Chapter 2

His only thought was to find her. He opened every door in the endless corridors of the mansion, but all he found was emptiness.

The final door led him outside into the raging thunderstorm. The rain stung like needles on his skin, but he didn't care. He just had to find her.

He ran toward a ghostly figure near the river's edge. He tried to touch her, but his fingers passed through her as she slowly disappeared.

"Julia!" he shouted as he woke up from the nightmare.

He sat up in bed and waited for his heart rate to return to normal. Then he padded into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face.

Looking at his haggard reflection in the mirror, he said to himself, "Time to catch a killer."


Dawn rolled over, slowly opened one eye, saw the clock and groaned. Knowing she'd never get back to sleep, she got out of bed and got dressed.

After making herself a cup of coffee, she calculated the time difference and made the phone call.

"Hello," a familiar, accented-voice answered.

"Hi, Giles."

"Dawn, what a pleasant surprise."

"How was Cleveland? Is Nicky as cute as his pictures?"

Nicholas Liam Wood arrived in the early hours of the Winter Solstice. Dawn thought it was rather appropriate that a slayer would give birth during the longest night of the year.

"Yes, he is. I believe that Robin and Faith will have their hands full. Though I wish they'd call me Uncle Rupert. Grandpa Giles, indeed," he sniffed. "How are things in Seacouver?"

"Funny you should ask. Have you checked your e-mail?" The silence at the other end gave her her answer. "Giles, we had this discussion."

"Yes, yes, I know technology is my friend, but I'd much rather it be an acquaintance."

"I wouldn't have e-mailed you if it wasn't an emergency. There was a murder last night, and there was something familiar about it. I took a picture and sent it to you. I could really use a second opinion."

"Okay, how do I do this again?" Giles asked and thus began a transatlantic computer help desk call. Finally he was able to open the attachment. "Dear Lord."

"I knew you'd say that. It's like those Cleveland killings, isn't it?"

"There is a striking resemblance."

Dawn frowned, leaned back on her bed and cuddled Mr. Gordo. "So now what should I do?"

"I'm going to do some research. I think I still have the spell that we used. I'll try e-mailing it to you. More importantly, I want you to be careful. If we're right, this may just be the beginning."

"Don't worry, Giles. I have back-up."