Savage the Hunt

Disclaimer: Joss owns Btvs

A/N: Hi all. I'm glad everyone seems to like the story so far. I'm going away on vacation this week and will be away from the computer, so I'm posting more chapters to this story Sunday. Someone mentioned how everyone's connected and I'll be getting to that in later chapters. As for Cordy, Angel and Fred don't worry they'll be in this story as well. They just aren't a part of the Savage clan. And Buffy will be coming into the story in the next chapter. I'm really enjoying writing this. As for the whole Buffy getting married and having kids in three years time I'll explain that too. And it would be so easy to make those kids Spike's but the truth is they aren't. I'm mad at myself for that, but I couldn't have it be that way. Well enjoy. Skyz.

~(~

Chapter Three-

Spike wasted little time taking a quick shower. He tried to keep his mind a neutral blank so as not to become overwhelmed with all the images that wanted to run through his head. He thought a little about what his father had said.

It didn't make sense for Buffy to still be alive and no one know about it. It was hard to even think about her being so close and yet so far away. Stepping out of the shower he wrapped a towel around his waist and exited the en suite bathroom.

He was dressed and staring off into space when there was a knock on his door. Calling out he waited for whoever it was to come in, and took a seat on the edge of his bed to tie his shoes.

Gwen strolled in and paused a feet in front of him.

"I just wanted to see how you were," she murmured as she studied his bent head.

Spike finished tying his shoes and finally lifted his head; he sent her a smile and gave a nonchalant shrug.

"How am I supposed to be feeling? I'm ecstatic she's alive. I feel like I'm walking on air. But if I let myself think about the rest… I can't bear it. I'm trying to hold on here Gwen and I don't know how long I can," he told her truthfully.

She took a seat next to him and draped an arm over his hunched shoulders.

"Well I'm not going argue with you Spike. I wouldn't know how to feel if I were you. I mean it's great. It's wonderful but then there's the whole…how the hell did this happen aspect. The whole web of secrecy that's unsettling."

Spike made a sound of agreement.

If they were right and there was an underlining conspiracy going on there was the chance that whoever it was could get spooked, and disappear taking Buffy with him.

That was not going to happen.

Spike would no allow it to happen.

Abruptly he straightened.

"Everybody up? I think it's time we talked about this again," he murmured as he rose and waited for Gwen to get to her feet as well. He let her precede him out of his room. Trailing after her he knew he was going to see Buffy. There just wasn't any way he could keep away from her. She was in his blood and he in hers. He just knew if she saw him again she would remember and they could be together again.

Purposefully he didn't think about her other husband or her kids. To him at the moment they weren't entirely real, and even so…he was entirely too selfish to give a damn about them.

Buffy was his and no other man could claim her.

Spike strode quickly into the livingroom feeling refreshed, and ready to begin strategizing on how to get Buffy back.

Ethan stepped into Spike's path and took him aside briefly.

"William," he began softly. "I think it would be wise to investigate this before we act. We need to know everything we can before we engage in any kind of action. I know you want to see her, but you have to think about the consequences of that. We don't have a clue as to what happened or who's involved. We don't know if they saw Gunn and moved her or anything at all at the moment."

Spike nodded along as his father spoke.

"Right, while you do that I'll be in Sunnydale. Nothing you say is gonna make me change my mind Dad. I have to see her with my own eyes," Spike told him firmly his voice daring his father to argue.

Ethan reluctantly nodded.

"Well if you insist at least take some form of a disguise. Gunn did a brief check of her-of the man who claims to be her husband, and found nothing out of the ordinary. Willow wants to check into that. We don't know who could be watching that town and you shouldn't be spotted," he warned his son.

Spike nodded again as he turned to face the quiet group of his friends and family.

"So…I'm going to Sunnydale," he announced.

~*~

"We've got company."

All eyes turned to Faith as she returned from the kitchen her arms full of food, the expression on her face grim.

"Who?" Spike asked as he stopped mid pace to look around at her. They'd been talking about how he was going to go unnoticed enough to get close to Buffy. Gunn had mentioned Buffy owned a business. They'd been in the middle of asking what kind when Faith interrupted.

"Well your butler just told me the police buzzed the gate and are on the way up the drive," she answered as she began to deposit the food around.

Spike's eyes narrowed as he felt latent anger surge through him. He didn't want to deal with the police; he'd had enough of them years ago. Angrily he muttered under his breath as he strode out of the livingroom towards the foyer. He didn't tolerate fools well and to him the duo the police force had investigating him, instead of finding Buffy, deserved his contempt.

And to think she'd been under their noses the past three years, and he nor the police had never known. He was disgusted with himself and the police.

He would show them in himself and as soon as possible get them the hell out.

He opened the door as he heard their car come to a stop in the drive. He eyed the late model sedan and the occupants with acute distaste. He had known it would be them. It would have to be. The detectives who'd been put on the case years ago had not given up their asinine idea that he was behind Buffy's disappearance.

For their suspicion they got cold indifference.

"Detectives," he greeted them coolly as they strode up.

His eyes flickered over Detective Rafe Trouville. He was a thin man bordering on skinny, his face was deeply tanned, and his hair was a burnished gold that you only got from a bottle, and an excellent hairstylist. His eyes were a pale green set in a narrow face that people often considered scholarly if not that handsome. His mouth was usually set in a thin line of contempt.

Spike had made it his mission to find out everything he could on the detectives, and what he'd found on Rafe caused a smile to flicker.

His attention shifted to Tia and he felt his anger rise and threaten to choke him it was so fierce. She was the epitome of cool. Nothing seemed to bother her and it irked the hell out of him.

Tia's hair was cut short, so short it was barely a few inches above her scalp. Black peach fuzz, Spike mused. The thing was even with the short hair it did nothing to deter from her odd attractiveness. She had dusky golden skin, a face that was too angular to be handsome. Her eyes were gray; set wide apart, her nose was long and slightly crooked. Her mouth was long and wide. Put together it made for an oddly striking woman.

Spike wasn't sure whom he disliked more out of the pair.

Rafe grinned at Spike and offered his hand.

"Hello Mr. Savage," he returned the greeting amicably.

Spike ignored the hand.

"What can I do for you this morning?" Spike asked directing his question to Tia.

"May we come in?" Tia asked even as she moved brushing past Spike and into the foyer. "It's been awhile William. We thought we'd drop by and ask some questions," she added over her shoulder.

Rafe followed her in and Spike clenched his jaw as he slowly closed the door.

"What sort of questions? Have you found anything new regarding my wife's disappearance?" he demanded as he followed them into the livingroom.   He paused in the doorway and watched as the detectives took in the room.

While he'd answered the door it seemed everyone except his father and brother had left to give him some privacy. He felt a smirk want to form on his lips at the thought. He appreciated their thoughtfulness. He knew that if they all had stayed there was no way they could keep Buffy being alive and well, a secret.

Rafe studied the spacious livingroom with its antiques and obviously expensive furniture. He did love the rich, he mused. He enjoyed looking in on what he would never in a million years acquire. But he knew something that most didn't. Money didn't guarantee happiness; no money was like a magnet, and drew out all the sickest people. He suspected William Savage had hired some low life to break into his home, and had his wife killed. Probably paid the man buckets of money and tossed his wife's body parts into the ocean.

Tia looked over at her partner and noticed his distracted expression. She knew him well enough to know he was thinking once again about his theory. William Savage one of the world's richest men and CEO of the family business had murdered his wife, and for the past three years he'd gotten away with it. She knew it was more than likely, but the pieces of this puzzle just didn't click. She'd never admitted it, but she just couldn't see William killing his wife. It had been known throughout the Savages' social circle how much William had loved Buffy. And vice versa.

"What can I do for you Detectives?" Spike asked again, as he strode in heading for the mini breakfast bar. He poured himself a cup of coffee and waited for one of the detectives to speak.

"We're here as we said to follow up on your wife's disappearance Mr. Savage. It's coming up to the four year anniversary of her…disappearance, and it's customary for us to follow up. How've you been?" Tia asked smoothly as she watched William's still face.

William took a sip of coffee his face blank.

"Decent," was his flat reply. "If you would ask your questions, I've got business to attend to. Take a seat. Can I get you a drink?" It wasn't always easy to put on his civil façade these days. He'd become a master at locking his feelings and becoming a shell of his former self, and thus making himself into this man he was today. He wasn't sure he liked who he was. His eyes were cold and flat as he watched the detectives take a seat in chairs that faced the couch. Rafe asked for a cup of coffee. It was a measure of his calmness when he actually remembered how Rafe took his coffee.

After handing it to him Spike took up residence next to his brother Wesley.

"We heard you were having some kind of party," Tia commented.

"You're mistaken," Spike replied calmly. "I don't throw parties anymore. I don't see what I can tell you that I haven't already. I don't know what happened to my wife. I don't know if she killed that man, I can't recall who would want to break into my house. I have so many enemies it's pointless to guess. I had hoped you had something new to bring to the table. I'm not keen on going round and round in circles once more."

Rafe placed his coffee cup onto the table at his side, and sat forward resting his forearms on his thighs..

Smiling he took William in.

"You've told us this before. But that was before you took it upon yourself to call up all your family and friends. You haven't seen them in over three years. Why the sudden need to visit? What's going on? Going to celebrate how you got rid of Buffy so successfully?" he taunted through narrowed eyes.

Spike took in a deep breath and it was all he could do not to throttle the little smug prick.

"It's personal. It's nothing to do with Buffy," he lied and finishing his coffee he turned to glance at Wes.

Wes stepped forward and spoke for the first time.

"You've asked your questions. I suggest you leave now. You can't continue to harass my client as you've been doing recently. If you insist I will sue you both and the police department."

Tia rose and waited for Rafe to lazily rise as well.

"Thanks for your time," she told them with a small smile as she strode out.

"Oh…how's the hunt for your friend Gunn going? His conscience too much for him? You kill him too?" Rafe asked on his way out.

Spike with his brother and father followed the detectives to the door and watched them leave.

"We can't have them sniffing around this," Wesley remarked.

Spike nodded.

"We'll deal with them. I'll keep them off your trail boy," Ethan told Spike as his eyes rested on the duo that'd just gotten into their car.

"I'll hold you to that," Spike muttered as he turned and headed upstairs. He had things to do before he went to see Buffy.

~*~

"That went well," Tia said as she drove down the driveway away from the Savage mansion.

"Did you see the look on his face when I mentioned his pal Gunn?" Rafe asked with a laugh.

"That blank look? Of course I did Rafe. I don't think he was bothered by what you'd said. Which is why it's suspicious, a person like Gunn just can't go missing. Now from the things that have recently happened we can assume something big is going on. William wouldn't have everyone here if there wasn't something going on. All we have to do is find out just what it is."

Rafe leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

"Why do I have the feeling this is all going to lead back to Mrs. Savage?" he asked amusedly.