Phoebe was still seething when she parked in the driveway and stalked up to the front door. "Faith can vouch for me," she mimicked Debra's voice. "I know I'll never forget." Unlocking the heavy door, Phoebe strode inside and slammed it behind her. "What the hell does that mean? Like I think Faith did anything other than kick her ass."
"Have a bad night?" Piper's voice drifted out of the living room.
Spinning in that direction, Phoebe automatically smiled at the memory of the previous evening. "Definitely a no to that question. Last night was unbelievably good."
With a chuckle, Piper sat up and dropped the book in her lap to the floor. "Then why did you try to tear the door from the hinges on the way in?"
Instead of answering directly, Phoebe dug in her purse for the list of names. "I had another mysterious visit from one of our bodyguards. She gave me this." Walking into the living room, she perched next to Piper. "It's a list of contacts in the area in case we need more muscle."
"I don't know why they gave you a list. It's not like we're single-handedly facing an army or anything." Piper peered at the names. "Wow!"
"Is that a good wow or a bad wow?" After the scene in the parking garage, Phoebe braced for the worst.
Holding out the list, Piper pointed to one name. "Mike Giovanni. He runs a bookstore down in Union Square. There are a few other names I recognize, too, I just can't remember from where."
Phoebe wasn't sure why that was such a big deal. "At least these people are locals.
She got a level look in return. "Phoebe, it's more than just that." Piper sounded exasperated at her comment.
"You want to fill me in?" Phoebe barely avoided snapping. She took a calming breath. "I'm feeling a little slow right now."
"I'm pretty sure the names I recognized are all business owners. Influential people." Piper ran a hand through her hair, and Phoebe willed herself to stay calm. Her sister would get to the point…eventually. "Faith's friends are tied to the community and powerful. They have money. Resources. Just giving us this list – it shows a lot of trust in us. A word in the wrong ear... One hint these people are tied to us…the demons would be all over them."
Phoebe thought about that. It made sense. However, she still wasn't convinced. "If they're so powerful, why did some kid," who'd claimed to know Faith, "deliver the message? Why not someone we'd recognize and trust?"
"Did Faith drop you on your head last night?" Piper demanded.
Hands gripping the edge of the sofa, Phoebe made sure to simply shake her head. If she tried to say anything, she'd only make things worse.
"That 'kid' was a Slayer, wasn't she?" Piper waited until Phoebe jerked her head up and down. "We're being protected, Phoebe. Do you really think a book store owner is up to Cole or an army of vampires? They sent you someone you should trust while still keeping you safe."
Phoebe's fingers tightened on the cushion before relaxing. "Oh." She cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably. Maybe Debra hadn't been taunting her. "I hadn't thought of that." She hadn't really been thinking anything; she'd been imagining Faith and Debra.
"Have you had breakfast? You do get a little 'off' when you don't eat." Piper hopped off the couch and held out her hand. "Come on. I'll cook, and you can tell me where you took Faith last night. I got the distinct impression you had somewhere very special in mind."
No way. Phoebe wasn't sharing those intimate details. To avoid answering, she said, "I took her to the Penthouse for dinner."
"Phoebe!" Piper's rose nearly to a shout. "What were you thinking? That's like Cole Central. There are even pictures of the two of you there."
Letting that thought penetrate Piper's rant, Phoebe met her eyes. "That was kind of the point, remember? Finding the one place that would hurt him the most."
She saw the dawning understanding in Piper's eyes. "I'd love to be there when Faith spills that little secret." Tilting her head, Piper examined Phoebe. "You sure you don't want anything? You guys left pretty early. Dinner was a long time ago."
Phoebe knew her smile closely resembled a smirk, "We were a little too busy to eat last night, so I worked on some of the leftovers this morning."
One of Piper's eyebrows rose. "Too busy, hmmm? What were you busy doing?" She grinned and nudged Phoebe's thigh with her knee. "Knitting? Scrabble?"
"I'd tell you…but then I'd have to kill you," Phoebe intoned before starting to laugh. Faith and knitting. Yeah, like that was going to happen. "How about a rain check on the food and talking? I want to get this list to Dawn and Company and see if they've found anymore information on this coronation."
"You head on up. I'll fix the rest of us something to eat and be there in a few." Piper pulled Phoebe off the couch and pressed the contact list into her hand. "If anybody has a special request, let me know."
Giving Piper a brief hug, Phoebe sprinted up the stairs to the attic. Wesley, looking haggard and sprouting more whiskers than before paged through a large book. Piles of others littered the floor around him.
Soft snores drifted around the room from the two bodies sprawled on the sofa across from him.
"Morning, Wesley," Phoebe whispered. She cocked a head at Dawn and Fred. "How long have they been out?"
Rubbing a hand over his chin, Wesley peered at her blearily. "Not long, I'm afraid. We've been through all of the resources we have here."
"Anything?" Phoebe tried not to sound too eager even though they needed a break.
"No." Wesley didn't try to sugar coat the blunt reply. "Nothing."
The normally spacious attic closed in and pressed at Phoebe. A trickle of panic uncoiled inside, cramping her stomach. "Maybe one of these people can help." She held out the list in her hand. "A Slayer, Debra Clark, gave it to me this morning."
"What is it?" Peering at the list, Wesley answered his own question. "Ah. The San Francisco connection. Excellent." A small smile lifted his lips. "Perhaps one of the Watchers might have information on this ritual Cole is planning."
"So this Clark girl really is a Slayer?" Phoebe felt slightly ashamed of the question. Of course Debra was a Slayer. She needed to move past her immediate dislike (and jealousy) of the other girl.
Wesley nodded. "Oh, yes." He tilted his head. "Fairly new, I believe; however, the reports from the Academy were flattering."
A low groan drew their attention to the couch. "Next time I decide to sleep on the couch, Wes, remind me I'm too tall." Dawn stretched and rolled her neck. "I feel like I just went a few rounds with the Juniors – without the pads."
"You could have used Paige's or my room," Phoebe commented with a grin. With her hair rumpled and the pattern of the sofa stamped into her face, Dawn wasn't as scary as she'd been the day before. In fact, she looked about twelve.
"That meant a trip down the stairs," Dawn replied with a yawn. "By the time we gave up on the books, I was afraid I might not make it that far." She gazed at them questioningly. "Any good news for once?"
Phoebe looked at Wesley. "You want to tell her or should I?" Sleepy Dawn might be cute, but she thought that might disappear quickly.
"I think I'm going to see if Piper has any tea." Wesley stood and hurried from the room.
"Coward," Phoebe called after him. She took his abandoned seat and met Dawn's eyes. "No news at all. According to Wesley, there's nothing remotely useful in any of the books we have here. Faith's back in the Underworld spreading misinformation. No word from her yet. I haven't seen Leo; I'm assuming he's up with the Elders."
Dawn slumped back on the couch. "Damn."
"Exactly," Phoebe agreed. Then she saw the list Wesley had left on the small table next to her. "Well, I do have some names of the local Slayers and their Watchers. Wesley wants to see if they have anything we can use." Her mind finally started to work. "And I heard from one of the Slayers protecting me and Piper. The rest of Angel's people from LA will be here tonight."
Getting up from the couch, Dawn took the list. "Some of our best Watchers are stationed here. One of them, I can't remember which, has a book store."
"Giovanni," Phoebe said helpfully, silently thanking Piper for that information.
"He's our best bet. The store is just a front. The real books – the demon-y ones – are in the basement. That's where the Slayers and the other Watchers meet when there's something on the radar here."
Dawn checked her watch. "I'll give him a call." Grinning, she winked at Phoebe, "And see if Piper has something less British than tea to get me ready for more research." On her way to the attic door, she tapped Fred on the shoulder. "Come on, Fred. Rise and shine."
Fred's only reply was to roll over and put the accent pillow in her arms over her head.
"More coffee for me, then." Dawn poked Fred one last time before leaving the room.
Phoebe heard her clatter down the stairs. Walking to the windows, she looked out at the bright morning and wrapped her arms around her stomach. They were running out of time. She could feel it. No time and no information.
The pages of the Book rustled.
Spinning, Phoebe looked at Fred. She was still sleeping on the couch. There was no one else in the room. "Grams?" Phoebe asked softly. She took a step toward the lectern, holding the large tome.
A sudden strong breeze swept through the attic. Loose papers and the contact list blew onto the floor.
That wasn't Grams. "Fred," Phoebe called urgently. Something was wrong. "Fred!" she tried again.
"Hmmm?" Fred rolled in her direction, blinking owlishly.
"Get up. I think we have company coming." Phoebe grabbed an athame from a side table and tossed it at Fred. "You'll need this more than I will."
The breeze picked up speed, and a funnel cloud developed in the middle of the room.
Creeping toward it, Phoebe tried to see into the center of the wind storm.
A crack of thunder exploded through the room, and the funnel disappeared.
"Phoebe. Just the witch I needed to find." Angel smiled, and Phoebe jerked back at the fangs he displayed. His hand shot out to grip her shoulder.
She found herself pinned in his arms, back pressed to his chest. No matter how hard she struggled, Phoebe couldn't get free.
Angel's cold lips pressed into her neck. "Keep struggling, Phoebe. It makes this so much sweeter for me."
A cry escaped Phoebe when two sharp objects embedded themselves in her neck.