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How to Treat Your
Lover
by Tami
Chapter 12-C
Step 1: Infatuation (Part 12-C)
Los Angeles
An intercity bus pulled up to a stop. The door opened and various passengers stepped out. Faith, wearing platform shoes and carrying a duffel bag, stepped out and walked along the bus. A few feet away a scruffy-looking man lit a cigarette watching her as she stepped into the light radiating from the streetlamp. Her face and arms were still bruised from her fight with Buffy.
Just as Faith was about to pass the man, he spoke. “New in town, right?” He fell into step beside Faith as she kept walking. He always hung out at the bus stations. It was the one place that offered a variety of people to prey on. One look at Faith and he knew if he played his cards right, the sweet, innocent young thing would be easy pickings for him.
When she didn’t answer, he prodded on. “You got that new-in-town look. This is a dangerous part of town this time of night for a young lady, you know? Lot of people down here try and take advantage of a situation like that. Especially if you don’t have any money or a place to stay – I might be able to help you.”
Faith figured the only way to get the guy to shut up was to finally speak. “I’m cold,” she said in a small voice and shuddered dramatically.
The man was pleased he was finally getting somewhere with the girl. A little warmth, a few sugary niceties and they were putty in his hands. He hurried to shrug out of his leather jacket. “Oh, yeah? Warm is my middle name.”
Without warning, Faith jabbed him in the stomach, then punched him in the face. She kept up the barrage, hitting and kicking him until he was unconscious. She crouched over the body, taking his keys and wallet out of his jacket.
Faith wrinkled her nose in disgust as she stood up. “Now I got money and a place to stay.” She pulled off his jacket and put it on. Looking around to see if anyone had seen her, she walked away. “I think I'm going to like it here."
**************************
Los Angeles County Courthouse
Angel, Cordelia and Wesley were stepping out of an elevator. Angel was pleased with himself. The case was another win for their side, another aggravation on the side of Wolfram and Hart. The look on Lindsey’s face when he had shown up with that kid to testify was priceless. When he walked out of the courtroom, Cordelia had wasted no time in pouncing on him with another case. He had asked what the case was, but so far she had been sidelining him. Instead of answering, Cordelia had been hitting him with the perks of the case, hoping to wear him down.
“ . . . And he is kind of a busy man, so lunch was the only time he had free. True, it’s not the kind of case I’d normally go after, but we’ve got to consider the bottom line,” Cordelia was saying.
Angel walked down the corridor. “What kind of demons are we dealing with?” Rugada? Three-horned demon slugs? Possessed children who are already evil even without the possession? Whatever happened to a good old common vampire? I haven’t killed one of those in a while.
Cordelia cringed at the question. “Well, it’s not exactly a demon thing.”
“What kind of . . . thing is it?” Wesley asked curiously.
Cordelia ducked her head and quietly replied, “It’s a kind of . . . husbandandwifebreak-upthing.”
Both men looked confused for an instant before Wesley nearly shouted, “A divorce case?”
That stopped Angel in his tracks. He turned and looked skeptically at his secretary. “You’re kidding. Tell me you’re kidding.” What was she thinking? He saved souls from the things that preyed on them in the night. He did not save them from their ex-spouses in a divorce case. No wonder Cordelia had been laying the butter on pretty thick since they left the courtroom.
“What’s wrong with a divorce case?” Cordelia asked petulantly.
Angel had a flash of Spike in his mind with the way she had asked that. His boy was adorable when he was irritable. It was the sound that went with a pout similar to what Cordelia wore now that made him itch to lean over and kiss him – Spike, not Cordelia. His secretary was another matter. She had changed tremendously from her Queen Bitch of Sunnydale days. Angel was proud of the way she was turning out. However, he was not pleased with what she was trying to talk him into.
“That’s not what we do, Cordy,” Angel reminded her.
“According to the husband the wife is a real witch,” Cordelia pouted even more. Angel wanted to laugh at her expression, but he refrained from it.
Wesley shook his head. “It seems a bit on the seedy side.”
Cordelia turned to Wesley, offended that he would suggest such a thing. “This is not seedy! He’s in government!” She turned pleading eyes to Angel. “Just talk to him. Oh, and we should pick up the tab for lunch. Nothing says success less than splitting the bill.”
Angel thought he’d better revise that to Cordelia being a work-in-progress. She was still hung up on material items such as money. It wasn’t that he was broke per se. He just didn’t have any money on him. All the money Angelus had accumulated over the years was locked away in Swiss bank accounts. And, it wasn’t as if he couldn’t touch it, it was just that he didn’t feel right about using it. It was ill-gotten greenbacks from his kills, the same kills that were now torturing his conscience.
Angel’s lips thinned and he shrugged. “I didn’t bring any money with me.”
Cordelia rolled her eyes, ‘so typical of him’. A person would wonder how he’d gotten by this long, dealing with a tortured soul, without the need for money. “Okay, Elvis. When you are a big star you can get away with not carrying any cash. And while we’re on the subject,” she looked at Angel coyly as she said, “I think one of us should apply for a small business loan.”
Behind Angel stood Faith lining up her cross bolt with the vampire in front of her. Meanwhile, Cordelia had rushed to explain, “Just to get us through the rough spots.” Faith had zeroed in on her target, sighting Angel’s back where his heart was located before she pulled the trigger. “I mean what’s a thirty-year loan to you?” Cordelia was asking.
Angel’s vampire hearing caught the cocking sound of the cross bolt and turned as Faith took the shot. He caught the quiver in midair just as it reached his chest.
“That was so cool!” Faith smiled, genuinely impressed with the trick. “This is going to be fun!” She turned on her heel and ran out through the front doors of the courthouse and into the sunshine.
“Oh. My. God. Faith,” Wesley said as his jaw hit the floor in shock of seeing the rogue slayer.
Angel stared after Faith and then looked at the arrow still in his hand. “I thought she was in a coma.”
Cordelia was staring in the direction Faith had gone as well in equal shock. “Pretty lively coma.”
**************************
Sunnydale, Giles Apartment
The Scooby gang was sitting around discussing the aftermath of Faith’s visit. Spike was there, but to say he was participating was an understatement. As far as he was concerned Buffy was back in her own body and just fine. That’s all his ‘job’ required of him. He was reluctantly helping her and that was as far as he was taking it.
The phone ringing quieted the conversation. Giles was buried in research books. He looked up and saw Spike doing nothing constructive. “Answer that, will you?”
Spike rolled his eyes and lumbered out of the easy chair. He grabbed the receiver up and greeted a gruff, “’Ello.”
“Spike?” Angel’s voice sounded surprised.
“Yeah, mate. What’s up?” Spike said in a bored tone.
“Um. Uh. Didn’t expect you to be at Giles’,” Angel stammered a bit.
“Well, m’ job description was to baby sit the Slayer, So ‘m here,” Spike said.
“Spike, when I told you to look after Buffy, I meant to help her when she needs it. I didn’t mean for you to stand next to her every second,” Angel chuckled.
“Well then, you should have been clearer, ponce,” Spike retorted.
“Seriously, Spike, what’s been happening up there?” Angel asked solemnly.
“Oh man, you wouldn’t believe it if I told you,” Spike replied.
“I probably won’t but tell me anyway,” Angel said.
Spike sighed before launching into what had happened last week with Faith and Buffy. “Okay, well, Faith is out of a coma. From what I could understand of the Scoobies’ tale: the first thing she did was beat up some girl and stole her clothes. Then she terrorized the town a bit, yeah. She met up with Buffy on the college campus and later held Joyce hostage. When the Slayer showed up to rescue her mum, she and that crazy bint had an all-out brawl through the house. They ruined Joyce’s good China and silverware. Ungrateful kids have no respect for --”
“Spike? You might want to refocus here. What happened? Is Buffy okay?” Angel said sternly trying to get his childe back on track.
“Oh, yeah. Fine. Anyway, they fought and Faith did some kind of mojo thing with a draconian device of some kind that switched their bodies. So, the murderous bitch was running around town in Buffy’s body reeking havoc, bloody hilarious it was,” Spike was explaining when he heard a growl.
“Faith was running around in Buffy’s body and you didn’t do anything to stop her?” Angel growled.
“It wasn’t like I can walk around during the day, you ingrate. I’m here to watch out for her, remember? I didn’t know any of this went down until after the fact!” Spike shouted into the phone.
“You’re the one that said you were attached to Buffy at the hip! Why didn’t you stop her?” Angel yelled back.
“Bloody hell, Angel. I didn’t know any of this had happened. I had an inkling that something was different about your
soddin'’ girl, but before I could follow her some bloody ponce decided to have a meeting of the minds in the middle of the bleedin’ club and I didn’t catch up with the girl. So I went to Giles and Buffy was there in Faith’s body. What the bloody hell do you want from me Sire?”
“I want you to help and protect Buffy so that she has a longer life than other Slayers, and you failed to even do that much!” Angel was still yelling.
“Fuck you, Angel! I did what you asked me to. Buffy’s fine. She’s a little shaken up but what do you expect when you’re teleported from body to body? If you think I’m doing such a bang up job with your girl -- who I might remind you is fighting me every step of the way -- then you can come back here and
soddin'’ watch her yourself!” Spike yelled back.
“God, Spike. I really do . . . want to fuck you,” Angel whispered huskily.
Spike growled low into the phone upon hearing his Sire’s words and the images they brought to mind. “I know,” he said roughly.
Angel cleared his throat. “What can you tell me of Faith and why she’s here in L.A. on a vengeance kick?”
**************************
Los Angeles, Angel Investigations
Angel hung up the phone in his office. Wesley and Cordelia stood around his desk waiting expectantly for an answer as to why Faith was in L.A. They had heard the tail end of Angel’s side of the conversation when he talked to Spike. While the news that Spike was helping Buffy was old to Cordelia, it was fairly new to Wesley.
“I don’t understand why William the Bloody is running free in Sunnydale and not put out of his misery,” Wesley said.
Angel sighed. He had already been through this with Cordelia. Wesley would just have to accept a quick explanation of what, why and how Spike wasn’t out to kill Buffy. Angel was still upset with his childe for not getting to Faith before she switched bodies with Buffy. But, he also couldn’t fault him for how Spike handled the situation once he had an idea that something was going on. As for explaining things to Wesley, that would have to wait, because Faith was the bigger priority right now.
“Spike is there because I wanted him there to help Buffy. Look, Wes, the longer explanation will have to wait for another time when there’s not a psychotic slayer after me or you’ll have to get it from Cordelia.” When he received a curt nod from the ex-Watcher, Angel went on. “Spike said she left Sunnydale about a week ago. The way he described how things went down up there, her mental state is borderline psychotic. To hear him tell it, ‘the daft bint has already been around the bloody bend twice’.”
Cordelia thought about it for a moment. “That explains her outfit.”
“This isn’t right,” Wesley said out loud.
Cordelia cocked her head at the man pacing the room. “When a whacked-out Slayer tries to kill your boss – it’s very wrong.”
“I meant Giles,” Wesley said, waving his hand absently. “Why didn’t he give me the heads-up? I was Faith’s watcher. When she came out of the coma, Giles should have contacted me immediately.”
Cordelia shrugged. “Maybe he was too busy trying to keep her from – I don’t know – killing everybody?”
Angel rubbed a hand over his face tiredly. Cordelia and Wesley’s bickering was starting to become age-old and tiring. They were constantly pecking at each other. Sitting back in his chair he broken in to the latest round, “Spike said the Sunnydale gang didn’t know she was coming after me. Giles was worried about Buffy.”
There was the odd occasion when Spike would be serious with him. This had been one of those times. The thought that the claims might have had something to do with the blonde vampire’s congenial mood lifted Angel’s spirits somewhat despite the current situation. It may not mean that they had totally solved all their problems, but they were maybe taking a huge step toward mending a few fences.
“Is she okay?”
Cordelia voice broke through Angel’s thoughts of Spike. Is who okay? Oh . . . Buffy. “Yeah.”
“What can we do?” Cordelia sounded genuinely concerned.
Angel looked around his desk and trying anything to distract himself from thoughts of his boy during the present crisis. He stood up and moved around the office determinedly. “Uh. Help me track her down. I want you two to check police reports – beatings, killings – anything within the last week, possibly near bus stations and bars. After that, make yourself scarce. I don’t want to give her any free targets.”
“You’ve been targeted by a psychotic!” Wesley pointed out. “I’m certainly not going to run and hide.”
Cordelia looked skeptical at Wesley and then at Angel. “I like the plan where I’m scarce.”
“We’ve got to band together. Strength in numbers,” Wesley stated.
“Two is a number,” Cordelia said flippantly.
Angel leaned against his desk facing his co-workers and shook his head. He wouldn’t put them in danger like this. He lost Doyle. He won’t risk losing them too. “She’s coming for me. I’ve got a fight coming up. I don’t want you to get in the line of fire.”
“I thought we were a team,” Wesley said petulantly.
Angel ground his teeth at Wesley’s inability to see reason. “We’re not a team. I’m your boss. You go where I tell you and I tell you to lay low.”
“It seems you’re taking this personally,” Wesley said, concerned.
“Well, you know, she tried to shoot my own personal back, so yeah,” Angel said angrily.
Having only arrived at the end of the conversation Angel had with Spike. I still can’t believe Spike is helping! Wesley asked, “Did she do something to Buffy?”
Angel ran a hand through his spiky hair. “Spike just said it was rough.”
“I’m sorry that happened. But, if you let emotion control you right now, one of you will certainly end up dead.” Wesley was now trying to get through to Angel the dangers of going up against a rogue Slayer.
“Yeah, that’s what the lady wants,” Angel said humorlessly.
Wesley was angry now. Angry that Angel wanted to go after her and stop her any way he could even if it meant the girl’s death. “That’s not good enough! She’s not a demon, Angel! She is a sick, sick girl. If there is even a chance she can be reasoned with . . .”
Angel growled his anger. “Don’t you dare start with me, Wes? There was a chance. Last year I had a shot at saving her. I was pulling her back from the brink when some high-handed British guy took it upon himself to kidnap her and made damn sure she’d never trust a living soul!”
Cordelia had watched the whole argument play out. She had seen Wesley goad Angel and now she was seeing her boss’ eyes turn into the color of his demon as he tried to suppress his anger. She was in the dark a little on the history between Angel and Wesley concerning the psychotic Slayer.
“Angel, it’s not Wesley’s fault that some British guy ruined your . . . oh, wait,” she said as it dawned on her what they were arguing over. She turned to Wesley and pointed an accusatory finger at him. “That was you!” She turned back to Angel and waved her hand. “Go on . . .”
Wesley was deeply saddened that Angel had pointed out his shortcomings with the Faith debacle from last year. He knew he had screwed up in more ways than one in being a Watcher. He had meant to ask how Giles handled Buffy’s insubordination so skillfully. But, he was fired from the Council before he got the chance to talk to the other watcher. Now, it seemed as though the man thought so little of him as to not warn him that Faith was out of a coma and terrorizing everything in her path, including his current boss.
“You don’t need to,” Wesley said, hanging his head in shame.
“Let’s get to work,” Angel said as he pushed away the desk and walked out of the office.
**************************
Angel opened his weapon cabinet and searched for something that would take down a rabid Slayer with the least
amount of lethal force. As he was handling a few weapons, mentally gauging their destructive level, he heard a noise from upstairs. Cordelia and Wesley left a few minutes ago, so he knew no one was upstairs . . . unless one of them forgot something. He closed and locked the cabinet before using the stairs to get to the office.
Seeing no one in his office, he stepped out into Cordelia’s reception office – Would it be called reception knowing that Cordy wasn’t actually receiving anyone unless they had money and drove a BMW? Someone opened the blinds in the outer office as Angel walked towards it, flooding the room with sunlight.
“Hey, baby! Come give us a hug,” Faith taunted.
Angel stopped inside the doorway leading from his office and leaned against it. “I was hoping you’d stop by. It’s always good to see old friends.” He was taking a bit by surprise when Faith pulled a revolver on him and cocked it, but not terribly surprised after what happened in the courthouse earlier. “What’s this? Wooden bullets?”
“Ooh, good idea! But no, this is for you. You know, I’m going to kill you slowly and inventively. So, with that in mind, I’m going to give you one chance to . . .” Faith tossed Angel the gun. He caught it and immediately shot her in the right leg. Faith laughed at the sudden turnaround.
“Blanks,” Angel stated. He tossed the gun back to her. “Nice.”
Faith shook her head as if she were disappointed in Angel’s performance. “You didn’t shoot to kill. We’re going to have to up the stakes, get you in the game a little.”
Angel lifted a brow and stepped cautiously towards her. “What’s the game exactly, Faith? Boredom? Revenge?”
Faith seemed insulted by the very idea. “Dude, I’m getting paid. They hate you almost as much as I do.”
“Did it ever occur to you that this might be more fun for me?” Angel asked as he continued to walk closer to her.
This time Faith cocked an eyebrow. “You think? Because what happens if you kill me and you experience that one true moment of pleasure? Oops! I’d get off on that. Go ahead. Do me. Let’s take that Hell ride together. Come on, Angel. I’m all yours! I’m giving you an open invitation,” Faith taunted him. When he didn’t make an advance on her, she sneered at him. “Jeez, you’re pathetic! You and your little tortured soul. You just got to think everything through. Well, think fast, lover. If you don’t do me, you know I’m going to do you!”
Faith took aim and pulled the trigger. Angel staggered back against the doorway under the impact as the bullet hit his chest and gasped with the searing pain. He may be dead and virtually indestructible outside of anything holy and stakes, but being run through with a weapon of any kind – be it hot pokers or a bullet – was painful as hell. He stared at Faith as his brain tried to register what happened and store it for later brooding.
“Gosh. That one wasn’t a blank,” Faith shrugged and smiled. “Let the games begin.” With that she jumped out through the window, shattering the glass.
Oh, great. Cordelia isn’t going to be happy when she gets back and finds that we have to replace another window. Why do they always have to come in and go out through the window? Whatever happened to using the front door? He thought – or maybe it was brooded – as he went in search of a First Aid kit he kept around . . . somewhere. Since Cordelia became his secretary, he hadn’t been able to find anything where he thought he left it.
He located the First Aid kit and sat down at his desk. Prying a bullet out of oneself would work better if the person actually had a reflection and could see what they were doing. As it was, Angel had to feel around for the slug and pry it out. The only ways to describe it was having someone cut you open and operate on you, sticking things inside you while you were still awake. God, this hurts!
Angel felt the link between him and Spike slip open.
Are you okay, peaches? Spike’s voice sounded concerned. But, was it sincere or not?
I’ve been shot in the chest with a revolver. How do you think it feels? Angel replied agitated as he still felt around for the bullet.
Yeah, I felt the pain of it from here, Spike said.
Oh. The link tied them together. Not only could they feel the other’s emotions. They could take on the other’s pain. Psychic links were a bitch sometimes. Angel hoped Spike was safely in his crypt away from the others when he was shot. He could just image the strange looks and curious questions thrown at Spike if his boy were with the Scooby gang when the bullet hit.
I’m sorry, Spike, Angel grated out as he finally located the bullet and proceeded to work it out of his body.
Angel? What are you doing? You sound strained, Spike commented.
Trying to get this bullet out of me! Fucking hell this hurts! Angel swore.
I imagine so. Uh, shouldn’t you be letting someone else take it out of you? Maybe the cheerleader maybe? She’d make a cute nursemaid , Spike teased.
Cordy’s squeamish with this sort of thing. AH! Got it! Besides, no one’s here. Angel’s inner voice was back normal now that he had removed the offending object from his body. He tossed the bullet on the desk and gingerly leaned back in his chair to relax and let the wound heal.
Oh. So, where are they? Who shot you? Was it a jilted lover? Spike continued to be his annoying self now that his Sire was fine.
I sent them out to collect information. It was Faith who shot me and I don’t think it had anything to do with jilted love, Angel said.
Faith? She’s there? What kind of game is she playing?
Spike was shocked if not a little pissed that the psychotic Slayer tried to take a shot at his Sire. Angel was his to fight with. Angel was his to do in if he really wanted to. What was that crazy bint thinking when she tried to off a Master Vampire?
From what I got out of her before she shot me . . . again . . . and took off was that someone hired her to go after me. Someone who hates me as much Faith does right now. She went out the window and shattered it. That was a $350.00 window. Cordelia’s going to stake me when she comes back to see that.
Are you listening to yourself, Peaches? An insane Slayer is out there trying to kill you. Someone paid her off to do it and you’re worried about the cost of replacing a window?
Well, windows are really expensive to continually replace, Angel pouted. I’ve had to replace them a few times already. It’s starting to get tedious.
Do you know who paid her to kill you? Spike asked.
Yeah. I have an idea. Wolfram and Hart probably offered her a deal . . . off the books of course. They’ve been a thorn in my side for a while now. Their poster boy, Lindsey McDonald has made it his life’s mission to make my life hell. And, hey! Already been there. Angel quipped.
Are you going to turn him? Spike teased.
God, no! Angel scoffed. He reminds of you in a way and I could only handle one of you.
Bloody special I am. That Lindsey bloke might try to be like me. But, I’m the only one that can pull it off as successfully as I do. Spike curled his tongue behind his teeth and grinned.
Angel rolled his eyes. Yep, he could only take one of Spike in a lifetime. He didn’t need two. Are you done stroking your own ego, Spike? I may not be able to see your face during these conversations, but I can feel you smirking, boyo.
Bloody cute and adorable I am. Everyone loves me. Well, Angel brought it up. Spike might as well milk it for all it was worth.
Oh, yeah? How’s that work? Angel asked with a touch of humor.
My good looks, my devilish charm, my witty comments, my sex appeal, my accent. Who could resist me? Spike chuckled.
Angel nearly choked. Give the boy an inch he takes four miles. Since when were you ever charming? Your witty comments and accent are appalling. I don’t know about your sex appeal these days. But, you may have something with your looks if you hadn’t dunked your head in a vat of peroxide too long. I think the chemicals you use to keep that color are screwing with your mind, my boy.
Says the poof who uses more mousse than a supermodel, Spike retorted.
I do not! Angel was indignant.
Do too.
Do not!
Do too!
Not!
Too!
Spike when I get my hands on you –
You’ll what? Shag me? I’d enjoy it too much for it to be a punishment.
I’ll chain you to the ceiling and whip a layer of skin off your hide, boy!
Ooh! Foreplay!
You’re impossible you know that?
You raised me, Sire, Spike smirked.
Were you always like this? I remember you were so meek and mild that I had to literally scare you to bring your demon out to feed, Angel said.
Ack! Take that back! I was never meek or mild! Spike said incredulously.
Angel chuckled. I have to go and clean the glass up Spike. I’ll check in on you later.
Okay, peaches. With that Spike cut the link off.
Angel shook his head and stood up slowly testing out the healing wound. He went in search of a broom -- again with Cordelia rearranging things. As he swept up the broken shards, he thought about what Faith told him and decided it had to be Wolfram and Hart that hired her. Where else would they have found an assassin on such short notice after today’s verdict over the Marquez case? He made plans to pay a visit to Lindsey after he was done cleaning up.
**************************
Los Angeles, Wolfram & Hart
Angel waited until nightfall. As predicted Cordelia was not happy when she pressed speed dial for the window repair shop. He had gotten an hour-long lecture on the cost of windows and how if Cordelia were actually famous right now she wouldn’t have to deal with this type of situation and how Angel was lucky to have her services. Although she couldn’t make coffee, she could barely type, she rarely answered the phone even when it was a business call and the filing system hadn’t fared much better.
Angel shook his head as he entered Lindsey McDonald’s office. He walked over, sat at the desk and shuffled through the papers strewn across the surface. As he was going through a sheaf of folders, Lindsey walked in. He wasn’t surprised to see Angel there. Somehow the vampire always found a way past the vampire detectors.
“Don’t you have any respect for man’s law?” Lindsey chided.
Angel looked around the spacious fifth-floor office. “Very nice. Good view.” He stood up and looked over a spectacular view of the city before turning towards Lindsey and nonchalantly asking, “Where is Faith?”
“Should I know what you’re talking about?” Lindsey raised an eyebrow feigning innocence. If there was one thing Wolfram and Hart thrived on it was plausible denial.
Angel nodded. He expected the denial right off the back. “Your new employee.”
Lindsey stared straight and Angel when he said, “It’s a big firm. Tell you what I can do. I can give you the number for personnel. I’m sure they’d be glad to handle your problem.”
“Uh huh. You’d remember her. Pretty, dark hair, likes to kill things?” Angel described.
“I assure you that we have strict hiring practices,” Lindsey said seriously.
Angel’s eyes narrowed as Lindsey continued to block his questions. “So how does it work for a guy like you? Successful lawyer in a big law firm, company car, and nice office – and hey, a bonus: can hire a killing whenever you want. Kind of got it made.”
“Well, we’ll just add slander to breaking and entering. While we’re on the subject, I seem to remember you throwing one of my clients through a window. Killed him if I’m not mistaken,” Lindsey pointed out.
“Yeah. I remember,” Angel said. He turned around and pointed to the window behind him. “The window was just about that size,” he made a sad sound as he faced Lindsey again. “Too bad the body burned up before it hit the ground. I might have needed a good lawyer.”
Lindsey feigned disappointed as he said, “I’m sorry; we only handle a certain class of clientele.”
“Oh. Well, I’m sure that I’ve killed enough people to qualify. Where is she?” Angel demanded.
“You know a vampire can’t walk in here without us knowing about it. We have a highly sophisticated security system, spent a fortune on mystical barriers and such. Nice to know our investment paid off,” Lindsey sneered.
Angel saw the security guard coming at him in his peripheral with a stake at the end of a modified shotgun. He grabbed the man and slammed him down on the table hard enough to knock him out.
Angel shrugged. “I think it was a waste of money myself.”
Lindsey grinned. “Well, one down. More are on the way. And the police have been called. And this whole encounter has been visually recorded on hi-def. So, despite the fact that I’m sure it would make for an entertaining evening watching you fight for your life – not to mention the fortune I could make off the video – I do have a dinner to attend.”
Angel picked up his briefcase and walked up to Lindsey. “Good to see you again, Lindsey. We’ll do this real soon.”
As Angel walked out Lindsey turned to him and sucked in his cheeks in an amused smile. “You know, just when I think I got you figured out, you show up in a suit.” |
