Chapter Twelve
The Xena Costume
Giles waited outside the costume shop, looking inside at the almost empty store until Willow arrived.
"There it is," she indicated, pointing at the mannequin. "And there's the 'One Size Fits All' sign."
Together they entered the shop. Most of the racks for costumes were empty. As they looked around, a woman came from the back of the store. "May I help you?"
"Yes, we were interested in a Xena costume you sold the day before Halloween," Giles said.
"Xena. Oh yes. When the show was running, every girl wanted to be Xena, both young and old. But now, it's mostly witches and fairy princesses. The classics never go out of style."
"No," Willow interrupted. "Not just any costume, we're talking about the one you had in the window."
"Oh, that one. To tell you the truth I never expected it to sell. Not many six-foot-tall Trick or Treaters."
"Well, you see, my friend bought it and we were curious about it."
"If she's already worn it, we can't take it back, if that's what you're getting at."
"No, not that. You see, she's about my size . . . ."
"I'm sorry, but we don't do alterations. But I can recommend several seamstresses who can probably help you."
"You don't understand. When she put it on, it fit her perfectly, even down to the boots. And that seems kind of, well, weird, you know?"
"And you're sure she bought the display? Maybe she got one of the other ones. We did have them in several sizes."
"No! I saw the girl take it off the mannequin and hand it to her. And I was there when she put it on. And it fit!"
"Is the young woman who sold it to her still here?" Giles asked. "Perhaps she can shed some light on it."
"I▓m sorry, but all my assistants were just temps. I hired them just for the Halloween rush. I keep one or two a day longer to help reconcile the inventory and then I let them go as well."
"Would you know where we might find them?"
"I believe they were students at UCSD, but that's all I know."
"But you have to know their names and addresses and social security numbers. You DID pay them didn't you?"
"Well, yes of course. But when they came to work for me, I paid them in cash at the end of each day. I know I should have done things the proper way, but these girls were college students. They need all money they can make. And if I took out the deductions I should have, they would have gotten that much less. I was in their shoes at one time. I know how much every dollar helps."
"Very charitable of you," Giles commented. "But that doesn't help us."
"I▓m sorry."
"But what about the 'One Size Fits All' sign?" Willow asked. "What about that?"
The woman went to the window and looked at the sign. "That wasn't referring to the Xena costume. It was supposed to be next to the witch's hats. They have Velcro. Now, if there isn't anything else I can help you with, I really need to get back to packing up the costumes I have left over."
"Thank you for all your help, such as it was," Giles said.
"Well, that was a bust," Willow said outside the shop. "So now what?"
"I▓m not sure. How did your research on the Internet about the blue moon go?"
"Not very far, at least for what we wanted. Lots of hits for song titles, and lunar events, and pseudo-magic shops, and cafИs and bars, and something about a TV show detective agency. But nothing mystical or paranormal. What about you?"
"I did find several references in a few volumes. I'm surprised I never ran across them before, but then, I suppose there was no reason for me to research the occurrence until now."
"So, what did they say? Anything helpful?"
"Not particularly. It seems that it happens every thousand years or so. And while there are magical properties associated with it, the fact that it IS so rare precludes any helpful narratives or descriptions."
"So, no word on what causes it? Or when it started? Or how it works?"
"None, I'm afraid."
"Figures. So, back to square one, huh?"
"It seems so. How was Xena's first night of patrolling? Successful?"
"Oh, Giles, you wouldn't believe how good she is! If I didn't know better, I would think she WAS a Slayer! She dusted five vamps in record time. None of that punching and kicking and tossing vamps around like Buffy does. Three of them she took out by throwing her stake at them √ dead through the heart. And the other two she just flipped on their backs and it was Dustville."
"Good. I'm glad she was up to the task."
"Up to it, and way past. If we're not able to get Buffy back, then I think the citizens of Sunnydale are safe from the Hellmouth."
Giles smiled, but was still concerned. If Xena was that good, then good. But she wasn't Buffy -- she wasn't a part of the Slayer line of succession. And she wasn't the daughter he never had.
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