Chapter Ten
Spike had returned not long later, and Gunn informed the group they had been invited to dinner at Connor's house. Spike had raised an eyebrow, and Illyria looked...well like Illyria (you could never really tell what she was thinking). Gunn found himself a bit daunted by the prospect, but as far as he reconciled that it was a free, home-cooked meal, so why not.
The ride over to the Rileys' was quiet. Gunn drove because he had been the one who had gotten directions. Spike sat in the back smoking, and Illyria marveled approvingly at all the green. When they arrived, Gunn looked at Spike as he got out of the car.
"Um..Spike.."
"Don't worry Charlie," Spike interrupted, sensing where this was going. "I promise to be on my best behavior." He held up his fingers, "Boy Scout promise."
Gunn sighed. 'Boy scout my ass,' he thought. Illyria ignored them, and walked up to the front door, but seemed unsure what to do next. Luckily for her, the door was opened by Connor's mother. She gave the group a warm smile, and invited them inside.
"Hello! I'm Colleen Riley," and she gestured to the man standing next to her, "and this is my husband Laurence. You must be the friends of Angel's Connor told us about. I am very sorry to hear of his death."
Illyria nodded. "He fell against a mighty foe."
Colleen blinked. "Oh, Connor said he died in an earthquake."
"Oh he did, he did." Gunn intervened hastily. "Illyria, here, likes to think of the earth as a living thing all its own." He looked hard at Illyria, who looked back confused.
"Lovely home you have here." Spike interjected changing the subject.
"Thank you." Colleen said with a smile, looking around. "We've been here since Connor was a baby."
The back door opened, and in walked Connor, and next to him was...
"Layla?" Spike said surprised. "How'd you get here?"
"I flew." She said with a very cheeky smile.
"Right," Spike answered not sure whether to be exasperated or amused. He still couldn't tell when she was serious or not. To his relief, Connor's parents seemed to take her appearance in stride.
A buzzer rang in the kitchen. "Shall we?" Colleen said, and led them into the dining room.
Dinner had gone quite well, all things considered. Connor was relieved that his sisters had gone to dinner at their friends' houses, and not been home for this conversation. It was too many questions he was not ready to answer for them; it was hard enough with his parents.
Afterwards, everyone gathered into the living room, and after a very pushy look from his mother, the teenager explained to the group what had happen that morning.
"So what do you think?" Laurence asked. "The police didn't sound too hopeful, and these crazy guys are still out there following my son."
Spike looked thoughtful. They sounded like Watchers all right. He wouldn't have put it past the twits to set up Connor with a bunch of tests, just to prove their theory. The whole feeling of being incredibly full of themselves, also fit. However, something about the whole scenario felt a just little off. Something he couldn't put his finger on.
Illyria looked impassively around during the conversation. However, when the room became silence, she looked right at Spike. There was a hint of anger in her cold, blue eyes, and he wondered how they would look if she was in her full glory. "These beings need to be punished for their insolence. Their arrogance should not be allowed to continue," she said decisively.
Gunn snorted. "Well I think she just summed up what we were all thinking. So where do we start? Do we have any idea where Watchers hang out?"
Spike looked at Connor, as if he was analyzing him. "Did you catch his scent?"
Connor nodded. "Yeah. Cheap cologne, and lots of it; with a mixture of cigars and brandy." Then catching the vampire's unspoken question, he smiled in understanding. "I could track it, no problem."
Spike nodded. 'The kid's sharp,' he thought. "Ok, here's the plan. Connor and Illyria, you two follow the trail see where it ends up." They nodded in agreement. "If you find anything, you call back here. No going it alone. We do this as a group. Watchers are sneaky, devious little folk, but they do have tricks up their sleeves."
Then Spike turned to Gunn. "Stay here with the Rileys. I doubt any of the stalkers will come back, but best be on the safe side." Gunn nodded, and got up and went out to get his gear from the truck. "Layla, you're with me. We'll patrol the town, see if there is any of them are hanging around." Then realizing something, he looked at Layla. "Can you fight?"
"I'd prefer not to," she said with a frown. "I have been trained to do so, when necessary."
"Good." Spike looked at the Rileys, "Do you perhaps have a portable we can use?" Colleen looked confused, and then catching on she nodded, and took her cell phone out of her purse, and handed it to Spike.
He put it in his coat pocket, and gave the group a meaningful look. "Ok everyone keep in touch. Call in to Gunn every 15 minutes."
Connor hugged his mom and dad goodbye. "I promise I'll get to the bottom of this," he whispered to them. His mom kissed him on the cheek. His father smiled. "I know you will, Son." Connor turned, and looked resolutely at the others.
"Let's go, Illyria." He turned and walked confidently out the door, like one who was used to setting out into battle. Illyria nodded to the other, and followed him a moment later into the night.
Spike looked at Gunn meaningfully. "Hold down the fort, Charlie boy. Alright Angel Toes, let's skedaddle." Layla smiled at Laurence and Colleen. She placed a hand on each of their arms. They seemed to relax a bit under her touch. Then she turned to Spike, took his hand in her own, and they vanished.
Gunn looked at the Rileys, and felt very awkward. "Well, now I guess we sit and wait."
Colleen sat with her husband for several minutes, her hands twisting in her lap. Suddenly, she stood up. "Would anyone like some coffee?"
"I would!" came the unanimous response.
Colleen quickly headed off to the kitchen, grateful for something to do other than wait.
Next up: The Education of Mr. Riley
That's right all! It's a two parter!