CHAPTER THREE
Connor watched for Gwen's signal, a simple hand gesture through the doorway should she need his assistance inside. They had waited for after hours to invade the inner sanctum of Wolfram and Hart. They had debated it for a day, trying to devise the easiest plan. They would be less conspicuous in the bustle of every day business but a daytime reconn of the place revealed they needed to go several floors up and past a secretary among other obstacles to get to the wall safe in Angel's office, which was where Gwen's sources indicated the Alatyr was.
They ran a risk of someone actually spotting them, not to mention having to get past the offices' occupants. He and Gwen were invisible to the cameras and other alarms and sensors but not to the human eye. It wasn't impossible they might run into a magical sensor their tattoos wouldn't protect them against but that was a risk they were willing to take.
They were dressed in custodial uniforms. He even had a cleaning cart, keeping look out in the corridor. Two curious-looking men passed him. Connor couldn't help but spare them a long glance. They weren't in guards' uniforms nor business suits. They didn't fit in. The one man was tall, lanky, maybe in his late forties, early fifties, dark hair, arrogant eyes. He was trouble. Connor didn't doubt it. The other was short, stocky and wore a cowboy hat with a wide brim that obscured his face from view. They had no business he could think of in this corridor.
"Do you have to do this now?" The tall man gestured at the cleaning cart. His British accent only added to his cocksure demeanor. He obviously wanted Connor out of the hallway.
Connor mumbled at him in Russian. He had learned the language in high school and had an affection for it. The arrogant scowled impatiently at him. "Have orders." Connor shrugged, hoping his "immigrant-barely spoke English" act would convince them he was on the job. He got out a different broom from his cart.
"Can't you do another floor?"
"Got orders." Connor swept in front of the office, putting himself between these men and Gwen. They looked at him for a few moments and, realizing he was going to keep cleaning, slowly pushed off. He watched until they rounded the corner then went into the office.
Gwen looked at him, eyes wide. "Company?"
"Could be. They look wrong but they turned around," Connor said. "Safe still not open?"
"I was just about to come get you. The electronic locks are toast but I think it must have a magical lock I can't open."
Connor pursed his lips. "This is going to be noisy and might just set off that magical alarm." He slammed a fist through the wall, gritting his teeth against the pain as he pierced plaster, wood and metal. The safe breached under the force of his hand. He pulled his bloody appendage back out then used the hole as a starting point to peel it all the way open. "Man, look at this stuff." Connor eyed a jeweled dagger in the safe.
"Try not to get too excited." Gwen grinned, patting his crotch.
He scowled at her and pulled out the stone. " I can dream a little."
"In this place, that dagger is just as likely to bite off your hand as anything else." She plucked the stone out of his hands. "Not very impressive is it?"
"Feels tingly," Connor replied.
"Really? I don't feel it." Gwen froze, her eyes, now a pretty slate grey, widened. They heard voices in the hallway.
"Sorry, boss, how was I to know you wanted that thing in the safe?" a woman asked
"Because I told you about a dozen times," a man grumbled.
They were inside the office before Connor and Gwen could move. Connor stared at them. The man was tall and broad shouldered with a heavy brow. He smelled slightly of beer and the woman of something sweet and rummy. Connor remembered seeing the man before when his parents brought him to this place. The blonde with him, he thought he might have seen or not. He couldn't remember clearly. For a moment they all just stood frozen, staring.
"Shit." Connor tensed. " I remember you."
"Angel," Gwen said and Connor looked at her, wondering why she hadn't mentioned knowing him. She had said she had worked for Wolfram and Hart before the man had taken over.
Connor didn't miss that the man barely registered Gwen had spoken to him. Angel's dark eyes remained fixed on him. Connor leapt on the desk using it as a launch pad to kick the man in the face. He felt guilty, feeling something snapping under his foot. Angel seemed too stunned to defend himself, resulting in him nursing a nose that was gushing blood from the kick.
Gwen lateraled the stone to Connor then zapped the blonde. Her face morphed as she went down, a vampire. If he wasn't more interested in getting the Alatyr out of the complex, he'd stake her on principle.
He and Gwen pounded up the corridor, right past the two men who had been harassing him earlier. Connor didn't bother with the elevator. He burst through the fire door into the stair well. he looked over the railing. It was a long drop but it was a straight shot to the ground floor. He hunched down. "Get on, baby."
Gwen locked her arms and legs over his back. He went over the bannister. Gwen's limbs tightened as they free fell. Connor's knees flexed, taking off the pressure of the landing. Still, it felt like his head was going to pop off. He stumbled a bit and Gwen slithered free. They bolted to the outside. Gwen selected the first car with electronic door locks. She touched it with an elbow, fritzing the locks and jumpstarting the car. They both pulled on gloves and blue paper surgical caps. It would minimize any stray hairs being left behind. They put on baseball caps to hide the unusual, eye-catching surgical caps.
Connor pulled out casually. No sense in tearing away and speeding, looking guilty. Just in case they were being followed, he took a long circuitous route before finally going to their escape car. He hadn't noticed anyone in the rear view. They got into their car, a plain white Civic, something bound not to garner any attention. He had a collection of muscle cars and motorcycles but he'd never take anything flashy on a job, too easily spotted.
It wasn't until they were heading back to Malibu that they spoke. "That was too damn close," Gwen said, her voice sounding still flushed with excitement. Her tanned face all but glowed with it.
"We're going to have to pass the Alatyr off fast and go out of town for a little while."
"That sounds like a good idea," Gwen replied.
"I didn't realize that you knew the guy," Connor said, trying to sound casual. He wasn't jealous but he was curious, a true failing of his.
"I've only worked with him twice...well, once." Gwen looked a little evasive. "He interrupted a job the first time. The second time we worked together, not much to tell only that he's a vampire."
Connor resisted the urge to slam on the brakes. "You didn't think that was important to tell me?"
"I didn't think that he'd show up. Besides, I've seen you handle vampires like they were nothing. I wasn't worried." Gwen pouted at his tone. "Besides, believe it or not, Angel's one of the good guys, better than us."
"Don't believe it," he replied, feeling oddly comforted by the fact Gwen wasn't put out about screwing over a good guy because if she had been, he'd have to wonder. To her, it was about the objects they were stealing and not the shade of grey the owner was. They were both of the belief no one possessing the high level items there were after were saints. Learning that Angel was a vampire made him feel a lot better about the assignment. Once Gwen had opened him up to the world of demons, he had only found three that he didn't want instantly dead. Not a single vampire had made that list. "Still, you should have told me about Angel."
She patted his thigh. "You're completely right. It was dumb and dangerous. You were just a little uneasy as it was about this job. We should have let this one slide."
"Too late for that. Can't worry about it now. Vampires can't get in without an invite. I can't imagine either of us just asking him in for a beer," he scoffed.
Her lips pulled into a smile. "We'll be fine."
Connor nodded but the uneasy feeling wouldn't go away. He let Gwen stow the item in their bedroom safe but he didn't do his usual routine of either a night time swim in their bluff side infinity pool nor take the private walk to the beach. He didn't want to be outside just in case he had somehow missed the vampire following him up the Pacific Coast Highway. Connor knew that kick to the face, even if he broke the creature's big broad beak of a nose, would hardly faze it. They were lucky to have gotten out of Wolfram and Hart.
Gwen seemed to sense his unease as they tumbled into bed. Their normal celebratory lovemaking could wait until tomorrow. Maybe by then they wouldn't be jumpy. His wife snuggled into his side and was quickly asleep. Connor, having left the curtains open, stared out the magnificent master bedroom window at the panorama of the ocean below. Even the soft susurrus of the waves couldn't lull him to sleep.
"Now what?" Ethan asked his hat-wearing companion as they tried to nonchalantly meander out of the building. Ethan's heart still thudded. He could have sworn the bloodied-nosed vampire had seen him. That would end the game real quick. Angel was no more likely to have forgotten him than he had the vampire.
"You got that tracking spell on them?" Kippendragr rumbled in his Barry White bass timbre.
"On the girl...I think." Ethan's lips twisted into a scowl. "They were moving pretty fast."
"You'd be moving fast, too, if you'd just pissed of a pair of vampires," Kippendragr rumbled with something that might have been a laugh.
"Yeah, well, if Angel saw me we ought to hurry, too." Ethan cast a glance over his shoulder just in case as he got into their car.
"You should hurry. Vampires don't like how my kind taste." Kippendragr shrugged.
Ethan looked at the demon sourly, figuring that was true. It was a long confusing drive but eventually Ethan tracked the pair to Malibu. He grinned. "I could get used to living like this. Think I've got a shot with her?" He leered.
"Not a prayer." Kippendragr took off his hat, revealing ridges of blue horn. He pulled on one of them out of nervous habit.
"We can't just wander in there without a plan," Ethan said. "This whole area screams security and that pair would have to be even better guarded than most."
"Agreed. Tomorrow then."
Ethan wheeled their car away before some nosy security guard drove up on them. This wasn't going to be easy, which bothered him. He liked easy, but he knew when he was hired to steal the Alatyr this would be a difficult task. He just wished he had known there would be other foxes in the hen house.
"Are you sure it was Gwen?" Gunn stalked around Angel's office, unhappy with that idea.
"Positive."
"My hair's still standing on end," Harmony moaned.
"She did this?" Kate jerked a thumb at the hole in the wall.
"I'm not sure," Angel said, unable to sound convincing. He knew exactly who had done it. He wasn't ready to admit to himself that his son was a thief.
"I'm betting it was her partner," Harmony said. "Look what he did to Angel's face."
"And here I was thinking Harm had gotten a little too rough." Spike snorted, lighting up.
"Eww, I'd never, not with Angel," Harmony squealed then off Angel's slightly hurt look added, "He's the boss."
"I knew we should have just turned over the Alatyr immediately," Wes said. "If the Watchers had it...."
"So it's our fault it's stolen?" Gunn snapped.
"Not saying that," Wes scratched at his stubbly beard. "At least we're well suited to finding it."
Gunn shook his head with a soft laugh. "That damn Gwen. She's something else. Wish I had been here. Maybe I could have talked her out of it."
"So what did she take that's got everyone's knickers in a twist?" Spike asked.
"A healing omphalos," Wes said and Spike just raised an eyebrow.
"A magic rock," Angel clarified.
"What's it with you and rocks?" Spike took a drag. "Last time you cracked one open, Acathla popped out."
"This is nothing like that," Angel said, annoyed that Spike would bring that up.
"Thanks for stating the bloody obvious. I didn't think you had Acathla shoved in a wall safe."
"Spike, you're not involved in this so why don't you push off," Angel grumbled. "We're not going to find the Alatyr just sitting here."
"You have a suggestion?" Kate asked.
"Let me see if I can follow their scent." Angel got up. "Kate, get me all the security tapes. I need to see if I'm crazy."
"Waste of time," Spike said. "We know you are."
Angel ignored him. Seeing his son working with Gwen wasn't the only shock he had received tonight. "I thought I saw Ethan Rayne in the hallway but I can't remember his scent clearly enough to be sure."
Spike's eyebrows cocked up. "Rupert's mate? The one that turned him into a Fryal demon?"
"He did?" Angel added that to the stunned column. "Sounds like something he'd do. I need to know if he really was here, Kate, because that would be place to start looking for the Alatyr." Angel wasn't really sure about that. Gwen and Connor had run right past the man he thought might be Ethan. It could be Ethan had hired them or else it was a massive and unsettling coincidence. News they had the Alatyr might be drawing thieves from all over.
"I'll get the tapes. If you're going out to sniff around, Angel, you might want to do it before the city makes enough stink to cover up your leads," Kate said.
"Good point. Look for a tall scrawny guy with a short guy in a cowboy hat on those tapes."
"Lindsey?" Gunn asked.
Angel shook his head. "I know his scent well, not him. This guy wasn't human, didn't smell right."
"Am I the only one who's creeped out about the whole smell thing?" Gunn made a face.
"I try not to think hard on it," Wes replied. "But it doesn't help when Angel asks about my dates when he has no reason to know I even had a date."
"Sorry, I forget," Angel muttered, heading out the door. He honestly did forget sometimes and he was trying hard to be more social. Spike was just better at it than he was.
Gunn followed him. "Wes can help Kate."
"Need another nose on the case?" Spike leaned out the door. "I got a whiff of them from the safe. She smells tasty."
"Why not?" Angel said as Gunn grimaced at the comment. Angel would rather have Spike where he could see him. He didn't want Spike after the Alatyr on his own or following Connor. Not that Spike would have the first clue as to the young man's true importance.
Angel couldn't remember being as disappointed as he was trying to follow his son's trail. The path kept doubling back on itself, obviously designed to confuse anyone trying to track him. The scent was eventually swallowed by the overwhelming scents of L.A., choked with exhaust and human effluvia. He had only seen his son once since the night the spell had been wrought. It was part of the agreement and the one time Connor's ersatz parents brought him to Wolfram and Hart Angel had sent them away. It had been too painful.
It had been killing him for years, the not knowing Connor's fate, hoping for the best. He almost felt like the parent of a kidnaped child all over again, or maybe, more appropriately, one who had given his child up for adoption and now, later in life, wanted a reconnection. He would never have dreamed Connor had somehow hooked up with Gwen, that he had been dragged back into the world of demons. Angel knew Gwen dealt with demons and worse. Even if she didn't, they were obviously thieves. That wasn't the life he wanted for his son.
Spike broke Angel out of his reverie when he dialed up Kate. "Yeah, we crapped out...yeah, I'll tell him, hang on." Spike looked at Angel. "Kate suggests going to Lorne's and seeing if he can pick something out of the ether for you. She got your two guys on the tapes but not the kid who used your face for a kick ball or his partner. The tapes are blank, even in places that we know they were."
"Tell her and Wes to meet us there," Angel said, unsure of himself. What if Lorne saw something about Connor and told them all? Still, if he didn't extend the offer they would think it odd. It was something they had been working on, team work versus acting as an individual. He wanted to talk to Kate as soon as he could. How could his son not be on the tapes? He had been counting on that, if for no other reason than to keep them for himself, playing the snippets again and again in the privacy of his suites.
"I want to know how they knew we had the Alatyr," Gunn said as he drove for Lorne's club. "We only got it five days ago."
"That's something to look into," Angel said. "Either someone was watching the estate and knew Mr. Leib had it or we have a leak."
"Who knew about the bloody stone at work? You didn't even tell me," Spike said, miffed.
"There was no reason to. You're not exactly into estate law," Angel said and Spike gave him a 'that's hardly the point' look. Angel let the matter drop. He wished that he had a better feeling about this.
Wes and Kate were already waiting for them at a table. As per usual, the bar was chocked with people. Angel hated it. Could he get Wes or Gunn to sing? They had a tie to the Alatyr, too. His tie was stronger and he knew it. He needed to sing and hang the embarrassment.
"Don't let me sing too long," he whispered to Lorne as he headed for the stage. He had given a lot of thought to what he was going to sing. He had mangled enough of Barry's songs for one life time and while a song from his homeland was knocking around in his head there was no accompaniment for "Who Put the Blood." His singing was bad enough. He didn't need to be singing a song meant for a mother unaccompanied. He settled on Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle." He felt it had a very good tie-in to him and Connor. Lorne didn't stop him, letting him sing to the bitter, off-key, getting pitying looks from the audience end.
"And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you coming home son, I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad
We're gonna have a good time then."
Angel dragged back to his table. He could tell from the look on Lorne's face the demon had gotten a good reading. "Well?"
"That was an interesting choice of songs, Angel- Cakes," Lorne said, a curious look in his odd colored eyes.
"Yeah and it's amazing how tone deaf you are," Spike rubbed an ear. "People were fleeing in terror."
Angel gave him the hairy eye but said nothing. "Lorne, got a place I can start looking?"
"Yes, and I wish I were going with you. Why don't I ever get this kind of assignment?" Lorne's eyes bore into Angel. "But there's something else, a big shadow over you, so big its spilling all over the rest of us."
"That's his singing," Spike said, smirking
Lorne shook his head. "I wish it were. No, there is something ugly bubbling here just under the surface, a secret."
"Don't know what you mean," Angel cut him off quickly, schooling the panic out of his voice. "And you haven't told me where I'm supposed to be looking."
"Malibu," Lorne said. "Maybe you need to sing a little more, as loathe as I am to suggest that, let me see if I can get a handle on this personal darkness."
Angel shook his head. "No time to worry about my dark shadows. We need to get that stone back. Guess we'll have to work out a plan, see if we can sniff them out in Malibu."
"I'm on this team," Gunn said, hurriedly. "Always wanted to hang out there."
"Unfortunately, it'll have to wait," Wes said. "It's nearly dawn. That takes Angel and Spike out of the picture."
"We all need some rest," Kate said. "Angel, I'll set you up with the tapes and Wes and I can do some research on Gwen and her partner."
"I can help. I've worked with Gwen," Gunn said.
"Fine. Did you get a name for Gwen's partner?" Kate asked.
"No," Angel lied. He hurried them out of Lorne's club before the demon could get back to worrying about that shadow. Angel knew in his heart Lorne was seeing Connor. He should never have picked a song that would deepen his feeling about his son but he thought it was necessary if Lorne was to have a prayer of homing in on the duo. He answered a few more of Kate's questions on the way but all he was thinking about was, what was his son doing in Malibu?