publicized. Of course, everyone thought it was for me. Fortunately, Georgia didn't mind toting my brandy around. She was a sweetheart." Edna quit talking. She dropped her gaze to the table, her eyes filling with tears. Nick and Natalie exchanged a look of concern. After a moment, Edna dabbed her eyes with the sleeve of her dress and sniffled. She looked up. "I'm sorry," Edna said. "I'm getting more foolish every day." "Not at all," Natalie said emphatically, touching her aunt's arm. "You just lost a good friend." "Yes," Edna agreed, placing her hand over Natalie's, "a very good friend. You would think I would be used to it by now; I've lost so many over the years. It certainly doesn't get any easier." Nick looked down at his glass and frowned. How true that was. He always tried to avoid that thought, knowing he would outlive Natalie. Edna was right: it didn't get any easier ... it got more difficult. A little piece of him died every time someone close to him died. He just didn't have that many pieces left. Why did he continue to let mortals into his life ... his heart? He could hear Natalie's heartbeat so close to him now. Nick looked up to find Edna looking at him, confused, and Natalie looking worried. Nick tried to recover, probably a bit too quickly. "So you think someone is trying to kill you?" Edna glanced at Natalie, and then back at Nick. "Yes, I do," she answered. "I'm afraid someone is upset with my last book." "Why is that?" Nick asked. "I must have gotten a little too close to the truth. I received a note warning me not to publish 'A Face in the Night', just before it went to press three months ago. Of course, I didn't think much about it at the time." "Why not?" Nick leaned forward on his elbows, now firmly entrenched in his detective role. Edna mirrored his actions. "I've received many strange notes throughout the years," Edna explained. "I've been writing for a half a century. I believe many of the notes were from fellow authors. Probably some of them attending the conference today." Edna chuckled at the irony. "There are those who are jealous of my success." Nick nodded. "I can imagine." "I doubt, however, that any of them would go so far as to murder me." Edna furrowed her eyebrows. "No, it must be something in the book." "So what is the book about?" Nick asked. Edna sat back in her chair, her hand to her chest. "You mean you haven't read it?" she exclaimed, injured. Nick was startled, trying to decide what to say. Edna laughed and took a drink of her brandy. "I'm sorry, Nick," she said. "I couldn't resist. I write murder mysteries for young girls and old ladies. They aren't great works of art, but I enjoy writing them." Nick was relieved when he realized Edna was joking. He liked her sense of humor; it caught him off guard. "So, are your stories based on real murders?" "Some are. This last one was. I make it a point, however, to use old murders. This one occurred in the sixties." "And who was it?" "It was the murder of a country gentleman, Sir Chester Criton, near London in 1962. I changed the names, of course, but I put in enough detail to make it identifiable." "Was the murder ever solved?" "Yes, but I didn't use the real solution. I never do. I changed just enough to make the killer someone else." Natalie felt like she was watching ping pong. She stopped following the conversation with her eyes and took a drink of Coke. "So who was the killer in your story?" Edna grinned. "Don't laugh," she ordered seriously. "The butler did it." Nick couldn't resist. Once he realized Edna was serious, he chuckled. Both Natalie and Edna joined him. Trying to return to a serious mode, Nick took a drink and almost choked. That sent Natalie into a fit of laughter, which tickled both Nick and Edna. The three of them laughed until they were nearly crying. After several minutes, the laughter died down. "Whew!" Edna exclaimed, trying to catch her breath. "I needed that!" Nick jumped up at the sound of the buzzer. After checking the monitor, he buzzed back. "Second floor," he said into the speaker. 'I know,' was the answer. "Alfred," he said to Natalie, announcing the arrival of their favorite pizza deliverer. Natalie smiled, wiping the laughter tears from her eyes. She got up from the table and pulled dishes out of the cabinet. The door to the elevator slid open, and Alfred stepped into the loft, his freckled face beaming and a pizza box balanced in his left hand. "Hi Detective Knight, Dr. Lambert. Hungry this evening?" Alfred bounced toward the kitchen, stopping when he spotted the older woman at the table. "Oh, I didn't realize you had company." He bowed slightly toward the table. "Good evening," he grinned, "I'm Alfred. I bring tasty sustenance!" "My word, young Alfred, you certainly are cheery!" Edna observed. "I try," Alfred answered, placing the pizza box on the counter and smiling at Natalie. He had recognized her from the morgue the first time she ordered pizza at Nick's place several months ago. After Nick's first generous tip, he had become their regular delivery boy, grabbing the order whenever '101 Gateway Lane' was the address. It wasn't just the tips, though. There was something special about Detective Knight and Dr. Lambert. He sincerely liked delivering pizza to them. "Thank you, Alfred," Nick said, pulling a roll of bills from his pocket. He handed the roll to Alfred as Alfred headed back into the elevator. The red-headed teenager beamed at him. "Thank you," Alfred said, pocketing the money without counting it. He waved as the door slid closed. "What a ray of sunshine!" Edna exclaimed as she rose from the table. "That he is," Natalie agreed, opening the pizza box. She dished out two stringy pieces for each of the plates, and then carried the two plates to the table. "What can I do to help?" Edna asked, walking slowly toward the sink. "Nothing, Aunt Edna," Natalie answered, returning to the counter. She pulled out two sets of silverware and closed the drawer with her hip as she reached for napkins. Nick sipped on his drink, watching her move back and forth. He had learned not to get between Natalie and pizza, and smiled at her efficiency. "So," Edna commented, "you know your way around this place." Natalie stopped after placing the forks on the table. It suddenly occurred to her how this looked to someone from Edna's generation. Natalie didn't turn to face her approaching aunt. Edna grabbed her niece's arm. "It's okay," she whispered to Natalie. "I think he's cute, too. If I was fifty years younger, I'd give you a run for your money." Natalie smiled down at her aunt who was returning to her seat. Nick tried to hide his grin behind his glass. "I hope you don't mind 'informal', Aunt Edna," Natalie said. She sat down in front of the plate of pizza, inhaling the aroma and rolling her eyes in appreciation. "I love informal," Edna replied honestly. "I get so tired of the English stuffiness. This is fun!" Edna looked at Nick as he returned to his chair with only his drink. "Aren't you eating with us, Nick?" she asked with concern. "No," Nick answered. "I've already had dinner." This response didn't seem to satisfy the woman. "Nick is on a strict diet. He has severe food allergies," Natalie explained. Edna looked very disturbed. "That's such a shame, Nick. Food is one of the great joys of life!" Nick smiled at Natalie. "Now I see where you get it," he said. Edna shrugged and picked up a piece of pizza. Working hard to catch the string of cheese with her tongue, she took a healthy bite. "Ummm," she said appreciatively. End part 3. Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1997 23:45:30 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: It Runs in the Family (4/6) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu Please see part 1 for disclaimer. It Runs in the Family (4/6) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) "Oh, that was fabulous!" Edna sighed as she leaned back in the leather chair. She gladly accepted a fresh glass of brandy from Nick. "It's good for digestion," she explained. The explanation was not necessary. Nick sat on the sofa next to Natalie who was also sipping a brandy. He allowed himself the luxury of watching her drink, enjoying her scent mixing with the fumes of alcohol. Listening to the steady beat of her heart, he wanted nothing more than to put his arms around her and hold her close, to feel her warmth against him. Nick rested his arm on the back of the sofa. "So how did you two meet?" Edna asked nonchalantly. Her eyes suggested more interest than her voice. "We work together," Natalie explained, hoping that would be enough. She certainly wasn't going to tell her aunt that they'd met on the examination table in the morgue. "Oh, so this is a work romance." "Uh ... it's not any kind of romance, Aunt Edna. Nick and I are just friends." Natalie felt the blood rising in her cheeks. "Oh," her aunt replied, returning her attention to the brandy. The spark in her eye when she stole a glance at Nick suggested that she didn't believe her niece. "So who really killed the English Gentleman?" Nick asked, continuing the earlier conversation. Edna grinned at the quick switch. "It was his nephew, after his fortune." "Are they sure it wasn't really the butler?" Nick asked seriously. "Sir Chester died a poor country gentleman. He didn't have a butler. His nephew was ultimately disappointed." "What do you think is in the book, then?" "I've tried to figure that out myself. I just don't know, Nick." "Do you have a copy of the book with you?" Nick asked. "But of course! I never leave home without several copies of my latest." "May I borrow one?" "No," Edna said, "but you may have one. I'll even sign it. I would be honored to do so." Nick nodded appreciatively, pulling his arm back into his lap. Edna rose slowly from her chair. "Let me get it for you now," she said, heading for the coat rack. Nick turned to Natalie. "*Just* friends?" he whispered, hurt. "Friends are very important." Natalie put her hand over his. "I didn't mean it that way, Nick. You're right, friends are very important," she whispered back. They smiled into each other's eyes. Natalie thought. Edna stopped at the table to write in the cover of the paperback she had removed from her coat pocket. After a moment, she returned the pen to her coat, and walked toward the bookshelves with the paperback in hand. "I'll just put it over here, Nick," she said. Edna placed the book on the edge of the bookshelf and continued down the line, studying the titles. She stopped in the middle and gently removed a leather-bound book from the shelf. Nick grabbed Natalie's hand when he realized which volume Edna had removed, and turned to Natalie, cringing. Facing the sofa, Edna opened the book and read the inscription on the cover out loud. "'To Nicholas, my Knight in shining armor. Thank you for showing me how to fight the demons. Margaret.'" Edna gently closed the book and walked back to her chair. She propped herself on the edge, and held the book up. Natalie saw the title inscribed on the cover, 'Gone With the Wind'. Her jaw dropped, and she looked at Nick, who was waited for her stare with lowered eyes. He shrugged. "This is an original," Edna said. "Anyone care to explain it? Or should we just change the subject ... again?" Nick slowly turned toward Edna. "Coincidence?" he asked. Edna shook her head. "I don't think so. You see, Nick, I have a nose for details. It's how I make my living. In fact, it's why I got into writing mysteries in the first place." Edna sat back in the chair, resting the book in her lap. "I knew there was something different about you," she told Nick, " the moment I met you. I was sure of it when I saw your 'collection'. An antique hand-carved mantle, a Ming vase, an original Monet," Edna indicated the items with a nod of her head. "These are not the ususal items found in a detective's home. You are either very wealthy ... or not what you seem." Edna looked down at the book in her lap. "This book convinces me that it's the latter." Edna looked up to meet Nick's gaze. Natalie looked back and forth between the two several times. Her eyes stopped on Nick. "Are you going to tell her?" she whispered. "You know the dangers, Nat," he answered, also whispering. "She's your aunt; it's up to you." "Aunt Edna," Natalie started slowly, still grasping Nick's hand. "Nick is much older than he looks." Edna studied Nick closely. "How old are you, Nick?" Edna asked, her eyes narrowing. Nick turned back at Natalie; she nodded her head. He looked at Edna. "Closing in on 800." The ensuing silence was nearly deafening. Nick watched Edna's eyebrows knitting together. He couldn't tell if she was trying to decide if he was telling the truth, or if she was trying to work out the details. "How is this possible?" Edna finally asked. "Aunt Edna," Natalie started slowly again, "it could be very dangerous for you to know the answer to that question." "More dangerous than having someone trying to kill me?" "It could mean that others are trying to kill you if you ever share the information with anyone," Nick said ominously. Edna nodded her head slowly. "Your secret is safe with me, Nick, I promise. I just want to know the answer to the mystery." "Nick is ... a vampire," Natalie said. Edna's eyebrows rose until they nearly met her hairline. "You mean vampires *really* exist?" she asked. "Yes," Natalie answered. "Nick is living proof." Nick winced at the familiarity of this phrase. It was the same one Natalie had used with her sister-in-law. Edna looked at Nick's glass. "Do you drink blood?" she asked. He was surprised that there wasn't a bit of fear in her voice, only curiosity. Nick looked down at his glass. "Steer blood," he answered. "Nick doesn't drink human blood," Natalie explained. "Anymore," Nick added, frowning. "Wow, " Edna said under her breath. "This is amazing." She looked down and then back up at the couple sitting on the sofa. "I could use another brandy." "I'll get it," Nick offered, placing his own drink on the table and taking Edna's glass from her. "This has been one unbelievable night," Edna told her niece. "My best friend was murdered, I see my favorite niece for the first time in over twenty years, and I meet a vampire. This is tiring at my age." "At my age, too," Nick said, handing her the brandy. Edna looked up at him and laughed. "I guess I won't say any more about getting old." Nick smiled at Natalie, who was also grinning. He returned to his seat. Edna's smile faded. "I have so many questions for you, Nick. Do you mind?" "No," he answered, "I don't." He decided that Edna's questions would probably be quite interesting. "What were water closets like in the Middle Ages?" she asked seriously. Natalie spit out her mouthful of brandy, starting another round of laughter. Nick closed the paperback and dropped it at his side on the sofa. He picked up his glass and sipped as he stared at the ceiling. He clicked back through the details of the mystery: the discovery of the country gentleman's body by his niece, the elderly snoop discovering the poison in his whiskey, the secret swindle of the man's fortune by his business partner, the greedy nephew and cousin fighting over the estate, the fortunate butler favored in the will. The story had been fun, suggesting first one killer and then another, until the butler's treachery was uncovered by the crafty English woman. Nick smiled at the memory of the laughter he, Edna, and Natalie had shared earlier that night. It had been the innocent laughter of fun, sparked by Edna's unusual wit. He had enjoyed the evening more than any other he could remember in hundreds of years. Innocent fun. He had also enjoyed sharing memories with the two of them, answering first Edna's questions and then Natalie's through most of the night. They had, fortunately, avoided asking much about his lifestyle, and focused on the history he had witnessed. Most of the questions had evoked pleasant memories, with the exception of the questions about the Crusade. All in all, it had been an evening unlike anything he expected to experience again anytime soon. Nick took a larger drink from his glass. He was surprised to see a hint of morning light seeping in through the shudders. That would explain his sudden tiredness; it was later than he thought. Nick sat up. He started reviewing the book again in his mind. Edna was probably in danger, and he wanted desperately to help her. There were a few possibilities. If the cousin was real, he might have had a hand in the murder. And then there was the business partner. Grabbing the phone with sudden urgency, Nick dialed the number Natalie had left for the International Plaza where she and Edna were hiding out. The front desk answered on the second ring with the usual, but groggy, salutations. "Room 315," Nick requested. He listened to the click and subsequent rings, counting eight before Natalie answered. "'lo." "Nat? It's Nick. I have a couple of ideas. Can you wake Edna?" "Nick, it's 7 o'clock in the morning. Hang on a sec." He heard the sound of gulping. "Okay," Natalie said, her voice sounding a bit less fuzzy. "I shouldn't have had all that brandy. You were saying?" "I have some ideas, but I need to ask Edna about them. Is it possible to wake her?" "I'll try, but you'll have to give me a minute. Hang on?" "Sure." Nick could clearly hear the sounds of Natalie climbing out of bed and crossing the room. If he had wanted to, he could have heard more. Instead, he concentrated on staying awake. In a surprisingly short amount of time, he heard two sets of footsteps returning to the phone. "Nick," Edna said, quite alert and awake, "what did you come up with?" "Two questions. First, was the cousin real?" "No. I threw him in." "Okay. What about the business partner?" "Oh, he was real all right. His name was Isaac McLaughten. The two of them were in business together for many years, but it didn't work out in the end. There isn't much record of what happened, except that Mr. McLaughten left the continent after the publishing business folded. I invented the embezzlement angle to make the story interesting, but it could have happened. Do you think that's what it is?" Nick ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't know Edna, but it's a possibility." Isaac McLaughten. It wasn't a name he recognized. "I'll start to work on it first thing this evening. In the mean time, you stay where you are. You haven't told anyone where you're staying, have you?" "No, Nick, I haven't. But there's little chance you'll find the scoundrel who's after me without my help, now, is there?" Edna sounded a bit too confident. "I'm serious, Edna, you stay where you are and wait until tonight. Do you understand?" Nick felt more than just a little nervous at the idea of the woman stalking the streets of Toronto for her own would-be killer. "Yes, I understand," Edna replied. With that, he heard her hand the phone back to Natalie. "Nick?" "Look, Nat, there probably is someone after your aunt. Keep her there until tonight, okay? I'll be there as soon as I can." "I'll try, Nick. You get some rest, and we'll see you tonight." Natalie yawned away from the phone. "You too," Nick responded, then hung up the phone. A new wave of drowsiness hit him like a brick wall. Nick stretched out on the sofa, and was asleep within seconds. End part 4. Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1997 23:53:15 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: It Runs in the Family (5/6) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu Please see part 1 for disclaimer. It Runs in the Family (5/6) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) "Oh, that melon was delicious!" Edna exclaimed, wiping her mouth with the corner of her napkin. "I wonder where they get them this time of year." "I don't know, Aunt Edna." Natalie hadn't spent much time wondering where the food in the grocery stores came from these days. "Now," Edna said, pushing the bowl to the side of the table and folding her napkin next to it, "I'm going to need your help." "With what?" Natalie asked through narrowed eyes. "My plan." "What are you talking about, Aunt Edna?" Natalie twirled the end of her own napkin in her fingers nervously. "My plan for catching the killer." Edna's gaze was steady and determined. "Now just a minute. Nick said to wait..." "Your Nick is something special," Edna interrupted. Natalie looked down at her knotted napkin. "He isn't 'my' Nick," she said quietly. "Oh, I think maybe he is," Edna answered with reassuring kindness. "Now, tell me, if we set it up so that the killer comes after me, can Nick handle him?" "Well ... yes ... I mean, Nick can handle almost anything ... but that's not the ..." "Okay, then. I'll need your help to set it up." Edna declared an end to the discussion. "But ..." "Natalie, I have never been one to sit around and wait for things to happen. Do you understand?" Natalie smiled. Maybe there was more to inherited personality traits than she thought. She understood perfectly. "Okay, Aunt Edna," Natalie conceded. "What do you have in mind?" "I want you to accompany me to the second half of today's convention. During one of the breaks, you ask me about the press conference I have planned for tomorrow. I'll do the rest. Oh, and be sure to ask which room I'm staying in at the Hilton." "How do you know the killer will hear you?" Edna grinned. "Writers love to tell stories. It's part of their nature. Word will get around. You'll see." Natalie shook her head slowly. This didn't sound like a very safe venture. She would feel better if Nick was here to give his opinion. "Come, then," Edna prodded as she rose from the hotel room table. "Let's get ready." , Natalie thought. She sipped the rich coffee and watched her aunt sign another copy of her book. "Thank you, Ms. Handler," a young woman gushed as she accepted the autographed paperback. "I've read all of your books! In fact, you are my inspiration!" "That's very sweet of you to say, my dear," Edna answered, patting the woman's arm. Natalie was amazed at the way her aunt could slide right in to the role of the helpless old English county woman. She hid her fire and determination perfectly. Listening to the whispering about a press conference tomorrow from the table behind them, Natalie watched a tall, distinguished man approach her aunt. "Ms. Handler. We are honored by your presence here," the man said with a bow and a hint of a brogue. "Why, thank you, Mr. MacLeod. You've done a wonderful job putting this together," Edna responded. "I want to tell you that we're truly sorry for your tragic loss. I'm sure the Toronto police will find the culprit quickly. If there is anything that I can do, please do not hesitate to ask." "Thank you," Edna answered weakly. The silver-hair man bowed and left. "Who was that?" Natalie whispered to her aunt. "Erwin MacLeod, the head of MacLeod Publishers. He's been trying to get me to sign with him for years," Edna whispered back. Natalie spotted a group of three women approaching their table, one with a copy of 'A Face in the Night' clutched reverently in her arm. "I'm going to call Nick," she whispered. "I'll be right back. Please don't go anywhere." "Don't worry, my dear, I'll be here waiting for you when you return," Edna replied before straightening to greet her fans. Natalie got up from the table and headed toward the hall. The room, filled to capacity earlier, was emptying out. They would have to leave soon if they didn't want to be the last ones there. Natalie pulled her phone from her purse as she reached the hallway. She looked around for a quiet corner so as not to be overheard. Nick answered just before the machine picked up the call. "Hello." "Nick," Natalie spoke just above a whisper. "It's Nat." "Where are you?" "We're at the convention." "What? Why? I thought you were going to ..." "I know," Natalie interrupted. "Edna came up with a plan to lure the killer out. We could really use your help." She could picture the look on Nick's face indicated by the moment of silence. "Nick, I couldn't stop her. You saw how determined she can be." "Okay. So what's happening now?" "The convention is emptying out. We need to head back to the hotel room soon, or we'll be sitting in this big meeting room by ourselves. Edna let her room number here at the Hilton 'leak out'." "Nat, the sun hasn't set yet." Nick's voice was strained with anger, or desperation, or something. "Damn the long daylight," he muttered. Speaking into the phone again, he told Natalie, "Call the department and have them send someone over. I'll be there as soon as I can." "All right." "Nat, keep your eyes open. Edna is playing with fire." "I know, Nick. We'll be careful." Natalie pushed the button to end the call, and then dialed the department. It took a bit of explaining, but the Captain promised a pair of detectives before he hung up. It wouldn't have taken as much persuasion if the night shift had been there. "You did very well, Natalie," Edna proclaimed as they stepped out of the elevator. They walked down the empty hall slowly. Natalie looked around as she spoke. "I'd feel better if we waited downstairs for the detectives, Aunt Edna." "I wouldn't worry, Natalie," Edna said as she searched her pockets for her room key. "Killers like this generally wait for the cover of darkness." Natalie stood with her back to the door, looking up and down the hall. "Aunt Edna, this isn't one of your novels." "Yes, dear, I know," Edna answered as she opened the door. Natalie slipped in behind her aunt and bolted the door. She let out a sigh as she leaned against the door and turned toward the room. "Aunt Edna, this probably wasn't ..." Natalie stopped when she realized her aunt was standing in the middle of the room, not moving. In front of her, a silver haired man sat in one of the chairs. Natalie turned to unbolt the door. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," the man said. Natalie froze at the click of the gun's hammer. End part 5. Date: Mon, 28 Apr 1997 00:02:04 -0600 Reply-To: Sarah Baker Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: Sarah Baker Subject: It Runs in the Family (6/6) To: FKFIC-L@psuvm.psu.edu Please see part 1 for disclaimer. It Runs in the Family (6/6) by Sarah Baker (zeke@rt66.com) "Erwin MacLeod," Edna said in a steady voice. "Or should I address you as Isaac McLaughten?" "Either will do," the man replied as he stood, "although I haven't used McLaughten in over thirty years." He walked slowly toward the door, pointing the gun at both of them in turn. "I'm sorry you dragged your young friend into this." "You can't shoot us," Natalie stated, unable to completely hide the tremor in her voice. "The whole hotel will hear the shots." "Ah, but I can," McLaughten replied. "You see, I reserved this entire floor for the convention, but the rest of the rooms are empty. I'll have plenty of time to escape before anyone shows up." "Why are you doing this?" Natalie asked, hearing her own desperation. "To hide a thirty year old embezzlement? Surely the statute of limitations has run out by now." "It is unfortunate, but there are already rumblings of reopening Chester's case. His nephew is using your book to argue his innocence," he answered, pointing the gun at Edna. "And there's also Georgia's murder," Edna pointed out. "It's funny, though. I hadn't pegged you for Sir Chester's killer." "Hadn't you?" McLaughten smiled with amusement. "And I thought you had put the pieces together. Oh well, you know now, don't you?" All three occupants jumped at the knock on the door. "Dr. Lambert? It's Detective Sinclair. The Captain sent us over." McLaughten held a finger to his lips, indicating his order of silence to his captives. Natalie hesitated, trying to decide if she should call out. She saw the light through the balcony curtains fading to darkness, and decided that she didn't really want to get caught in the middle of a shootout. In the hall, she heard the two detectives discussing the situation. "They might not be up here yet." "You search the restaurant and coffee shop, and I'll get a pass key." "Sounds good." Natalie felt her heart sink as their footsteps faded. She needed to keep McLaughten talking for a little longer. "So you stole the money from Sir Chester and used it to set up MacLeod Publishing?" she asked. "Chester was a fool," he answered, his brogue becoming more pronounced with his anger. "He wasted the money on frivolities, keeping up his precious estate and appearances. He would have sucked the company dry." His eyes were glazing over with long lost memories. "But why did you have to kill him?" McLaughten grinned. "I guess old Chester wasn't as stupid as I thought. He figured out what happened to the money. Fortunately, he was a gentleman. He wanted to give me a chance to straighten it out before he went to the authorities." Natalie heard, or felt, a vibration. The vibration grew into a growl that shook the room and caused McLaughten to whirl around. The gun fired as the patio door shattered. Even though she knew what was happening, Natalie was unable to see anything but a blur until McLaughten was lying on the floor with Nick on top of him. Nick looked up at her, his eyes glowing and fangs flashing. The vampire's face, however, was tempered with a very human look of relief. Natalie felt her legs giving out. Before she could slide down the length of the door, Nick had his arms around her. He held her up and led her to the small sofa. Once she was safely seated, he released his grip and turned toward Edna. Edna was standing in the middle of the room, her arms at her sides, facing the sofa. Nick walked quickly to her, his eyes now back to their normal appearance. "Edna, are you all right?" he asked as he lifted her arm and led her toward the sofa. She was staring at him. "That was incredible!" she finally said. Edna allowed herself to be seated next to Natalie. Natalie took her aunt's hand and stroked her arm. "It's okay now," she said softly. Edna turned her head toward Natalie, her eyes bright with excitement. "Indeed it is," she said. Nick whirled around at the sound of the door being kicked open. Sinclair jumped into the room, gun drawn. His partner covered his back from the doorway. Nick raised his hands. "It's okay," he said. "It's over." Sinclair looked at the shattered balcony door and at the unconscious man on the floor. The gun was just out of the man's reach. He lowered his own gun slowly. "Knight! The Captain didn't tell us he sent you out, too." "He didn't," Nick responded, stepping back to the sofa. "Oh," Sinclair responded, smiling at Natalie. Nick glared at him. "That's Isaac McLaughten," Edna explained to Sinclair as he stood looking at the man. "He killed Georgia, and Sir Chester." "Who?" Sinclair asked. "Take him in and book him with two counts of murder and two of attempted," Nick ordered. McLaughten moaned as he awakened to Sinclair handcuffing him. "You'll all have to come down to the station," Sinclair said to the group. "We'll be down there in a little while, okay?" Nick asked. Sinclair nodded. His partner grabbed McLaughten's other arm, and the two of them led him out. There was silence as the door closed behind the departing detectives. Nick dropped onto one knee next to the sofa and took Natalie's hand in his. They gripped each other's hands with the solidarity of renewed friendship, or maybe a bit more. "Well, " Edna announced, "I could use a brandy!" Natalie laughed. "Aunt Edna, I'm beginning to think that you drink too much!" Edna laughed with her. "It's good for the circulation," she said. "I'll get it, then," Natalie said, releasing Nick's hand and pushing herself up from the sofa. Her knees still shook a bit. "I think my circulation needs help, too." "There's a bottle in the cabinet by the telly," Edna said, pointing. Nick perched on the arm of the sofa. "You know," he said, "what you did was very dangerous." "Yes," she responded with enthusiasm, "but it worked out well, thanks to you, Nick. That was truly amazing!" "It could have ended differently," Nick scolded. Edna cringed. "But it didn't. Please, Nick, I'm much too old to be lectured. Even by someone your age!" Nick couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. Natalie handed Edna a glass of brandy and settled back onto the sofa with her own. She draped her arm over Nick's knee, and he placed his hand gently on her shoulder. Edna frowned seriously. "I am sorry for one thing. I apologize for endangering you, Natalie. I don't know what I would have done if you had been injured." She looked at Nick. "And speaking of injured, it looks like you have been shot." Nick looked down at the hole in his vest. "Yes," he said simply. "Shouldn't you have the bullet removed or something?" Edna asked, again amazed. "That's my job," Natalie said, looking up at Nick. Their eyes met with a shared warmth as he squeezed her shoulder. Edna smiled to herself. "I must say, though, Natalie, you were quick on your feet today." "I think that runs in the family," Nick pointed out. Natalie and Edna smiled at each other, and then clinked their brandy glasses. "To family," Edna said, and they both took a long sip. Edna lowered her glass to her lap. "I have to admit, I'm sorry I made the promise to keep your secret, Nick. This whole thing would make a great novel. With a bit of literary license thrown in, of course." Nick's smile faded and was replaced with concern. "Oh, don't worry," Edna reassured him, "I never break a promise." Nick frowned. "You promised to stay in the other hotel room this morning," he reminded her. "No I didn't. I said I understood. There's a difference." She took another sip of brandy. Nick shook his head, his smile returning. Natalie took the empty glass from Edna as she rose from the sofa. "I suppose we should get down to the police station," Edna said, pulling her coat back on with Nick's help. "Yes," Nick agreed. "We should." "This is my last night in Toronto. Can we visit for a while afterwards?" Edna asked him. Nick grinned. "I don't see why not. I would be honored." He held the door open for Edna and then waited for Natalie. After closing the door, he joined Natalie and slipped his arm around her waist. They walked down the hall together, following Edna by several steps. "Good," Edna said over her shoulder. "I'm thinking about writing a mystery that takes place in the Middle Ages. I would certainly like to ask you a few hundred questions." Nick smiled and shook his head. Natalie wrapped her arm around his waist. "You couldn't ask for a better source," Natalie said to her aunt, smiling at Nick. He kissed the top of her head silently. Edna watched two of them in the mirror at the end of the hall. , she thought. THE END