Hotel - Ten Minutes Later



Willow and Rougier entered the room exactly ten minutes after Reyes contacted Willow. They found Buffy and Scully sitting on a couch and Reyes pacing. Reyes looked at her watch and nodded.

"Well?" Rougier asked.

"Have you heard of these two?"

Rougier looked at the list Scully gave him and looked up.

"Yes," Rougier said "They were both big name singers in France about ten years ago."

"There's a suggestion that one of them has decided to take revenge on the contest because their song was rejected in the pre-selection stage," Scully said.

"You're kidding," Rougier said "Where did you get this from?"

"A reliable source," Reyes said "Do you know where these people are now?"

"I can have them tracked down," Rougier said.

"Quickly, please," Reyes said "We haven't much time."

Rougier looked at the list again.

"Jacques Peroc, didn't he complain that the voting was rigged?" Rougier said partly to himself.

"Please, Inspector," Reyes said.

Rougier nodded and left the room.

"We could have helped him," Willow complained.

"We will," Scully said "We have a bigger fish to fry. Krycek was meeting with a couple of extreme right wing Israelis."

"An arms deal?" Buffy asked.

"We think so," Reyes said "Marcel is making a few inquiries now."

"Who's Marcel?" Willow asked.

"The reliable source," Buffy said "When's he likely to get back?"

"Soon I hope."



A Hotel - Sacramento



Damien, Miss Parker and Jarod entered a room that had already been set aside for them under Rufus T Harper's name. It was a suite actually with two bedrooms and a room opposite to cater for Miss Parker's needs. Damien noted a champagne bottle in a bucket with a note attached to it. Jarod took the note off and read it.

"Don't worry, Jarod, Miss Parker, it's on me, enjoy!" Jarod read.

"Nice of him," Damien said.

"Would you like a chance to freshen up and check your messages?" Miss Parker asked Damien.

"Freshen up, yes," Damien said "Check my messages, I don't think so."

"Why?"

"Because it will be either Gus or George or Helen Cooper checking on progress. I don't think they should know what I'm really here for, especially our prissy Miss Cooper."

"Of course not."

"We'll leave you to it," Jarod said.

He glanced at Miss Parker who took his hint and followed him. Damien watched them leave and looked at the room again. He could learn to like this.



Outside the Room



"Damn him!" Miss Parker retorted.

"He certainly has a chip on his shoulder concerning Phoebe Halliwell," Jarod agreed "So how do we play this?"

"I thought you had the eternal play book, Lab Rat," Parker said.

"We happen to be a team now," Jarod said.

Parker shrugged.

"We get Broots to bug the room and Mr Day himself and hope that Hegaroth's man makes contact."

"Broots?"

"Of course," Parker said "Didn't you see him in the foyer?"

Jarod nodded and sighed. He was the idiot trying to hide behind the newspaper when they entered.

"Okay, get Broots on the job and I'll try and get Mr Day out of the room for long enough for him to do the work."

"I'll have him do it when we're at dinner," Parker said "That should give him enough time to do it properly. In the meantime shouldn't you be doing your minding job."

Jarod scowled at the closed door and nodded. He wasn't a great fan of Damien Day and his arrogance and Parker knew that. Parker smiled at the hapless Pretender and went into her room to do her own freshening up.



The Same Hotel - Three Floors Down



Athena and Aphrodite sat side by side on the couch watching Piper and Paige pace the floor. The television was on and they could see Phoebe on the screen give her in depth analysis of Lowell's speech and wished she would speed it up.

"Pacing is not going to get the job done quicker," Athena said.

"Probably," Paige said "But it helps us."

Athena raised her hands to surrender the point. She could see Phoebe and another commentator debating the speech and had a desire to turn the television up to listen. Aphrodite had asked her not to. Politics bored her rigid. She had seen enough political manipulation on Mount Olympus, especially when Zeus, her father, Athena, Ares and Hades were involved. It was that political manipulation and Zeus's attempt to prevent fate by killing Xena's daughter, that got Zeus killed at Hercules's hands. Athena thought of Hercules and what he was doing at the moment. He could have been useful here right now. Maybe if things started going wrong she would get in touch with him.

"Penny for them?" Aphrodite said.

"I was thinking of Hercules and how useful he would be right now."

"Telling me, Hegaroth wouldn't stand a chance. Want me to go and get him?"

"You know where he is?"

"Duh!" Aphrodite said "Don't you watch television, he's a big name television star."

"Playing what?"

"Himself!"

Athena looked at her Sister.

"I kid you not," Aphrodite said "They have this television show based around Hercules's adventures, even Xena has her own show based on Gabby's scrolls."



"I'm going to have to watch them," Athena said.

"I'll get you some tapes," Aphrodite said.

"Gee thanks!" Athena said

She lowered her voice.

"Get in touch with him using your cell phone," Athena said "You do know how to use that?"

"Of course," Aphrodite said slightly miffed.

"Tell him what's going on but tell him that I don't need him at the moment," Athena said " Tell him that I will be calling him every day around this time to brief him about what's going on."

"Why?" Aphrodite said "Why not get him here?"

"Because if I don't call, he'll get worried and come running," Athena said "He is after all a nice guy and our half brother. Anyway, I want to keep him up our sleeve just in case."

"Despite him killing Dad."

"He had no choice," Athena said "Please Dite."

"Okay."

Aphrodite got to her feet.

"Piper, Paige, got to make a private phone call," She said "Be back in a minute, save me a piece of floor."

Aphrodite went into the bedroom with both Piper and Paige staring at her.

"What did she mean by that?" Piper asked.

"That you're wearing a hole in the carpet," Athena said "Sit down."

Piper and Paige sat down as instructed.



Hotel near the Paris Conference Centre



Buffy and Willow sat on the couch and watched Scully and Reyes pace past each other for the hundredth time. It had been two hours since Rougier left and it was becoming painful waiting.

"Dana, Monica," Willow said "Will you please relax, Rougier will call."

"It's not that we're worried about," Reyes said.

"Alex Krycek is not going anywhere without us knowing," Buffy said "We have your friend, Marcel, checking the Israelis and two people watching Krycek himself."

"Buffy, the fact that the guy's here worries us," Scully said "You know what he can do."

"Vividly," Buffy said "Remember, Will and I were caught in one of Krycek's traps as well."

Both Scully and Reyes nodded. That Moscow incident took a great deal out of all four of them. They had been blinded, deafened and made to spend hours face down in a pool, with only breathing apparatus to keep them alive, whilst experiments were being conducted on them. The only thing that kept all four of them going during those twenty four hours of captivity were those regular telepathic conversations between the four of them. Krycek had been behind that particular spell in vassalage, so Buffy and Willow had every reason to be concerned about Krycek and his plans. The ringing of the phone broke both Scully and Reyes's pacing. Buffy picked up the phone.

"Yes," She said "Jacques, what have you got for us?"

Buffy put her thumbs up.

"What about Peroc?"

The frown gave all the answers the others needed. Rougier had found Gabriel Hurcon, but lost Jacques Peroc.

"Have you got a team on Monsieur Hurcon?" Buffy asked "Good, keep it around the clock, everywhere he goes, you go."

"Ask him to double the effort to find Peroc," Reyes said.

"Jacques, Monica says to double the effort in finding Peroc," Buffy said "Yes, I know you have a man shortage, but, we need to find this guy before he blows up the Paris Conference Centre and twenty thousand people. Just keep in touch with us on our mobiles."

Buffy put the phone down. Scully, Reyes and Willow looked at Buffy quizzically.

"I'm trying to put your mind to rest concerning Krycek," Buffy said "We will all go and make sure that he's tucked up in bed. If Rougier finds Peroc, he will call us."

"Thanks," Reyes said.

"Don't think anything of it," Buffy thought.



A Hotel - Sacramento



At Seven O'clock on the dot, Jarod and Damien came out of their room and started down the corridor.

"Isn't Katherine joining us?" Damien asked.

"She will be," Jarod said "She has something to do first."

Jarod noted Miss Parker's door open slightly and nodded at the person who looked out. He then guided Damien towards the lift. As the lift doors closed, Miss Parker, dressed in a glittering, low cut black dress, and Broots emerged from Miss Parker's room and moved swiftly over to the suite that Jarod and Damien shared. Miss Parker inserted her key and unlocked the door.

"You know what you have to do?"

Broots gave Miss Parker a look and entered the room. Parker stood outside and kept watch. Two men passed her and gave her an admiring glance. She smiled back but said nothing. Five minutes later, Broots emerged and shut the door.

"Done," He said.

"Where have you put them?"

"Where you told me to put them," Broots said "All you need to do is to put this on him and we should be in business."

Broots gave Parker a bug. She looked at the small thing in her hand and then at Broots.

"Where?"

"Anywhere, as long as it's firmly attached. We don't want it brushed off by accident."

Miss Parker nodded.

"When's Sydney arriving?"

"He should be in the observation van when I get back."

Miss Parker nodded again and headed for the lift.

"Oh, Miss Parker!" Broots said.

Parker turned back.

"You look good."

Parker smiled and continued down the corridor with almost a bounce in her step. For the first time in some time, she actually felt good.



Hotel Room - Three Floors Down



Phoebe and Prue entered the room and looked at the people either sitting or standing. They recognised Piper and Paige of course. However, the ditsy looking blonde and the seriously beautiful auburn haired woman were strangers. It was the auburn haired woman who got to her feet.

"Phoebe, Prue, I'm Athena Scott."

"The author?" Phoebe asked.

Athena nodded.

"We have met," Athena admitted "I did your show a couple of years ago on serial killers and how they operate."

Phoebe clicked her fingers. She remembered the very vociferous debate well. Athena played a very strong part in that discussion. She was advocating for a policy of therapy for serial killers in order to get to the bottom of why they killed. It caused uproar in the studio and backlash for several days afterwards.

"This is my partner, and sister, Aphrodite Scott."

"Partner," Prue said.

She looked at Piper and Paige.

"You said that Miss Scott was an operative with the United Nations Criminal Intelligence Task-force."

Both Piper and Paige shrugged. Athena smiled and took out her Warrant Card as did Aphrodite.

"We are," Athena said.

Athena and Aphrodite gave Prue their ID.

"Do you mind if I check this?" Prue asked.

"Prue!" Paige protested.

"I'm not taking any chances," Prue said "Not with Hegaroth around."

"I suggest that you do so," Athena said.

Prue nodded and went into the bedroom.

"I'm sorry about my sister," Phoebe said "We've been betrayed so many times by people we thought we could trust, that she's become a little paranoid."

"Considering what you are," Aphrodite said "You have every right to be paranoid."

"What my sister is saying in her own way," Athena glared at Aphrodite as she said that "Is that Prue is right to be suspicious."

A minute later, Prue returned and handed Athena and Aphrodite their warrant cards.

"They're clean," Prue said.

Paige glared at her elder sister. Her instincts had been challenged once again by her over-cautious sister and it was becoming tedious. Prue sat next to Phoebe and Piper, trying to ignore Paige's glare.

"You say that Damien Day has had a meeting with Hegaroth," Prue said.

"After having a meeting with Rufus T Harper and a former Federal Agent called Spender," Athena added.

"This is based on?"

"Inside information, UNCIT have a couple of operatives within Harper's organisation. You will be meeting them soon," Athena said.

"What form does this threat take?" Phoebe asked

"We don't know yet," Aphrodite said "We were hoping you might have some sort of clue."

Piper placed an arm around her sister for comfort. Phoebe smiled at her thankfully.

"Can we nip back to San Francisco and consult the Book of Shadows?" Paige asked.

"No time," Phoebe said "I'm due back on air in a couple of hours. Senator Lowell is attending a Human Rights benefit at the Ambassador. She's the keynote speaker."



"You can bring it here," Athena said.

"We'd rather it didn't leave Halliwell Manor," Prue said "If it fell into the wrong hands, there could be complications."

"There wouldn't be," Athena said "Trust me. Aphrodite and I are more than we look and you must have some sort of protection spell for the book."

Prue looked at Piper and Paige. Paige smiled.

"Aphrodite is a witch," She said.

Aphrodite stamped her foot indignantly.

"I'm more than a witch," She said.

"'Dite'!" Athena said impatiently.

Aphrodite pouted and sat down.

"I'll go back with one of you to get the book," Athena said "The others can do what you normally do on these occasions, have dinner, make yourselves visible. We cannot let Day know that we're onto him yet. That would put our undercover agents in danger and might force Hegaroth to show his hand before we're ready."

"I'll go," Piper said getting to her feet.

Athena reached out and took Piper's hands. She then pulled her too her and hugged her tightly. The two of them disappeared in a ball of light. The remaining three sisters looked at Aphrodite in bewilderment.

"This is my sister getting her own back on me for what I did in New England," Aphrodite said "Petty, Big Sister, petty!"

The Halliwell sisters continued looking at Aphrodite waiting for an explanation.

"I'm starving," Aphrodite said hurriedly "Let's go to the restaurant."

Aphrodite headed for the door. The three sisters shook their heads and followed.



The Hotel Restaurant



Miss Parker walked into the room and glided towards where Damien and Jarod were sitting. She was fully aware that many male, and one or two female eyes were looking at her and played it to the hilt. As she reached the table both men got to their feet.

"You look ravishing," Damien said.

Miss Parker felt the hot look that Damien was giving her and tried to ignore it. She saw the smirk that Jarod was giving and kicked him under the table as they sat down again.

"I've already ordered starters," Jarod said.

Miss Parker looked at Jarod again and nodded her approval. The soup emerged from the kitchens and was placed in front of them. Miss Parker looked at the soup, made a slight face, and then placed her napkin on her lap as did Jarod and Damien.

"Heads up," Damien said.

Jarod and Miss Parker turned around and saw Aphrodite, Phoebe, Prue and Paige enter. They were met by a Waiter and shown to a table.

"Who's the blonde, I wonder?" Damien said.

"Probably a friend," Jarod said.

"Probably a witch!" Miss Parker countered.

Jarod glared at Miss Parker but caught her grin. Jarod became convinced that she and Aphrodite would always be teasing each other. This was going to be an interesting team, he thought.

"Nothing like Phoebe Halliwell and her sisters, I suspect," Damien said.

"Nah!" Miss Parker said "Her nails would get in the way."

"Jealous?" Damien smiled.



"Of her? Never."

"Katherine, Mr Day," Jarod interrupted "Can we eat now? We have business to attend to later on."

Damien turned back to his soup. Parker caught the small wave from Aphrodite and nodded before returning to her soup.



The Hotel Restaurant - Aphrodite's Table



"Damn it," Phoebe said "He's here already."

"Don't panic," Prue said "He wont do anything here. It's too public."

"Agent Scott," Paige said "Who are Mr Day's companions?"

Aphrodite smiled.

"The undercover agents I told you about," Aphrodite said "Their names are Jarod Hall and Katherine Parker. It's not quite their real names. But that's what we'll be calling them."

"What are they doing with Day?" Prue asked.

"They're acting as Day's minders on behalf of Rufus T Harper."

Prue and Phoebe gave Aphrodite a look. Paige, on the other hand, nodded her understanding. It was an undercover operation. Therefore they had to assume for now that Jarod and Miss Parker were the enemy. A minute later, Athena and Piper emerged and made their way to where Aphrodite and her party were sitting. Athena saw Parker and Jarod but was careful not to cause them any problems by acknowledging that she knew them. They sat down opposite Prue and Aphrodite.

"Where's the book?" Phoebe asked.

"Don't worry," Piper said "It's safe."

Athena acknowledged that with a nod.

"You know Day's here?" Phoebe said.

"Don't worry," Athena said "I've seen him. Just act normally."

Paige gave Athena a menu and they looked at it together, as did Piper and Phoebe. On cue the Waiter emerged.



Hotel Metropole - Paris



Scully joined Buffy, Willow and Reyes in the hotel bar.

"He asked for his keys about an hour ago," She said.

"It was Krycek?" Reyes asked.

Scully gave Reyes a look. Reyes smiled and relaxed a little.

"Okay, how do we play this?" Buffy asked.

"We keep the surveillance team on him," Reyes said "Until Marcel comes up with something or until Krycek shows his hand, there's not a lot we can do."

"I hate this," Buffy scowled "I hate waiting for people to slip up."

"Welcome to the world of the sleuth," Scully said.

Reyes's Cell phone rang. She opened it up.

"Yes!" Reyes listened for a moment "You sure it's Peroc?"

Reyes held her phone slightly away from her ear.

"Keep a team on him," Reyes said "Everywhere he goes, you go."

Reyes's grimace told them everything they needed to know about what was going on.

"I'll try and get some help out to you," Reyes said "As soon as possible."

Reyes switched off her phone.



"Rougier?" Willow asked.

Reyes nodded.

"They've found Jacques Peroc," Reyes said



To Be Continued