Barbed Wired and Roses
Author - D. M. Evans
Feedback - ripewickedplum2@yahoo.com
Disclaimer - Nope still not scriptwriting in LaLa Land. All characters are the property of Joss et al. Well, except Saeth. She's mine.
Rating - R
Spoilers - None, set season 2 of Angel
Summary - One of Wesley's Watcher friends comes to town to investigate the death of her friend, bringing her up against Wolfram and Hart.
CHAPTER TWO - Premature Showdown
Saeth headed down the stairs, feeling better after a quick teleportation back to her place - now that she was sober enough to do it - for a shower and change of clothes. She knew she probably shouldn't return to the Hyperion and spare herself a confrontation with Cordelia but she suspected if she didn't put in an appearance it would only generate more questions and hostilities. Besides, she wanted to pump them for more information about Wolfram and Hart. She had planned on doing that with Wesley but last night had disintegrated into remembering old times and seeing the world through the bottom of a beer mug until it all seemed like a Dali painting, yet comfortable at the same time.
She followed their voices to Wesley's office. Cordelia was trying to make him eat something ugly in a bowl, possibly some organic cereal with blueberries and Wesley was turning several shades of green at the mere thought. Gunn was propped up against a bookcase looking highly amused by it all, as did Angel who Saeth was very surprised to see. The office window was tightly shuttered for him. She examined his broad face swiftly and decided a smile just didn't suit him. It made him look goofy. He had a face better suited for sulky yet sensual expressions. All eyes turned towards her, hearing the soft padding of her sandaled feet. Wesley's eyes were watery and bloodshot. He was simply a lousy drunk, there was nothing more to it, she decided.
"Morning everyone. I see you survived, Wesley," she said brightly.
"The jury is still out on that." Gunn snickered, trailing a finger along the dusty bookshelf.
"Why aren't you looking like I feel," Wesley grumbled, turning away from Cordelia and the bowl.
"Yes, you do look a little more alive than he does," Cordelia said, giving Saeth a quick appraisal. A little smirk crossed her pretty face seeing Saeth in yet another set of baggy shorts and a black T-shirt reading 'Sorry, it's my fault. I forgot you were an idiot.'
Saeth knew she had failed some sort of fashion test with the younger woman and maybe that would take some of her competitive edge off. She could see the men didn't notice Cordelia's hostility or were afraid to address it. It was probably something they didn't understand but she did. Cordelia didn't want another woman around "her" men. "I'm a better drinker than he is. He was really off his tits last night," she said, approaching Wesley's desk. He smelled of cigarettes and beer. "Pllus, I'm showered and not wearing yesterday's clothes."
"No kidding. He's getting pretty pungent at this point." Cordelia scowled at him, jabbing his shoulder with a finger then her brow furrowed. "Where did you find a working shower here?"
"I'm assuming even the undead prefer to be clean," she said, looking at Angel.
"There's no working showers on your floor and I know you didn't come into my territory," he said.
"I remembered where I lived." She grinned.
"You don't have a car," Gunn said. "Or did you rent one?"
"Rented. It's here actually...I hope. I'd hate to explain to Hertz how I let their car get stolen." Saeth shrugged. "I teleported, if you must know."
Gunn ran a hand over his bald head, a look of confusion on his face. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
"More or less along the lines of 'beam me up Scotty'." Saeth grinned more broadly. "I can do it for long distances, too. Saves on plane fare, let me tell you, but it takes a lot of skill and energy. I would have passed on it except all that traveling and the bar left me really needing a shower. And I wasn't keen on waking up Angel and asking him to borrow his."
"Man, you have all the cool tricks." Gunn smiled, an energy filling him. "Could you teach me that?"
"You're not exactly great with magic, Charles," Wesley said, putting his head down on the desk. The younger man scowled at him.
"It does require great control and concentration. It's a fairly high level spell and you'd think it would be good in combat but truth is, the concentration required is hard to do when you're trying not to die," Saeth said.
"Still, it could get you out a jam," Gunn argued.
"And it has. I could work with you a bit if I have time but trust me, this isn't something you could learn overnight," Saeth said.
"You might be better off teaching Wesley," Angel said, thinking of what could be done with that sort of spell.
"I've tried. Isn't it a little late in the day for you to be up, Angel?" Saeth asked cautiously, studying his unwavering expression. "Not that I'm complaining since I'd like to ask you more about Wolfram and Hart."
"I was on my way to bed when someone woke up." Angel shot a devilish look at Wesley.
"And torturing me was ever so much more important than getting sleep," Wesley moaned, not lifting his head. Cordy and Gunn laughed. Angel didn't quite feel as if he had earned back that right yet.
"And fun, too," Saeth said. She waved her hands and a glass full of something thick and red appeared in one and a handful of clear capsules in the other. "Here, Wes, this will make you feel better. Alcohol is hell on the body's vitamin B. Takes these down with a little something sure to fix you up after you've taken on the piss."
Wesley eyed it dubiously.
"Give it a try, English. It can't make you feel worse. She looks okay so it probably works," Gunn said. His dark eyes brightened, anticipating mischief.
Wesley took the pills, gulping down the liquid in three long swallows. He turned red then green. After controlling his gag reflex, he asked, "What in the hell was that?"
A smile blossomed on Saeth's tanned face. "A bloody bull."
"Oh, that sounds nasty." Cordelia wrinkled her nose.
"It's just a Bloody Mary made with V-8 juice, beef bouillon and Tabasco," Saeth offered.
"I think it's eating a hole in my stomach," Wesley moaned, clutching the hollow that passed as his belly.
"Yeah but I bet your head doesn't hurt any more," she replied brightly.
"Thank you, Saeth. I'll make sure they inscribed that on my headstone." Wesley glowered at her. "Why don't you serve this to the lawyers at Wolfram and Hart and you won't have to worry about them any more."
She patted him on the head. "Poor baby. Here, these might cheer you up." With another wave of her hand a plate of flat, thick cookies appeared. "Picau ar y maen."
"Which is?" Cordelia asked, eyeing the cookies hungrily.
"They're like stone baked cakes. They're best hot if you have a microwave. You're all welcome to some."
Cordelia went to heat them up and Saeth turned to the others.
"Seriously, what can I expect of Wolfram and Hart?"
"You can expect them to not play fair," Angel said. "And if you get in their way, they'll try to kill you. They've been doing their best to destroy me."
"Lovely. So maybe going to their law firm and announcing, 'hey why were you harassing my friend and what do you know about her death,' isn't the way to go," Saeth said, hopping up onto Wesley's desk so she could sit.
"Only if you want to be a target," Angel said.
Saeth frowned. "Wouldn't be the first time but if I can avoid it. Do you know Lilah Morgan, Mark Lustig or Lindsey MacDonald?"
They all snorted. "Too well," Angel snarled.
"Well, I've never heard of Lustig but the other two are the ones orchestrating Angel's fall," Wesley said.
"They're bad news," Gunn said, the mischievous look gone from his eyes. He was all business now.
"Who?" Cordy asked, coming back with the cookies. The room filled with the smell of spices and currants.
"Lilah and Lindsey," Gunn said, scarfing a cookie.
"Oh, no kidding. Lilah is a total bitch," Cordelia said, offering the plate to Wesley.
"Well, they're the ones who were causing Elyta trouble and they'll be the ones I'm going after. I figure they're the obvious place to start looking for her killer," Saeth said, taking a cookie herself.
"They probably wouldn't hesitate to have someone killed though I'm not sure they'd do it themselves. They try to draw some lines," Wesley said, dubiously.
"They could do it," Angel said, his face setting into the grim lines Saeth figured were more natural for him than his smile. "You really might need our help."
"I'll keep it in mind but for now I think I'd prefer it if they don't know I'm affiliated with you, it's safer for us both that way," Saeth said. "All right, I'll skip storming their offices for now and head over to Elyta's place. I promised her parents I'd pack up her apartment for them. Maybe I can find some more clues as to why Wolfram and Hart wanted that damn artifact so badly."
"And Cordelia could prepare you a dossier on Lilah and Lindsey if you'd like," Wesley offered, oblivious to Cordy's withering look over him volunteering her services.
"I'd appreciate that. I'll be back for it later. Enjoy the Picau ar y maen," Saeth said hopping off the door, and headed for the door.
* * *
Saeth leaned back on Elyta's couch, surveying the cramped apartment. She had thought it would have been bigger considering what Elyta had said rent was. That was a sure reason not to move to southern California. She nearly regretted her promise to Elyta's parents to pack up their daughter's things and send them home. They weren't up to it themselves. Some of Elyta's grad students promised to come help her and she would, in turn, hand over any project notes and whatnot she came across. The students gave her one of their spare keys for the apartment. Elyta liked to give her students free access to her.
Saeth picked up a photo of Elyta, her café mocha skin highlighted by a jewel tone bikini. She looked happy. Tears stung Saeth's eyes. She was used to loss. It was a large part of being a Watcher. But Elyta hadn't been part of that life. She was a mundy. She didn't deserve to be drowned. Saeth knew that retrieving the lost artifact was only part of why she volunteered for this solo mission. Elyta's killers would pay for it, no matter what she had to do.
Hearing voices in the hallway, Saeth blotted her eyes and readied a spell that would freeze most things in their tracks. One could never be too careful. She heard a key enter the lock but didn't relax. Yes, it could be one of Elyta's students finally arriving to help or it could be something else.
"You're sure this is okay?" a middle-aged woman asked, swinging the door open.
"It's part of an investigation, ma'am, just like the paperwork says," a tall, reedy, pale man replied, moving toward the open door.
Saeth got to her feet, studying them. In addition to the woman at the door and the tall man, there was another woman in an obviously expensive lavender dress and a somewhat short young man with a longish haircut that didn't match the professional lines of his charcoal grey suit. "Really? The police didn't mention for me to expect anyone when I spoke to them earlier today."
Everyone stared at her.
"Who the hell are you?" the blond haired man asked.
"The person who actually has a key to this place," Saeth shot back. "And I'd think the police would have told me to expect company since they said I could pack up Dr. Ashworth's belongings, indicating they're done with them. So, who are you three and what are you investigating?"
"They said they were with a law firm," the rental agent said, looking nervous. "They showed me their cards."
"You're done here, ma'am," the reedy man said. "This is between us and the lady with the key."
Rather than protest, the rental agent fled quickly.
"Law firm? Let me guess, Wolfram and Hart." Saeth's lips quirked up, seeing their surprised looks. "So much for leaving you for last. Hmm, I guess you must be Lilah Morgan." Saeth padded up to her in her bare feet, having ditched her sandals as soon as she entered the apartment. She hated shoes. "I'll confess I'm a little surprised. I thought I'd be dealing with two women and a man. Guess I liked the idea of two lady lawyers a little too much. So which of you is the Mic?" Saeth didn't have to be told the twin barbs hit home. The small man had to be Lindsey MacDonald. Her eyes swept over him. He didn't look like much but she knew Wesley and Angel had reason to think he was a danger. Her gaze lingered on his prosthetic arm, making a mental note of the weakness just in case he was the one who had Elyta killed and she would have to fight him later, then she jerked her head over to the blond man who was laughing.
"It's an easy mistake to make," the blond said and Lindsey's lip curled.
"That would make you Mark Lustig then. You haven't answered my question, what are you three investigating?"
"You haven't answered ours either. Who are you and how did you know who we are?" Lilah asked.
"You repeatedly harassed my good friend, tried to steal away her archaeology site and all the finds there in and then she turns up dead. Did you think I wouldn't know who you are?" Saeth asked, carefully not revealing much about herself.
"We didn't steal anything. Dr. Ashworth's team was operating illegally," Lindsey said, as Lilah peeled away from the group and starting wandering about. "And we don't like your implication that we had something to do with the doctor's death."
Saeth batted her eyes at him. "Did I imply that? Perhaps it was all the hostile correspondence from your office that gave me that impression. Yes, I've seen it all. I've kept it all with copies here and back home in Wales. Perhaps I'll give it to the police." Saeth hadn't wanted to tell them that, at least not until she read up on the information Wesley was having prepared for her but she wasn't afraid of this crew. She had dealt with scarier things back when she was in junior high in Slayer training. If being a target for them got her to the bottom of things faster, so be it.
"And I'm sure the police are truly concerned, what with how fast they're allowing you to pack away her apartment," Lustig said. "The paper said it was considered to be an accident."
Saeth snorted. "You, Ms. Morgan, care to get back with the others here where I can see you? I don't like the idea of you just wandering around and if you're looking for a purse to snoop around in to figure out my name, forget it. I didn't carry one here."
Lilah flushed "What sort of woman doesn't have a purse?"
"I forgot it. I hate when that happens. And as for Elyta's death being accidental, not a chance of it," Saeth said, herding Lilah back to her companions, both of whom were checking her out. Men! Saeth didn't know how they accomplished anything with how easily boobs distracted them.
Lindsey scowled and Saeth noticed he quit checking her out so he could make eye contact with her. She didn't mind the appraisals she was getting from him and Lustig. If they were distracted, so much the better.
"What makes you so sure?" Lindsey asked.
Saeth stalked up to him and forced him to take a step back. She saw the resentment in his light blue eyes. At nearly 6'1" she had a few inches on him and made the most of them. "I've known Elyta since we were roommates back in our freshman year at Cambridge. She loved to sunbath but she was terrified of the water. She couldn't swim. She wouldn't get anywhere near the shoreline. With that knowledge and a little suggestion to look for needle marks, the medical examiner found a puncture in her right buttock and a thorough exam showed insulin in the track. He wouldn't have detected it otherwise but it seems Elyta was overdosed with insulin. She was almost dead when she hit the water. It was murder."
She watched their faces. Surprise glittered through their cool facades. Did guilt come with it? Had they known Elyta's death was no accident? She couldn't be sure but she suspected they knew the archeologist had been murdered.
"She could have accidentally taken too much," Lustig suggested.
"She wasn't diabetic," Saeth said.
"She could have been using it to lose weight. Injecting yourself is popular with the get-thin crowd," Lilah said, resting a hip against the couch nonchalantly.
"Somehow I doubt it. So what the hell are you three looking for? More artifacts to steal? No, if it was something obvious the police might have twigged onto it. I'm betting you're looking for notes or journals or something along those lines," Saeth said and the lawyers didn't react. "Well, why don't you just turn around and leave? Or show me a search warrant and tell me what you're looking for."
"We can get a restraining order to keep you from removing anything until we can determine if anything belonging to Wolfram and Hart is here," Lindsey said.
"Go paperwork me to death, mate. Because until you do, I'm not letting you search in here and I promised Elyta's parents I'd handle packing up her belongings. The police said it's okay so until I hear otherwise, officially, that's what I'm going to do," Saeth replied, opening the door for them.
"For someone who's not even from around here you sound awfully sure of yourself," Mark said.
"I am," Saeth shot back. "But mostly, I'm tired, upset and hey, a little bit bitchy or else I wouldn't have dropped my rag and made that Mic crack but you know what else I am, fed up with you ponces trying to push around Elyta's group. So, you might want to walk through that door before I toss you out it."
"Think you can?" Mark asked, his pale face going red and blotchy.
"Elyta and I shared a love of rugby. We were excellent. It taught me more than what I'd need to know to crush the lot of you." Saeth had to fight to keep from reaching for him and shoving him through the mail slot on the door.
"I don't see you being foolish enough to manhandle us," Lindsey said, heading for the door.
The smug look on his face dug into her and Saeth knew he was right about that. "Piss off."
"We'll be back. Care to give us a name for the restraining order or shall we just leave it as a general one covering all of Dr. Ashworth's belongings?" Lindsey asked.
"Dr Saeth Maddoc. You can figure out how to spell it yourself. Try not to hurry back." She managed to shove him and Lilah out the door after Mark and slammed it on them. "Shit!" She grabbed up the phone and called Elyta's senior most grad student. "Hey, Ravena, you might want to get over to Dr. Ashworth's with every student you can get. They're going to try and seize some of Elyta's stuff...yeah I know that's crap. I think most of her journals and the such should be in her office and not here but I'll need your help in making sure...great, see you all then."
Saeth hung up and cast a spell to seek other magic items just to be sure there was nothing else hiding that Elyta hadn't had a chance to tell her about. There was nothing. She had no idea how American law worked but she knew she was on the clock. She found two journals before the students arrived and she set the books into a holding chamber that was interdimensional just in case. Armed with several students, Saeth began the thorough search of the apartment, hoping to get it done before the lawyers could return.
Author - D. M. Evans
Feedback - ripewickedplum2@yahoo.com
Disclaimer - Nope still not scriptwriting in LaLa Land. All characters are the property of Joss et al. Well, except Saeth. She's mine.
Rating - R
Spoilers - None, set season 2 of Angel
Summary - One of Wesley's Watcher friends comes to town to investigate the death of her friend, bringing her up against Wolfram and Hart.
CHAPTER TWO - Premature Showdown
Saeth headed down the stairs, feeling better after a quick teleportation back to her place - now that she was sober enough to do it - for a shower and change of clothes. She knew she probably shouldn't return to the Hyperion and spare herself a confrontation with Cordelia but she suspected if she didn't put in an appearance it would only generate more questions and hostilities. Besides, she wanted to pump them for more information about Wolfram and Hart. She had planned on doing that with Wesley but last night had disintegrated into remembering old times and seeing the world through the bottom of a beer mug until it all seemed like a Dali painting, yet comfortable at the same time.
She followed their voices to Wesley's office. Cordelia was trying to make him eat something ugly in a bowl, possibly some organic cereal with blueberries and Wesley was turning several shades of green at the mere thought. Gunn was propped up against a bookcase looking highly amused by it all, as did Angel who Saeth was very surprised to see. The office window was tightly shuttered for him. She examined his broad face swiftly and decided a smile just didn't suit him. It made him look goofy. He had a face better suited for sulky yet sensual expressions. All eyes turned towards her, hearing the soft padding of her sandaled feet. Wesley's eyes were watery and bloodshot. He was simply a lousy drunk, there was nothing more to it, she decided.
"Morning everyone. I see you survived, Wesley," she said brightly.
"The jury is still out on that." Gunn snickered, trailing a finger along the dusty bookshelf.
"Why aren't you looking like I feel," Wesley grumbled, turning away from Cordelia and the bowl.
"Yes, you do look a little more alive than he does," Cordelia said, giving Saeth a quick appraisal. A little smirk crossed her pretty face seeing Saeth in yet another set of baggy shorts and a black T-shirt reading 'Sorry, it's my fault. I forgot you were an idiot.'
Saeth knew she had failed some sort of fashion test with the younger woman and maybe that would take some of her competitive edge off. She could see the men didn't notice Cordelia's hostility or were afraid to address it. It was probably something they didn't understand but she did. Cordelia didn't want another woman around "her" men. "I'm a better drinker than he is. He was really off his tits last night," she said, approaching Wesley's desk. He smelled of cigarettes and beer. "Pllus, I'm showered and not wearing yesterday's clothes."
"No kidding. He's getting pretty pungent at this point." Cordelia scowled at him, jabbing his shoulder with a finger then her brow furrowed. "Where did you find a working shower here?"
"I'm assuming even the undead prefer to be clean," she said, looking at Angel.
"There's no working showers on your floor and I know you didn't come into my territory," he said.
"I remembered where I lived." She grinned.
"You don't have a car," Gunn said. "Or did you rent one?"
"Rented. It's here actually...I hope. I'd hate to explain to Hertz how I let their car get stolen." Saeth shrugged. "I teleported, if you must know."
Gunn ran a hand over his bald head, a look of confusion on his face. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
"More or less along the lines of 'beam me up Scotty'." Saeth grinned more broadly. "I can do it for long distances, too. Saves on plane fare, let me tell you, but it takes a lot of skill and energy. I would have passed on it except all that traveling and the bar left me really needing a shower. And I wasn't keen on waking up Angel and asking him to borrow his."
"Man, you have all the cool tricks." Gunn smiled, an energy filling him. "Could you teach me that?"
"You're not exactly great with magic, Charles," Wesley said, putting his head down on the desk. The younger man scowled at him.
"It does require great control and concentration. It's a fairly high level spell and you'd think it would be good in combat but truth is, the concentration required is hard to do when you're trying not to die," Saeth said.
"Still, it could get you out a jam," Gunn argued.
"And it has. I could work with you a bit if I have time but trust me, this isn't something you could learn overnight," Saeth said.
"You might be better off teaching Wesley," Angel said, thinking of what could be done with that sort of spell.
"I've tried. Isn't it a little late in the day for you to be up, Angel?" Saeth asked cautiously, studying his unwavering expression. "Not that I'm complaining since I'd like to ask you more about Wolfram and Hart."
"I was on my way to bed when someone woke up." Angel shot a devilish look at Wesley.
"And torturing me was ever so much more important than getting sleep," Wesley moaned, not lifting his head. Cordy and Gunn laughed. Angel didn't quite feel as if he had earned back that right yet.
"And fun, too," Saeth said. She waved her hands and a glass full of something thick and red appeared in one and a handful of clear capsules in the other. "Here, Wes, this will make you feel better. Alcohol is hell on the body's vitamin B. Takes these down with a little something sure to fix you up after you've taken on the piss."
Wesley eyed it dubiously.
"Give it a try, English. It can't make you feel worse. She looks okay so it probably works," Gunn said. His dark eyes brightened, anticipating mischief.
Wesley took the pills, gulping down the liquid in three long swallows. He turned red then green. After controlling his gag reflex, he asked, "What in the hell was that?"
A smile blossomed on Saeth's tanned face. "A bloody bull."
"Oh, that sounds nasty." Cordelia wrinkled her nose.
"It's just a Bloody Mary made with V-8 juice, beef bouillon and Tabasco," Saeth offered.
"I think it's eating a hole in my stomach," Wesley moaned, clutching the hollow that passed as his belly.
"Yeah but I bet your head doesn't hurt any more," she replied brightly.
"Thank you, Saeth. I'll make sure they inscribed that on my headstone." Wesley glowered at her. "Why don't you serve this to the lawyers at Wolfram and Hart and you won't have to worry about them any more."
She patted him on the head. "Poor baby. Here, these might cheer you up." With another wave of her hand a plate of flat, thick cookies appeared. "Picau ar y maen."
"Which is?" Cordelia asked, eyeing the cookies hungrily.
"They're like stone baked cakes. They're best hot if you have a microwave. You're all welcome to some."
Cordelia went to heat them up and Saeth turned to the others.
"Seriously, what can I expect of Wolfram and Hart?"
"You can expect them to not play fair," Angel said. "And if you get in their way, they'll try to kill you. They've been doing their best to destroy me."
"Lovely. So maybe going to their law firm and announcing, 'hey why were you harassing my friend and what do you know about her death,' isn't the way to go," Saeth said, hopping up onto Wesley's desk so she could sit.
"Only if you want to be a target," Angel said.
Saeth frowned. "Wouldn't be the first time but if I can avoid it. Do you know Lilah Morgan, Mark Lustig or Lindsey MacDonald?"
They all snorted. "Too well," Angel snarled.
"Well, I've never heard of Lustig but the other two are the ones orchestrating Angel's fall," Wesley said.
"They're bad news," Gunn said, the mischievous look gone from his eyes. He was all business now.
"Who?" Cordy asked, coming back with the cookies. The room filled with the smell of spices and currants.
"Lilah and Lindsey," Gunn said, scarfing a cookie.
"Oh, no kidding. Lilah is a total bitch," Cordelia said, offering the plate to Wesley.
"Well, they're the ones who were causing Elyta trouble and they'll be the ones I'm going after. I figure they're the obvious place to start looking for her killer," Saeth said, taking a cookie herself.
"They probably wouldn't hesitate to have someone killed though I'm not sure they'd do it themselves. They try to draw some lines," Wesley said, dubiously.
"They could do it," Angel said, his face setting into the grim lines Saeth figured were more natural for him than his smile. "You really might need our help."
"I'll keep it in mind but for now I think I'd prefer it if they don't know I'm affiliated with you, it's safer for us both that way," Saeth said. "All right, I'll skip storming their offices for now and head over to Elyta's place. I promised her parents I'd pack up her apartment for them. Maybe I can find some more clues as to why Wolfram and Hart wanted that damn artifact so badly."
"And Cordelia could prepare you a dossier on Lilah and Lindsey if you'd like," Wesley offered, oblivious to Cordy's withering look over him volunteering her services.
"I'd appreciate that. I'll be back for it later. Enjoy the Picau ar y maen," Saeth said hopping off the door, and headed for the door.
* * *
Saeth leaned back on Elyta's couch, surveying the cramped apartment. She had thought it would have been bigger considering what Elyta had said rent was. That was a sure reason not to move to southern California. She nearly regretted her promise to Elyta's parents to pack up their daughter's things and send them home. They weren't up to it themselves. Some of Elyta's grad students promised to come help her and she would, in turn, hand over any project notes and whatnot she came across. The students gave her one of their spare keys for the apartment. Elyta liked to give her students free access to her.
Saeth picked up a photo of Elyta, her café mocha skin highlighted by a jewel tone bikini. She looked happy. Tears stung Saeth's eyes. She was used to loss. It was a large part of being a Watcher. But Elyta hadn't been part of that life. She was a mundy. She didn't deserve to be drowned. Saeth knew that retrieving the lost artifact was only part of why she volunteered for this solo mission. Elyta's killers would pay for it, no matter what she had to do.
Hearing voices in the hallway, Saeth blotted her eyes and readied a spell that would freeze most things in their tracks. One could never be too careful. She heard a key enter the lock but didn't relax. Yes, it could be one of Elyta's students finally arriving to help or it could be something else.
"You're sure this is okay?" a middle-aged woman asked, swinging the door open.
"It's part of an investigation, ma'am, just like the paperwork says," a tall, reedy, pale man replied, moving toward the open door.
Saeth got to her feet, studying them. In addition to the woman at the door and the tall man, there was another woman in an obviously expensive lavender dress and a somewhat short young man with a longish haircut that didn't match the professional lines of his charcoal grey suit. "Really? The police didn't mention for me to expect anyone when I spoke to them earlier today."
Everyone stared at her.
"Who the hell are you?" the blond haired man asked.
"The person who actually has a key to this place," Saeth shot back. "And I'd think the police would have told me to expect company since they said I could pack up Dr. Ashworth's belongings, indicating they're done with them. So, who are you three and what are you investigating?"
"They said they were with a law firm," the rental agent said, looking nervous. "They showed me their cards."
"You're done here, ma'am," the reedy man said. "This is between us and the lady with the key."
Rather than protest, the rental agent fled quickly.
"Law firm? Let me guess, Wolfram and Hart." Saeth's lips quirked up, seeing their surprised looks. "So much for leaving you for last. Hmm, I guess you must be Lilah Morgan." Saeth padded up to her in her bare feet, having ditched her sandals as soon as she entered the apartment. She hated shoes. "I'll confess I'm a little surprised. I thought I'd be dealing with two women and a man. Guess I liked the idea of two lady lawyers a little too much. So which of you is the Mic?" Saeth didn't have to be told the twin barbs hit home. The small man had to be Lindsey MacDonald. Her eyes swept over him. He didn't look like much but she knew Wesley and Angel had reason to think he was a danger. Her gaze lingered on his prosthetic arm, making a mental note of the weakness just in case he was the one who had Elyta killed and she would have to fight him later, then she jerked her head over to the blond man who was laughing.
"It's an easy mistake to make," the blond said and Lindsey's lip curled.
"That would make you Mark Lustig then. You haven't answered my question, what are you three investigating?"
"You haven't answered ours either. Who are you and how did you know who we are?" Lilah asked.
"You repeatedly harassed my good friend, tried to steal away her archaeology site and all the finds there in and then she turns up dead. Did you think I wouldn't know who you are?" Saeth asked, carefully not revealing much about herself.
"We didn't steal anything. Dr. Ashworth's team was operating illegally," Lindsey said, as Lilah peeled away from the group and starting wandering about. "And we don't like your implication that we had something to do with the doctor's death."
Saeth batted her eyes at him. "Did I imply that? Perhaps it was all the hostile correspondence from your office that gave me that impression. Yes, I've seen it all. I've kept it all with copies here and back home in Wales. Perhaps I'll give it to the police." Saeth hadn't wanted to tell them that, at least not until she read up on the information Wesley was having prepared for her but she wasn't afraid of this crew. She had dealt with scarier things back when she was in junior high in Slayer training. If being a target for them got her to the bottom of things faster, so be it.
"And I'm sure the police are truly concerned, what with how fast they're allowing you to pack away her apartment," Lustig said. "The paper said it was considered to be an accident."
Saeth snorted. "You, Ms. Morgan, care to get back with the others here where I can see you? I don't like the idea of you just wandering around and if you're looking for a purse to snoop around in to figure out my name, forget it. I didn't carry one here."
Lilah flushed "What sort of woman doesn't have a purse?"
"I forgot it. I hate when that happens. And as for Elyta's death being accidental, not a chance of it," Saeth said, herding Lilah back to her companions, both of whom were checking her out. Men! Saeth didn't know how they accomplished anything with how easily boobs distracted them.
Lindsey scowled and Saeth noticed he quit checking her out so he could make eye contact with her. She didn't mind the appraisals she was getting from him and Lustig. If they were distracted, so much the better.
"What makes you so sure?" Lindsey asked.
Saeth stalked up to him and forced him to take a step back. She saw the resentment in his light blue eyes. At nearly 6'1" she had a few inches on him and made the most of them. "I've known Elyta since we were roommates back in our freshman year at Cambridge. She loved to sunbath but she was terrified of the water. She couldn't swim. She wouldn't get anywhere near the shoreline. With that knowledge and a little suggestion to look for needle marks, the medical examiner found a puncture in her right buttock and a thorough exam showed insulin in the track. He wouldn't have detected it otherwise but it seems Elyta was overdosed with insulin. She was almost dead when she hit the water. It was murder."
She watched their faces. Surprise glittered through their cool facades. Did guilt come with it? Had they known Elyta's death was no accident? She couldn't be sure but she suspected they knew the archeologist had been murdered.
"She could have accidentally taken too much," Lustig suggested.
"She wasn't diabetic," Saeth said.
"She could have been using it to lose weight. Injecting yourself is popular with the get-thin crowd," Lilah said, resting a hip against the couch nonchalantly.
"Somehow I doubt it. So what the hell are you three looking for? More artifacts to steal? No, if it was something obvious the police might have twigged onto it. I'm betting you're looking for notes or journals or something along those lines," Saeth said and the lawyers didn't react. "Well, why don't you just turn around and leave? Or show me a search warrant and tell me what you're looking for."
"We can get a restraining order to keep you from removing anything until we can determine if anything belonging to Wolfram and Hart is here," Lindsey said.
"Go paperwork me to death, mate. Because until you do, I'm not letting you search in here and I promised Elyta's parents I'd handle packing up her belongings. The police said it's okay so until I hear otherwise, officially, that's what I'm going to do," Saeth replied, opening the door for them.
"For someone who's not even from around here you sound awfully sure of yourself," Mark said.
"I am," Saeth shot back. "But mostly, I'm tired, upset and hey, a little bit bitchy or else I wouldn't have dropped my rag and made that Mic crack but you know what else I am, fed up with you ponces trying to push around Elyta's group. So, you might want to walk through that door before I toss you out it."
"Think you can?" Mark asked, his pale face going red and blotchy.
"Elyta and I shared a love of rugby. We were excellent. It taught me more than what I'd need to know to crush the lot of you." Saeth had to fight to keep from reaching for him and shoving him through the mail slot on the door.
"I don't see you being foolish enough to manhandle us," Lindsey said, heading for the door.
The smug look on his face dug into her and Saeth knew he was right about that. "Piss off."
"We'll be back. Care to give us a name for the restraining order or shall we just leave it as a general one covering all of Dr. Ashworth's belongings?" Lindsey asked.
"Dr Saeth Maddoc. You can figure out how to spell it yourself. Try not to hurry back." She managed to shove him and Lilah out the door after Mark and slammed it on them. "Shit!" She grabbed up the phone and called Elyta's senior most grad student. "Hey, Ravena, you might want to get over to Dr. Ashworth's with every student you can get. They're going to try and seize some of Elyta's stuff...yeah I know that's crap. I think most of her journals and the such should be in her office and not here but I'll need your help in making sure...great, see you all then."
Saeth hung up and cast a spell to seek other magic items just to be sure there was nothing else hiding that Elyta hadn't had a chance to tell her about. There was nothing. She had no idea how American law worked but she knew she was on the clock. She found two journals before the students arrived and she set the books into a holding chamber that was interdimensional just in case. Armed with several students, Saeth began the thorough search of the apartment, hoping to get it done before the lawyers could return.