Chapter 11 – A Family Business
Having re-examined the address he was given, Mr Wilshire cautiously entered the large white building, not expecting a private investigation agency to be housed in such an extravagant hotel. Nor was he anticipating the ornate foyer he then had to walk across to get to the reception desk waiting on the other side.
"Excuse me," Mr Wilshire called softly, noticing a young lady perched behind the wooden structure. Her attention occupied by a small boy stacking blocks on the countertop. "Is this the right place to find Angel Investigations?"
"Oh sorry, didn't see you there," Cordelia jumped in surprise at the sudden intrusion, Lindsey bouncing with her as she moved him from her lap. "And yes, it is. How can we help you?"
"Well, umm..."
It didn't take precognition for Cordelia to know that something worried this man; the deep furrows in his brow and large bags beneath his eyes told her all that. However, despite all that, there was also kindness in his eyes, as well as a shimmer of warmth and fondness, as he glanced at Lindsey, still building a stable for his horse and its companions. And when he heard the young boy's sparkling chuckle, he smiled earnestly as if remembering a happier time.
That's why the young receptionist felt at ease approaching the stranger, placing a gentle touch to his knee to provide comfort and support.
"Whenever you're ready."
"It's my brother, you see" Mr Wilsher eventually spoke, having taken a few deep breaths to calm his nerves. "He's gone missing and that's not at all like him."
"Oh, ok. Do you think something happened to him?"
"Maybe… I mean yeah, he's been hanging around a dodgy Neighbourhood recently, think he got himself into some trouble maybe."
"Why's that?" Cordelia asked carefully.
"Nothing concrete, just I heard he's been having money troubles. And well I have thought about helping him out, giving him work at the company I own. But then we'd probably end up killing each other, and our relationship is too important for that.
Don't get me wrong miss, he's not a bad lad, the opposite in fact, he's just been a little down on his luck is all. So please, if you could find it in your heart to help me…"
And before Mr Wilshire could beg any further, Cordelia stopped him with another touch this time to his shoulder.
"I'll get my boss to look into this for you. Don't worry, we'll get your brother back."
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Not a few hours later Angel incorporated found themselves in an old paper mill located near the town's lower industrial areas, their enquiries having led them there after a brief conversation with the missing man's brother.
"It is said by Mr Wilshire that Jack left his brother's house around 10 in the evening, driving straight here from an hour away. He didn't express why, just some vague mumblings about a meeting of some sort."
"Hmmm, it's not exactly much to go on, Wes," Angel groaned in contempt. "Anything from the powers that be?"
"No. I just spoke to Cordelia about fifteen minutes ago, she said there's been nothing."
"Why doesn't that surprise me." With no other insight, it was up to Angel, Wesley and Lorne to investigate the one lead they had for every possible clue, and that meant canvassing the entire length of the large three-story factory they found themselves in. "Fine, Wesley you take the middle floor, I'll go top, and Lorne you stay down here."
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"Angel! I think you might want to take a look at this."
After hearing the green demons call from two floors below, the vampire immediately abandoned his pointless search to see what the green demons wanted.
"Blood?"Angel questioned once he arrived at Lorne's location, although he didn't need any clarification given his strong sense of smell. "Where'd it come from?"
"Someone got into a fight maybe? There looks to have been a struggle." As he spoke, Lorne pointed out the strewn-about boxes and broken glass on the floor, before redirecting his gaze to where the watcher had joined them on the ground floor. "Although I would expect there to be more blood if that was the case, and all this seems to have come from the same source."
"Is it possible he was jumped by a gang or something and maybe got knocked unconscious, hence all the blood coming from a head wound?" Wesley added his own thoughts to the conversation, using his small amount of on-the-field medical knowledge to strengthen his point of view. An opinion that Angel seemed to agree with.
"Was there anything else Lorne?" The vampire then asked, because even though they had figured out what had happened here, it didn't really help with locating the client's brother or his assailants.
"I'm not sure," The demon answered with uncertainty, his nose scrunching as if something was irritating it. "There's just this smell in the air that's really bugging me."
"A smell?"
"Yeah, something familiar, but it's not strong enough for me to recognise."
"Could the scent be getting covered by all that?" Wes questioned, pointing to the mix of blood and shattered glass. "Maybe if you circled the building, you could find a location where the smell is stronger, like where they entered from."
"It's worth a shot."
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"Find anything yet?"
Several times the group had explored the inside of the building before venturing outside for a better sense of the mystery smell. However, even after over an hour of searching, the scent was still just a subtle waft on the breeze, a fact that was seriously souring the vampire's mood.
"You know Angel-Cakes, vampires have pretty sharp noses as well. So why don't you use that pecker of yours and get sniffing?"
"Sorry too close to all that blood, my senses are catching that and nothing else."
"Well, all the good you are with your- OH God..."
Before the green demon could complain any further, something foul attacked his senses, making him turn away in disgust.
"You got something, Lorne?" Wesley asked although it was clear what the answer would be.
"Oh definitely... You guy's really can't smell that." Lorn gasped trying hard not to breathe more than he had to. Still, the human and vampire both shook their heads as if nothing was wrong.
"What is it, Lorne? Some kind of demon?"
"Yes, definitely. Wiley little things. Don't see them around much in the community because their smell puts other demons off, well most demons that is." That last part was said with unveiled annoyance toward the vampire and as the Pylea native tried to speak again, bile drew up his throat forcing him to cough into his handkerchief. That then happened a handful of times until he could compose himself properly. "Sorry about that."
"It's alright, when you are ready…"
"Thank you, Wesly. As I was saying, though they are full demons they can pass as humans, so it wouldn't be surprising if you'd made contact with a few in your travels. I'm guessing that this particular group has been hired for some reason by a human in the know, but other than that, I don't know why your client's brother was taken."
"Hmmm, I guess we need to find these guys then," Angel nodded a small smirk marking his face as his friend gagged once more. "Got any suggestions, Lorne?"
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"You really think they're going to show up here? Right after doing a job no less." Angel questioned the green demon tersely. Having not long arrived at the Caritas, they now waited rather impatiently to see if the host's intuition would pay off. "How do you even know that the demon you invited is one of the ones we are looking for?"
"I don't Angel-cakes, but even if he isn't a part of that group, he'll know something. These guys always travel in packs, and they have a strong familial bond, or so I've heard."
"Hey guys," Wes interrupted, "I think our guest just walked in."
And his comment was proven correct by the smug smile that spread across Lorne's face, followed by a snarkily asked, "So, what's the plan now?" from the vampire.
"Just watch and you'll see, Sweetie."
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Strolling confidently across his barroom floor, the green demon smiled towards his guests as he passed them, acting as the infallible host that he was known to be. However, as he walked and greeted simultaneously, the corner of his eye seemed fixed on the bar area, in particular toward a man who had just ordered a drink. The bar manager seeing a small nod that his boss had subtly sent him, waved off the money that was being handed to him, the humanoid-looking demon happily accepting the free drink from the charming young gentleman.
"You singing tonight?" The barman asked. "You should, I bet you have a brilliant voice that I would just love to hear." It was a script he knew off the top of his head after working at Caritas for a number of years, one that he would always recite after his boss's signal.
"I thought about it. Not sure if it's really my thing." The demon spoke nervously, sipping at his drink as he pulled uncomfortably at his stiff and cheaply made collar. Because despite entering a well-known karaoke bar, Leo had no intention of getting up on that stage, no intention at all of letting everyone stare at him in probable disgust.
However, unbeknownst to him, the man he was talking to would not let this matter go very easily, and he had a certain winning smile that almost always guaranteed victory. "Aw, come on, just give it a go. You never know, you may learn something about yourself."
"I mean, I guess it can't do any harm." And bingo, just like that, another victory to the charming bartender.
"That's the spirit. Next spots yours just tell the man next to the curtain that Jackson sent you."
"Ok." The demon smiled shyly, pushing up out of his seat before walking slowly over to the MC.
"That took a bit of work." Lorne grinned toward his bar manager, taking a sip of the drink that was wordlessly poured for him as he sat down on the recently vacated stool. "Off your game tonight, sweetheart?"
"Nah, he was just nervous is all, the poor thing. Should be a good show though, I can feel it."
"I have no doubts it will be."
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Five minutes later, Leo left the stage still shaking quite aggressively, though this time with adrenalin instead of fear. Because the performance had been a success, despite all his certainty that every demon in that room would hate his mere presence there, and he'd even gotten a few people out of their seats by the song's end.
Now all he needed to do was get that barman's number and his night would be perfect.
Just a few steps forward and then he'd…
"That was a great performance, cupcake. Want another drink?" Before he could reach his destination, Leo was unexpectedly interrupted by an unfamiliar green demon, a drink shoved into his hand without giving a response.
"That's ok I was just…"
"Soooo… Your cousin wants you to join the family business."
"Wh- How'd you…!"
"Demon-Seer, I can read your auror, it's what we do." Lorne answered the improperly asked question, before steamrolling on with the rest of his findings. "Whereas it seems your kind like to sell themselves to the highest bidder for all sorts of nefarious tasks, am I right? However, you decided not to join your kin, choosing instead to lead a more human existence away from this underworld as so many deem it." And dazed the demon nodded his head in slight wonderment, before looking down in shame.
"That's right. I just want to live in peace and look after my flower shop. I want nothing to do with Vin or his brothers, and I told him this yesterday when he tried to recruit me for their latest job."
"What job?" Angel asked, just catching the end of Leo's statement as he and Wes stealthily walked up behind them. "It wouldn't have anything to do with an abduction by any chance?"
"Who are you guys?" The demon tensed as if he was about to run before even getting an answer, but Lorne stopped him with a soft touch to the back of his neck before handing over yet another free drink.
"These are my associates. Don't worry they're not here to trap you, they just want your help in finding your cousin and the man he took."
"Oh-no, I don't …"
"Please Leo," the host paused for a moment, just looking at the demon his eyes soft and compassionate. "I know you want to do what's right."
It was then that a sudden realization hit Angel: how effortlessly his friend seemed to just get people, knowing perfectly what they needed at that exact moment. It was the same way he helped Lindsey whenever the boy became frustrated learning a new song, or scared about getting up to perform in front of everyone, he just knew what to say and how to say it. And it was because of that calm compassion that Angel felt confident in bringing Lorne onto the team more often, even if the demon still refused to fight.
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Through the butcher's back window, Angel could see the whole scenario as it played out in front of him in full definition.
There was a total of seven men standing in the overstuffed storage room, all of them packing, given the sight of their shiny metal guns reflecting the fluorescent light coming from the strip above them. In the corner of the room, one man appeared different to the rest, sat down and bound to a chair by metal chains.
"Right is everyone clear on the plan?" As the vampire spoke, the others crowded a little closer, the three of them hunched under the window frame where their targets couldn't see them as they gave a nod of approval. "Gunn, did you bring the weapons I asked for?"
"Yeah, it's all in here."
"Good, I managed to get eyes on our client's brother, Wes. He's being kept in the back right-hand nearest to the fire escape."
"On it. If you keep up the distraction, I'll have him out in a jiffy."
Angel nodded at his friend's colloquial Britishism before tensing his muscles as a clear sign of readiness.
"Ok, let's go."
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As always, Angel and Gunn chose the brash approach of smashing through the window and door, the noisy approach startling the men inside for only a moment before taking up arms and opening fire.
After that, it was just an all-out mess, or so the watcher thought to himself.
However, with the distraction, Wesley was able to reach the bound man, undoing the gag placed around his mouth in an instant.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Wesley Wyndham-Price, your brother hired my associates and I to find you."
"Rickey? He's ok then?" The man whispered, all though he didn't need to with the racket Angel and Gunn were making. "Thank God, I was so worried they'd got him too. I didn't want to drag him into this mess, I just needed some extra cash to make rent this month."
"Yes, well I'm sure he'll be wanting a full explanation. However, if you don't mind, I think we should make a quick exit whilst we still have the opportunity," the watcher spoke quickly, trying to hurry the other man along as he watched the fight become somehow even more unruly.
"Sure thing English."
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"M's Delia there back!" Lindsey yelled as the group stumbled into the main foyer, blood still dripping from their clothes, though thankfully none of it theirs.
The cub didn't seem to notice, however, as he launched himself at the vampire, arms wide asking for a giant hug.
"Umm what are you still doing up Mr?" Angel mockingly scowled; the seriousness of his tone nullified by the tickle attack he launched on the young boy.
"I'm sorry, I think that's my fault," their client admitted, following behind Lindsey and bringing Cordelia in tow. "You see, he was asking about Jack, so I told him some stories about when we were growing up together, and well he may have gotten a little excited. And Miss Chase did try to get him to bed, but he wasn't having it." And in all fairness, Jack did appear sheepish at that last part.
"So, we made a compromise." Cordelia then chimed in, coming to the client's rescue. "We agreed that he could stay up to meet Jack, but then he's going straight to bed."
"Speaking of… Where is my brother?"
"Oh, he was just getting some fresh clothes from Gunn, if you want to follow…"
And before Angel could fully explain which room they had left the client's brother in, the man in question was barrelling through the door at full speed.
"Jack! Is that you? Jesus Christ, am I glad to see you."
"Mee too, brother. Damn'it, me too." As the brothers met in the middle of the foyer, they both launched themselves at each other, their grips tight and unrelenting. "I swear I'm never letting you out of my sight again, ever. And you forget about all this odd jobs business, you're coming to work for me, no arguments."
"But what about mixing work with family? We always said we wouldn't do it because of how Dad and Uncle Jay turned out." The younger brother questioned, although he didn't know why when this was what he'd wanted for ages.
"We'll just have to learn from their mistakes, I mean not every family business is doomed to fail." Jack smiled assuredly, joyful tears swelling in his eyes. "Take these guys, they're a family and they make it work."
Angel was about to correct them, tell the brothers how they weren't actually a family, but a gentle hand quickly pulled him back.
"Yeah, I guess we can make it work."