Chapter Sixteen
Angel awoke to find himself in his own bed, alone. He called for Susan, but there was no answer. He grabbed his robe as he jumped out of the bed to check the bathroom, then the joining room and its bathroom. Angel looked in the mirror and saw no reflection of himself. As he went back through the bedroom he realized that nowhere was there a sign that Susan had even been there. All her clothes, her makeup were gone, even the flannel pyjamas. The only thing that was on the dresser was the C.D. player and as he pressed play the familiar love songs started. The bed was made and just turned back from where he threw back the covers, not the way Susy and he had left it at all. Even the sheets were regular cotton ones, not satin.
Angel ran down the stairs calling her name and was almost angry to find Wesley and Cordelia at the desk.
"Are you alright, Angel?" Wesley asked
"What are you doing here? I thought I was supposed to call you when I wanted you to come back."
"You did," Cordy was shocked.
Angel continued looking in the kitchen and in the other rooms of the hotel. Wesley followed him very concerned and Cordy watched, frightened of what she saw as Angel appeared frantic.
"Angel," Wesley said cautiously, "you telephoned on Friday and said everything was going to be alright and to come to work on Monday, today."
"I got the same call, " Cordelia confirmed the situation.
"It's Monday?" Angel said confused. "I was with Susy on Wednesday, that was yesterday."
"Your party was last Sunday, a week ago yesterday. I thought you had time to settle things with The Powers and everything was alright."
"Does everything look alright?" Angel raised his voice.
Cordelia's mouth dropped open, "What is that on your neck, Angel?"
His hand went up to his throat to the cross made of nails, which he grabbed and pulled from his neck breaking the chain. He noticed that the heart, which surrounded the cross, was missing. "Oh my God" Angel said looking at his palm. "Go home!" he demanded as he went up the stairs back to his room. The heart on the pendant, his own heartbeat, and the woman who held his heart were all missing.
"This is not good," Wesley said.
"How are we going to get him through this one?" Cordelia added.
About an hour later, while Wesley and Cordelia were trying to plan what to do, Gunn walked into the hotel with an older, poorly dressed man. "Cordy, we open for business?" Gunn asked, "This guy says there are some bad things going on down at the Salvation Army."
Wesley greeted the gentleman, "Maybe we can help you."
"Our boss is a little under the weather, but what can we do?" Cordy asked.
"Angel, not well? What about the call?" Gunn asked.
Wesley just shrugged, "I don't know."
"Anyway, this is Mr. Albert Francis from the Sally Ann on Pine. It seems that someone or something is killing some of the people who bunk there. After they are killed their hearts are removed."
"Can Angel not help us?" Mr. Francis was anxious; "Susy said Angel could help us if we ever needed someone."
"You've seen Susan?" Wesley asked hopefully.
"Yeah, about three weeks ago, she and this Angel guy stopped at the residence. She said he would help us if we needed him, and she gave me this card." Mr. Francis handed the card to Wes.
"Oh, I see. Angel really isn't available right now but maybe we can help."
"No! I need to see Angel."
Wesley hesitated but then said that he would at least ask Angel. He went up the stairs looking a little worried about what he would find. He knocked lightly on the door, no answer, he knocked again a little harder.
"Go away!"
"I've got to talk to you, Angel."
"Does it involve Susan?"
"Maybe."
Angel came and opened the door. The room was very dark and Wesley could hear the love songs playing. Wesley explained to Angel what he had been told and seeing that Susy had a connection with the crime location an interest and concern was developed.
"Mr. Francis," Angel said coming down the stairs with his hand extended, "How can we help you?"
As it turned out it was a satanic cult who killed three older residents of the Sally Ann and not a demon but it was "Angel Investigations" who solved the murders. As Mr. Francis thanked them for their help he added to Angel, "Susy Q loved to help others, and I know she would want you to continue doing the same."
"Have you heard from her?" Angel asked, hoping.
"No, but I'm sure she is safe where she is."
Angel thanked Mr. Francis and wished him well. As they were leaving the building Cordelia suddenly had a vision of another matter of great importance. Even though he thought of Susy every moment Angel knew that to survive he would have to throw himself into his work. As Mr. Francis had said, it was the way Susy would want.
When he was alone and taking time for rest he listened to their songs and thought and dreamt of Susy. The chain on the cross had been repaired and he wore it, never removing it, as it was her gift to him. For some reason all the usual symptoms of being a vampire had returned, lack of reflection, the sun, all except the burn of a cross. Not only the pendant, but also any cross ... maybe Susy was right you just had to ask.
Cordelia had taken photos at the party and Angel left them everywhere. He missed his lamb terribly but he refused to let it show. The Powers That Be kept the business constant; as one case was solved another was opened. Cordelia was starting to dread the end of a case as it generally meant another vision. But non-the-less crimes were solved and demons were killed. For over five months they continued in such a way. Angel had never heard from or about Susan but it didn't make him think or dream of her any less.
"Well, what's on for today?" Wesley asked Cordelia as he and Gunn arrived back at the hotel shortly after noon. Angel was just getting back from a night of demon stalking.
"It seems that for the moment we can take a breather," Cordelia said as she was going through the mail. "So far there have been no visions or calls."
"Well, if there's nothing I'm going upstairs," Angel said taking the photo of Susan and himself dancing at the party, off of the desk.
Suddenly Cordy asked, "Angel, what was Susan's last name?" A silence went through the room. "Susan" was a name never heard mentioned anymore, only thought of often.
"It was Lockwood, why?"
"There's a large envelope here, addressed to Mr. Alexander Lockwood, care of Angel Investigations." Immediately Angel opened it and dumped the contents on the counter. There was no letter of explanation, just two passports, two airline tickets and a couple of other documents. The four started looking through the papers.
"This is a passport for a Mr. Alexander Lockwood of this address with your photo, Angel," Wesley said looking surprised. Angel took it from him and read the contents. Birthplace, County Durham, England. The information was probably all accurate other that the birth year which read December twelve, Nineteen seventy.
Cordelia looked through the other passport and said, "You better look at this, Angel." He looked at the others when he saw the photo and the name Elizabeth Susan Lockwood, husband Alexander, and address the same as Angel's. Immediately he grabbed the other two documents, a driver's license for himself, repeating the earlier information and a marriage certificate for Alexander Lockwood and Elizabeth Susan Quinn, dated November 15, 2001. "That's the day you and Susy were married, "Cordelia almost whispered. The airline tickets and boarding passes were next. Flight 1410 from L.A. Ex to Montreal, to London, to Newcastle and return for Alexander Lockwood and a one-way ticket for Susy to home ... their home.
"What's the date?" Wesley asked.
"Today at 5:45 p.m. and return in one week."
Angel took a look at his watch, "I only have two hours to get to the airport," he said as he ran up the stairs two at a time.