June 15
"Spike," Angel walked up to his partner's table and glanced at his stacked breakfast plate. "Have you seen Lindsey?"
"Not for a day or so. Is he missing?"
"Yeah. Riley hasn't seen him since yesterday, and I haven't either."
The bleached blonde set his coffee cup down thoughtfully. "And what do you think?"
"I don't know. It's a little odd, is all."
Spike's eyes traveled up to Angel's, but before he could say anything, a voice came over the p.a. system asking for Lindsey McDonald to report to room 233. "Well," Spike broke the silence that followed. "I guess we'll find out if he's onboard soon enough."
"Yeah," Angel agreed as he turned to leave S'mores.
Spike grabbed a piece of bacon off his plate before following.
The only movements Buffy had made since talking to Ethan were to go from a chair to her bed, and the only sounds in the dark room were her periodic sobs as she tried to come to terms with the last day... and she was starting to. Her tears were coming less often, and though she hadn't bothered to eat, or change clothes since getting back to the ship... or sleep for that matter, she was starting to think things through, figure out what Ethan had told her before she'd lost contact with him.
She ignored the first few knocks on the door, but when Angel's voice carried into the room, she couldn't stop the tears as she curled into a tighter ball and waited for him to leave. When he kept knocking, she cursed quietly and headed into the bathroom to pull off her wrinkled clothes and slide into a robe before wrapping her hair in a towel. She took a moment to glance into the mirror and frowned at the dark lines under her eyes before splashing water on her face and going to answer the door.
"Hey," she greeted.
"Good Morning," he answered softly as he took in her obvious lack of sleep. "I asked the captain for your room number and..." he broke off. "You look tired."
"Yeah... um... you know, you're not supposed to drink the water right? Well, I guess sometimes the food can get you too." She gave a half smile.
"You're going to be okay then?"
"I'll be fine," she told him quietly.
"Good," he studied her appraisingly before sighing. "Well... I was wondering if you knew anything about Lindsey? No one's seen him since docking at Puerto Vallarta and he doesn't seem to be on board."
"I don't know." She looked away. "There have been a few times someone didn't make it back on time and got left behind."
He nodded. "Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough, but I thought you should know Riley, Spike, and I are going to do a quick search of the ship."
She nodded before looking up. "It's fine."
Their eyes met, and he hesitated before giving a slight shake of his head. "You know you can tell me anything, don't you?"
Tears misted her vision and she gave a faint bitter smile. She wasn't sure if what happened would change her plans, or whether she could keep to the originals, but she knew Angel was something she hadn't counted on. "I'll keep it in mind."
He nodded before turning to go. "Feel better, Buffy."
She took a breath before closing the door and deciding to get cleaned up.
Lindsey groaned. He felt sluggish and his chest hurt. He was brought out of his daze when his name was called by an unfamiliar voice.
"What?" he murmured as he opened his eyes to a small dark room. He focused on the brown haired man standing a couple of feet away. "Where am I?"
"You're in a safe house in Puerto Vallarta," the man answered with an unreadable expression. "I'm Mark Bernake." He flipped open an FBI badge that Lindsey took in fuzzily before Bernanke slid it back into his pocket. "I was contacted by Buffy Summers, who is a personal friend of mine. She filled me in on the details and asked me to check on you."
"She's in trouble," Lindsey answered grimly. "They're framing her in a case I'm working on."
"So I'm aware."
The brunette tried to shift off the bed and gave up when his body protested. The bulletproof vest had saved him, but from the feel of it, he had some recuperating to do. He looked back at the brown haired man. "Look. I need to contact..."
"I'm not sure that's wise," Bernanke cut him off. "Right now there are some dangerous people that think you're dead and that they're in control... That gives Ms. Summers a certain amount of safety, and a unique opportunity to bring them down. She asked me to make sure you were aware of that."
"She'll get hurt. These guys think she's a well known thief. When they find out she's not," Lindsey gave a slow shake of his head, "they'll probably kill her."
"Even if they find out she's not Nemesis, I don't think that will be a problem, not after your *death*," Bernanke stressed.
So Buffy had filled him in. Lindsey frowned before shifting with agitation. "I need to call my boss."
"No you don't, and I just explained why."
"But they can help."
"I doubt that," Bernanke disagreed as he leaned forward, his eyes blazing into Lindsey's. "Ms. Summers is in an enviable position to take down a rather dangerous criminal organization. I intend to keep in contact with her, but as for you, I think it's best if you remain dead. Can you imagine what they would do if they found out you were alive?" he continued. "They'd probably give her someone else to kill. Do you want that on her conscious... or on yours?"
Lindsey looked up at him with exhaustion before taking a breath that caused pain. "Alright. As long as she's not doing it alone. And, "he gave a humorless smile, "when my boss and coworkers finally find out I'm alive, they're going to kill me."
Mark Bernanke, aka Ethan Raynes, gave a smile of relief. He'd done as Buffy asked, and any damage control he could do on top of that was icing on the cake.
June 17th
"Nemesis's case," Angel began the first morning they were back in Los Angeles, "Spike and I want it back."
Walsh looked up with narrowed eyes. "I don't appreciate the attitude, Mr. O'Connor." She withdrew the file she'd been about to hand him. "And am I to believe you're refusing your next assignment?" Angel's eyes blazed into hers, and neither of them looked away.
Spike frowned as he studied Walsh's glare. Angel needed Nemesis's case, and he wanted it too. It was personal, and along with Lindsey's disappearance, had hit too close to home. "What Angel's saying, and very diplomatically too, I might add," he gave Angel a faint smirk before turning back to his superior's scowl, "is that we have our suspicions about what happened to Lindsey when he disappeared. And," he drew out as she started to object, "that his disappearance and Nemesis *might* be connected."
"I hope you're not intending to harass Darla Chambers," Walsh spoke up.
"No," Spike answered. "We think Nemesis might be another young lady we've been keeping an eye on."
"Oh, that's just peachy," Walsh stated. "And if you have information about Nemesis, you should tell the agents in charge of her case."
Spike frowned. This wasn't going well, and he leaned down over Walsh's desk as if he could make her understand. "We believe," he told her quietly, "that this," he paused, "lady knows what happened to him. It's possible that while Riley's been doing his best to convince everyone that Nemesis is Darla, Lindsey stumbled onto the real deal and she panicked."
Maggie frowned as her fingers tapped across the file she'd just put down. "Nemesis is Riley and Xander Harris's case." Spike scowled before exchanging a look with his partner. "And as you already know, Fred and Gunn are in Mexico looking into Lindsey's disappearance. This case," she continued, "the one I'm assigning to you, is to assist them in any way you can."
"Assist Fred and Gunn," Angel clarified.
"That's right," Walsh answered. "You two will be able to examine the ship's videos as well as talk to anyone who made the trip that might have seen something."
Angel slowly nodded before picking up the file and heading back to his desk. He needed to know what happened to Lindsey, needed to know who Nemesis was. If Buffy was innocent, he wanted her cleared. If she was guilty, he wanted her behind bars. And if she was playing him... he needed to know that too.
Buffy's feet drummed out a rhythm as she jogged along the path she ran almost every day. The warmth of the sun along with the long jog helped to ground her as she once again thought about her objective... and the new problems in her way. Her objective was easy. She wanted Jenny out of jail, and Darla, Luke, and Snyder in jail, along with whoever they worked for... And she needed to know who that was because she'd bet money it was the same person that turned Jenny and Ethan into the cops 5 years ago.
The honking of a horn had her looking over to see a blue car cut off a semi before she turned her attention back to the path, and her thoughts back to the day she'd shot Lindsey. It had shaken her... badly. If he hadn't been wearing a bulletproof vest he'd be dead now and she'd belong to a crime syndicate, either that, or they'd both be dead. A familiar sickness filled her before she forced herself to remember that she held the cards. Lindsey was alive, and, if Ethan was to be believed, unaware of her role as Nemesis.
"Buffy."
She stopped at the voice before turning to look at the bench she'd just passed, and the man sitting on it. A new tension ran through her before she went back to sit beside him.
"Ethan called me."
"And?" she asked quietly.
"He told me what happened in Mexico." Rupert Giles shot her an unreadable look before turning to look back through the park. "You're playing a dangerous game. I'm not sure that I approve." Silence fell before Giles broke it, "When you handed Penn over to the FBI, what exactly did you think would happen?"
"I expected to be contacted," she told him quietly. "But then I expected to be contacted when I invented Nemesis."
He nodded. "But you weren't."
"No." She glanced through the park again. "I've lost my parents... and my friends are all I have left. Is it wrong to want the people that turned them into the cops to pay?"
"No." Giles shifted forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Why do you think I took Darla in after Jenny was arrested and Ethan went into hiding?" Buffy didn't reply, and he looked at her. "It was because I thought they might come after her since she was part of their operation."
Buffy frowned before giving a shake of her head. "Little did you know that Darla was the one that betrayed them."
"Yes. And now that I know it's signed her death warrant, hers, Perry's, and Snyder's."
The blonde looked at him sharply and just managed to hide her surprise. She'd heard veiled references to his past from Ethan, but being around him made it easy to disregard the rumors. "I need them alive," she stated quietly. "They're my link to their boss."
He snorted as he continued to look over the park. "You're interested in continuing your little game then?"
"Nothing's changed. Lindsey's not dead. If anything, I'm holding more cards than before."
"A card game," Giles murmured dryly, "but one that could get you killed, or jailed."
"I have good friends... that I can count on," she murmured as she studied him.
He drew in a breath. "Yes, you do." He turned to look at her. "And I will not interfere with your plans... not unless you ask me to." His meaning was clear, and she nodded and fought back tears. Giles, Ethan, and Jenny had been mentors to her, and their support and respect meant a lot.
"Giles," Buffy started, "I don't want to have to break into your house, but I do have a gift for Darla."
"A gift," he murmured as he studied her carefully, "that you would have to break into my house to give?"
"Yeah."
Silence fell before he got to his feet and looked at his watch. "Why don't you come to my office around noon? I'll order takeout and we can discuss it."
"I'll be there."
He nodded. "In the meantime, I must keep my appointment with Mrs. Whitaker. It seems she's unhappy with Darla's behavior on the cruise and would like to cut her out of her will."
Buffy gave a grim smile. "That's not going to make her happy."
"It's the least of her worries." Giles dismissed as he gave her a cold dangerous look that made her uncomfortable. "The very least."
Three days later, Angel took a sip of coffee as he watched the monitor and studied the string of people moving on and off camera.
He and Spike had been going through the Summer Wind's camera footage of the day Lindsey disappeared. They'd watched as an unidentified man almost bumped into him as he was getting ready to leave the ship, and saw him look down to study something in his hand afterward.
"Angel," Spike paused the video. "Look at this. It was taken at 11:30 pm on the night Linds disappeared."
Quickly hitting pause on the video he'd been watching, Angel turned to look at his partner's monitor. It showed three people getting ready to enter a room, and the brunette's gaze slid to Darla before going to Luke as he leaned back thoughtfully in his chair. "Darla... and with the guy that bumped into Lindsey as he was getting off the ship. Have we figured out who he is yet?"
Spike picked up a clipboard and flipped through the papers. "It's room 405," he murmured, "and it was assigned to... Luke Perry."
"Perry," Angel repeated thoughtfully as his attention switched to the man with them. "The other guy looks familiar." He frowned before glancing at Spike. "Is that the guy that made the paper a couple of months ago for tax fraud?"
"If it's not, he's got a twin," Spike retorted as he leaned back and stared at the screen. "Interesting group, wouldn't you say?"
"And then some," Angel agreed.
A knock came on the door and they both looked up as Faith poked her head in. "You've got company." She pushed the door open farther and stepped out of the way to allow Mrs. Whitaker to move past her.
"Thank you dear," the middle aged woman said as she walked past the brunette and over to the large rectangular table Spike and Angel were sitting at. Faith closed the door, and Mrs. Whitaker took a moment to look at the computer monitors with interest before walking over to take a seat. "I believe you're the two agents working on the McDonald case, the young man who disappeared in Puerto Vallarta.
"Yes," Spike answered. "Do you have something for us, Mrs. Whitaker?"
She sniffed and made herself more comfortable. "My husband told me I should come. I seem to have a knack for reading people, and I must tell you, there were some bad eggs on board the Summer Wind." She looked at them, centered her attention on Spike. "That Luke Perry, for instance, the one you have up on your computer monitor... Every time he got near me, he stared at my rings. I was afraid he was going to try to rip them off my fingers." She leaned closer, "And I saw him bump into that nice Mr. McDonald as he was leaving the ship."
"Did you now?" Spike asked curiously.
"Yes, and I must say there was enough room he shouldn't have had to walk into anyone." She paused for a moment before continuing, "Why, it wouldn't surprise me if he was trying to use a hypodermic on him. You know, like they do in the movies." She made a jabbing motion.
"I don't think..." Angel started before being cut off.
"That man is a brute, I tell you," she continued indignantly. "Why when my niece used to bring him to the house when she was in high school, I could never leave them alone. I thought I'd be robbed blind if I did."
"Your niece?" Spike asked.
"Darla Chambers. Her mother and father gambled and drank their half of the family fortune away, and I agreed to look after Darla until she graduated from high school." The woman was silent for a moment. "I did try to get her to continue her education, but she'd have none of it. I guess working for a living wasn't what she had in mind. I tell you, the girl is nothing but a gold digger... and trouble. I'll never understand how she got that nice Mr. Giles to let her stay in his mansion." She shook her head sadly. "An attractive figure and a pretty face, and men lose all common sense. Take Nemesis, for example. Maggie should put a woman on the case... maybe that girl that showed me in here. A level headed woman would surely have her in custody by now."
"Yes," Angel placated, "but do you have any more information on Lindsey?"
She looked up, sharp gray eyes studying him before she shook her head. "As I said, I have a knack for reading people, Mr. O'Connor, and I'm telling you, there were a lot of unsavory people on that ship." She tapped a finger on the table. "That man, for instance... Reginald Snyder... He runs a strip club." She leaned toward the agents. "It was rumored a few years ago he was using underage girls and serving liquor to minors. Why, not more than two months ago, he was in the paper for tax evasion. Not the sort of people I would normally want to associate with."
Silence fell before she slapped her ringed hand lightly on the table. "And that Anya Dickerson... that reporter for 'The Gabby Gossip'... Do you know she had the nerve to tell me about a pair of *shoes* she felt Nemesis should steal?" She rolled her eyes before scowling. "What sort of person would advocate cheering on a thief?" She sniffed and held her hand out in front of her, the rubies, emeralds, diamonds, and sapphires flashing in the light. "Not to mention, why would anyone want shoes when *my* jewelry is so much better?" She paused for a moment as she studied her hand before looking back up at them. "And Nemesis evidently agrees, since it was my broach she stole." She puffed up smugly before getting to her feet. "Now I must go talk to the agents in charge of getting my broach back... Unless," she looked at them curiously, "you'd like to question me?"
"Uh... no," Spike spoke up. "Not at this time."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of paper before quickly penning off her number and pushing it toward them. "If you need any more information, I'll be more than happy to help if I can."
"Thank you," Angel responded with a faint smile.
"You're welcome," she murmured before turning to let herself out the door. It clicked softly behind her and silence enveloped the room.
"Well..." Spike murmured.
Angel rubbed at his forehead before giving a shake of his head and sighing. "I think we'd better get back to the flash drives... don't you?"
Spike absently tapped a pencil on the table as he nodded. It was a couple of hours later when he'd switched to a camera in a different corridor, that he frowned, hit pause, and glanced at his partner uncertainly. "Angel."
"Hmmm?"
"I think you should see this."
Angel glanced up and tensed as he looked at the screen Spike had been watching. It showed Buffy opening the door to her room with Luke Perry behind her. "When?" he asked quietly.
"Four forty-five pm," Spike said quietly, "on the day Linds disappeared." Angel's eyes shot to his, and Spike sighed and leaned back in his chair. "It could be innocent."
Angel scowled. "Play it and let's see." Spike hit play, and they watched Buffy and Luke disappear into her room, the door closing behind them.
Minutes passed without Luke reemerging, and when he did, a little over two hours had passed. "Angel..." Spike started before breaking off when his partner turned to look at him.
The brunette shrugged. "It's alright. It's not like we're exclusive or anything," he tried to brush it off, even though Spike could see the hurt in his eyes.
"Don't you think it's odd that this happened the night Lindsey disappeared, and the next morning Buffy looked like she hadn't slept and told you she was suffering from food poisoning?"
"Maybe she was trying to get rid of me."
Spike snorted. Women didn't try to get rid of Angel. For some reason unknown to him, they seemed to flock to him. He glanced back at the screen. "Maybe he saw something that made him think he could blackmail her."
Angel glanced at Spike curiously. "You mean like her stealing the broach, or breaking into one of our rooms?"
"Yeah... or maybe she has something on him."
Silence fell, and the brunette slowly shifted back into his chair. "He was in her room for two hours, Spike. I'm not sure that screams blackmail."
"Yes, but you said she looked like she had a rough night," Spike stated. "I think she could know a lot more about what happened to Lindsey than she's telling us."
Angel scowled before giving a shake of his head. "I know we can't rule anything out... and I'm not, but I'm having a hard time believing either Buffy or Nemesis could have murdered Lindsey."
"For what it's worth, I have trouble with it too. I mean, Buffy could be Nemesis, but I don't see her as a killer." Spike settled back in his chair thoughtfully. They'd spent the last three days looking through the Summer Wind's videos, and the videos had clearly shown Lindsey leaving the ship, and just as clearly shown that he never re-boarded. He sighed and ran a hand roughly across the back of his neck. "I suppose we could grab some lunch and try to find out all we can about Perry?"
Angel nodded and got to his feet before finding himself back at his desk 35 minutes later as he read through Luke's rap sheet.
"Looks like he's been straight for the last seven years," he murmured before taking a sip of coffee.
Spike nodded and leaned back in his chair. "And now he's 32 and running The Lucky Dollar Casino."
"Looks like it," Angel agreed, "and both Perry and Snyder run businesses owned by High Expectations Inc." Silence fell before Angel glanced at his watch and turned to his partner. "Want to talk to him?"
"Yeah."
The brunette nodded. "Give me 5 minutes, and I'll be ready to go."
Riley looked up when several flash drives in labeled plastic bags were placed on his desk and turned away from his keyboard when Angel pulled up a chair and made himself comfortable. "What?" he asked.
"How long have you known Buffy?"
He snorted before settling back into his chair. "I've known her since middle school. We dated in seventh grade," Riley leaned forward, "and I can tell you, she's not Nemesis."
Angel studied him. "I suppose you know Pike as well?"
The blonde leaned back. "Sure. He moved to town when we were in eighth grade."
"And do you know Luke Perry?"
Riley frowned before digging through some of the papers on his desk. "Perry graduated a few years before I did, so I don't know a lot..." he broke off and glanced at his paper before looking up at Angel. "What about him?"
"We have him on video with Buffy."
"With Buffy?" Riley asked.
Angel nodded. "He spent two hours in her room on the night Lindsey disappeared."
Riley scowled. Buffy was too naive to be dating someone like Luke Perry, at least if what Mrs. Whitaker had told him was true. "He's trying to take advantage of her... probably after her money," Riley stated coolly. "I'll talk to her about him."
Angel kept his expression neutral. Any hope he'd had that Riley could explain away the two hours Buffy and Luke had spent in her room as old friends were quickly dashed. He dropped his eyes for a moment before roughly rubbing a hand across his forehead. "We've also got Darla, Reginald Snyder, and Luke Perry going into Perry's room around 11:30 the same night."
Riley's eyes sharpened. "Reginald Snyder's the guy they accused of tax fraud a couple of months ago, right?"
"Yeah. It's an interesting group."
"It is," Riley agreed. "Except Buffy doesn't belong in it."
Silence fell, and Angel slowly got to his feet. "There's one more thing," the brunette stated quietly. "We've got video of Lindsey getting off the ship in Puerto Vallarta, and Luke Perry bumping into him. It looks like Perry might have given him a note."
Riley tapped a pen on his desk, his eyes cool as they met Angel's. "Nemesis doesn't work alone. Maybe she's finally starting to tip her hand."
"Maybe," Angel agreed quietly as he moved away from the other agent's desk. It was entirely possible Riley was right about Nemesis having allies, although he and Spike hadn't worked too hard on that aspect. Of course, the only person that kept coming up when they'd worked the case was Darla.
He gave a troubled frown as he slid into his coat. Out of all the hours of video he and Spike had looked through, they hadn't found any evidence that Darla and Buffy had even talked during the cruise, much less been partners in crime. In fact, the only link they had between the two blondes was Luke... and Luke had bumped into Lindsey, and Lindsey had disappeared.
Luke Perry looked up when the FBI agents entered his office before leaning back in his chair and looking at the man that had escorted them in.
"They have badges," Adam stated apologetically.
"It's fine." Luke got to his feet. "How can I help you gentlemen?"
"We're just talking to some of the passengers that were on the Summer Wind," Spike answered casually before his sharp blue eyes locked with Luke's. "I suppose you know there was a disappearance?"
"Yes."
"We think it might be connected to another case that's being investigated," Angel spoke up.
"Nemesis perhaps?" Luke asked with a hint of amusement before giving a shake of his head. "I wish I could help you, but I don't know anything about either case... I mean, you hear things, but it's all speculation."
"Speculation?" Angel asked. "Like what?"
"Just people's thoughts. For instance, the other day, there were a couple of men in here that suggested Nemesis doesn't need money. I mean, look at the items she steals... It's not like she's going to be able to fence them for fast cash."
Spike nodded. "Makes sense... but we're here more about our friend's disappearance. His name's Lindsey McDonald." Spike pulled a picture of Lindsey out of his pocket and held it up. "Do you know him?"
"No, although I think I saw him on the ship," Luke murmured. "I take it you think Nemesis took him out?"
Angel ignored the question. "Do you know Buffy Summers?"
He laughed softly, but his eyes narrowed. "I know a lot of women, but I don't always get their names."
"And do you know Darla Chambers?" Spike asked as he saw the look that crossed Angel's face.
"I know her." Luke shrugged before giving a smile. "I guess you could say I have a thing for blondes. And speaking of that... I bet Nemesis would be a hot little thing in bed."
Angel's eyes glinted before he gave a cool smile. "What makes you think she's blonde?"
"Just a hunch." Luke gave a slow smile before appearing to sober. "I wish I could help more, but I don't have much to give you."
"Well, if you think of anything," Angel dropped a card on Luke's desk, "let us know... and if we need to talk to you again, we'll be back," he almost threatened.
Luke smiled as he watched them leave.
It had been five years since Ethan and Jenny had discounted the blackmail notes stating they would be turned in to the cops if they didn't pay. Giles frowned from his place at the window. They'd been careful. There were just a few people they trusted... and only five who knew about the elaborate vault hidden below ground. Surprisingly, or maybe not, the cops had never found out about the vault. Jenny had been pulling a robbery at the time of her arrest, and Ethan had come under suspicion when his apartment was searched and the cops found his lock picking tools, gloves, mask, and a diamond necklace that had recently been stolen from a Ms. Jennings. The problem was, Ethan hadn't stolen it... it was a setup, and all because they hadn't paid.
Giles shifted restlessly as he thought about the past. At the time, he'd wanted nothing more than to make the blackmailers pay, and he'd thought having Darla move in with him might bring them to his door... No one had ever gone after her though, and now he knew why. She'd been in on it. His eyes narrowed as he heard her come down the stairs before listening to the front door open and close. There was the sound of an engine starting, and he watched as her little red car headed down the driveway.
He slid on thin cotton gloves before heading toward her room and the large walk-in closet that was there. The small box Buffy had given him was in his pocket, and he pulled it out before carefully pinning Mrs. Whitaker's broach to the collar of Darla's mink wrap. He had to admit Buffy had been right. The plush fur pushed through the intricate design, almost totally hiding the beautiful old piece of jewelry.
He adjusted the clothes in the closet before turning to leave the room. Darla always wore that wrap on special occasions, maybe Buffy's plan would work after all.
Maggie Walsh took a sip of wine before walking to the refrigerator and starting to pull out the vegetables she'd stored in the crisper. The doorbell rang, and she frowned before going to answer it. "Hello, Mrs. Winthrop," she greeted politely.
"Hello, Maggie. I'm sorry to be bothering you, but would you mind if I came in for a minute?"
"Of course," Maggie opened the door, and the older woman came in. "Please have a seat," she offered as she moved to sit across from her.
"Thank you," the 75 year old murmured as she sat down and neatly adjusted her skirt before looking up. "As you know, the girls in my quilting circle have decided to try to be proactive in stopping crime in Los Angeles."
Maggie nodded politely. Aside from it seeming a little strange to her, she was well aware the women were offering rewards for the conviction of criminals in certain crimes.
"Well, we were offering a twenty-five thousand dollar reward for the Green Mask Bandit's capture... and didn't have a chance to pay it out before the case was solved." The woman shook her head, her expression serious as she met Maggie's eyes. "Killing those two teenagers... I do hope he's never free again."
"As do I," Maggie agreed.
"Well..." The woman snapped open her purse and pulled out a crisp white envelope before closing it again and handing it across to her. "We'll have to wait and see... but in the meantime, we wanted to show our appreciation for the law enforcement that got that man off the street." She smiled and leaned slightly forward as if imparting a secret. "We thought you might enjoy a ticket to the grand opening of Giselle... you, and the two young men that apprehended that horrible man."
Maggie lifted an eyebrow as she set the envelope on the coffee table. *She* would enjoy it, but she didn't think Pryce or O'Connor would. "Thank you, Mrs. Winthrop," she murmured graciously. "I'm sure they will be delighted."
Connie Winthrop beamed as she gripped her purse. "In addition, we've decided to take the reward we were offering for the Bandit and use it to help find that young man who's missing."
"Lindsey McDonald?" Walsh questioned.
"Yes. Such a tragedy." She clucked quietly as she shook her head in regret before looking up at Maggie. "We do hope he's found alive."
"As we all do," she agreed.
Mrs. Winthrop got to her feet. "Well, I won't bother you any longer."
Maggie murmured the appropriate responses as she walked the other woman to the door. When she closed it behind her, she turned back to look over her living room thoughtfully. The reward for information on Lindsey was much appreciated, but the tickets to Giselle, she was pretty sure, would not be by her two agents. Her eyes narrowed as she walked back to the kitchen. Like it or not, they'd go. She wasn't going to take a chance on alienating the Los Angeles elites.
Buffy opened the door and frowned at the well-bundled man standing in the doorway, the scarf he was wearing obscuring the lower part of his face. "Can I help you?"
He leaned toward her with exaggerated caution. "Long time no see... Nemesis."
Her eyes widened before she shifted back to let him in. "What are you doing here? And... that's not funny."
Giving up his charade, Lindsey sighed as he walked into her living room. "Sorry. I couldn't stay away. Bernake didn't want me to come, but I thought you might need some help." He turned to her and gave a casual shrug. "I guess I'm taking it kind of personal since there are guys out there that wanted me dead.
Buffy hesitated, her hand still on the doorknob before she slowly turned to face him. He was alive... and in front of her, and she couldn't stop the relief that she felt. "God Linds..." she shook her head. "I could have killed you."
"You didn't," he stressed quietly and watched as she gave a slow nod and tucked hair behind her ear before looking at him cautiously.
"What um... what are your plans?" she asked.
"I don't really have any. I mean, I stopped off at my apartment and picked up some clothes, cash, and my spare gun... but other than that..." he broke off and dropped his duffel on the floor, loosened the scarf around his neck, took off his hat... put his sunglasses on the coffee table. "I just wanted to be around in case you needed help. I know you could have Angel, Spike, and Riley for backup if you asked them. But I was hoping you'd let me stay a little closer in case Snyder's group figures out you're not Nemesis." He paused and looked at her carefully. "You're not are you?"
"No." Buffy sat on the sofa and stared at the floor. "I don't know how they got that idea."
"Angel and Spike think you could be."
She looked up and did her best to look startled. "Why?"
Lindsey studied her before shrugging. "I guess it's just that you fit her description pretty well."
Buffy dropped her eyes to the newspaper on the coffee table and wondered why they were so certain Nemesis was either her or Darla. It didn't really matter, having Darla's name on the list more than suited her. "How long have you been back?" she asked as she reached for the paper and held it out.
"Just today," he answered as he took the paper and looked at it. The headline got his attention, and he gave a low whistle as he skimmed the article about the riddle Nemesis had left for the FBI, and how they thought it meant the bracelet would be stolen on the night of the summer solstice. Of course, he already knew about it, but Buffy didn't need to know that. Part of the reason he'd picked this time to come back to L.A. was so he'd be around when Nemesis tried for the bracelet. "What's the plan?"
Her eyes slowly lit with warmth as she studied him. "Riley wants to put her in jail."
"Funny," he murmured as his gaze slid to hers, "but I meant, what do you intend to do tomorrow night?"
Buffy shrugged. "I thought I might try to find a date."
"Does Angel know?"
The look she gave him was unreadable. "If he thinks I'm Nemesis, why would he care?"
Lindsey snorted. "From the way he was watching you dance at The Dive? Trust me, I think he'd care." Buffy met his eyes without replying, and he sighed. "Well... If you're set on a date tomorrow night, maybe I could take you out? It seems like the least I can do for my new partner."
She raised an eyebrow. "We're partners?"
"My life was in your hands," he answered. "I think that's close enough to partners for me."
"And how many people know you're back?"
"You, me, and Bernanke."
"That's all?"
"Yes. Bernanke thinks, and I agree with him, that it's best if I lay low right now. I'd just be a walking target, and I'd hate it if they tried to find you a new victim to shoot."
She studied him before making up her mind and slowly getting to her feet. "I take it you need a place to stay?"
He grinned as he picked up his duffel. "Are you offering?"
"Are you kidding?" she asked as she started toward the stairs with a frown he couldn't see. "With everything that's going on, having an FBI agent around might not be a bad thing."
Penn shuffled through the corridor, his hands cuffed. The guard beside him ordered him to stop before opening a door and motioning him through. He took a couple of steps into the room before turning away. "I want to go back to my cell," he stated coolly.
"We want Nemesis," Angel spoke up from where he was sitting at the interrogation table. "We're not here for anything else."
Penn turned back with a sly look. "What's in it for me?"
"The bullets taken out of those teenagers came from your gun," Spike told him. "If you're found guilty of murder, the death penalty will be on the table." The room went silent before he added, "We can take it off the table."
Penn hesitated before slowly walking over to sit down. He hated Buffy Summers. If it was up to him, he'd turn her over to them in a heartbeat... or at least after getting the best deal he could get... but Lilah had warned him that the boss wanted her identity kept quiet. She was working for them now and was off limits for retaliation. Still, it wouldn't hurt to hear what they had to say. "I need more."
Angel lifted an eyebrow. "Like what?"
Penn took a moment before leaning forward. "I can give you Nemesis, but I need my freedom... and protection from..." he broke off and sat back silently cursing himself for almost saying too much. He knew his bosses would kill him in a second for turning on them.
"Protection from?" Spike prodded.
Silence fell, and when it became clear Penn wasn't going to answer, Angel set back in his chair. "We don't have the authority to do that."
"Then I guess we're done." Penn got to his feet and hesitated. If he couldn't tell them what they wanted to know, maybe he could at least give them something to chew on. "You might think Nemesis isn't dangerous, but that doesn't mean people won't turn up dead." He met their eyes before walking to the door with satisfaction. Maybe they would get lucky and catch her on a job, and maybe he'd planted enough doubt in their minds that they'd shoot first and ask questions later.
"Riley," Buffy loudly greeted her visitor before inviting him, and the man with him, in the next morning. "What a nice surprise." She closed the door and turned to look over the living room that Lindsey had just managed to get out of.
"Buffy... this is Xander," he introduced the smiling brunette beside him. "He's working on Nemesis's case with me."
Buffy looked up with a smile. "Nice to..."
"Buff..." Riley broke in, "the note Nemesis gave us said she'd be here sometime tonight."
"Alright," Buffy started slowly. "And you want me to disappear so you guys can work?"
"That's probably best," he agreed. "This woman could be dangerous." He glanced over the living room before turning back to her. "Would you mind if we look around a little?"
"Go ahead," she offered and watched as Riley pulled out a small notepad and began counting the windows. She grinned before turning to Xander and holding out her hand. "I'm Buffy."
He smiled as he shook it. "Xander."
Riley made a notation before glancing at his partner. "We need to make sure we have surveillance all the way around the house... and we need to either lock the windows or put some kind of tripwires on them." He looked thoughtful before starting to look over the rest of the house, and Xander gave Buffy a smile and nod before following him.
A short time later, she was pulling Lindsey out of the closet and out the front door.
Spike tossed an empty potato chip bag into the back seat and met Angel's annoyed glance with a taunting smile before running a hand through his hair restlessly. "I need caffeine." He looked at his watch. "I think there's a little shop two or three miles back. Care to make a coffee run?"
Angel glanced into the rearview mirror as lights splashed across the car. The Buick continued down the road, and he glanced back at his partner as he weighed his options. On one hand, Nemesis was supposed to steal Buffy's bracelet tonight. On the other hand, it could be several hours, and they weren't officially working the case. "Alright... but don't drag your feet. I want to be here when she shows up."
"Won't even take 20 minutes," Spike promised as Angel started the car and eased it off the shoulder of the road and toward the little shop a few blocks away.
"So... " Spike started, "Any thoughts about where our girl's at?"
"Buffy?" The brunette glanced at him with a faint scowl before turning back to the road. "I don't know... but Riley probably does, at least she's probably told him something."
Spike nodded as he stared out the window before giving a shake of his head. "She surely knows we'll check her story, and she can't be in two places at once. If that bracelet disappears and she's got an alibi, I'd say we might be looking at the wrong girl."
"Unless she really does have an accomplice that's willing to do more than drive by a crime scene."
"Well... yeah, but the videos we have of Nemesis seem to show the same girl."
Silence fell for a few minutes, and Angel pulled into the gas station and parked before joining his partner when he entered the shop. Spike went to get a bag of potato chips, and Angel walked to the counter and ordered a couple of sandwiches before beginning to fill a couple of cups with coffee.
"You're O'Connor and Pryce, right?" Jonathan asked as he looked at the two agents he'd seen in the newspapers before scooping up a large spoonful of cooked meat and putting it on a bun. A moment later, he wrapped the first sandwich and started on the second.
"Yeah," Spike answered curiously. "I guess we're getting pretty well known, huh?"
"You make the front page enough, it happens," Jonathan answered as he wrapped the second sandwich before taking a quick total of the items on the counter and writing it down.
"So," Angel started as he looked at the clerk with a frown, "what do we owe you?"
"Nothing." Jonathan looked up. "Buffy thought you might be in tonight and wanted to cover your tab."
Spike snorted with amusement as Angel looked at the clerk with a faint scowl. "Thanks. Tell her we appreciate it." He picked up a coffee and one of the sandwiches before heading for the door.
Buffy smiled at Lindsey as he swept her around the dance floor before glancing over to where Maggie Walsh had just come in with Rupert Giles. The head of the L.A. branch of the FBI looked like she was having a good time, and Buffy turned back to her dancing partner with a blinding smile.
"What's caught your interest?" he asked before looking behind him at the couple that had just entered and tensing. "Damn it," he hissed as he noticed who she was looking at. "We've got to get out of here."
"No, we don't," Buffy assured as she tightened her hold. "I don't even think your mother would recognize you." Her eyes gleamed with amusement as she leaned slightly closer. "You'll have to show me how to disguise myself someday. It'll come in handy for the annual masquerade ball."
He frowned but nodded. "Alright. And I guess as long as she doesn't get too close, she won't recognize me."
"That's the spirit," Buffy encouraged before the dance ended, and she headed back to their table as her partner turned toward the men's room.
"Buffy, is that you?" The call came as she neared her table, and Buffy turned with seeming surprise to the couple now seated a couple of tables away.
"Mr. Giles?" She gave him a warm smile. "It's been a while."
"It has," he agreed with a smile as Buffy turned toward his companion.
"Hello, Ms. Walsh."
"Ms. Summers," the brunette acknowledged with a brief nod. "I hope everything goes well tonight."
"I'm sure it will," she responded as she looked over to see Lindsey heading toward their table. She turned back. "Well, I'll let you two get back to your evening. It was nice to see you again, Mr. Giles, Ms. Walsh." She bobbed her head and listened as they murmured replies before heading back to her table.
A few minutes later, she and Lindsey casually left the restaurant.
"So what now?"
The blonde glanced at her watch. It was ten. "Riley might not like it, but I think I'll head home and see if my bracelet's still there," she murmured. "I mean, it's not every day Nemesis threatens to break into your house." She turned to him with a smile. "And I want to thank you for the date."
"Don't mention it," he told her with a devilish grin. "I'm here to help."
Her smile was bright, her eyes glittering as she opened her car door before sliding in. "And I appreciate it. Hopefully, our date will get me off Angel and Spike's suspect list."
Lindsey snorted. "I'm pretty sure you're on more than one of O'Connor's lists," he teased before turning serious. "You'll give me a call if anything happens, won't you?"
"Yeah. Holiday Inn, room 125. Roger Hendricks, right?"
"Right."
"And I'll let you know when the coast is clear."
"See you, Buffy."
"Yeah," she answered as she watched him turn to walk across the parking lot before beginning to work with her seat belt. So far, so good.
It was 10:30 when Buffy pulled into the drive of a garage on the edge of her property. It was all that remained of an old farmhouse that used to sit there, and she hadn't wasted any time in putting it to good use. The construction company she'd hired hadn't had a problem with accepting bribes to keep certain information from city hall.
She got out of her car and used the keypad to turn off the alarm system before opening the door and walking past the sporty little midnight blue car inside. There were stairs to her right, and she turned off another alarm system before heading into the half mile long tunnel that connected her house to the shed.
As far as jobs went, this was one of the least challenging. Not with the secret passages she had in her house... but... she couldn't help but grin as she thought about what the newspapers would report.
Riley frowned as he glanced at the clock before getting to his feet and starting to pace. "It's 10:40. She's got to be coming any minute."
Xander nodded as he leaned back against the sofa. "I know, but I checked with the police about fifteen minutes ago and they hadn't seen or heard anything."
Silence fell, and Riley ran a hand through his hair and glanced at the bracelet before giving a shake of his head and walking across the room. "We should have followed Darla Chambers around all night, and that bracelet wouldn't have been safer," he muttered.
Xander looked up at where Riley was standing near the window. "There's no way anyone can get that bracelet. There are cops on all sides of the house, and Angel and Spike are watching the road."
Riley turned before walking over to take a seat across from Xander. "O'Connor and Pryce are here?"
"Yeah... unofficially. I guess they don't want to let this case go."
The blonde rolled his eyes before rubbing his forehead. "I guess we'll have to look into Lindsey's disappearance *after* we arrest Nemesis."
A noise came from upstairs, and Xander looked at Riley before pulling his gun. "You're staying here right?" the brunette asked as he headed toward the staircase.
"I'm not leaving this room," Riley answered as he drew a gun and glanced over the living room, the windows... the entranceways. It was quiet, and he turned to watch Xander disappear up the staircase before taking a couple of steps toward the stairs and waiting.
Quiet steps sounded a couple of minutes later, and Xander reappeared as he walked down the stairs. "There's no one up there." He gave a puzzled shake of his head before walking over to his partner and looking down at the coffee table where the bracelet had been on. "You've got the bracelet right?"
"It's on the table," Riley answered before turning to look at it and staring with disbelief when he realized it was gone.
It was past midnight when Lindsey got out of the car he'd rented and hurried through the light rain and into the hotel room before firmly closing the door behind him. It had taken about half an hour to get back to Buffy's house after leaving the restaurant, and he'd easily blended in with the group of reporters that were camped across from her driveway. He'd had a clear view when Buffy had shown up about half an hour later, looking like she'd just stepped out of the restaurant.
He peeled off his coat and dropped it over the back of a chair before going into the bathroom and quickly shedding his damp clothes. A moment later, he turned on the water for a shower and checked the temperature before stepping in.
Spike and Angel had been easy to spot. They'd been staked out a few yards from Buffy's drive, and he'd watched as Buffy stopped to talk to them when she got back to the house.
He scowled as he tore the paper wrapping off the soap before tossing it into the trash bucket as little droplets of water hit the white tile floor.
He didn't see how Buffy could have pulled off the robbery tonight, but that didn't mean she couldn't have an accomplice. As much as he was beginning to like her, he couldn't forget that Spike, Angel, Darla, Luke, and Snyder all thought she was, or could be Nemesis. His eyes narrowed as he worked the soap over his skin.
And then there was Darla, who'd driven past the Marlowe's in a 1967 Plymouth GTX convertible on the night the painting was stolen. And that brought up the question that if Darla and Buffy were working together, why had she held a gun to Buffy's head in Mexico? None of it added up, and Lindsey scowled before shaking his head. It was just a matter of time before people started going to jail.
Angel walked into HQ before abruptly stopping when the door to the briefing room was thrown open. "I don't believe it," Alexander Harris stated as he followed his new partner out of the room.
"I can tell you one thing, she's not getting away with this," Riley answered as he stormed toward his desk.
"Finn! Harris! In my office now," Walsh's voice rang out as she opened her office door. "You too, Pryce," she added when she noticed him reading a newspaper at his desk.
Angel didn't move a muscle as she disappeared back inside, and Spike looked up and scowled when he saw his partner standing unnoticed just inside the door. He got to his feet and made his way to Angel before slapping the newspaper against his chest. "Front cover mate. It's the main story. And," he added with a dark look, "you owe me for not telling Walsh you're here."
Angel smirked as he took the paper before watching Spike disappear into Walsh's office. A moment later, he glanced at the headline.
~~~Nemesis Strikes Again
He frowned as he took that in thoughtfully. The bracelet had just been stolen 8 hours ago. Evidently, the paper had some inside information... Hell, for all he knew, Nemesis might have written the article and sent it to them for publication. Irritation ran through him before he started to read.
~~In a move that would have made Houdini proud, Nemesis seemingly used her magic to make a valuable diamond bracelet disappear. Local law enforcement, as well as FBI agents, were waiting for the small thief to make an appearance after the lady in question sent out letters stating she would steal the bracelet on Thursday night. Thinking it would be the perfect time to catch the woman some think of as a real life Catwoman, some of L.A.'s finest gathered to protect the diamond encrusted jewelry.
No one was expecting the fashionable thief to steal the bracelet while law enforcement was in the same room, though, or that she would leave a video showing the jewelry dancing through thin air as it floated off camera and out of law enforcement's hands. ~~
Angel raised an eyebrow but looked up quickly when Walsh's door opened once more and Spike stepped out before turning to look back into the room. "Yeah, Finn. You do that. I'm sure Ms. Chambers will understand." With a shake of his head, Spike closed the door and walked over to Angel. "Walsh is in her usual good humor this morning," he murmured before scowling. "You owe me for making me go in there alone."
Angel chuckled before sobering. "How bad was it?"
"Well, she took most of her frustration out on Finn and Harris, but she wasn't happy the bracelet was stolen with *four* FBI agents on the scene."
"Yeah," Angel started, "but the reporters were in the best locations. We couldn't even see the house."
"I mentioned that," Spike broke in, "and she was not amused." He studied Angel before holding up a flash drive. "She's letting us work on Nemesis's case as long as we have good reason to believe Lindsey's disappearance is connected."
Angel nodded. "What about Finn and Harris?"
He shrugged. "Finn's not happy. But she feels four of us might be able to get something accomplished."
Angel scowled but motioned to the flash drive. "And that's got Nemesis's magic act on it?"
"Yeah," Spike answered, "and I'm dying to see it."
"Me too," Angel agreed as they headed for the briefing room.
The video they were watching showed Xander and Riley with the bracelet on the table. Seconds went by before there was a thud from upstairs, and they watched Xander head for the staircase as Riley stayed in the room. Silence fell, and suddenly the bracelet jerked, the diamonds flashing in the light as the ends swung in the air.
Angel cursed softly as Spike leaned closer to the screen. "What the hell?" he murmured as the bracelet seemed to levitate out of sight of the camera.
"That's not..." Angel broke off. "Hook wire?"
"It'd almost have to be." Spike backed up the video before hitting play, and both agents leaned closer as the bracelet started to move again. "I just don't see it."
"I'm not sure. Maybe there." Angel hit pause and studied the screen.
Spike gave a shake of his head before leaning back in his chair. "How she did it isn't as important as how she got into the house to begin with." Silence fell as Spike tapped a finger on the table. "And I don't see how Buffy could be involved."
"Not with her story of being at a restaurant from 9:15 until 10, and then driving out of her way a few blocks to kill time... I mean, unless there's another gate," Angel answered.
"Even if there were, Riley had cops stationed all the way around the house."
"I don't know..." Angel finally murmured, "but unless Nemesis was already in the house when the cops got there, she had to get in some way."
"From what I understand, Finn and Harris searched every square inch of the place before and after the theft." Spike hesitated before giving a shake of his head. "I'm not sure Riley's going to have an easier time living this down than we did when she stole your car."
Angel frowned before snorting. "Who would have thought one or two women could make *all* of us look like fools?"
Spike absently stretched the kink out of his shoulder. "When we catch her, we'll have to ask."
The door opened and Xander walked in. "Please tell me you guys are going to help look through the videos from last night," he almost pleaded as he walked over to take a seat.
Angel raised an eyebrow. "We've seen the one of her stealing the bracelet. How many more are there?"
"There were four cameras," Xander stated. "Two were on the bracelet, one was on the doorway leading to the kitchen, and the other was filming the stairway."
Spike gave a low whistle. "We ought to get something out of that."
Angel nodded thoughtfully before turning curiously back to Xander. "Where's Riley?"
"He wants to find out if Darla Chambers has an alibi."
Spike snorted. "I'm surprised Walsh is allowing it."
"She's not happy about it, but he's under strict orders *not* to bring her in," Xander answered pointedly.
Spike rolled his eyes and shot a glance at Angel before all three of them settled down to watch videos.
They were still watching monitors when Riley got back 3 hours later. "How'd it go?" Xander asked as he gratefully paused the video he was watching.
Riley snorted. "She said she was at Willy's bar until 10 before driving back to her house and going to bed.
"Was she?" Xander asked.
"Yeah, but they don't have surveillance cameras, and the bartender couldn't tell me for sure when she left." He hesitated before shrugging. "Even if her story checked out, the bracelet wasn't stolen until close to 11."
"Yeah," Spike spoke up, "but if she was at the bar until 10, how could she have made it to Buffy's house, gotten past the cops, and stolen the bracelet by 11?"
Silence fell, and Angel leaned back in his chair thoughtfully. "It doesn't seem possible," he murmured before looking at Spike. "Let's say you're parked outside of a house surrounded by cops and need to get in without being seen... How would you do it?"
"You couldn't," Riley answered with irritation. "Which is just more proof she's got an accomplice."
"Maybe," Spike agreed, "but how did anyone get into her house? I mean, you searched it before the cops got there, so how did they get in?"
"We missed something," Riley answered with a shake of his head. "I should have had Buffy go through the place with us, but I kicked her out thinking she'd get in the way."
Spike raised an eyebrow before looking at Angel, who was looking at Riley with an unreadable expression. Spike smirked. "Kicking her out wouldn't even have entered our minds, would it have Angel? We probably would have invited her to keep us company."
"You need to be 'by the book' and methodical to catch someone like Nemesis, and Buffy doesn't make the cut," Riley answered before hesitating. "I always had to remind her to study for tests in high school... and help her remember to get her homework done on time." He snorted. "She'd probably be more interested in asking Nemesis how she was pulling off her robberies than putting her in jail."
"Well, I have to admit I'm curious about that as well," Spike answered.
"And we'll ask her," Riley informed as he sat down and punched the button to start the video playing, "*after* we've read her her rights."
It was almost four when they tiredly shut off their screens, and Spike sighed as he looked at his watch. "I guess we'll have to wait and see if forensics comes up with anything, but in the meantime," he looked at Angel before getting to his feet, "we've got a very boring night ahead of us that starts in about three and a half hours."
"Right," Angel agreed as he thought about the performance of Giselle Walsh was ordering them to attend. He got to his feet before picking up his coat. "It's a dress-up event isn't it?"
"I'd say that's a given," Spike agreed grimly.
"Wait," Riley broke in. "Are you going to watch Giselle?"
"Yeah," Angel answered.
"Buff and I are going as well," he murmured as he absently rubbed the back of his neck. "It should be a nice break from watching videos."
They all watched Riley leave before Xander turned back to the two agents still in the room. "You're going with Walsh, right?" They nodded, and Xander laughed. "Better you than me."
They scowled, and his grin widened before he left.
Buffy walked into The Gala about 40 minutes before the show started, and grinned at the very detailed man waiting to take her coat.
"Hello, Ms. Summers," Manuel greeted as she handed him her jacket and he carefully smoothed it over a hanger, taking pains to remove any wrinkles he'd made in the fabric. "It looks like it's going to be a full house tonight."
"So it appears," she agreed as she looked over the people moving sociably around the auditorium lobby. Her eyes sparked with interest when she noticed Angel making his way toward her before she turned back to accept the small plastic claiming number for her coat. "Has Ms. Chambers arrived yet?"
"No. I believe she strictly ascribes to the 'fashionably late' rule."
Buffy watched him carry her coat into the back room before giving a slight nod. "I'm counting on it," she murmured before turning to look at the FBI agent that had stopped a couple of feet away from her. "Angel... I didn't know you liked opera."
"I don't, and Spike," he motioned to where his partner was standing with Maggie Walsh, "likes it less."
She glanced at Angel's frowning partner before turning back to the brunette. "You're under orders to be here?"
He gave a faint smile. "Walsh wants to improve our image."
Buffy's eyes sparkled for a moment before she turned serious. "Are you having any luck with Lindsey's case?"
Quick brown eyes flew to hers, but he only shrugged. "It's just a matter of time before we find out what happened. Stealing's one thing, Buffy, but murder's entirely different."
She didn't miss the warning. They were going to watch her. But Lindsey was alive, and she couldn't help but enjoy this new game.
"Bloody hell," Spike broke in as he walked over. "You just walked off and left me with Walsh?" His eyes trailed to Buffy. "But I do see the attraction," he murmured. "You look lovely tonight."
"You look good too," she stated before looking at Angel. "You both do. I'd say Ms. Walsh is a very lucky lady to have 2 handsome men to keep her company tonight." It was too close to what Nemesis had told them about it being 2 to 1, and they both looked at her suspiciously. She smiled back before glancing at her watch. "Speaking of dates... Have you guys seen Riley? He's supposed to meet me here."
"He just came in," Spike answered as he glanced over her head and toward the door.
"Thanks," she murmured as she turned to walk away before turning back after a couple of steps. "Hope you enjoy the show."
"Right," Angel agreed as she walked off.
"Maybe we should ask Finn to examine her thigh," Spike murmured as he watched her move toward the tall blonde. Angel turned to him, and Spike held up his hands. "Hey... I can't help it if he seems more interested than you do."
"It's not that Spike and you know it," the brunette hissed quietly.
"Mr. Pryce... Mr. O'Connor," Walsh greeted coolly as she joined them. "I believe we should find our seats."
"Of course," Angel answered as Spike nodded.
Manuel gave his usual smile and greeting to the blonde that was pushing her coat across the counter, and she eyed him with annoyance as her carefully manicured nails tapped out a rhythm. "I'm a little later than intended," Darla informed coolly. "Would you mind hurrying a little?"
"Oh... certainly," he laid the wrap across a chair before producing another plastic tag, and the blonde snatched it before quickly moving to find her seat.
He shook his head as he watched her. Such a lovely young woman. It was a shame her personality was so abrasive. He picked up the mink and slid it onto a hanger, making sure to adjust the lavish collar. His fingers brushed something hard and he peered down at it curiously. His eyes widened when he made out the intricate broach buried in the fur.
Angel watched as the woman on stage ran lightly across it, her gown and the wispy scarf she was holding trailing behind her as her voice rang through the auditorium. Despite his certainty he'd be bored, he had to admit the cast was talented. And he'd probably be enjoying it if it wasn't for the couple sitting a few rows away from him. His attention shifted from the stage as he glanced at Riley and Buffy.
A sharp elbow to his arm drew his attention to his partner, who was motioning in a different direction, and he turned to look. A uniformed policeman had just entered and was looking the crowd over uncertainly.
He caught Spike's look and nodded, only giving his opera-absorbed boss a glance before getting up and following Spike toward the door.
"Riley," Buffy murmured. "Who's at the door?"
He glanced that way and frowned. "It looks like the police." His frown deepened when he noticed O'Connor and Pryce moving toward the officer. "I'll be right back." He quietly got to his feet before moving to follow.
Buffy watched with amusement. This latest little 'piece of the puzzle' she was dropping would hopefully put an end to any suspicions Lindsey might have... Angel, Riley, and Spike... she smiled at what they would think.
"Bert," Spike quietly greeted the officer. "What's going on?"
"You wouldn't believe..." he broke off as several people turned to glare.
"Maybe we should..." Angel motioned toward the door, and the others agreed before they quietly walked back into the lobby. Manuel's nervous pacing while wringing his hands had Angel turning back to Bert with a frown. "What happened?"
"Mrs. Whitaker's broach turned up," Bert answered.
"Where was it found?" Riley asked as he joined them.
The FBI weren't the only ones that had been told to leave Darla Chambers alone, and he hesitated before sighing reluctantly. "It was pinned to Ms. Chamber's mink coat."
"I knew it," Riley stated with conviction. "This time I've got her."
"Riley..." Spike tried to calm his coworker. "Something's not right."
"Are you kidding? It's perfect. I'd like to see her get out of this one... And if she had something to do with Lindsey's disappearance, I'll find that out too." He gave them a hard look before heading back into the auditorium.
Angel turned to Spike before shaking his head. "What do you think?"
"Don't know. It doesn't seem right."
"Yeah," Angel murmured thoughtfully before looking at Bert. "Where's the coat?"
"Over here." The older man walked to the counter that still held the mink. "The broach is on the collar."
Spike frowned at what looked like an unadorned coat. "There's nothing there," he answered with exasperation, as Angel curiously ran fingers over the fur.
"It's there," the brunette disagreed. "It's just hard to see."
The bleached blonde frowned and examined the mink before giving a shake of his head and looking at his partner. "Why would she take the chance of wearing it even if it is almost invisible?"
"I don't know. Nemesis enjoys playing games, but her games usually make headlines. This just seems... sloppy."
Spike nodded. "And Nemesis is anything but sloppy."
"You got it." Angel agreed as Bert shook his head.
"She might not have intended on making headlines tonight, but she enjoys taking risks," the cop disagreed. "I say we've got our woman. Besides, I haven't met many crooks that *give* their loot away."
"She does take chances," Spike agreed with a murmur, "but Manuel finding the broach seems less like a chance and more like a sure thing."
Angel nodded. "And as to why she might give away her loot, there could be something else she's after, like framing an enemy."
"Especially if it would get her off the hook," Spike stated with a thoughtful frown. "Problem is, we don't have enough evidence to put anyone on the hook."
Silence fell before a loud shriek from inside the auditorium caused the men in the lobby to turn toward the door Riley had disappeared through.
"Great," Spike muttered. "Just bloody great."
"At least it's not us this time," Angel answered.
Maggie Walsh was a picture of barely controlled calm as she left the police station where she'd once again faced off with Darla's lawyer.
"Ms. Walsh," Riley began with quiet conviction. "We've got her this time. All we need is a search warrant to make it official."
His optimism was the last straw, and she turned to him angrily. "Agent Finn," she started before breaking off and stepping closer. "Was she wearing an item most likely stolen by Nemesis? Yes," she answered. "Was it hidden enough so she could have gotten by with it? Yes," she repeated. "Could it have been put there by someone else? *Yes*," she snapped. "And you'd better hope Lilah considers your actions tonight reasonable. Because if we're sued, I promise you your next several assignments will be unsavory."
Spike chuckled, and her head whipped around. "And you," she turned toward her other agents. "By your own admissions, you didn't try to stop Finn from arresting Ms. Chambers. That almost makes me think you approved." Her eyes bored into them before she continued, "Be grateful you stayed in the lobby instead of getting further involved."
She stepped back and frowned as a local news van pulled into the police lot. "Now I'm going home, and I'd suggest you three do the same." She was still walking across the parking lot when the news media started snapping pictures.