Chapter 5
Buffy walked slowly towards the big brick building on Oak Street. "Angel Investigations" it read. Willow had explained that Angel was a nickname given to Liam by his little sister. No one knew exactly how she got "Angel" from "Liam", but it had stuck. So now, all his friends called him that, and he named his agency it in honor of his sister. Willow had explained that too. Angel's little sister had been murdered and the police had never figured it out. That was what led him to be a PI.
*Come on Buffy. Why are you so nervous? You want to do this remember? You want to find out who killed Riley and put that person behind bars.* * I know, I know. But for some reason I get the chills looking at this place. No in a bad way, just...I feel like once I walk in there my life will change, and I don't know if I want that.* *But you can't escape change. Besides, your life already has changed. Riley was murdered, remember?*
Buffy realized she was holding a conversation in her head, and with new resolve walked into the office. There was a young brown-haired girl sitting behind a big desk, chatting (more like flirting) with a tall, hot, black man.
Buffy cleared her throat. "Ahem, I am hear to see Liam Connor. I would like to hire him."
"Up the stairs. First door on your left." The young girl didn't even take her eyes off the man she was talking with.
"Thank you." Buffy followed the girl's directions exactly. She cautiously knocked on the door.
"Come in!" The voice coming from inside the room made Buffy tingle with anticipation for some reason. She had never met this man in her life, yet his voice gave her strength and reassurance. She walked into the spacious office, and sat down in a chair.
"Well, what can I do for y--" Angel turned around and noticed how gorgeous the girl...er, woman before him was. She was everything he had ever dreamed of in a girlfriend.
*Girlfriend?? Whoa there buddy. Calm down. She's going to be a client remember? Probably wants you to solve the kidnapping of her boyfriend or something.*
"Mr. Connor?" When the man nodded, Buffy continued. "I am here to employ your services. Um, that didn't come out right." She gave him a tiny smile, embarrassed by the way the words had come out. "What I mean is, I would like to hire you to solve a murder case for me. My husband was killed just last Friday, and despite the fact that the police are doing everything they can, I would just feel more comfortable with a special person on the case." Again Buffy realized that she hadn't said exactly what she meant, but this time she didn't care. She was too worried with whether or not he would accept her case.
"Sure! I'm not busy with anything else right now. Let me get a pad and a pen, then I'll ask you a few questions. Perhaps later tonight we can meet over dinner and discuss the case some more." Buffy gave him a strange look but didn't reply. Angel looked around for something to write on and with, then settled himself comfortably in his overstuffed leather chair.
*Speaking of leather, he looks pretty damn sexy in those leather pants. Wait a second, down girl. Remember Riley. Your husband. Who was killed. There that's better.* Nevertheless, Buffy's heart sped up as she thought about having dinner with this yummy man in front of her.
"Now. Who exactly was murdered. I know you said he was your husband, but I need him name. Actually come to mention it, I need your name too. And your address and phone number. You know, in case something comes up and I need to reach you." Right. Well actually that was standard procedure, it just felt more...real with this girl.
"Okay, Mrs. Finn."
"Please, call me Buffy, Mr. Connor."
"Very well. And you may call me Angel. Now Buffy? What exactly happened last Friday?"
For the next hour and a half, Buffy proceeded to tell Angel all about Riley and his murder. Or at least, everything she knew about him. Then she realized she still had to get to the art gallery/museum and she told Angel so. They agreed to meet the next day, in the afternoon, and then for dinner.
As Buffy left Angel Investigations, she realized that she couldn't wait for tomorrow night to come. She was excited about dinner. She didn't remember being this excited for a long time.
*Not since my first date ever with Riley. But even then I don't think I was this excited. Then I was attracted to him. Now I feel like...I think I'm in love. Wow! This is incredibly twisted. Love at first sight while this man is trying to solve the murder of another man I love. But maybe...maybe I loved Riley, but I wasn't in love with him. Hmmm. Now there's something I'm going to be pondering for the rest of the day, and tomorrow too.*
Either way, no matter what she was thinking. Buffy's body couldn't help but tingle with the anticipation of having dinner with Angel.
Buffy walked slowly towards the big brick building on Oak Street. "Angel Investigations" it read. Willow had explained that Angel was a nickname given to Liam by his little sister. No one knew exactly how she got "Angel" from "Liam", but it had stuck. So now, all his friends called him that, and he named his agency it in honor of his sister. Willow had explained that too. Angel's little sister had been murdered and the police had never figured it out. That was what led him to be a PI.
*Come on Buffy. Why are you so nervous? You want to do this remember? You want to find out who killed Riley and put that person behind bars.* * I know, I know. But for some reason I get the chills looking at this place. No in a bad way, just...I feel like once I walk in there my life will change, and I don't know if I want that.* *But you can't escape change. Besides, your life already has changed. Riley was murdered, remember?*
Buffy realized she was holding a conversation in her head, and with new resolve walked into the office. There was a young brown-haired girl sitting behind a big desk, chatting (more like flirting) with a tall, hot, black man.
Buffy cleared her throat. "Ahem, I am hear to see Liam Connor. I would like to hire him."
"Up the stairs. First door on your left." The young girl didn't even take her eyes off the man she was talking with.
"Thank you." Buffy followed the girl's directions exactly. She cautiously knocked on the door.
"Come in!" The voice coming from inside the room made Buffy tingle with anticipation for some reason. She had never met this man in her life, yet his voice gave her strength and reassurance. She walked into the spacious office, and sat down in a chair.
"Well, what can I do for y--" Angel turned around and noticed how gorgeous the girl...er, woman before him was. She was everything he had ever dreamed of in a girlfriend.
*Girlfriend?? Whoa there buddy. Calm down. She's going to be a client remember? Probably wants you to solve the kidnapping of her boyfriend or something.*
"Mr. Connor?" When the man nodded, Buffy continued. "I am here to employ your services. Um, that didn't come out right." She gave him a tiny smile, embarrassed by the way the words had come out. "What I mean is, I would like to hire you to solve a murder case for me. My husband was killed just last Friday, and despite the fact that the police are doing everything they can, I would just feel more comfortable with a special person on the case." Again Buffy realized that she hadn't said exactly what she meant, but this time she didn't care. She was too worried with whether or not he would accept her case.
"Sure! I'm not busy with anything else right now. Let me get a pad and a pen, then I'll ask you a few questions. Perhaps later tonight we can meet over dinner and discuss the case some more." Buffy gave him a strange look but didn't reply. Angel looked around for something to write on and with, then settled himself comfortably in his overstuffed leather chair.
*Speaking of leather, he looks pretty damn sexy in those leather pants. Wait a second, down girl. Remember Riley. Your husband. Who was killed. There that's better.* Nevertheless, Buffy's heart sped up as she thought about having dinner with this yummy man in front of her.
"Now. Who exactly was murdered. I know you said he was your husband, but I need him name. Actually come to mention it, I need your name too. And your address and phone number. You know, in case something comes up and I need to reach you." Right. Well actually that was standard procedure, it just felt more...real with this girl.
"Okay, Mrs. Finn."
"Please, call me Buffy, Mr. Connor."
"Very well. And you may call me Angel. Now Buffy? What exactly happened last Friday?"
For the next hour and a half, Buffy proceeded to tell Angel all about Riley and his murder. Or at least, everything she knew about him. Then she realized she still had to get to the art gallery/museum and she told Angel so. They agreed to meet the next day, in the afternoon, and then for dinner.
As Buffy left Angel Investigations, she realized that she couldn't wait for tomorrow night to come. She was excited about dinner. She didn't remember being this excited for a long time.
*Not since my first date ever with Riley. But even then I don't think I was this excited. Then I was attracted to him. Now I feel like...I think I'm in love. Wow! This is incredibly twisted. Love at first sight while this man is trying to solve the murder of another man I love. But maybe...maybe I loved Riley, but I wasn't in love with him. Hmmm. Now there's something I'm going to be pondering for the rest of the day, and tomorrow too.*
Either way, no matter what she was thinking. Buffy's body couldn't help but tingle with the anticipation of having dinner with Angel.
