The next day was rainy and splotchy. Anya paid off the cab, thanking the heavens that American taxis were prettier than these boxy black behemoths. She checked her watch, and when the all the hands lined up at 12, she rang the bell. Punctuality was a virtue, in business and in manners, and it was good of Giles to make it such a curiously interesting time.

Olivia welcomed her in. "Noon already? I had no idea it was that late." She motioned the girl to the couch. "Rupert's gone again, and this time I searched all over. He's been missing for hours... Did he call you?"

"No, but maybe he was eaten by a giant bunny! I've heard you have herds of them over here and they're dangerous and evil!"

"That is absurd -- I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation. Maybe he stepped out -- I'm going to make some calls."

Anya continued to poke about the flat, more for something to do than in serious expectation of finding Giles, while Olivia busied herself with the phone.

"Mrs. D'arcy? Giles isn't there by any chance? He'd been talking about seeing your collection of... Yes, well, thanks anyway."

"Hall of costumes? Oh, hello Mr. Brown. Have you seen Rupert? I thought he might have popped over... No, no emergency, thank you anyway."

"Mr. Noor? I'm looking for Mr. Giles -- thank you... a new urn? 5th Century -- yes, he will want to know -- I'll tell him directly when I see him."

It was now wearing on towards evening. The two women ate dinner in cold silence, and then Olivia resumed the calls.

"Maybe he went to London -- he does that sometimes... Could you connect me with Reading Room, please? Oh, good evening. Has Rupert Giles been in today? Hmmm? Tallish, maybe 6 foot 1, nice teeth, what... yes, that's him... he hasn't? Thanks anyway."

"Hello, is Professor Whitaker in -- I think he's Germanic Antiquities? Good evening, Professor. Giles mentioned that he wanted to show something to you -- has he come down? No, I'm afraid that if he did tell me, it went in one ear and out the other. He hasn't? Thank you for your time."

The ex-demon was making Olivia nervous.  Each call struck at her normally calm demeanor. "We'll just have to wait. Why don't you go back to your hotel, and if he doesn't show up tonight," she gave a slight sigh, "in the morning, we can try some more places."

"No!" Anya was firm. "Normal people, or even people like Giles, don't just disappear, unless something, something very bad," Olivia's eyes teared up, so Anya amended, "or very good, but very, um, special has happened. We need to call in the experts. Can I use the phone." It wasn't a request.

"Tara! Oh, I'm so glad you're home! But of course you're home -- where would you be?"

"I don't..."

Anya was oblivious to any offense she might have caused.  "But that's not important. Giles is gone! It seems awfully selfish of him, getting himself missing, when he should be helping me. I know it's black magic, but who would do such a thing? Did you know Olivia was living here? She seems nice, but she's very upsetting. She seems to think I should solve my own problems. Poof! Just like that. I hope I didn't just make another bunny! Oh, Tara, you have to help me, you have to."

"I can't do it on my own, um, I've got to get the, get the, get Buffy and oh, Anya, you know they'll all want to come, they'll all need to come. Giles is, he's, well, he's Giles."

*****

Tara hung up the phone and took a deep breath and a moment to collect her thoughts. It sounded like Giles might be in real trouble, but whom should she call first? Really, there was no question.  She picked up her phone to dial, then paused.  It would be better if she delivered this message in person.

*****

Buffy was on her way down the staircase with a basket full of dirty clothes when she heard the doorbell and opened her door to find Tara standing on her front porch. "Tara!" She smiled, setting the basket aside to embrace her friend with a warm hug. "It's great to see you. I was so afraid I scared you away for good when I tried to kill you in the basement.  I know I've apologized over and over for that, but you've been kind of scarce around here ever since… not that I blame you or anything. I mean, what kind of a friend tries to feed you to a demon, insane or not?"

"N… no Buffy. It's all right r… really." Tara smiled shyly. "I understand w… what you were going through." She paused for a moment, then continued.  "I'm here because something's happened to Giles."

"Giles?" Buffy was immediately alarmed. "Tara, you've got to tell me what's happened to him."

"I really don't know Buffy. I just got a phone call from Anya. Sh…she's in England and she went to see Giles, but she said he's gone."

"What does she mean by gone? Knowing Anya she probably dropped in on him out of the blue and he's on vacation or something."

Tara shook her head emphatically. "No. She had dinner with him and his friend Olivia just last night and he was fine. She went back there for lunch today and nobody has seen him or knows where he is. She sounded pretty upset."

Buffy took a second to ponder this, then firmed up her chin. "I'm calling him. We don't know what Anya is talking about at this point."  She marched to her phone and punched in Giles' number.  Tara heard her questioning someone calmly about when Giles was last seen and where. After a time she asked if Anya were still there, then asked to speak to her.  There were more questions about what had happened the night before.  "We're coming. No, I don't know how, but we will be there by tomorrow.  I'll call you again when we've made the arrangements."  Finally, she hung up.

"Tara, we have to get everyone together. I'll go wake up Willow and Dawn and fill them in. You go to Xander's.  If Anya's involved he needs to know."

"Buffy," Tara interrupted, "what about…?"

Buffy stopped for a minute.  "Spike?"

Tara nodded.

"Let me deal with him later."