Part 2<\/b><\/p>\n
Los Angeles County Morgue<\/em><\/p>\n Rebecca Maxwell pulled the latex gloves off with an audible snap and tossed them into the wastebasket. Walking across the tiled floor, her heels clicking loudly, Rebecca grabbed her tape recorder.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is now 3:11 AM. I have just completed the external evaluation of subject John Doe. After a thorough exam, I have been able to reach several conclusions. First, there are multiple bruises on the victim\u2019s chest and side. These bruises seem consistent with a cattle prod, or some other electrical taser device.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no sign of head trauma, leading me to believe that Doe was approached by someone he was familiar with and was then shocked. Examination of the victim\u2019s fingers and nails reveals injuries consistent with trying to claw his way from some sort of entrapment.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the moment, I would have to state that the cause of death is asphyxia due to water inhalation. Evaluation of the victim\u2019s lungs during an internal exam may be able to support my conclusion. It is now 3:16 AM, and I am preparing to begin the autopsy of John Doe.\u201d<\/p>\n Maxwell clicked off her recorder and reached for a fresh pair of gloves. \u201cTime to slice and dice,\u201d she muttered as she snapped on the latex. She walked back to the examination table and tossed aside the blanket covering him.<\/p>\n \u201cThis dude didn\u2019t have anything to be ashamed of,\u201d she said, noticing a certain appendage.<\/p>\n Maxwell grabbed a scalpel from her supply table and prepared to make the Y-incision. As the blade near the sternum, the body\u2019s eyes snapped open, and his right hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. Maxwell\u2019s heart literally skipped a beat.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think you should do that,\u201d the body said.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Greenwood Psychiatric Facility<\/em> \u201cHe\u2019s coming!\u201d the woman in the flowing robes screamed. \u201cHe\u2019s coming to kill them!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNurse! Administer 20 cc\u2019s of Clorazepate!\u201d Doctor Fox yelled<\/p>\n \u201cI already have!\u201d Nurse Crier shouted back.<\/p>\n \u201cWell give her more!\u201d The doctor turned his attention back to the convulsing woman. \u201cWatch out!\u201d Fox jerked back as the woman flicked her arm and sent the male nurse holding her flying. The woman grabbed the nurse holding her other arm and tossed him as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is bad,\u201d Crier said.<\/p>\n \u201cNo shit! Will somebody help detain her?\u201d<\/p>\n Officer Linda Welker and several nurses rushed the woman in an attempt to subdue her. It took six of them, but they finally pinned the woman against the padded wall. \u201cBare her arm!\u201d<\/p>\n Fox took a syringe and jabbed it into the meat of the woman\u2019s right arm. The woman kicked and screamed for several long moments, but the extra tranquilizer seemed to finally subdue her. She slumped against the orderlies and nurses in a deep, drug induced slumber.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is one strong broad,\u201d an orderly commented.<\/p>\n \u201cToo strong,\u201d Fox commented. \u201cNurse Crier, I want a full blood workup on this woman. Complete toxicology screen, got it?\u201d Fox turned to Officer Welker and led her outside the room. \u201cWhere did you find this woman?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSanta Monica, Doctor. My partner and I found her walking in the center of a busy highway. We confronted her and asked her to come with us. She seemed vacant, not understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d Fox said. \u201cWhere is your partner? I\u2019d like to speak with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Welker stopped and stared Fox in the eyes. \u201cHe\u2019s at Mercy Cross Hospital. Miss Jane Doe in there didn\u2019t like it when he touched her shoulder. She responded by ripping his arm out of socket. You think she might be one drugs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPossibly,\u201d Fox answered. \u201cMaybe some sort of amphetamine. Any idea who she is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re running her prints down at the precinct. Hopefully we can get a match. If you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019d like to head back to the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Officer. See how your partner is faring.\u201d Welker nodded and walked off, leaving Fox alone to stare at the room containing the Jane Doe.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe we can figure out who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Hyperion Hotel<\/em> \u201cCharles? Did you find that expense report for when we exterminated that nest of Krayock demons a few months back?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Cordelia had it filed under \u2018M\u2019 for some reason.\u201d Gunn tossed the manila folder in Fred\u2019s direction. Fred took the folder and immediately understood Cordelia\u2019s reasoning.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, remember? Cordelia said the owner of the apartment that they infested was a moron.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe filed it under \u2018M\u2019 for moron?\u201d Charles asked incredulously. Gunn tossed aside the couple dozen files he was sorting in frustration. \u201cThat is it! I\u2019ve had enough trying to organize this Cordy-logic.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAngel didn\u2019t have any trouble with it,\u201d Fred pointed out.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s different. Angel\u2019s in love with her. Of course he\u2019ll understand it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou understand my logic.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because I\u2019m in lo\u2026\u201d Gunn grinned as he realized what he was about to say, his smile widening even further at Fred\u2019s blushing. \u201cWell, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs anyone here?\u201d a voice cried out from the lobby.<\/p>\n Gunn and Fred bolted up from the floor to find a small blonde flanked by a dark haired man and a young brunette girl.<\/p>\n \u201cSomebody is here,\u201d Gunn answered. \u201cIf you\u2019re looking for Angel Investigations, you\u2019ve found it, but where not really taking clients at the time. If you\u2019re needing assistance, check your local police department or another investigative agency, but we can\u2019t help you.\u201d<\/p>\n The blonde was definitely the leader, Gunn realized. She didn\u2019t hesitate to approach him, while the other two hung back. \u201cActually, we\u2019re here to help you. That\u2019s Xander Harris and my sister Dawn,\u201d she said pointing to her cohorts. \u201cI\u2019m Buffy Summers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Gunn said, not realizing what that meant until a moment later. \u201cYou mean one half of the twisted Sunnydale production of Romeo and Juliet? That Buffy Summers?\u201d<\/p>\n Buffy stared blankly at Gunn for a moment. \u201cYeah, and you are?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCharles Gunn and Fred Burkle,\u201d he answered. \u201cCan I ask what the hell you are doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe came to see if we could help. We saw on the Internet that Cordelia was missing and thought maybe our services were needed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not,\u201d Gunn said coldly. \u201cThis is a family matter. It doesn\u2019t concern you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCharles,\u201d Fred pleaded.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Gunn said, turning back to his girlfriend. \u201cThey have no reason to be here. Besides, what would Angel say? You think he would want them here?\u201d<\/p>\n Fred knew the answer to that. In her year at Angel Investigations, she had learned that Angel and Cordelia had little in common with their Sunnydale associates. Neither would really care for them to be here.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd where is tall, dark, and broody?\u201d Xander quipped.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s right here.\u201d<\/p>\n From the basement emerged a thinner and obviously fatigued Angel. The vampire scuffled across the lobby clad in ill-fitting green hospital scrubs. \u201cHoney, I\u2019m home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAngel!\u201d Fred cried. Both she and Gunn rushed over to the vampire, who collapsed in the floor in a heap of exhaustion. \u201cWhere have you been? We\u2019ve been so worried about you.\u201d Fred latched onto Angel and hugged him with all her might.<\/p>\n \u201cI decided to tour the world\u2019s great bodies of water,\u201d Angel joked. \u201cI just never got past the Pacific.\u201d Angel peered around the hotel and found something very important was missing. \u201cWhere\u2019s Cor?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know?\u201d Gunn asked in turn. \u201cThat\u2019s bad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s bad?\u201d Fear was making itself well known in Angel\u2019s mind. \u201cWhere is Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe hoped that she was with you,\u201d Fred explained. \u201cAfter all, you two were supposed to meet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat didn\u2019t happen. You mean to tell me that Cordelia has been missing for\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA week,\u201d Gunn finished. \u201cWe filed a missing person report with the police, and we\u2019ve talk to all our contacts, but we haven\u2019t found anything. All we know is that her jeep was found on the highway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve tapped into police, hospital, and\u2026morgue databases to let us know when someone of Cordy\u2019s description is found,\u201d Fred told him.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel, what happened when you went to meet Cordelia?\u201d Gunn asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a long story, and not all that important. We need to find Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm, which brings us back to why we\u2019re here,\u201d Buffy interjected.<\/p>\n The Fang Gang jumped when she spoke, all having forgotten that they were even in the hotel. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll appreciate you all so much more if you weren\u2019t here,\u201d Angel snapped. It was then that he noticed Dawn for the first time. \u201cWow. You\u2019ve grown.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone snapped to attention as Fred\u2019s laptop began to beep furiously. The girl rushed over and clicked the incoming message. \u201cI\u2019ve got a hit! Greenwood Psychiatric just filed a report on a Jane Doe matching Cordelia\u2019s description.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou strong enough to go down there?\u201d Gunn asked. Angel was on his feet long before Gunn finished the sentence.<\/p>\n \u201cJust let me get some real clothes on,\u201d Angel said. \u201cI think the morgue burned mine or something.\u201d Angel used his reservoir of vampire strength to burst up the stairs to change. Gunn hustled off to retrieve the car keys while Fred scribbled down the information.<\/p>\n \u201cDid he say morgue?\u201d Dawn asked.<\/p>\n
\nLos Angeles, California<\/em><\/p>\n
\nLos Angeles, California<\/em><\/p>\n