FIFTEEN
"Interesting place to hide out," said Phoebe as they peered out of a closet. "The manor isn't this nice."
"He is one of the richest men in San Francisco," Piper reasoned. "I would imagine he's used to living in a certain amount of luxury. I guess this is his idea of a flop house."
They had materialized inside what looked like a renovated warehouse. It wasn't very big but it was luxuriously decorated. They had appeared inside a small room that appeared to be some sort of janitorial closet.
"Where is he?" Phoebe asked.
McDonald held out the stone and looked at it. It still glowed slightly purplish.
"Left," he said. "He's very close now."
"How do you know it's centered on him?" Leo asked.
"Witches make it glow blue," explained McDonald. "The stone also detects mortals with supernatural powers. That makes it glow red. Since the girls are in such close proximity the two colors mix forming this purple color. I've spent decades learning how to read it properly."
"Why doesn't it detect you?" Phoebe asked.
"Whoever is holding the stone is immune to its affects as long as they are holding it," said McDonald. "Otherwise it would be totally useless to any magical being who tried to use it."
"Be on your guard," said Prue. "If he suspects us of coming for him he's bound to have guards around. We don't' want to hurt anyone we don't have to."
"I can handle them," said Piper. "I'll just freeze them. That way we won't have to hurt anyone but Gray."
"Stay alert," said Leo. "He still has his rings and we don't know for sure what powers he has in them other than blinking."
"Speaking of which," said Phoebe, "how do we keep him from simply blinking away?"
"Maybe I could freeze his ring?" offered Piper. "With it frozen he shouldn't be able to use its powers."
"But that won't last very long," said Prue. "We need to get the rings away from him."
"Assuming Piper can't freeze him," said Cole, "I can incapacitate him with an energy ball. Not enough to harm him but enough to at least stun him."
"Just don't kill him," said Prue. "We don't want a murder on our hands. We need him alive so we can undo whatever he's had done."
"That won't happen," said McDonald. "Remember, he's immortal. Immune to permanent damage from any source, even magical ones."
Quietly the six moved out of the closet. As they made their way through the hallways Piper froze the few guards they came across. It seemed strange that there weren't more guards considering that Gray should be expecting them. Still they were grateful for small favors. Finally they came to a door at the end of a hallway.
"He's inside," McDonald whispered with a slight shrug. "Other than that I can't tell you much."
Leo closed his eyes and concentrated for several moments.
"He's alone," said Leo. "No one else is in the room with him."
"Okay," said Prue. "We need to take him by surprise so that he doesn't have a chance to blink out. Piper, you freeze him as soon as the door is open. Leo, any idea where in the room he is?"
"Directly opposite the door," said Leo.
"You can tell that?" McDonald asked.
"I can sense people in an area," said Leo. "It helps me to know if it's safe to orb into a room and not give away my secret."
"I have an idea," said Cole. "If we all go busting in there we're going to startle him. If that happens he's very likely to blink out before we have a chance to get him."
"What would you suggest?" Prue asked.
"I go in alone," said Cole. "I can distract him while you orb in behind him. By the time he sees you you can freeze him."
"It's very sound tactically," said McDonald. "Our chances of success increase dramatically with a distraction."
"I guess you would know," said Piper.
"I did make my living as a soldier for several hundred years," said McDonald.
"Okay," said Prue. "You distract him while we sneak in behind him."
"Be careful," Phoebe cautioned, kissing Cole on the cheek.
"Not to worry," said Cole. "I'm a demon, remember? He knows you're out to stop him. With me he'll be curious why I'm here to see him. Especially if he thinks I'm alone."
"We'll give you a few seconds to get him distracted and then I'll orb Prue and Piper in behind him," said Leo. "Then Phoebe and McDonald can come in the door behind Cole. That should keep Gray off balance for several seconds."
"I didn't know you were a tactician," said Piper.
"I was in the army," said Leo. "I may have been only a medic but all soldiers receive training in basic military tactics."
"Okay," said Cole. "You guys get out of sight. Wouldn't do to have him see you."
The others moved off to the side to wait half obscured in the shadows. When they were sufficiently concealed Cole nonchalantly reached out and opened the door. He pushed the door open part way and silently slipped into the room.
"You really should keep that door locked," he said.
Gray looked up from behind a desk sitting in the back center of the room. He appeared to be putting papers into a briefcase.
"How did you get in here?" Gray asked.
"You really don't think those security men were enough to stop me, did you?" Cole asked, moving to the side of the room. Gray turned to face him.
"What do you want?"
"I thought we might have a little chat. It occurs to me a man of your wealth and influence could be of use to me."
"What of your friends? The witches. I would imagine they aren't too pleased with me at the moment."
"Oh, there was some talk of coming after you. They don't like being lied to. They don't understand that honesty is not always the best policy. Especially when you have your mind set on a certain goal."
"And you do?"
"You know what I am," said Cole glancing around. "I always have my own agenda for everything I do. And with your connections, it's possible you could help me in ways neither of us have even thought of yet."
"And what's in it for me?"
"I can help you in areas where no other help is possible. I do have certain abilities that might come in useful to you from time to time."
"You might at that," said Gray, sitting on the edge of the desk. "In fact, I have a particular assignment at the moment you might be able to help me with."
"Let's chat about it," said Cole. "I suspect it's something right up my alley."
Before Gray could respond Leo, Prue, and Piper orbed in behind him. Gray sensed them appear and turned to see who it was. A few moments later Phoebe and McDonald came rushing in the door. Gray turned to look at them.
"You've betrayed me," he gasped.
"And it seems to have worked," said Piper.
She brought up her hands and used her freezing power on Gray. He just laughed and held up his left hand.
"You're a fool," he said. "This ring protects me from your power. I'm afraid I can't stay. I have a plane waiting and I really can't miss it."
Before Gray could move Cole reached out and cast an energy ball at him. The weapon struck him squarely in the chest knocking him back across the desk. As he scrambled to his feet McDonald rushed over and grabbed him dragging him up. Gray just stared at McDonald as the latter held the dagger to his throat.
"You can't blink out without taking me with you," said McDonald. "And this dagger may not be able to kill you but I'm willing to bet I can cause you a great deal of pain with it. So I suggest you just relax. Remember, I'm not the only one who knows about you."
As Gray stared at McDonald, Cole moved over and grabbed Gray's hands.
"I'll take these if you don't mine," said Cole as he removed the rings.
Cole and McDonald stepped back.
"Well, Mr. Gray," said Prue, "it seems to me you're outnumbered. And outgunned. We aren't going to hurt you. As long as you give us what we want."
"And what might that be?" Gray asked.
"Your portrait," said Cole. "The one you had your soul transferred into."
"I see," said Gray. "It appears you've discovered my little secret. Well, I'm afraid it will do you no good. First, I don't have it with me. It's safely locked away where no one can get to it. Secondly, it really wouldn't be in my best interest to give it to you. And I'm afraid there's really nothing you can do about it. The portrait is indestructible."
"We'll give it our best shot," said Prue. "You're evil and we mean to put an end to that. Now, give us the portrait and you won't get hurt."
"I'm afraid I can't do that," said Gray, holding up the tracking stone McDonald had been using. "Besides, I got what I came for. I'll bid you adieu now."
Before anyone could move, Gray simply vanished from the room.