"How did the police know she was even at a party at this guy's place?" Cordelia asked, after showering and getting dressing.
"She was dressed for a party according to the article and his was the only party happening in the neighborhood." Buffy answered. "How does a vampire get to be a producer in Hollywood anyway?"
"Maybe he was an actor or wanna be actor before being vamped." Cordelia suggested. "Someone already familiar with the Hollywood scene. You gotta admit, that's a great cover for a vampire. He could go undetected for a long time. And with a revolving door of wanna be starlets constantly available, he never has to exert himself with hunting."
"Either he's really new to it or somehow the girl got away from him, but still died." Buffy decided. "Because it would be stupid to dump her body only two blocks from his home."
"Unless he's decided to play with the creature of the night motif." Cordelia suggested. "He's already considered eccentric for not having mirrors in his home, someone dying of neck trauma after attending a party at his home is going to generate buzz for him. And you know how vampires are seen thanks to Hollywood and romance writers, as tragic romantic heros."
"I wonder how far he could carry that." Buffy mused. "Ford created an entire club for people who thought that way about vampires. They had blood themed drinks and dressed the way they thought vampires dress for real."
"Show's how little they know about real vampires, since most are stuck in the decade they got turned."
"You know that never made any sense to me." Buffy said. "Their human face is used for luring prey. Wouldn't it be easier to lure prey if they didn't stand out by looking decades and even centuries out of date?"
"Most vampires lose intelligence points just from being vampires." Cordelia pointed out. "They rely on their strength and surprise, which also doesn't make a lot of sense given that they mostly target kids and teenagers. People that are considerably weaker than them."
"Giles said vamps can taste the difference in bloods. Kids taste better than adults."
"I so never needed to know that." Cordelia looked nauseous at the thought.
"Neither did I." Buffy agreed. "So, we suspect a vampire hiding in plain sight in Hollywood. And we hunt vampires."
"You hunt vampires, my boyfriend hunts vampires and I give him encouragement and occasionally lend my super sniffer to track elusive prey or clueless about themselves werewolves." Cordelia reminded her.
"You can help me track this one." Buffy offered. "You know more about Hollywood than I do. I know which actors are hot right now and that's about it."
"And how am I supposed to do that? It's not like I can get within scenting distance of him."
"You could if we crash his next party."
"Do you have any idea when his next party is?"
"It's listed in the social section of the news articles. Tomorrow night, this guy throws a lot of parties."
Cordelia sighed. "We don't have to crash the party, Dad has contacts in Hollywood, I'll call and ask him to arrange an invitation. I'm sure he knows someone who knows someone who knows a way for us to get an invitation. It might not happen before tomorrow night's party though."
"The guys name is Russel Winters." Buffy told her as Cordelia pulled out her cell phone and called her father and explained the situation.
"I very much want to tell you to keep your nose out of it and let the police handle it." Charles Chase told his daughter. "But if Russel Winters is a vampire than they can't handle it because they don't know they even exist for real. And none of us would be able to live with ourselves if we stood by and did nothing and more people died. I'll see what I can do." Charles agreed.
"Thanks, Dad." Cordelia hung up and turned back to Buffy. "Just in case Dad is able to make it happen in time for tomorrow's party, we should go shopping and get an appropriate dress. I'm very sure, you at least, do not own a dress you can wear to a Hollywood party. And the ones I have are still at home. I wasn't expecting to go to Hollywood parties, I was expecting to go to college parties."
"You're right. I'll grab my purse." Buffy agreed. Several hours later two exhausted, but pleased with their hunt through local dress shops, girls returned to their apartment.
"Damnit." Cordelia complained. "I just realized, I'm hungry. We could have stopped and got something to eat on the way back. I don't want a sandwich either."
"Los Angeles has twenty four delivery from a lot of different restaurants." Buffy reminded her. "I use to live here, remember? Mom's a great cook, but there were times we just ordered in. I'll check online." Soon they were both enjoying a nice meal.
"We can't do this all the time." Buffy decided. "You can afford it, but I can't. Once school starts breakfast and lunch are covered. Cereal here, lunch at school. Something will have to be done about supper, though."
"When Dad calls I'll ask if we can borrow Lupe for awhile, maybe she can teach us a few things. I'm beginning to realize I'm a little short on practical life skills, Xander had to show me how to work the washing machine and dryer yesterday."
"Unless she decides to ban me from the stove too." Buffy muttered. "It's a good idea though." She agreed, as they loaded their dishwasher. "Now this I know how to use." She assured Cordelia.
"Good, because I don't." As her phone rang and she pulled it out of her purse. "Thanks, Dad. Yes, we'll be careful." Cordelia assured her father and hung up. "We're on for tomorrow's party."