Part 4<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cI can’t possibly thank you enough,\u201d the tall blonde said. \u201cYou done so much for me, and you haven’t asked for anything in return. So I’m going to make you a deal. I’m offering a place for you to stay.\u201d She raised her hands when he tried to object. \u201cNo, I insist. You said you don’t have a place. I want to thank you by offering our home.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Angel smiled slightly. \u201cThank you, Lana. You just seemed to be having some difficulties, so I thought I could help. With your job and divorce and all, it looked like you needed a break. And I do appreciate you letting me stay here. It’s certainly better than the alternative.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Lana returned the smile and leaned across the kitchen counter. \u201cYou gotta tell me something,\u201d she whispered conspiratorially. \u201cYour name isn’t really Angel, is it? I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if it were, but it almost seems too good to be true.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Angel actually blushed at the compliment. \u201cNo, my name is Liam. Angel was\u2026is\u2026a bad joke that stuck.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n A small brown haired boy stared in awe at the stranger. He was so big and strong looking. His smile wasn’t near as mean looking as daddy’s. \u201cMommy?\u201d The boy stepped hesitantly into the kitchen.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHi Sweetie Bear!\u201d Lana held out her arms to the child. He lost all reservation and sprinted into his mother’s embrace. She lifted him up to her chest. \u201cOoh, you’re almost too heavy for me to lift up, Joshua.\u201d The boy continued to stare wide eyed at the stranger.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d he asked. \u201cAnd how come you got long hair? I thought only girls had long hair.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cJoshua!\u201d Lana admonished. \u201cThat wasn’t nice.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt’s okay,\u201d Angel assured her. \u201cMy name is Angel. And you are Joshua. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Your mommy talks about you and Jordan all the time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n His smile really was nice, Joshua thought. He decided then and there that he liked Liam-Angel.<\/em><\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Joshua didn’t know who this woman before him was. Not that it mattered. She was serving a purpose far greater than she ever could have achieved while alive. Sure, a small part of him felt guilty for killing her.<\/p>\n No child should have to go through life without its mother. But like his own mother used to say: What is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular. And what he was doing was right.<\/p>\n Joshua folded the woman’s arms across her chest and straightened out her clothes. The least he could do is make her look presentable for the cops. Joshua cast a long last look at the woman before retreating from the bedroom.<\/p>\n \u201cJordan.\u201d<\/p>\n His sister was kneeling by a door as she sang lullabies into the child’s bedroom. Jordan always insisted that when they first arrived at a home that they lock the child in its bedroom. She didn’t want the child to see the dead body of her mommy. Jordan remembered far too well what that was like.<\/p>\n Joshua could hear the child whimpering softly in the bedroom. It wasn’t right that she would never see mommy again. But through that woman’s death, Jordan and himself would receive their justice.<\/p>\n \u201cJordan,\u201d he called again. Jordan stopped her singing and glanced timidly at her brother. \u201cIt’s time to go, Sweetie.\u201d Jordan nodded slightly and took the hand Joshua offered her. Joshua pulled his sister into a hug and whispered into her ear. \u201cIt won’t be long, Jordy. Soon we will make him pay for what he did to mom.\u201d<\/p>\n Joshua guided his sister into the living room. He stopped only long enough to pick up the cordless phone and dial 9-1-1. He tossed the ringing phone aside and led Jordy outside.<\/p>\n Just over seven minutes later, the police found yet another dead body, and yet another small child huddled in a corner crying.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Angel shot awake at the sound of his cell phone ringing. He quickly but reluctantly slipped from the bed next to Cordelia and stepped into the hall. He was relieved when Cordelia didn’t wake. \u201cYes?\u201d he spoke into his phone.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel? It’s Gunn. We got your message.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTook you long enough to call back,\u201d Angel joked.<\/p>\n \u201cBite me, boy. How is Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel sighed heavily as he recalled all the damage inflicted on her body. \u201cI’m not going to lie, Gunn. Cordelia really got the shit beat out of her. She bruised, she’s cut, and I don’t like it. But she’s becoming more lucid. She seems to be spending more time awake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell that’s good,\u201d Gunn agreed. He paused a moment before speaking again. \u201cYou promise us that you’re gonna get whoever did this. Make them pay in full.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will,\u201d Angel answered seriously. \u201cListen, Gunn, you’ve heard about the murders here, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe women with the cut throats? Yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI need you to tell Fred to cross check the MO with murders around the country. Tell her to go back as far as she can.\u201d<\/p>\n A beat of silence. \u201cYou think the killer is human.\u201d Another pause. \u201cThat’s not going to stop you from killing him, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. Anything else?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Did the Kings play last night?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBeat the Maple Leafs three to one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKick ass. Listen, I’m going to go. I told everybody I’d patrol with them tonight. Maybe something will turn up.\u201d Angel hung up the phone.<\/p>\n He saw Deanna working at the front desk. \u201cHey Deanna? If Cordelia wakes up, could you tell her I went out to speak with some old friends for a bit. She’ll know who I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d Angel trotted out of the ICU. The sun was setting, so he was immediately able to go to his car and head to the Magic Box.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Dawn and Willow waited patiently as Buffy fumbled with the keys as she tried to lock the door. Well, Willow waited patiently. Dawn paced the length of the porch. Finally, Buffy managed to get the lock to turn.<\/p>\n \u201cThis thing has been sticking for weeks now,\u201d she griped.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can call a locksmith in the morning and get it changed,\u201d Willow offered.<\/p>\n \u201cHey look!\u201d Dawn called. \u201cThe new neighbors! Hey Joshua! Hey Jordan!\u201d<\/p>\n Joshua ignored her as he trudged up the porch steps of the house next door. Jordan stopped and waved happily. \u201cHi Dawn!\u201d she shouted back. \u201cHow are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot bad. How are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPretty good!\u201d Joshua seemed to turn back and talk to his sister. Jordan looked at the ground sheepishly and skipped up the steps, waving one final time before following her brother inside.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it just me, or is that a strange pair?\u201d Buffy asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Joshua seems to be a bit on edge,\u201d Willow observed.<\/p>\n \u201cJordan is real nice though,\u201d Dawn stated. \u201cShe’ll always wave and say hi.\u201d<\/p>\n The trio continued to stared at the porch for a few moments longer. \u201cWe need to get to the Magic Box,\u201d Buffy reminded them. \u201cThe patrol tonight is especially important.\u201d The three set out to head to the shop.<\/p>\n It was a big night, and they needed a break. Too bad they wouldn’t get one.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n \u201cUncle! Uncle!\u201d Jordan laughed hysterically. Angel chuckled as he continued to tickle the little girl ferociously. \u201cJoshua! Help me!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Lana watched in amusement as Joshua performed a flying tackle right onto Angel’s back. The slight weight of the little boy didn’t even faze the vampire. Angel simply reached one hand around his back and lifted Joshua by the shirt. In moments, both children were subject to one of Angel’s infamous tickle attacks. Their laughter was so loud that Lana almost missed the telephone ringing.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI’m going to get that,\u201d she smiled. She retreated into the kitchen to retrieve the phone. As Angel continued to tickle the children, he used his demon hearing to focus in on the conversation.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDammit, Jeremy!\u201d Lana hissed into the phone. \u201cDon’t do this to me! You will not get the children! You know that, I know that, and most importantly, my lawyer knows that! So don’t ever call here again!\u201d Lana hung the phone up in anger.<\/em><\/p>\n Angel ceased tickling the children as Lana entered the room. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d he asked softly.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d she lied. \u201cSame old, same old.\u201d Angel clearly didn’t believe her. \u201cHe called again. He thinks that he can, well, you know.\u201d She nodded towards the children.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHe can’t,\u201d Angel assured her. \u201cI’ll make sure of that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n As Angel entered the Magic Box, several stunned faces greeted him. It didn’t take the proverbial rocket scientist to understand why.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere was the body found?\u201d Angel asked.<\/p>\n \u201cOn Harrison Street,\u201d Spike informed him. \u201cI saw a platoon of cops cars parked on the front yard.\u201d Spike knew the look that crossed Angel’s face.<\/p>\n He grabbed his leather duster off the counter and slipped it on. \u201cLet’s go check it out.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel didn’t even think twice that his once evil grandchilde was offering to go scouting with him. The soul he smelled was enough for Angel to give him the benefit of the doubt.<\/p>\n \u201cYou guys go patrolling,\u201d he ordered to the rest of the group. \u201cSee if you can’t dig anything up. Spike and I are going out.\u201d<\/p>\n Buffy wanted to argue about Angel giving them orders, but the two vampires were gone before she could do so. \u201cYes, sir,\u201d she murmured sarcastically.<\/p>\n She glanced at the rest of the gang. \u201cYou heard the exalted leader. Let’s go.\u201d<\/p>\n