Later That Day
"How much success do you think Cordelia will having getting Kellie to open up?" Gunn asked Wesley.
"It's hard to say," Wesley said, "Miss Kellie is a young woman who appears to have been through a lot of trauma. She obviously has to live always being on guard, not knowing who to trust. I don't know that she'll open up over painting nails."
"That was my thought too," Gunn said, "She definitely grew up on the streets or looking out for herself. She reminds me a lot of my crew. If she had anyone before, she's likely protecting them from her stalker by staying away."
"Her choice," Wesley said.
"Lorne was very clear about respecting that," Gunn said, "What do you think would happen if we didn't do as Lorne said. You have all the watcher knowledge. Have you ever encountered anything like this with interfering with destiny."
"I have heard and read of various things like that," Wesley said, noting Kellie slowly making her way down the stairs, "And the outcome is usually catastrophic, if not apocalyptic."
Wesley nodded indicating to Gunn, Kellie's presence.
"It looks like the painkillers are doing their job," Gunn said, "I'd offer to assist her, but I get the feeling she might not appreciate that."
"I couldn't agree with that assessment more," Wesley said.
"Wasn't Cordy going to try paint her nails or something?" Gunn asked, "Where is she?"
"At the store getting supplies for full pedicures/manicures?" Wesley said, "Something to do with salts and scrubs."
Gunn shrugged as Kellie came towards them.
"I don't believe we've been formerly introduced," Wesley said, extending his hand, "I am Wesley Wyndham-Price."
Kellie cautiously shook Wesley's hand.
"And this here is Charles Gunn," Wesley said.
"What exactly is it that you all do here?" Kellie asked.
"We're a private investigation firm," Wesley said, "Of sorts. We have an exclusive clientele with very specific problems."
"You all are some of the weirdest PI's I've ever met," Kellie said, "I"m guessing too much time with the Hollywood entertainment types."
"Something like that," Gunn replied.
"Usually we'd offer to help you," Wesley said, "It doesn't sound like our specialty is geared towards your problem."
"I doubt you can anyway," Kellie replied, "Is there a payphone preferably farther away from here?"
"Probably," Gunn said, "You have someone you can call?"
"Not really," Kellie said, "But unless you want more company, I'll need to make a call to throw my PI off my trail. Before you ask, at some point after I convinced him to look into Ethan's criminal enterprises, Ethan turned him to his side somehow. Blackmail I'm assuming. I still haven't decided how I'm using that to my advantage yet."
"So you're telling me this PI sold you out to your enemy?" Gunn asked, "You haven't gone all.."
"Ahem," Wesley said, "It may be a case of keeping her enemies closer at this point. If this PI and Ethan are unaware Kellie knows this, she can certainly try to send them on some wild goose chases."
"This definitely might be one of those times," Kellie said, "What freaked out your monster movie actor friend that he decided I need to leave the room immediately earlier."
"Lorne has some psychic abilities," Wesley said, "He sensed that our next visitor wasn't friendly to you."
"He was right," Gunn said, "It was this Ethan guy you mentioned."
"I really should be leaving," Kellie said.
"He simply wanted to know if we'd seen you or encountered anything unusual last night," Wesley said, "He seemed satisfied that we took his business card and promised let him know if we came up with anything useful."
"He doesn't know you're here," Gunn said, "We'll keep it that way."
"So did he say or do anything that I should know about?" Kellie asked.
"He claimed you were his fiancee," Wesley said, "and that he was concerned you'd been kidnapped. I get the sense he probably kept any of whatever happened between you and his people last night on the down low. There aren't any police reports or whispers of anything."
"He was really keen on keeping the police out of it for someone so concerned about finding you," Gunn said, "Claimed it might upset his business rivals. What kind of business does he run?"
"He comes from a family of illegal arms dealers," Kellie said.
"And were you actually engaged to him?" Gunn said.
"Oh god no! Why would you even think that?" Kellie asked.
"We found your engagement ring when we were looking for your identification," Wesley said.
"The answer has always been no to that piece of trash," Kellie said.
"My apologies," Gunn said, "But you were engaged?"
"And that subject is definitely off limits," Kellie said, "Now about that pay phone."
"What do you need a pay phone for?" Angel asked, "You can just call from here."
"I don't wanted it traced," Kellie said.
Angel looked confused.
"Oh you missed the whole part where she knows her PI double crossed her," Gunn said, "He doesn't know she knows."
"The PI double crossed you for the guy that you're running from," Angel asked.
"If you could get me to a pay phone not close by," Kellie said, "I'll keep him from coming around here. Preferably without being seen."
"We can definitely do that," Angel said, "How are you with underground sewer tunnels?"
"That's a new one," Kellie said, "But fine I would guess."
"They're sewer tunnels," Gunn said, "Seriously?"
"If you'd seen the condition of the places I lived in with my cracked out mother," Kellie said, "You might consider a sewer an upgrade."
"You should probably go now before dark," Wesley said, "While any underground residents are still asleep."
"Gunn, you'll have to come with us," Angel said, "Since I can't exactly go above ground this time of day."
"What's wrong with this time of day?" Kellie asked.
"I'm allergic to the sun," Angel said.
"It's really bad," Wesley said.
Gunn looked at both Wesley and Angel like seriously.
"Alright," Kellie said, "Explains the tunnels I guess. I assume the tunnels are connected to this building."
"Yes," Angel said, "Do you need to get your weapons?"
Kellie gave him a look.
"Of course you have them already," Angel said.
"Have weapons, will travel," Kellie quipped.
"Let's go," Angel said.
As they walked, Gunn handed her a wooden stake.
"In case you need it," Gunn said, "It might come in handy. You never know when you might need an extra weapon."
"What is it with you people and stakes?" Kellie asked, "I hardly see how that's an effective weapon."
Angel grabbed Gunn's shoulder and said to only so he could here, "Just let it go. If she figures it out, she figures it out. If not, maybe it's for the best."
"So, what exactly did you hire this PI for?" Angel asked.
"Find dirt that would bring down Ethan's criminal empire," Kellie said, "I'd hope a federal case and the right district attorney or federal prosecutor hungry enough to take down someone of his caliber would be enough to get some sort of justice. If it dismantles his power, his resources, his organization in the process all the better."
"How is that plan going?" Angel asked startled at Kellie answer.
"I managed to get some information," Kellie said, "But not enough to do anything. Just leads to sort through."
"It's an ambitious plan," Gunn said.
"I didn't ask you," Kellie said.
"He's right it is ambitious," Angel said, "Especially with not many resources."
"What plan doesn't hit a snag," Kellie said, "And come to think of it really none of your business."
"All I'm saying is that kind of plan takes connections," Angel said, "Otherwise, do you really think you can just find evidence and what walk into a D.A.'s office like you own the place."
"Pretty much," Kellie said, leaving Gunn and Angel stunned, "What else would I do?"
"So," Angel said, "As they continued walking, Cordy said that you're mom died when you were a kid. What about your father?"
"Irrelevant," Kellie said.
"Irrelevant because he abandoned you, you don't know who he is, he doesn't know you exist?" Gunn asked.
"Irrelevant by my choice," Kellie replied.
"So he knows you exist then?" Angel asked.
"No and it's staying that way," Kellie said, agitated.
"There's not any chance he could help you out if he knew," Gunn said.
"At the expense of possibly trading one danger for another," Kellie said, "I don't think so."
"What exactly do you know about your father?" Angel asked.
"Nothing that concerns you," Kellie said, "Now I think we should just find the pay phone."
"We're here," Angel said, looking up the ladder out of the sewers.
Kellie head up the ladder and Gunn followed.
"I'd keep your distance if I were you," Kellie said to Gunn, "Closed spaces and I can be little a little dicey depending on the circumstances."
"Noted," Gunn said, "Think you can get the sewer grate open."
"I should be able to," Kellie said as she reach the top and pushed the grate open.
Gunn watched her disappear out of the sewer as he heard scuffling below.
"Everything good down there, Angel," Gunn asked, hearing the sounds of a scuffle and fighting.
"Nothing I can't handle," Angel said.
"Let me know if you need assist," Gunn said, "Or I need to take another way home."
Angel didn't answer as he dusted one of the vampires that he was scuffling with.
Gunn looked up as he could hear Kellie making her call amidst the fighting.
"Do I need to come down there?" Gunn asked to which Angel's only response was a groan and a thud.
"What's going on down there and why are you still hanging out on the sewer ladder?" Kellie asked looking down at Gunn.
"Hold on," Gunn replied, "Angel. Which way am I going?"
Angel dusted the second vampire and no longer saw the third one.
"We're clear," Gunn said, "But we probably want to make it quick."
"Clear of what?" Kellie asked as Gunn headed down the ladder.
Gunn looked back at Kellie and considered his answer briefly.
"Wolves," He replied.
"Wolves in the sewers?" Kellie questioned skeptically, "In Los Angeles?"
"You'd be surprised at what finds its way into the sewers," Gunn said.
Kellie pulled a knife out and headed down the ladder behind Gunn.
"Did you make your call?" Angel asked.
Kellie nodded, "Should keep Devin and Ethan off my trail for a few days at least."
"What's the knife out for?" Angel asked.
"In case whatever wolves you were chasing off come back," Kellie said, "Do either of you carry guns or knives?"
Not exactly our weapons of choice," Gunn said, "Knives maybe."
"And those stakes you keep trying to give me?" Kellie said, putting the knife back.
"We work with what we have," Angel said as Kellie pulled her gun out
"I'll go first," Kellie said, "Stay behind me."
"Shouldn't we," Gunn started to say. Angel shook his head.
Kellie turned around to head back, unaware the third vampire had circled back to try again.
Before Kellie could turn around, Angel had staked it.
When Kellie looked back to see what the hold up was, all she saw was remnants of dust falling to the ground and Angel holding a stake.
"I'll take my gun over your stakes any day, but if makes you feel safer," Kellie said, rolling her eyes and turning around to go back to the hotel.