Chapter Three
"Kids in the parking lot before school's out, police car out front," Amy said. "Something happened here today."
"This is the spot Willow's map said our new Slayer appeared," Kate said as she pulled the car up. She looked over at a group of students milling around in the parking lot watching the police.
"You still pass as young enough for high school," Kate said. "See if you can get any of those kids to tell you what happened. I'll poke around and see if I can find anything."
"Think this has something to do with our Slayer?" Amy said.
"Don't you? Besides, I don't believe in coincidences," Kate replied. "Get going."
The two women exited the car. Amy meandered over the students and began striking up a conversation with a couple of them. Kate walked past the police cruiser in the parking lot. She saw two officers coming out the front of the building. She deliberately walked close enough to catch some of their conversation.
"… out the second story window," one said. "Then just ran off. Did you see that hole out back?"
"Girl puts two football players in the hospital," the other said. "This is one for the …."
Kate shook her head as passed them. She turned and walked around the school. She spotted the smashed window easily enough. Girl lays out two football players and then jumps out a second story window. Kate grimaced. This was bad.
She turned to head back to her car. She got in and waited for Amy to get back. A few minutes later Amy hopped into the passenger seat.
"We've got a problem," Amy said.
"I know," Kate said. "A girl attacked her classmates and put some of them in the hospital. And it sounds like it happened at the same time our Slayer awakened."
"It is our Slayer," Amy said. "I got the girl's name. Lucy Sutter. According to the students she went nuts and attacked the guy sitting next to her in class. Then she jumped out of a second story window, without opening it first and ran away."
"Shit," Kate said. "How the hell did this happen? We've got another Faith on our hands. Has anything like this happened with the other Slayers?"
Amy paused. "A couple times since Sunnydale. Not all the girls take well to the Slayer awakening. We had a couple of ugly experiences that first year. That's why we try to locate them while they're still Potentials. To make certain we're there and they're ready when the time comes," Amy pulled out a cell phone. "This one looks bad though. Only one other girl in the US has reacted this badly that I've heard about," she hit the speed dial. She waited a few seconds, "This is Abbott. I need to talk to Buffy. Now … Buffy it's Amy … We've got a name but we've got a big problem here … She's gone rogue Buffy … Kate and I just found out … I understand … She attacked a bunch of her classmates … We have no idea … The police are already involved … We'll try … I'll arrange for someone to pick her up … We'll keep you in the loop … Bye Buffy."
"What was that about?" Kate asked.
"Faith's flying out here tonight," Amy said. "She's the best natural tracker we've got. Buffy wants us to find Lucy before the cops."
"Faith's coming here," Kate said as she pulled the car out of the lot.
"You have a problem with that?" Amy asked.
"You do know I'm the one who put her in jail right?"
"You did?" Amy said. "I mean, we all know what happened to Faith. I've talked to her about it a few times. But she has control of the Slayer now. Something like this, she's the best to have around."
"We're going to be finessing the police on this as it is," Kate said. "Faith's going to make that a lot harder. Escaped felons and cops are not a good mix."
"Didn't you hear?" Amy asked. "Faith was issued a full pardon from the governor two years ago. She's not wanted anymore."
"How the hell did you guys pull that off?"
"I don't really know," Amy answered. "Heard the Scoobies called in some big favors to get it done. You gonna be ok working with Faith?"
"I'm going to have to be," Kate answered. "I knew when I took this job I'd probably have to work with her. Just didn't think it would be this soon."
"Any ideas how to find our missing Slayer?"
"Call the office," Kate said. "Have them work with Willow to get Lucy's records," Kate paused. "This is the Farmington district. I know the new Captain assigned here."
"What are you thinking?"
"See if I can call in a couple of favors of my own," Kate answered.
"Tim, can you tell us what happened?" Wyms leaned over the hospital bed. The young man could barely speak. His right arm was in a cast and his chest was heavily bandaged.
"Lady, I don't know," Tim answered in barely a whispered. "Lucy was sitting next to me. Then she started looking around. Like ... like she was trapped or something. She … she said something. Don't know what and then just plowed into me."
"Do you know why she attacked you?" Dutch asked.
"Wasn't after me," Tim said. "She was trying to get out."
"What?"
"She was trying to get to the window," Tim continued. "I play football. I've been hit before. Lucy plowed into me like a lineman. Got tangled up in my desk and fell with me. I grabbed her … just reflex you know. Girl broke my arm. The others tried to get her off me. Last thing I remember. Just black after that 'til I woke up here."
"You're sure she wasn't after you specifically?" Dutch pressed.
"Yea," came the reply. "Girl barely knew I was there," he paused. "She had this look in eye. Like a wild animal. Scariest thing I ever saw. That bitch was half my size and she beat the shit out of me."
"Get some rest son," Wyms said. She and Dutch left the room.
"All three say the same thing," Dutch said. "She was heading for the window like she was trying to get out. Her friend's still unconscious."
"Didn't the mother say something about her being claustrophobic?" Wyms said.
"She did," Dutch said. "Whatever she was taking may have triggered a full on panic attack. Locker search at her school didn't turn up any drugs."
"Check her house next," Wyms said. "The mother should give us permission to do a search."
"We'll get the warrant anyway," Dutch said. "Just to be on the safe side."
"Kate?" Monica Rawlings looked at the woman just entering the Barn with surprise. "Buzz her in," she said to officer monitoring the door. She smiled as the woman came in. She noticed that she was accompanied by another young woman, early twenties, long blonde hair. The woman carried herself with a sense of confidence and she scanned the room like a professional.
Rawlings held out her hand. "Kate Lockley. It's been a long time. I was sorry to hear about your father. He was a good man."
"Thanks Monica," Kate replied shaking the Captain's hand. "This is my associate Amy Abbott. Amy, Captain Monica Rawlings."
"Nice to meet you Amy," the Captain said shifting her attention to the younger woman.
"Same here Captain," Amy offered her hand.
Rawlings noted the firm grip. "So what brings you by Kate? You've been out of the force for a while. I heard you were working as a private investigator."
"I gave that up," Kate said. "I just started a new job a couple of weeks ago. I work for a private foundation that opened an LA branch a few months ago. The Jenny Calendar Foundation."
"Never heard of it," Rawlings said. "What do you do there?"
"A few things," Kate answered. "One of them is locating and working with young women and girls who have some unique talents. That's actually why I came by. Is there someplace private we can talk?"
Rawlings studied Kate for a few seconds before deciding. "Sure, follow me." She led the two women upstairs to the gang task force room. There was a detective inside adding pictures to the wall. "Lemansky, give us the room for sec."
"Sure thing Captain," Lemansky said as he left the room.
"Oh Lemansky," Rawlings said turning around. "I know you're still working Angie's disappearance but check in with Dutch and Claudette. They might need your help on that high school case."
"The one where the girl went nuts?" he asked.
"That's the one," Monica said. "See if your contacts in juvie have ever heard of her."
"Ok Captain," Lemansky said as he walked out the room.
"So what do you want to talk about Kate?" Rawlings asked closing the door.
"Actually it's about what happened at the high school this morning," Kate answered.
"You know something," Rawlings said. "Tell me."
"We may know something," Kate said. "How bad were those kids hurt?"
Again Rawlings paused. "Four got sent to the hospital," she answered. "One boy has a broken arm, couple of broken ribs ribs, contusions and a concussion. He only came too about thirty minutes ago. One girl has broken jaw, concussion and the docs are pretty sure she has some neck injuries. Another boy has cracked ribs and a he nearly had a ruptured spleen. The last boy just had some bad bruising and a busted nose."
"And one girl did all that," Kate said. "Then she jumped through a second story window to get away?"
"Yes," Rawlings gave Kate a pointed look. "What do you know about this case?"
Kate looked over at Amy. "Let me do this my way."
Amy nodded in response.
"Monica," Kate began. "This Lucy Sutter is the girl Amy and I were looking for this morning. We were planning on recruiting her for a part time study program the Foundation offers for girls."
"Why?" Monica said.
"She's has the kind of talents we're looking for," Kate said.
"Kate, I know about some of what happened with you on the force," Rawlings said. "How you kept getting involved in all the weird shit. Hell I heard about one report that mentioned the word 'vampire.' Tell me what you want?"
"We need to be in on this case," Kate said. "Monica, you and I go way back. The Brazil case, the Nolan murders. You know I play it straight. So believe me when I tell you this. This girl's special. You'll need us there."
"What's so special about this girl?" Rawlings demanded.
"You're going to have to trust me Monica," Kate said. "Amy and I need to be there when you find this girl."
"Kate, you were a damn good cop," Rawlings said. "But you're a civilian now. No way I can let you in on this case without a damn good reason. And I haven't heard one yet."
"Amy?"
Rawlings saw the younger woman shake her head.
Kate nodded in reply and then paused to think. "Look, Monica, can you at least tell me what's going on? Where you are with trying to find Lucy?"
"I'm sorry Kate," Rawlings said. "Can't do that. Not unless you give me something more."
Kate nodded. "I understand. Here's my card. It's got my cell phone number on it. Just promise me you'll call when you find Lucy. It's important. I've never asked for any favors from you before. Even when they drummed me out. That's not the way I do things."
"One thing first Kate," Rawlings said. "Tell me you don't have anything to do with whatever is going on with that girl."
Kate looked Rawlings. "Monica, I swear, I have never met Lucy Sutter in my life. Neither has anybody working for the Foundation. She popped up on our radar this morning as being the kind of girl we're looking to teach. I didn't expect to find anything like this going on."
Rawlings studied Kate carefully for a few seconds. "Fine. I'll let you know when we bring her in. But understand this. I'm putting a lot of trust in you. And I do owe you a couple of big ones. No way we could have cleared the Nolan case without you. But if I find out you're shittin' me on this."
Kate nodded. "Monica, my only goal here is to help that girl."
"Alright then," Monica said. "It's been good to see you again Kate."
"Thanks. And it's good to see you too Monica."