Chapter Two

Gunn was seriously feeling the need to pee. He had drunk about five cups of coffee during the last hour, and the only thing keeping him in the living room was the fact the phone was due to ring again in two minutes. Laurence walked in from the kitchen, and sent him on his way post haste. He got back to the living room just in time to grab the first call.

"Hey Connor," he said a little out of breath. "Ok, so outside town huh? The suburbs? Man, they are hiding in plain sight. Corner of Brentwood and St. John. Got it. I'll let Spike know." Gunn hung up, and smiled at Laurence. "Looks like they got a lead...or at least a vicinity."

Laurence nodded, and drank his seventh cup of coffee.

Spike called to check in not long later, and Gunn relayed the information Connor had passed on. "Right," Spike answered. "If he calls again tell him we'll meet him there in a couple of minutes." He hung up the phone, and turned to Layla. "Hear that, Pet. We get to go to the suburbs. Or as I refer to it, Hell on earth."

Spike looked around to see if anyone was coming. There was no one about; the streets calm and quiet. He stuck out his hand gingerly. "Ok, time to do that thing you do." Layla looked at him with amusement, and took his hand in her own. Spike felt the familiar jolt, and the dizzying feeling of moving through space. Then the ground was once again underneath his feet, and the familiar feeling of nausea abated. "I don't know how you do that," he gasped, bending over. "Feels like my guts are being ripped out."

Layla raised an eyebrow. "Well, I have to convert you to energy, and move you from location A to location B. Then reassemble you to a physical state. So in essence your guts are being ripped apart." He shot her an irritated, 'why didn't you tell me that before' look. She moved over to him, and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You will become used to it in time."

Spike gave her a baleful look. "Yeah, sure. Whatever you say." He shook his head to clear away more cobwebs, and stood up. "Let's go find the others," he said, trying to ignore the little flip flops his stomach was still making. "I think Gunn said they were going up St. John." He started walking down the street.

Layla nodded, and followed. She again mused to herself how one being could be so complex. He had asked her to transport them here, but then complained about it. Would she ever understand these mortals? 'They say one thing and mean another,' she thought to herself, 'it is most confusing!'

It didn't take them long to catch up to Connor and Illyria. The boy and the demon had staked out a non-descript house at the end of dead end road, and already had done a quick reconnaissance of the exterior. Oddly, they had found nothing. 'This can't be good,' Connor thought to himself. He had a sneaking suspicion they had arrived too late.

Spike contacted Gunn quickly to let him know that they had all met up, and would have more news soon. Then, he looked at the house. His instincts told him their quarry was long gone, but best to remain cautious. He looked at Illyria. "You take the back," he said. "Make sure no one gets out that way." Illyria nodded, and walked off. "Layla, you take the front. Knock on the front door, pretend you're lost or something." Layla nodded, but didn't move. "Connor, you and I will take the sides, and try to sneak in quiet like."

Connor looked at him slightly puzzled, "I thought you can't enter a house without being invited."

Spike nodded, "I can't. But I am betting that this is not where they live, and that makes it fair game." Then he shrugged. "But if I'm wrong, then I can at least keep the buggers from getting too far on the outside."

Connor nodded, and the three got up and took their positions. Layla knocked on the door, but found it swung open on her touch. She entered cautiously, and peered around the corner into a large room. It was empty; absolutely empty. No chairs, desks, rugs....there was nothing there. She quickly checked the other rooms to find similar results. Entering the kitchen, which was also spotless, she went directly to the back door, and let Illyria in. "It's empty. There is no one here," she informed the demon. "Tell the others, I'm going to check out the upstairs," Illyria nodded, and disappeared back outside.

Layla carefully went up the stairs to the second floor. She checked each room, to find it spotless and empty. However, the last room was different. There was a desk there, with a small, rectangular object on it. She walked in, and took the item off the desk. There was a note attached, addressed to Connor. Spike walked into the room, and looked at her.

"Whatcha got there?" he said indicating the object in her hands. Layla turned and handed it over. He sighed. "They bloody well knew we were coming. Damn it!" He kicked the wall angrily.

Connor was the next to arrive in the room. "What's going on? I could hear you cursing from the bottom of the stairs."

Spike handed him the object. "It's a bloody video tape, and addressed to you no less."

Connor swore under his breath. "Great! All that for nothing!"

Layla watched the two angry men, puzzled. "Perhaps we should return to Connor's home, so he can find out what is the significance of that object."

Connor nodded, still very upset, and walked out the door. His feet echoed through the house as he walked down the stairs. Layla turned to Spike who was looking like he wanted to tear something apart.

"The arrogance of these blighters," he raged. "They stalk some poor kid, and make what one could interpret as a threat, and then just take off! The bastards!" He smashed his fists on the desk. "It's like some bloody covert military operation, only better!"

Layla stood back, and let him rage for a few minutes, then walked over to him. He was in such a rage he didn't see her kiss her fingers, and place her palm to his head. "Shh," she said, and caught him easily as he fell unconscious.