What did he know? Alastor had done a lot of unspeakable things in both life and after-life. None of which would be particularly shocking to anyone who knew him. In fact, it had been a long time since he felt the need to hide any of his dark deeds. Yet he was a man with secrets. But still, what did Vox know, and how did he know it? And even if he did know something, what proof did he have?

All this and more sloshed though Alastor's head as he sat at the bar, drink in hand. He had been like that for more than an hour. Not drinking, just glaring out into nowhere. Not speaking, just thinking. It unnerved Husker.

The usually chatty asshole brooded silently, the glass of scotch perched just in front of him. And it wasn't like Husker could just walk away. His menacing master might want something at any minute and if he was not there to facilitate there would be hell to pay later. So Husker stood awkwardly pretending to clean the same glass over and over again. He was never more happy to see Angel come down the stairs. He was obviously on his way out to work, but Husker called out to him.

"Hey, Angel, want a drink for the road?" His eyes pleaded. Please, come over and break this terrible silence. With a saunter and a wiggle, Angel obliged.

"Sure, thanks, kitty cat." He sat and crossed his long legs. "Might as well start now. Dull the senses before I've got to walk into that shit show, you know."

Alastor suddenly came alive. His eyes focused and he turned to them both.

"Angel," he cooed. "Just the fellow I was looking for."

"Really?" Confusion crossed both Angel and Husk's faces. "That'll be a first."

"I was hoping you could do me a favor."

Angel barked out a laugh, "ha! That's rich! You want a favor from me?" He exchanged a look with Husker and then leaned back against the bar. "Ok, I'll bite. What you want?"

"I have been privy to some disturbing rumors. It seems that Vox and the other Vees may be up to something. Perhaps while at work, you could just take a gander and see if you notice anything out of the ordinary."

"Oh, you want me to snoop." Angel crossed his arms and gave Alastor a shrewd look.

"Not the word I would have used, but essentially, yes."

The smile faded from Angel's face as he thought about it.

"I don't know," he replied. "I'm already on Val's shit list most of the time. And if I get caught sticking my nose where it doesn't belong, he'd make my life a living hell. Well, you know, after life."

"Think of it as doing a favor for Charlie and the hotel. Who knows what they're planning, but it surely will not be good for us here, and we can't just let hoodlums go about unchecked."

"Yeah, sure," Angel answered with suspicion in his eyes, but then sighed and threw his hands up. "Fine. I'll, uh, poke around. See what I see. But don't be expecting me to rifle through filing cabinets, or pick locks, or any of that spy shit."

"Perish the thought," Alastor smiled innocently, his ears twitching sideways for good measure.

Angel did as he said and took a look around V Tower as best he could. It was a little hard to snoop when you are the center of attention, cameras constantly rolling and repeatedly bent into odd positions. So after his evening of reconnaissance, Angel had exactly zero new information. But it was a long shoot and after the first few hours Valentino started to get tired and hungry, and therefore moody. And when Val was hangry he became very combative. So when Vox showed up wanting something, Valentino was ready to pick a fight.

The shoot stopped as the two bickered quietly in a corner of the room until Valentino yelled loudly, "It's not my fault, I didn't want to do this in the first place." This caused Vox to grab Valentino by the arm to quiet him. The TV screen surveyed the room and noticed that all the workers were now staring in their direction. He let out a nervous laugh.

"Excuse us." And then under his breath, "Val, a word." He pulled Valentino out the door and into the hall where the bickering continued. With the ever oppressive eye of their producer out of the room, all of the actors and crew instantly relaxed. Angel grabbed a pink chiffon dressing gown and threw it around his shoulders. He moved to exit through another door. The same door that Isobel had arrived through the first time he had laid eyes on her. He wasn't sure why that thought suddenly came into his head.

"Where are you going?" a bunny with pasties and a thong called after him.

"Gotta take a leak," he said over his shoulder as he slipped out. The door shut softly behind him. The tower was like a maze, intersecting hallways, elevators, and escalators to nowhere. It was easy for anyone to get lost. It was made that way. But luckily, Angel had been around for a while. He was quite familiar with the twisting winding ways and he knew just how to catch up to Vox and Val. After a few rights, a left, and an inconspicuous door, he could hear the two still arguing. Or were they making out? Sometimes it was hard to tell on noises alone.

Angel followed their voices, always making sure to stay just one corner away from them. Unfortunately, this meant he couldn't quite hear what they were saying. Until they were at the elevators. They must have felt very alone as they both allowed their volume to rise.

"This is your little project not mine," Valentino said, quite annoyed. "I can't just drop everything and run up to the 19th floor every time you get frustrated."

"Who else am I supposed to call?" Vox huffed as he punched the up button.

"I don't know. Call Velvette."

"I can't. You know how she is. She'll just make everything worse."

"Don't you have employees to handle the shit you don't want to deal with?"

"I can't trust any of them with this. We need to keep it under wraps for just a little bit longer. Just until the big reveal."

"And when is that again?" Valentino sounded very snarky.

"Soon."

"Yeah, you've said that before."

"You can't rush these kinds of things."

The elevator dinged and Angel heard the sound of the doors opening and closing as an automated voice called out the floor selection. "19th floor," the robotic female voice said.

Angel sighed leaning against the wall trying to remember everything he heard so he could relay it to Alastor later. But as he stood there he suddenly heard the familiar sound of clicking heels and angry muttering. Valentino had not gotten on the elevator with Vox and now he was about to turn the corner and discover Angel.

Ah, fuck, Angel said to himself as he pushed off the wall and sprinted down the hall. He wound his way through the twists and turns, taking the long way back and making sure to stop by the craft services table. He paused at the studio door, panting slightly at the exertion. He had to catch his breath before going in. When he did finally enter, Valentino was there moping in his director's chair.

"There you are," he angrily shouted as Angel walked onto set. "Where the fuck were you? You kept me waiting." He reached out and grabbed the collar of the dressing gown in his clawed fist. Angel had planned for this type of greeting though. He held up a honey and fruit bar that he had snagged from craft services.

"Sorry, I thought you might be hungry so I went out to get you a little pick-me-up." Valentino paused glaring as Angel grinned and fought to remain calm as he was being throttled by pink chiffon.

In one quick movement Valentino released the gown and snatched the snack from Angel's hand. He opened it immediately and started to munch. Through mouthfuls he said, "fine. Let's do the butt plug scene again."

"Heh, whatever you want, Val." Angel released a sigh of relief.

Angel arrived home hours later, his bottom a little more tender, but no worse for wear. He walked in expecting to see Husker waiting for him. It had become a bit of a ritual. Husk had started waiting up for him to arrive home ready to facilitate anything that might be needed after whatever the events of the night had brought. Sometimes it was just a stiff drink, or a shoulder to cry on, or just a smile to let Angel know that he was there for him if needed. This time however, Alastor was there as well. Angel wasn't sure how he felt about all this personal interaction with the Radio Demon, but the favor was done and Angel was ready to be through with whatever plot Alastor was brewing.

"Well, you were right," he said before Alastor could ask. "They're up to something. I wasn't able to get any info on what it actually is, though. Has something to do with the 19th floor."

"Ah, interesting." Alastor cocked his head thinking. "Next time, you'll have to go up there and, as you put it, snoop."

"Nah, count me out. I did this favor and I'm done," Angel sat down with a humph.

"Nonsense, if you can't get more detailed information, what good are you?"

"Uh, fuck you. I almost got caught just eavesdropping, and now you want me to go up to some creepy floor, where I do not belong? Nuh huh."

"Just be inconspicuous."

Angel slumped giving Alastor an are you fucking serious kind of face.

"I'm an eight foot tall spider. I don't do inconspicuous."

Alstor shook his head and mumbled, "Useless."

"Uh, fuck you again." Angel put his hands on his hips completely flabbergasted at this ungrateful jackass. "You're the one with the whole 'I can make myself into a fucking shadow.' Do it yourself." Alastor growled and threw his hands up in frustration. "You know what?" Angel pointed a finger at him. "You were a lot more pleasant when you were getting laid on the reg."

This stopped Alastor. He didn't know how to respond to that.

Angel shrugged. "Just saying."