"Are you out of your mind?" Darryl said, looking nervously at Victor. "First you tell me that this isn't a demon although what he is I have no idea. Then you tell me he took the girl. Next you say that some unstoppable demon has taken her and is going to kill her. And you want me to just sit back and do nothing?"
"I wouldn't have hurt her," Victor protested. "I was trying to protect her."
"Kidnapping is still against the law," Darryl snapped. "Look, in a few hours my captain is going to call the F.B.I. It's standard procedure in a kidnapping. Once they become involved I won't be able to help you. You said if the guy who took her wasn't a demon you'd let me handle this. Well, you said he's not a demon. I have to take him in."
"The situation has changed," Piper said. "Victor may not be a demon but a demon has her now. We believe Victor when he says he wouldn't have hurt the little girl. Don't ask why. Just trust me on this. But we need Victor to get her back. If we don't have him, the demon will kill her."
"Piper," Darryl said, "I can't just let him walk away. He's broken the law. I've taken an oath to uphold the law. If I just let him walk it will violate everything I've lived my whole life by."
"What's more important?" Paige asked. "Upholding the law or the life of an eight-year-old girl?"
Darryl looked at Paige. Obviously there was no choice in the matter. An innocent life was always of paramount importance regardless of any other considerations.
"Besides," said Leo, "you can't get her back. They can. All we're asking is that you hold off on saying anything about it until we can get the girl back safely."
"Okay," said Darryl finally. "If I let you do this, do I have your word that I can take him in then?"
"No," Piper said. "But I will do this for you. You can take in the warlock that's holding the little girl. He's the real threat here, not Victor. Believe me, Darryl, it's better this way."
"I don't want to know what's really going on here, do I?" Darryl asked.
"Probably not," Phoebe said.
"So what am I supposed to do with a demon once I have him in custody?" Darryl asked. "Call Ghostbusters to stand guard over him?"
"If our plan works," Piper said, "you won't have anything to worry about. He'll be as harmless as any other mortal."
"My captain is going to call the F.B.I. at three," Darryl said. "After that it will be out of my hands."
"We'll have the girl back long before that," Chris said.
"Okay," Darryl said. "I'll give you until three o'clock. After that I have to take this Victor in no matter what you say. If I don't it won't be good for any of us."
"Trust us, Darryl," Piper said, "just be ready when Leo comes for you. You'll be able to 'save' the little girl and get the bad guy all at the same time."
"Three o'clock," Darryl said and then he turned and left the manor.
"Kind of high strung, isn't he?" Victor asked.
"Only when it comes to demons," Phoebe said. "But he's a good friend. He's helped us out more times than we can count."
"I see," Victor said. He looked at the clock on the wall. "There's less than two hours before we have to make the trade."
"All ready," Piper said, handing a potion vial to Phoebe and Paige. "The potions ready. Everyone knows what they're supposed to do. Now all we have to do is find out where this trade is supposed to take place."
"That's easy," Victor said. "I know where he is."
"How do you know that?" Chris asked.
"We have a sort of link," Victor said. "He once told me it was because my blood was in his veins. I don't know how it works but I can tell you where he is."
"Good," said Leo. "That will make it easier."
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Victor asked hesitantly. "Pardon my saying but this sounds just a bit crazy."
"Crazy is what we do best," Phoebe said, smiling.
"Trust us," Chris said. "Unconventional seems to work for them. I think it's part of the reason demons have so much trouble with them. The demons can't guess what they're going to do because half the time they don't know themselves until they decide. But if anyone has a chance of pulling this off, they do."
"Okay," said Victor. "But the little girl comes first. If something goes wrong I don't want you worrying about me. Just make sure she's safe. That's all I ask."
"Don't worry," Paige said. "Our first priority is the girl. But we'll make sure you're safe, too."
"Well," Piper said, "we'd better get going. Don't want our warlock friend to get too restless. I don't suppose it will hurt to orb in. After all, he knows we're witches so he must know we have a Whitelighter."
"He's in an abandoned apartment building on Lexington Avenue," Victor said. "Top floor."
"Is he alone?" Leo asked.
"I don't know," Victor said. "I can only tell you where he is. I can tell you he doesn't trust anyone, least of all other warlocks and demons. He thinks he's indestructible as long as he has his serum."
"Let's go change that," Piper said. "Everyone ready?"
Everyone nodded. They all linked arms and Leo, Chris, and Paige orbed them out of the manor for Lexington Avenue.