During the short walk around the block from Revello Drive onto Oak Park Street, Buffy informed her friends about her findings in the morning newspaper. \u201cThe Press says Karla disappeared last night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow and Xander scurried along as fast as they could behind her since Buffy had unconsciously picked up the pace. \u201cAfter she got home?\u201d asked Willow breathily.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Buffy shook her head. \u201cKarla never got there. The cops claim they never even talked to her, but Giles told us there was an officer at the scene who took Karla away with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think she\u2019s been kidnapped?\u201d Xander had a couple of classes with Karla. \u201cShe\u2019s nice, y\u2019know. A sweet kinda girl. So\u2026normal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slayer and witch stopped walking. Xander ran into them both. Gaping at them, he shrugged widely, \u201cWhat\u2019d I say now?\u201d As the girls met each other\u2019s eyes, they wore identical frowns.<\/p>\n
Resuming their walk to Giles\u2019 house, they slowly turned back up the sidewalk. Willow swung her arms back and forth bringing her hands together in a rhythmic clap on each forward swing. Pointing out, \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be the first time the newspaper has done a cover-up when the police department is involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNope,\u201d Buffy agreed.<\/p>\n
Coming up on Giles\u2019 place, they noted the fact that there was an unfamiliar car parked next to the watcher\u2019s old clunker. \u201cLooks like Giles has guests,\u201d Willow commented. Like Buffy, she simply walked up the path toward the front door.<\/p>\n
Xander wasn\u2019t so quick to leave. Even though the girls had already moved on, he called out to tell them they had not paused long enough, \u201cThis baby deserves more respect than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He ran a hand over the sleek black lines of the classic Plymouth convertible. The top was down, allowing him to feel the warmth of the sun-warmed leather seats against his hand. \u201cNiiiiiiiiiice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cXander!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cComing, Buffy!\u201d He hopped up the drive. Grinning, he told them, \u201cSomeday, I\u2019m gonna have a cool car.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy and Willow shared another look, this time one of amused indulgence. \u201cSure you will,\u201d both nodded vehemently. \u201cUh huh.\u201d<\/p>\n
Knuckles rapping loudly against the door, Buffy impatiently waited for Giles to open the door. She was about to check to see if it was unlocked, knowing that Giles was expecting the gang this morning, when it swung open to reveal Faith standing there.<\/p>\n
\u201cC\u2019mon in,\u201d she waved them inside. \u201cYou\u2019re late. We\u2019ve had Giles all to ourselves for almost half an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy walked past Faith without responding and idly noting that Cordelia must\u2019ve been the other part of the \u2018we\u2019 since she happened to be sitting on the couch. Why was it the other slayer had to put a raunchy twist into everything she said, making it sound like the three of them had been having wild animal sex.<\/p>\n
She heard Giles puttering about in the kitchen and called out a greeting. \u201cI\u2019ll be there in a moment,\u201d he answered. Imagining him emerging from the kitchen with mussed hair and a crooked tie gave her the wiggins. Not that she would put it past Faith or even Cordelia to make a play for an older guy, but this was Giles.<\/p>\n
\u201cPut the bad thoughts away,\u201d Buffy muttered to herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi guys!\u201d Cordelia was all smiles this morning; apparently still feeling a high from her little triumph at the demon bar.<\/p>\n
Angel hadn\u2019t commented much last night, letting Cordelia tell the story of the brawl and how she\u2019d smashed a beer bottle over one gravlock demon\u2019s head.<\/p>\n
She could have sworn that Angel started to smile. Then he\u2019d caught her looking and the smile vanished. God, even looking was painful sometimes. Just seeing him and not touching was a reminder that she couldn\u2019t have what she wanted.<\/p>\n
What she wouldn\u2019t give to have him all to herself for half an hour no strings attached. Angel\u2019s strings were more like chains and he had plenty of them.<\/p>\n
With a deep sigh, she sank down onto the couch wishing she could be half as perky as Cordelia this morning. Reminding herself that she was supposed to be making Cor feel welcome now, Buffy managed to say, \u201cHi. I thought you\u2019d be stiff and sore this morning. From the fight,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, I have all this energy,\u201d Cordelia practically bounced with it, her bright smile only adding to the natural golden glow of her skin.<\/p>\n
Willow sat down in one of the chairs. \u201cYou were just lucky you didn\u2019t get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
This was a good time for Cor to get snarky and blame Willow for the time she did get hurt, but Buffy was surprised to hear her chatter on about the demon brawl without a word of the rebar incident. \u201cWell, I do have a bruise,\u201d she sounded like it was a badge of honor. Rolling onto her hip, Cordelia pointed toward her right butt cheek, \u201cIt\u2019s right on my\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning, all,\u201d Giles greeted them as he came around the corner carrying a tray with a teapot, teacups & saucers, and a variety of sodas. \u201cWe have all had a short rest, but there is no time to waste.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander complained, \u201cBut Cordelia was going to show us her bruise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Remembering Cordelia\u2019s comment about a certain portion of her anatomy being a bit sore during their debriefing in the early hours after midnight, Giles paused for a moment, shook his head, and tried to go on. \u201cYou\u2026there will be time for more Show & Tell later on. For now, we must talk about our strategy for today. There is much to accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sitting down on the floor, Xander crossed his arms on top of his bent knees and exaggerated his pout. Cordelia gave him a pointed look as if to remind him he no longer had the right to look, but it just seemed like friendly teasing or at least semi-friendly teasing. Clearly, Xander had been telling her the truth. He didn\u2019t want to be protected from Cordelia. He was just lucky she wasn\u2019t turning on her patented super-bitch mode, which for some strange reason was nowhere to be found at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiles, did you see the morning paper?\u201d Buffy got right to it deciding that Cordelia thoughts were certainly not going to improve her own mood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m afraid so,\u201d Giles set his teacup down, pulled off his glasses, tapping the tip of the earpiece against his lower lip. \u201cThere is a clear disparity in the actual events and the information reported by the Press. The sign we witnessed last night indicated it would reveal the First Sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow piped in, \u201cTony.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought that as well at the time,\u201d admitted Giles as he popped his glasses back on. \u201cHaving reviewed our research again, I have to conclude that Karla Brewer\u2019s sudden disappearance is no coincidence. Though the news article indicates she is believed to have run away, I suspect there is foul play involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pushing away from the wall with the heel of her boot, Faith walked up to Willow\u2019s chair where Xander was now sprawled on the carpet. \u201cWe saw that cop put Karla into his car. There\u2019s no mention of that in the paper. It\u2019s like she just disappeared from the scene.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what\u2019s the connection?\u201d asked Cordelia realizing that she\u2019d missed something last night when Giles & Faith were talking about their experience outside of the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor.<\/p>\n
Giles explained that one of the last signs in the ongoing chain of events written in the scroll was that of ritualistic sacrifices. \u201cI assumed that Tony\u2019s death was in fact a sacrifice, but I now believe it occurred as a culmination of mystical energy, a beacon of sorts. It pointed the way to Karla Brewer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA little excessive, dontcha think?\u201d quipped Xander.<\/p>\n
Willow agreed. \u201cThere are lots of ways to find people. Not that I\u2019ve tried that kind of spell before. Maybe I could\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Giles answered sternly. \u201cThere are dark mystical forces at work here. We will have to search for her the old-fashioned way. Trying to use magick when we don\u2019t know what\u2019s involved could be dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d Willow deflated a bit, her shoulders slumping, wide mouth tipping into a frown.<\/p>\n
Buffy volunteered for a little legwork. \u201cWilly might have something.\u201d Her snitch was usually good for a lead or two.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take care of it,\u201d Faith said as she rubbed her closed fist into her other palm. \u201cA little work-over and he\u2019s gonna spill.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swallowing down a soothing sip of his tea, Giles suggested, \u201cYou should both go.\u201d He caught the sharp look that Buffy sent his way; adding further reasoning, \u201cStop by the police station as well. I\u2019m curious to find out whether Officer Clark actually exists. I\u2019d rather you worked as a team just in case you run into the unexpected.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got it,\u201d Faith shrugged. This was supposed to be her town, after all. A little charity wouldn\u2019t hurt. \u201cI don\u2019t mind if B tags along.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia heard Buffy\u2019s teeth gnashing together and tried to suppress her laughter. That worked for all of two seconds. \u201cSee Faith, looks like you get a sidekick after all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy\u2019s face was blazing, her usually cool green eyes shooting laser beams toward the two brunettes. What was it she\u2019d been thinking early about Cordelia\u2019s inner bitch being on vacation? Deadpanning, \u201cFunny,\u201d Buffy found it anything but.<\/p>\n
Putting the two slayers together on assignment was risky, Giles knew, but it was something they needed to work out. Their styles were vastly different and Faith was difficult to control. He hoped a little of Buffy\u2019s experience would wear off on the girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cI plan to remain here today,\u201d Giles informed them. \u201cFollow any leads you find and contact me if you discover anything. There is research to be done on the relic.\u201d<\/p>\n
A collective groan sounded from the non-slayers in the room. \u201cMore research?\u201d, \u201cAgain?\u201d, \u201cIsn\u2019t it too early in the day for that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhining won\u2019t make the work go any faster,\u201d Giles commented. \u201cI tried that myself this morning and had no luck with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHee!\u201d Willow chirped. \u201cGiles made a funny.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giles explained that he was very close to making a discovery on the origins of the bone relic. Unfortunately, he was at a stage of research where there remained a number of sensible theories. Narrowing it down would require more time and information. \u201cTonight may provide the key.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Scroll of Septarius with its auguries of events indicated that an earthquake would reveal an ancient obelisk. As with many of Sunnydale\u2019s mystical sites, they were located underground. The passage of time had buried them beneath layers of sediment and other more modern structures. In this case, the obelisk would be uncovered between holy and unholy ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat could be anywhere in Sunnydale,\u201d Cordelia commented. \u201cHello, Hellmouth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d Giles agreed, but suggested that they use the school as the focal point and consider some of the holy sites closest to it. \u201cThere are four here on the eastside\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia let out a whoop, \u201cYes!\u201d The others turned and stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Cordelia for that rousing cheer, but you might allow me to finish before you applaud my plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, please continue,\u201d she grinned at the happy thought that she wouldn\u2019t have to deal with misty Old Sunnydale, pebbly Restfield, spooky Shady Hill or live with flashbacks of grabby vampires by patrolling Parkdale.<\/p>\n
Giles drolled on and handed out the night\u2019s assignments. He told them that there was no need for an evening meeting unless something new cropped up between now and then.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow will Angel know?\u201d Cordelia asked realizing that there wouldn\u2019t be a chance to meet up with him if they didn\u2019t have a Scooby Meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could inform him,\u201d Giles suggested before Buffy had a chance to speak up.<\/p>\n
She jumped in with, \u201cI\u2019ll stop by.\u201d It didn\u2019t matter that she was trying to avoid meeting him in one-on-one situations. The thought of another girl\u2014 even if it was only Cordelia\u2014 going there for any purpose was unsettling.<\/p>\n
Faith pointed out, \u201cYou\u2019ll be with me, remember, unless you want me to deal with Willy and the cops myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a long pause. \u201cNo, duty calls, so I suppose Cordelia can handle going to the mansion.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo creepy Crawford Street,\u201d Cordelia wasn\u2019t so sure she wanted the job. \u201cMe? As in alone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going,\u201d Xander answered despite the fact that he was an obvious choice.<\/p>\n
Willow didn\u2019t think Cordelia was looking to her as a little mission buddy, but just in case, commented, \u201cI\u2019m with Xander.\u201d Then realizing how that sounded, added, \u201cAnd Giles, cos I\u2019m sure there\u2019s research we can help with.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSheesh! It can\u2019t be that bad,\u201d Cordelia told them she\u2019d take care of it herself.<\/p>\n
Giles certainly wasn\u2019t going to volunteer to do it, either. That was one place he never intended to set foot again. He wouldn\u2019t send Cordelia if he didn\u2019t consider it safe for her to make the trip. \u201cJust get there while the sun is still up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, y\u2019know, not too early,\u201d Buffy commented. \u201cBecause if Giles is right about these signs all happening at midnight, then it\u2019ll be hours before you two need to patrol.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike I was planning to go now?\u201d Cordelia rolled her eyes at Miss Obvious thinking she was going to run over to Angel\u2019s place at the first opportunity. \u201cAngel will be sleeping. What\u2019s to see? I suppose I could sneak into his bedroom and write him a note.\u201d<\/p>\n
She snorted at the idea because it made Buffy scowl in that way that caused her eyebrows to fuse momentarily.<\/p>\n
\u201cPuh-lease! Like I would disturb a sleeping vampire. Angel may have a soul, but I have no desire to test out any bite-first-ask-questions-later reflexes,\u201d Cordelia told her.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood plan,\u201d Giles interrupted before things escalated beyond his ability to ignore. \u201cNow let\u2019s talk about what you\u2019ll be doing the rest of the morning, shall we?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ten minutes later, the five of them were outside of Giles\u2019 house gathered near the driveway. The watcher had shut the door and turned the lock with a swift, satisfying click. Faith had to laugh at the speed in which he did it. \u201cGuess Giles wanted some privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re off,\u201d Buffy just wanted to get on with it. \u201cSee you guys later. Or, if not, we\u2019ll meet up at Giles\u2019 post-patrol interrogation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two slayers had already taken a few steps when Cordelia offered, \u201cHey, you want a ride?\u201d<\/p>\n
Faith was the only one not surprised by the fact that Cordelia was holding a set of car keys. \u201cNah. I\u2019d like to stretch my legs a little. Hate being cramped up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too,\u201d Buffy was saying, but wondered why Cordelia would have a car like that one. It wasn\u2019t exactly her style.<\/p>\n
Xander was too busy hopping around the car in excitement, realizing that he was going to get to ride in it. \u201cNiiiiiiice. We\u2019ll be taking it to the school, right? Gotta get there somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Xander, I was planning to leave it here,\u201d Cordelia let out a soft pfft. School was the last place she wanted to go on a Saturday, but all things considered, it was the most interesting thing on her calendar.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d been assigned along with Willow and Xander to secure the library against potential earthquake damage. Just because Giles didn\u2019t want to come in Monday morning to find his precious books all over the place meant that she was going to spend a lot of quality time with rope and duct tape. Lots of better ideas came to mind for using those items, but Giles had assured the three of them that it would be a bonding experience for them. There was something sadistic about Giles on days like this.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019d ya get it?\u201d Xander wanted to know.<\/p>\n
Cordelia twirled the key chain around her finger, \u201cI borrowed it for the weekend. Offer of a ride is still good,\u201d she eyed Faith. \u201cI know how to get to Willy\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
A dimpled grin appeared as Faith shook her head. \u201cNah. The school is in the opposite direction. Besides, Willy is probably sleeping it off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can grab him later,\u201d Buffy agreed. \u201cEarly afternoon is best.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll head to the police station first and check out Officer Clark. He was the last one to see that chick alive,\u201d Faith said, only to be chewed out by Willow for saying something that suggested Karla Brewer might already be dead.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should think positive,\u201d Willow added.<\/p>\n
Xander hovered next to Cordelia waiting for the moment to ask, \u201cCan I drive it? I wanna drive. Just to the school. Can I, can I?\u201d<\/p>\n
Clutching the keys close to her chest, which did not deter Xander from trying to pry them out of her hand, Cordelia snapped, \u201cNo, my\u2014 the owner wouldn\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/p>\n
As he dropped his hand to his side, Xander took a big step back. It suddenly occurred to him where Cordelia got the car. \u201cGuess the boyfriend doesn\u2019t want anyone handling his stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia felt everyone\u2019s eyes on her and not in a good way. Even Faith had her reasons for giving Cor a sharp look. Closing the space between them, she poked a finger into Xander\u2019s midsection in the same spot as her scar. \u201cThat\u2019s right. It\u2019s hands off for you, Xander Harris, and that goes for my car, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
She opened up the driver\u2019s side, climbed in and started the engine. Xander and Willow were just standing there staring. \u201cHello, mass transportation here. Get in.\u201d<\/p>\n