Of course, there was nothing saying I had to come up with the idea all by myself. "So," I said, "You have any ideas on how to keep Aaron Echolls from getting all up in our business?" Yes, I said that. No, I said it flatly, with full awareness that I really couldn't pull off a line like that.

Sheila gave me a look that said I shouldn't have said it even without that awareness, and then said, "Kill him."

Well, that would work, and I didn't really have any ethical problems with it; the bastard had killed Lilly, tried to kill me, and actually got away with the murder before someone killed him, in the original timeline. My problem there was, I didn't think I had it in me and I wouldn't ask anyone else to do it – I wouldn't want them to get in trouble.

"Too much work," I said. "Otherwise? Not a bad idea. Keep going."

"'skidding, manhunter. Don't particularly want the guy dead. From what you've said I wouldn't cry if he did, but there's still a line there." After a second she added, "Anyway, 'syour job to come up with the clever schemes."

"Don't sell yourself short," I said. "Kill him" would be simple and would certainly keep him from getting in our way."

"Dodgin' the cops would make up for it."

"True, that," I said. "So. I'm brainstorming here and I'm using any brains I can find. Any other thoughts?"

"I'll let you know. Guessin' you're probably about to ask Buffy as well, right?"

"Right.'

"Then I got a few minutes."

We drove the rest of the way in an amiable silence while I thought through it, myself. Having something happen to Aaron Echolls was out – either murder or kidnapping. And I wasn't about to invite him to join the assault on Spike and Dru's hiding place because my sneaking fear was that the end result would be "Aaron Echolls, vampire."

Having something violent happen, I emended silently. Some bad publicity, some other incident – those could happen.

Of course, for me to set that up I'd need to actually visit him and his and see this "elite security force hired from out of town" to see what they were like. Aaron was rich enough to hire pricey security; whether he was good enough to figure out the difference between expensive and good and just expensive was another matter entirely. No one could ever accuse Aaron Echolls of having had particularly good judgment on anything that didn't involve selection of movie roles.

Something to think about.

There was one other option I was holding in the palm of my hand, but it was almost as nuclear an option as killing Aaron:

Outing him as Lilly's murderer.

That would distract him and stop him from giving any stupid instructions to his "elite security force."

The down side: It would piss the hell out of Dad, Logan, and possibly Xander. (In Aaron's current condition, I had no idea what it would do to him.) Things I only needed to be concerned about if I thought I would stay in this universe, obviously. If "when I die, the world ends," then I don't care about the future, because there isn't one.

If, if, if, always with the fucking ifs.

Do I screw a lot of people over in order to get my way?

It used to be I would say yes to that – not without blinking an eye; I'm not a psychopath or a Knight of Byzantium, thank you very much – but I would have done it.

The new me did her best to find another way.

If I had to? I'd still do it. But I'd do my damnedest to exhaust every other option available first.

X X X X X

I was still thinking over ways to distract Aaron when we got to the Espresso Pump. Buffy was already there, her hands clasped around a jumbo-sized cup of coffee, with assorted pastry leavings present as well. Sheila and I ordered and sat down.

After greetings, I said, "Mind if we bounce something off you?"

"As long as it's not a boulder, I'm good," Buffy said.

"Do I look like the Incredible Hulk?" I said.

"No," Sheila said, "You look like the Martian Manhunter."

Internally, I winced. I should know better than to make superhero jokes around this crowd.

"Anyway," I said as Sheila grinned at her own joke, "No. Sheila convinced me last night that we shouldn't just wait to react to whatever Aaron Echolls does with his security force, but to try to direct his and their attentions elsewhere."

Nodding, Buffy said, "I can see that."

"Good. Got any specific ideas? Sheila's idea was 'kill him,' but I'm not quite sure I want to go that far." No matter how much he might deserve it.

"Yeah, he's an ass, but I wouldn't kill a person if it meant taking down all of the vampires in Southern California," Buffy said. And would probably say even if she knew that Aaron Echolls had killed Lilly.

"I wasn't really considering it," I said. "So the object is to come up with another way of distracting him that doesn't actually involve an armed invasion -"

"Or getting his security guys killed," Buffy said.

"Sending them to raid a rival vampire nest is out, huh?' I asked.

"Big time."

"Hmmm," I said. "Well, if we can't set up an actual invasion, maybe we can set up a fake invasion?"

"Do you know any fake invaders?" Buffy asked.

"Not off the top of my head."

"snot like we've got a lot of time to rustle any up, either," Sheila said. "Unless you want it to be you, me, and Echolls."

"Logan's not particularly happy with me right now," I said. "He's not going to be helping us do anything." Not that I'd want him to help find Spike and Drusilla's hideout, anyway. He might have been useful in getting together a phony invasion, or understanding the psychology of his father – he was the closest thing we had to an expert, anyway –

No. He wasn't.

"I recognize that smile," Sheila said.

"Really?" Buffy said. "'cause it scares the shit out of me."

"I just figured out what I'm going to do."

"Would you care to share with the rest of the class, or would you rather make us just guess?"

"Not yet," I said. "But if I'm right, this'll be less messy than killing him – and less likely to get us thrown in jail – less complicated than putting together an invasion, and less likely to get anyone killed for taking on a vampire nest without the right weaponry."

"But it's only going to distract him. Not the elite force," Buffy said.

"Not if I get to him soon enough," I said. "Sheila: Are you ready to track now?"

Sheila allowed as she was.

"Good. Then let's get going."

"Mind if I finish the coffee first?" Buffy asked.

Oh. Right.

X X X X X

We were on the road five minutes later, Buffy in the back seat. "Don't worry," she said wryly. "If something happens I'll just kick out the back window."

"It's my car," I said, "You don't have a license, and Sheila has to concentrate on the spell. Would you rather ride on the roof?"

"'ven Sunnydale cops'd notice that," Sheila said.

"Shush, you. Concentrate on your spell."

Ten minutes later – after about two dozen turns, some of which would have left the Duke boys envious – Sheila said, "Stop. There it is."

And through a chain link fence surrounding a fairly large lot, there was the building Sheila was pointing to:

the abandoned Sunnydale bus depot.

We were now three for three.

I confirmed as much to Buffy, who said, "Good. Now let's get away from here before anyone inside sees us."

We were approaching it from a side – no windows, no gaps, and and no open doors. The building looked reasonably intact, like it could be repurposed for something.

Not with vampires inside, admittedly.

We hustled back to the LeBaron and drove back to the Espresso Pump, where we thanked Sheila.

"'course," she said. "Want the bitch dead as much as you do."

"I doubt that," Buffy said.

"Don't."

We ordered again,"I'm going to leave it up to you and Giles to plan the assault," I said as we tucked into some more coffee. Don't judge; I'm young, I'm overcaffeinated, and I'm not Willow, so I can get away with it.

"Gee, thanks," Buffy said.

"Sorry. I didn't mean that to come across quite as patronizing as it did," I said. "Still, you know what I mean. I'm not going to be within three miles of the place."

"I-" Sheila began.

"And neither will you," I said firmly. I could sense Sheila's eagerness to be part of this, and I wanted her to have no part of this.

"Think you control me, manhunter?"

"Think I want you still breathing when this is over. Unless I'm way off this fight's only going to involve Buffy, Giles, and maybe Angel, depending whether there's any sewer access to the depot."

Nodding, Buffy said, "Pretty much. Also depends how many vamps are in there, too. Angel and I'll scout the place tonight and make our move sometime tomorrow in the early afternoon,"

"So no Willow, no Xander -"

"No. Not unless they have to. Patrolling in the graveyard is one thing – those are usually rookies who don't know what they're doing. Spike? Drusilla? Way beyond."

"Besides," I told the visibly irritated Sheila, "I'm going to need your help with the distraction."

"Really?" Sheila said suspiciously.

"Would I lie to you?"

"I like you, manhunter, but you lie to everyone."

Since that was true, although I was working on it, I swear, I could hardly take offense. "I've been trying to cut down on the amount of lying I do to my friends. And I promise you, Sheila. I need your help." A thought hit me. "I could use Xander's help, too."

"Am I my Xander's keeper?" Buffy asked. "Besides, he likes to be where the action is."

"He'll get all the action he can handle," I said. "With what I have in mind? He'll jump at the chance." It involved screwing over Aaron Echolls. Xander wouldn't hesitate.

"Really? How do you know?"

Holding up a hand, I said, "I can't tell you. Really. I haven't even told Sheila this."

Buffy looked at Sheila, who said, "'sa lot of things she hasn't told me. This is one of 'em."

"Okay," Buffy said, "I'm going to leave it to you and Sheila to plan the distraction."

I chuckled and said, "I see what you did there."

"Who? Me?" Buffy said innocently.

We drank coffee and talked for a few more minutes – actually, Buffy and I did most of the talking. Sheila wasn't much for casual chatting. Then, standing up, Buffy said, "I'll call you tomorrow to let you know what's going on and when so we can coordinate."

"Sounds good," I said, and exeunt omnes, in various directions.

X X X X X

Okay, two directions, because Sheila was still with me, and no matter how talented Buffy is, she's not actually capable of splitting in two, and won't be until season five.

Part of my plan depended on finding out what more I could about the "elite security force," and that, unfortunately, would involve gritting my teeth, bucking up, and all of those cliches, and going to talk to Aaron Echolls in person. It was late enough in the morning that there was no time like the present, dammit, to get started.

"Will you be okay if I drop you off at the magic store while I go beard the lion in his den?" I said.

Shrugging slightly, Sheila said, "Sure. Seein' Echolls – either of 'em – ain't goin' to do much for my mood right now."

"Would it ever?"

A faint grin. "Point, manhunter."

Pete was inside when we got there, and he cheerfully came over and let Sheila in. "I'm unloading some stuff, though," he said.

"'scool. I'll help, if you want."

"Sure."

"Just tell me about everything –"

As Pete began to suspect that perhaps Sheila's offer had not quite been completely selfless, I wisely backed out of the store and drove off.

Reluctantly, I headed for the Echolls estate.

X X X X X

A cheerful Aaron Echolls his own self buzzed me through the front gate. "Sure, Veronica!" He said jovially. "Come on up. I'll tell you anything you want to know."

There were no guards or security in sight – maybe they hadn't come yet. (Or maybe, in his wish-addled state, he thought there were more important things to do in Sunnydale than have them guard his property. Which there were, of course, but under normal circumstances I wouldn't have expected him to think so.)

Logan met me on the front porch, saying "Mars. What the hell are you doing?"

"Trying to go into your house. You mind?"

"Very much," Logan said. "If it takes money away from my darling father, it could hurt my mother. And after years of dealing with him, she deserves everything she can get from the bastard."

"Then why are you still here?"

"To stop people from taking advantage of him when he's like this. I couldn't talk him out of this security force idea, but I'm not going to let anyone else take Mom's money from him."

"I'm touched that you think of me that way," I said.

"You've never hesitated to screw people over."

I bit my lip to avoid coming out with a smartass response that would have escalated things, and then said, "Yes, but do I screw them over to make money?"

He started to say something, stopped, then said, "No. Profit's not your main motive."

"Never has been." Not that I sneer at the money people offer me to take their cases, but if I wanted to make money? I knew enough about the students, both in Neptune and here in Sunnydale, to set me up for life.

Curse my father and his well-taught ethical standards.

"That," Logan said, "Means you're planning to screw him over for some other reason."

"And I'll tell you all about it later. I promise," I said. "But right now? I have to go learn all about this elite security force." After he didn't move for a few seconds, I added, "Seriously. I will. Okay?"

Not entirely believing me, but not willing to make a serious issue of it, Logan stepped aside and said, "I'm holding you to that."

"Please do."

Then he opened the door and said, "Dad? Your 10:45 is here!"

Aaron, a big grin on his face, came out from a back room and said, "Funny, son."

"I try, Dad," Logan said, and you could have cut the irony with a butter knife. "If anyone needs me, I'll be elsewhere." He shut the front door behind him.

Aaron said, "Veronica? Come on back to the kitchen. I'll tell you all about it."

With a reluctance I didn't dare show, I walked to the kitchen. I was alone in the house with the man who had murdered Lilly, and gotten away with it in one universe.

And there was nothing I could do about it.

Not today.

Tomorrow was another day, though. Tomorrow, he would pay, and it would distract him and his security force enough to let Buffy et al kill Spike and Drusilla. I wasn't doing it for its own sake, and I wasn't going to screw over Dad, or Xander, in the process.

And the beautiful part? He'd help me do it himself.

Because the answer to the question, "Who's the best person at helping me understand the psychology of Aaron Echolls?"

Is Aaron Echolls.