Chapter Five Anyanka

I was up late, trying to keep up the shadow on Mrs. Giles before I gave it up and went to to process the snaps. I showed up at the crack of noon, at Giles' office with my laboriously typed report and a set of carefully edited pictures.
He flipped through them carelessly, ignoring most of them until he came to the one showing a shadowy figure in black leather.

He tapped the picture with a curved brown claw Spike. William the Bloody. His claws ticked on the desktop rhythmically, his hazel eyes calculating. I had a feeling there was some kind of history there. Spike might be going to have a run-in with the Ripper sooner than he expected. I had to shoot off my mouth.

Spike, huh? I gave him the big goofy smirk I'd perfected, Who's this guy? Want me to work him over for you?

He stared at me. No. He's too dangerous. A very dangerous vampire. I'll deal with him another way.

I forced out a snorting laugh. This guy?

Don't let his looks fool you. He is extremely intelligent and he never stops once he gets his teeth into something. He's killed two Slayers in his lifetime and it is possible that he could be preparing to make my wife his third. The photograph was turning into tiny shreds of confetti.

I didn't ask about the Slayer thing. Besides, Spike might have been stalking her, but killing was not on his mind. At least, not her.
I want you to find Spike. Locate his crypt, find out who his minions are, but don't let him get wind of you. He's cunning, this Aurelian. I refuse to let him touch her. I'll take care of him myself.

My gut told me Mrs. Giles and the vampire wanted to do much more than touch, but maybe I was wrong. I kept my trap shut. Giles shook his head, slashing the curving horns through the close air of the room. It looked like he was working himself up into a fine homicidal rage. I was backing out of the office when I heard the screech of claws ripping into the walnut desktop. I babbled something and kept moving. I wondered how he got the bloodstains out of his carpeting.

My hands were still shaking while I patted down my pockets for a smoke. I leaned against the back door and clicked open my lighter.

Got a light? she whispered seductively in my ear. She was haloed in light, decked out in a green silk dressing gown opened to her waist. A waterfall of dark hair cascaded past the diamond clip in her hair. I heard Giles hired you to find his wife.

You heard right, baby.

She drew hard on her gasper and gave me a calculating look from the bottom of my dusty flat feet to the top of my creased felt hat.


So what's some information worth to you, Mr. Harris? On the square.

Depends, Anyanka.

She smiled some more, flattered. Her teeth were white and pointed. I'd begun to for get she wasn't just a torch singer. She hooked a slender arm through mine and leaned in close. She smelled of roses and a delicate spice. She was strong. Inhumanly strong. I found myself wanting her.

I won't bite. Unless you ask real nice. she cooed. Then she kissed me. I really liked it. Come to my place tonight. The Sunset Arms. My last show is at midnight. Then she turned and swayed back inside, never once glancing back.



tbc