Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the Angel series except my own.
Wesley checked his watch for the 10th time and cursed softly. He had been sitting in his car for hours and he was nowhere closer to finding out any more information about this girl. Either she didn't have many neighbors or they were the 9 to 5 working type, because no one had entered or exited the building since he had arrived. He still didn't know how he was even supposed to convince one of these people to just let him in their building. After all, he could be some kind of homicidal maniac. Why would someone, especially here in this neighbor, want to answer any questions from a stranger? Oh yeah…that's right. He could just tell them he was looking for a girl was mysterious and beautiful…and oh one more thing…she can teleport, is telekinetic, and she can heal herself. Wesley smiled grimly at those thoughts and ran a hand carelessly through his hair. He was tired of just sitting her doing nothing. If someone didn't appear in the next 10 minutes…well then he was leaving.
He knew why he was feeling so anxious. He was actually more afraid of meeting her again than talking to one of her neighbors. There was something about her that just made him feel totally out of sorts. Almost, like he was free falling and he couldn't seem to stop…like he was a schoolboy with a crush. Not like that was entirely a bad feeling, but he didn't want to be that type of person anymore...letting emotions rule his thinking. After what had happened with Fred, he had been content to keep certain emotions away. Just thinking about this girl made his body feel uncomfortable, especially in his nether regions. He couldn't tell the last time he had been affected by a woman so much…well not since he was a teenager driven by hormones out of control.
Wesley adjusted himself in his pants, trying to find a more comfortable position for his private parts. He took a couple deep breaths to get himself under control. Ok that wasn't working. Maybe thinking about a couple ugly demons would help. Closing his eyes, he pictured the Velgarians they had fought just last week. Velgarians had no skin covering their bodies and usually had maggots seeping from various parts…ears, nose, etc. Yes that would work. Wesley breathed a sigh of relief as the tightness in his pants eased, at not a moment to soon because someone was leaving the building. Wesley sat quietly watching as a short, middle-aged woman walked down the stairs. He took the key out of the ignition and got out of his car. He cautiously approached the woman, who was now standing on the sidewalk digging around in her purse. She glanced upwards meeting his gaze as she saw him approaching her.
"Excuse me miss," Wesley greeted her. "Could I ask you a couple questions? It's about one of your neighbors."
She looked him over suspiciously, but didn't say a word for what seemed like several seconds. "Why are you interested in anyone who lives in here," she replied. "Are you a cop or something cause you look like one."
Wesley smiled slowly. "No, I'm not a police officer. I'm actually here trying to find a certain young lady who I think lives in your building. She's African-American and she's about 5'7", with long dark hair and brown eyes…really pretty. She may also come off as sort of…well…a loner."
The woman rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. "It's not a crime to be a loner is it," she remarked sharply. "I mean maybe she just likes to be alone. There's nothing wrong with that."
Wesley couldn't argue with that statement. True it wasn't a crime to keep to one's self, but he couldn't very well explain why he thought Kaia was a loner. He couldn't tell this lady what Kaia could do. Wesley sighed. "I know it's not a crime," he told her. "Look, I really would appreciate anything you could tell me. Her name is Kaia Johnson. Does that name ring a bell? Do you know her personally by any chance? Have you noticed anything strange or peculiar about her?"
"Whoa there cowboy…one question at a time," she said forcefully. "Yeah I know who she is. Is she in any trouble? Cause if she is then I don't want to get involved. All I care about is if she pays her rent on time."
Wesley raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "So you're the landlord here then," he asked.
"Yeah I am," she replied, placing a hand on her hip defiantly. "Look, if I'm gonna tell you anything and right now I'm not so sure if I even want to…well what I wanna know is what are you gonna do for me."
Wesley rolled his eyes slightly. She wanted money. He shouldn't be surprised. No one gave information freely in this town. Wesley dug his hand in his back pocket, pulling out his wallet. He flipped through until he found a fifty and slapped it down in her open palm. "Now what do you have for me," he prodded.
"Well, I'm not sure if it's much but…well it might be nothing," she said slowly.
"Anything you know could be extremely helpful," Wesley said abruptly. She nodded and looked around quickly. She came closer to Wesley, hand signaling him to lean down closer towards her. He complied and she looked around nervously once more. "It's like you said," she replied finally. "She's a real looker, but yet she keeps to herself and she wears all these boyish clothes…and that hair. She could definitely use a hair dresser…know what I'm saying. Plus, she barely leaves the apartment, except well at night. She hardly ever leaves during the day. She doesn't seem to work, so I've always wondered where she gets the money to pay the rent. But I'll tell you one thing; she's never been late…not once in the last six months. Oh and she doesn't have any friends or family I think. Doesn't date either. I just think it's a waste that someone so young and pretty is so alone you know."
"Yes, I know exactly what you mean," Wesley said softly. "Is that all…nothing else?" Her face became pensive and then it suddenly lit up as if she remembered something. "Wait…this may be of interest to you," she said excitedly. "You're not the only one who's interested in her."
"Wait, what do you mean," Wesley asked, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. "Has someone else been asking questions about her?" The woman paused as if she regretted saying too much. Wesley grabbed the woman by her forearms and gently shook her. "Please, you have to tell me," he ordered. "Has anyone else been here asking questions about Kaia?" He felt the desperation creeping into his tone, but he didn't like the thought of someone else looking for Kaia…not if they knew what she could do. The woman dragged her arms away with an almost scared expression. "I'm sorry," he said, hoping his tone was apologetic. "It's just that this is important. I'm not trying to hurt Kaia, but whoever else was here might want to."
The woman stared down at her feet fiddling with the hem of her shirt nervously. She sighed loudly, feeling her conscience getting the best of her. "There were some guys here asking questions about her," she whispered. "They looked all official with suits and stuff. It was like they were all CIA looking…you know totally Men in Black."
Wesley looked at her in confusion. "Men in Black," he questioned. What the hell was a Men in Black and what did that have do with Kaia? "Mamn, I believe that you have confused me. I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You've never seen Men in Black," she asked with obvious surprise in her voice. "You know…with Will Smith." At his still confused expression she rolled her eyes. "Never mind," she muttered. "All I know is these guys creeped me out. They gave off this strange vibe. I can't really explain it, but I couldn't wait for them to leave. They came her a couple weeks ago asking questions. I didn't tell them much…just that she was a loner. I try not to carry on conversations with people that make my skin crawl."
She sighed loudly before speaking again. "If she is in any trouble, well I hope you can help her before those guys get to her first." With one last look, she hitched her purse on her shoulder before walking away hurriedly. Wesley watched her turn the corner with conflicting emotions. He was glad that he had finally gotten something substantial on Kaia, but he was worried about what he had discovered.
Wesley suddenly stiffened as he felt a shiver go down his spine. He was being watched. He could feel it. He turned around slowly, his eyes narrowing as he noticed a black car slightly down the street that was not there before. The car's window lowered slowly revealing a man with dark sunglasses. Wesley's eyes widened as the man withdrew a gun and pointed it directly at him. Wesley instantly crouched and somersaulted over to his car, cowering with his hands on his head as bullets ricocheted off the other side of his car. He cringed, cursing aloud as he heard glass breaking. Finally, the bullets stopped firing and Wesley heard the squeal of tires. He remained crouched for a couple more minutes just to be sure.
Wesley stood up slowly, surveying his surroundings looking for further danger. Noticing that they were gone, he allowed himself to breath easier…but just for a second. He walked around to the driver's side slowly, muttering a curse as he took in the appearance of his new bullet ridden car. Wesley opened the door and looked at the glass that now sat in the chair. He rolled his eyes and looked up to the heavens, silently asking for strength. He took off his jacket and used it to sweep most of the glass out of his seat, before getting inside. He then dug his keys out of his pocket and started the car. Wesley's jaw clenched as he pulled out onto the street. He was angry with himself for being so careless. He should have noticed that car, but he was too caught up…and it could have cost him his life. Not to mention he never went on a mission without a weapon…well until today.
How could he let this girl get him so wound up that he endangered his own life? Yes he was accustomed to danger, but that was besides the point. He had survived countless apocalypses, fought countless demons and won, but this was different. This time, if he had been shot it would have been his own fault…just like if he had pointed the gun at himself. Wesley grinded his teeth. He would have to make a conscious effort to detach himself as much as he could from this mission. What happened today could not happen again. He couldn't ever allow a woman to make him weak again. He had been a weakling once before…a long time ago. Now he was tougher...stronger…a new man, minus the glasses, with a new hard exterior. No woman was going to change that.
Note: I'll probably bring Fred into the next chapter. Feedback keeps me going!
