Ch.8

Angel sat at his desk, contemplating what their next move should be. Opposite him, Spike sat in the easy chair, tapping his foot impatiently.

"Maybe we should draw out," Angel said finally.

"No bloody way," Spike replied, "We can't just abandon this right now."

"Spike," Angel said, "This is none of our concern, it's obvious that there is a lot more to this case than we first thought."

"So?" Spike retorted, "Yeah, that's obvious, but the other obvious thing is that he might be doing something….evil. Or something like that. We got to stop him."

"Please," Angel said, seeing through his mask, "You just want to get a chance to hurt him."

"Well….yeah," Spike said, "It's not like I don't have a good reason!"

"Look, I don't want to get into this further, I think it's best that we pull out-"

"I think it's not," said a voice that spawned from the door.

The two vampires looked to find Wesley leaning on the side of the door. He was holding a manila folder in his hand, thick with dozens of papers.

"Why?" Angel asked.

"Well for starters, I think Spike could be right in his assumption that Dorian may be doing something evil," he began as he walked to Angel's desk and put the file down on the wood surface, "Look, even though there is little or no record of Dorian in our world, on the surface. There is a lot about him in the underground demon files."

"Demon files?" Spike asked as he stood up, "I didn't even know that demons knew what files were."

"It was a small fighting ring," Wesley informed, "They kept information on every fighter that participated in bouts. Dorian was the reigning champion four times in a row. They've got files of him kidnapping various vampires and demons. There has been much discussion of him doing many experiments and torturing his victims in both fights and personal matters."

He pulled out a few photos of other demons and vampires.

"These," he said, "Are three of the biggest crime lords in the demon world."

Spike looked at one of the photos of a female vampire and picked it up, "Hey! I know this girl, think I dated her for awhile."

Wesley looked at him, "Anyways, these guys hire Dorian to protect them, and guess what happened."

"He killed them?" Angel asked.

"More than that," Wesley answered, "Killed them, their friends and some of the family members. All the rest were kidnapped and never heard from again. The girl," Wesley said as he took the picture from Spike, "Is the most recent victim of his killings."

"And?" Spike asked.

"Well, she had a daughter. Well, what she considered a daughter. A girl that she turned into a vampire named Sair," Wesley explained, "She was taken by him a year ago, and she hasn't been heard from since."

Angel leaned back in his chair for a moment, "What's this guy doing?"

"I suggest that we still go in for the case," Wesley said, "We still look for Mina, but we investigate Dorian as well."

Angel nodded, "Alright, we'll do it. But we'll need to do some reconnaissance work."

Wesley nodded in approval, "Yes, but I cannot. I have to do more research here. Gunn is working on other cases and Fred is still looking up more and more stuff on Mina."

Angel looked down, "Well I guess there's no other choice…"

Spike laughed, "Well little Peaches has gotta go undercover eh?"

"Yeah," Angel said as he looked to Spike, "But you're coming with me."

"What?!"

"Well there's no one else, unless you would like me to stick you with Harmony. That could be arranged," Angel said slyly.

"You're still a dick," Spike muttered as he walked off.

"I'll call you with the details!" Angel called after.

"Up yours!" was the angry reply he got as Spike stormed out of his office.

Angel and Wesley laughed.

Angel was pacing in his office, thinking on how he could do some undercover research on Dorian Gray. He knew where he was, just the approach. Dorian would, no doubt, sense the presence of two vampires following him. So how was he to do this?

As if on cue, his phone rang.

Angel went over and picked it up.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Mr. Angel?"

"It's Angel, thanks. Is this Dorian?"

"Quite correct," the voice on the other line said, "I've called to ask if you had any information on Mina yet."

"Well, we have found out that she is a vampire, her existence has been dating back since the 1700's at least. We've gotten a few prior addresses but have found no current one. We still need to investigate more, sir," Angel informed Dorian.

"Ah…" was what he heard on the other line. It seemed as if Dorian was somewhat disappointed, "Well, in light of your recent information and your findings being found quicker than I expected, I propose you join me tomorrow evening."

"What?" Angel asked.

"I'm hosting a ball at the hotel I am at. You see, I also own the hotel I told you I was staying at. The ball is for charity and a few more people could never hurt. I'll put you on the guest list, it's tomorrow, and you can bring any friends of yours if you like," Dorian said, the friendly tone in his voice betrayed Angel's first judgment of him.

'This is perfect,' Angel thought, 'This is just what we could do to investigate him further. But, he could be planning something. But Spike's coming with me, it's not like we can't defend ourselves.'

Deciding that he could do it and should Angel told him, "Absolutely."

"Excellent," was the answer he got, "It's tomorrow night at eight. Sharp."

After that, he hung up.

Angel did so as well. He knew something was up, time to get cracking on some research.

He went to his phone again and called up Fred. She answered after a few rings.

"Hello?"

"Fred, it's Angel. Look, I'm really sorry, but I need you to look this up for me."

" Sure, what do you need?"

"I need you to find out which hotel this number comes from, it's…" Angel fished for the card Dorian gave him, "846-2987."

"Got it, hang on."

After a moments' silence, Fred spoke again.

"It's the Exeter Hotel. Very fancy and prestigious from it's reviews."

"Great, can you tell me if there has been any previous articles in the paper relating to the hotel?"

Fred seemed confused by this sudden request, "Um, yeah."

Angel heard some computer keys clicking in the background and waited silently for her to get an answer.

"Got one. It's about a ball tomorrow night for charity. The owner…..Dorian Gray?!"

"It's alright, I know," Angel said, "Look, see what you can find about his life at the hotel. Anything will do. Me and Spike are gonna go to that ball."

"What? I'm not invited?" Fred asked jokingly.

"Believe me, it's not for fun. We're gonna try and see what we can find there."

"Good luck."

"I'll need it."

Angel hung up his phone, so this ball was reliable. But there still could be a trap, he pressed another button on his phone.

"Hello?"

"Harmony, I need a tux."

Ch.9

The next night……

After being fitted and receiving his tuxedo, invitation, and making plans on what he would do once he got to the ball, Angel walked downstairs in his new garb and took out the invitation to make sure of the time and date for the fifteenth time.

"This doesn't look bloody natural," came a voice from the elevator.

Angel looked to the opened doors and saw Spike tugging at the sleeves of his tuxedo.

"I don't get it," he said, "How does bloody James Bond do it, yet I can't?"

"It's in the movies," Angel explained, "They perfect it."

"Whatever," Spike replied and then pulled out the sash that was suppose to go around his waist to complete the suit, "What do I do with this?"

"Spike!" Angel said, "You're suppose to put that on as a belt! God, did you not ever where a suit at all?"

"A couple of times," Spike replied, "But those were with suspenders, not bloody sashes."

"Well, put it on," Angel said.

"How?"

Angel sighed, "Come here."

Spike walked toward him.

"Give me the sash," Angel instructed and Spike did so, "Put out your arms."

"What?"

"Just do it."

Spike sighed as he did so and Angel started wrap the sash around him, hugging him to get it around his back.

"Hey, don't get too friendly Peaches," Spike warned.

"What the hell are you two doing?" Wesley asked as he came down the stairs. Imagine his surprise, seeing Angel and Spike.

Angel looked up, "We were just, I was just putting on his sash."

"And he couldn't do that himself?"

"He didn't know how."

"Right, I'm just going to stop talking about it"

Angel nodded as he tucked the sash into a belt and let Spike alone.

"I thought you two already left?" Wesley asked.

"We're going to leave now," Angel said.

"Well I just thought I'd let you know," Wesley started, "Dorian has a lot of 'friends' if you will, that will be there."

"Vampires?"

"Yes, be careful, I advise you."

"Good, thanks," Angel said, "Spike, let's go."

"Right," he replied as he followed him into the elevator.

Angel hit the button that led to the bottom floor and stood back. Spike leaned against the side and lit a cigarette.

"So how's this goin' down?" he asked as he blew out some smoke.

"Just try to find out all you can about him," Angel answered, "His friends, accomplices, try to snoop around his hotel. Look for places he can hide victims and such. I'll search his room."

"Better yet, do the reverse," Spike said, "I don't want to walk around meaningless until I find something."

"Alright," Angel said as he shrugged, "Just don't get caught."

Spike sighed as the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. They walked through the lobby and out to the sidewalk. There, a limousine awaited them.

"Let's go then," Spike said as he got in.

'This is gonna be a long night,' Angel thought as he got in.

When they arrived, there was a great hustle and bustle outside of the hotel. Valets, red carpets, news crews, and celebrities alike were there. As they got out of the car, they were greeted with many cameras.

"Oh hell…" Spike said.

"What?" Angel asked.

"I'm not very photogenic."

"Whatever, remember what we're here to do."

"I haven't forgotten yet, be glad at that."

Angel shook his head as he stepped inside the luxurious hotel. It was lavishly decorated with banners, streamers, wine glass pyramids, and such.

As soon as he entered, he was given a glass of champagne, which he put back on another tray as soon as the man that gave it to him left. Spike, however, did quite the opposite, downing his first two glasses as soon as he came in.

"I like this party already," he said.

"Don't get too drunk, you won't be of any use if you are," Angel said.

"Precisely the point of my actions," Spike replied.

"I'm asking, you just this once to help me out alright?"

"You take things too seriously, I was just kidding."

"Split up, meet back in ten minutes," Angel instructed.

Spike nodded and departed towards the grand staircase where many people were going up and down.

A few girls passed him by, taking his attention away for a minute or two, before he began to mingle again. Spike picked up on bits and pieces of irrelevant conversation and decided to start some himself. He flirted with a girl for a few moments silently before they spoke to one another.

"Hey," Spike said, working his accent to his biggest advantage.

"Hi," the girl answered.

"I'm new around here and I'm afraid I don't know many people. Do you think you could introduce me to some? Possibly, yourself first?"

'Smooth,' Spike thought as he smirked.

The girl giggled, "Yes, I think I could do that. My name's Sarah, I'm Mr. Gray's informant."

"Really? You know Mr. Gray personally?"

"Yes, he's done a lot of favors for me and hired me with no prior experience."

"That's very nice of him."

"Yes, it was, He's a very nice guy and a very caring one too."

"Caring? How so?"

"Well," the girl began, "He took on an orphan girl off of the streets. He says she's mentally unstable, so she has to stay in his room, but he's helping her recover. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Yes," Spike agreed, mostly thinking on what this girl had to do with Dorian, "Tell me, do you know his room number?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, I wanted to thank him for inviting me here to this party by sending him a donation to this ball. I wanted to deliver it personally, but I do not know which number room he's in."

"You seem like you're a little on the snoopy side."

"Oh come on," Spike said as he leaned in a little closer, nose to nose with the girl, "Please?"

And with that, he kissed her, leaving her breathless.

"Six sixty-six," she told him.

"Thanks," Spike said with a smile and wink. He turned away and headed back to meet Angel, threading his way through the many couples and people.

He just got some information.