CHAPTER 21
Her move surprised the man in the hallway. He stepped back, hands automatically lifting over his head. Then his eyes widened and zeroed in on Chelsea’s naked form…and the gun in her hand.
She was too wired to care about the visual examination. “Who are you and what the fuck do you want?”
“I…ah…” Appearing to shake himself back to awareness, the man finally uttered, “I’m Gary, the new super. I was doing a check with the tenants to see if you had any repairs you needed done? There should have been a notice in your mail.” His hands hadn’t dropped.
The mail. Feeling her head pound, Chelsea lowered her gun and straightened. “I haven’t had time to check the mail, Gary.” Trying to sound like she hadn’t been seconds away from shooting him, Chelsea backed toward her apartment. “Nothing that needs fixing, though. I’ll give you a call if that changes.”
Gary slowly lowered his hands. “Sure. You do that.” He continued to watch Chelsea closely. “You got a license for that thing?” A jerk of his head indicated her gun. “I mean, I know people want to feel safe, but isn’t that against the law?”
Chelsea resisted the urge to turn the gun on herself at the question. “No, Gary. It’s not illegal – if you have a license, or if you’re a cop. My badge is inside.” She waited for the news to sink in. “Sorry for the less than friendly welcome; I’ve had a rough few days.” Stepping back inside, Chelsea began to close the door. “The next time you want to check on things, call. I check my messages before the mail.”
The door closed with a loud thud, and Chelsea sagged against the cool surface. She had to get a grip. It might not be illegal for her to carry a weapon; that didn’t mean she got a free pass to wave it around indiscriminately. She was letting the situation with Anshu really affect her. Pushing away from her resting place, Chelsea clicked on the safety and padded back to her bedroom. She paused inside the doorway to retrieve and don a long t-shirt – just in case the new super decided to make a return trip – and climbed back into bed. There were a couple of hours left until the alarm would go off, and she planned to take advantage of those.
***
“Huh?” Faith stared in open-mouthed shock at Nicole as she stumbled out of the elevator.
Lowering her voice in deference to the people milling around the lobby, Nicole said, “You heard me, Faith. How can you be so clueless? I mean, you must be the only one who doesn’t know.”
The words stung. Faith ground her teeth and stuffed her hands in the pockets of her coat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Junior. Since I’m so fucking clueless, why don’t you fill me in?” Had she missed something with the prophecy? As she stalked toward the exit, Faith mentally tried to go over everything she knew.
Nicole let her stew until they were in the car and pulling into traffic. The extra time Nicole had given her to ponder the situation hadn’t given Faith any answers. “You’re great to work with, Faith,” Nicole finally told her. The seemingly unrelated comment was soft. “You don’t treat any of us like we’re too stupid to get the job done and you don’t just shove us out the door with a stake and a cheery ‘see you in the morning.’”
Years of experience with Willow let Faith know there was a large ‘but’ coming. Sure enough, as she stopped the car at a red light…
“But I don’t understand how you can’t see it.” Nicole turned in the seat as much as her seatbelt would allow and watched Faith for a reaction.
The only one Faith could give her was confusion. “Nic, I’m glad you and the Juniors don’t feel left out.” It was the one part of the conversation she’d managed to follow completely. “Me and B didn’t have the same chance, ya’ know? It was all about hitting the cemeteries or the warehouses and killing anything that moved. Not much in the way of learning or anything. Well,” she tacked on with a grin, “Giles lectured a lot. Kind of like Willow…only less with the babble and more with the impatient sighs.”
Her words drew an unexpected response from Nicole. “See? That’s it!” the younger girl declared, finger pointing in Faith’s direction.
See? See what? Faith glanced around the car and even examined the busy sidewalk as they drove along. “What’s it, Junior?” Her irritation was back – and it was growing. “I ain’t good at guessing games. Spill or let it drop,” Faith growled.
“Willow.” Nicole made the name sound like a grand announcement.
The car jerked as Faith hit the brake in surprise. “Red what? She isn’t hiding in the back seat or something?” Ignoring the angry sounds of honking behind her, Faith craned her neck to peer over the seat.
“No, Faith. Willow didn’t sneak out of the hotel.” Was that a hint of laughter in Nicole’s voice? Faith scowled and resumed driving as Nicole continued. “I was talking about the way Willow feels about you. Haven’t you noticed that she watches you all the time? That she seems to care how you feel and that you’re safe?”
“Sure, I have.” Faith dodged a slower-moving car and accelerated for half a block until the traffic ground to a halt again. Her hands clenched around the steering wheel. God, she missed Sunnydale. They’d never had to fight this kind of congestion on the way to saving the world.
Her attention was dragged away from the stationary line of vehicles, when Nicole asked, “And?”
“And what?” Some of Faith’s vexation with their slow pace crept out and her voice rose. “If you’ve got something to say, Nic, spit it out. I may not like what you got to say, but I’m gonna listen.” She didn’t have much choice since the only alternative was to get out of the car – although, that didn’t sound like a bad idea at the moment. Faith knew she would be at Lake’s door a lot sooner if she used a little Slayer foot speed.
Nicole’s sigh filled the car. “You really don’t have a clue. I didn’t think that was possible… I mean, from the way some of the original Scoobies talk, you’re some kind of man-eating woman with more notches on your bedpost than Don Juan.”
Faith had reached her limit. Patience was one thing. This was another entirely. “Nic. Spit. It. Out. Now!”
“Willow’s in love with you, Faith,” Nicole divulged in a rush.
It was so unexpected that Faith didn’t even laugh. At first. Then the chuckles started. Before long, her head was bowed until it nearly rested on the steering wheel as Faith roared in amusement. Willow – in love with her. When she finally caught her breath, she forced out, “No way, Junior. Me and Red, we get along now. Maybe we’re friends.” She broke off for a second as traffic moved sluggishly forward. “Maybe not. We got a lot of history to get past, though.”
For an instant, as she talked, Faith remembered the feel of Willow’s arms around her at the hotel, the look in her eyes as they’d discussed the paperwork, and Faith’s lips turned up in a soft smile before she shook off the memory.
“Sorry, I must have gotten the signals wrong,” Nicole said softly. She cleared her throat. “So you don’t think there’s any chance it might happen, though? You don’t find Willow attractive?”
Faith’s smile soured. “Ain’t what I think that’s important, Nic.” Willow would have to be crazy to get anywhere near her. “All that baggage, remember? I did a lot of things to Willow. You can’t just shrug that off.” Peeling one hand off the wheel, she reached across the car and poked Nicole’s shoulder. “Stop trying to play matchmaker, kid. We got more important things to worry about right now.”
“Yeah, I’ll do that.” Nicole slumped against the passenger door and grimaced. “Like I have a lot of experience in relationships, anyway.”
That sounded like a long talk waiting to happen. Faith glanced sideways at Nicole and considered her options. They didn’t really have time for a heart to heart here. Despite the packed streets, they were closing in on Lake’s apartment. “Tell you what, Nic. Soon as we get Lake someplace safe, we’ll head for someplace private, grab some food, and you can tell me all about it. The Scoobs weren’t wrong. I got lots of practice, and I’d be willing to share the wealth.” Hoping that would be enough, Faith let her voice go brisk and back to business. “Right now, though, we gotta finish that plan I was talking about earlier. I think we’re only a few blocks from Lake’s place now.”
***
At least, Chelsea thought, she was awake when the knocking started this time. Continuing to towel her hair dry, she picked up her gun and padded across her living room for the second time that morning. “Yeah? Who is it?” If it was Gary…
“Uh, Detective Lake? It’s Nicole,” a young, female voice announced from the hallway. “You and Detective Munch arrested me last night. I need to talk to you.”
The kid outside the station? Chelsea tossed the towel onto the couch and reached for the deadbolt – and then stopped. How had a sixteen year-old girl found her (at her home) in New York? “I’m off duty,” she stalled, thinking rapidly. “Why don’t you call me at the station later today?” The safety clicked off on her weapon, and Chelsea slowly backpedaled away from the door. This warranted a call to Munch. And Olivia. It was time to bring her partner in on the situation.
Nicole didn’t answer for a second. “Look. I know this isn’t the best way to do this,” she finally said. “Can you at least open the door? I have some information about…well, about some people I think are trying to kill you.”
Chelsea had no intention of opening the door. None. She retrieved her cell phone from the kitchen counter.
It went right back down on the counter when the handle on her front door wiggled.
“Nicole…” Chelsea warned. “Go away. I’m not letting you in. Either stop by the station or call and talk to Detective Munch. He was the lead officer last night, and I’m sure he’d be happy to hear what you have to say.” Her hands were slick against the handgrip as Chelsea braced her legs and raised her gun, sighting on the door. Tense and primed for action, Chelsea waited for Nicole’s response.
It came…from a completely unexpected direction. “We can’t do that, Detective.”
The new voice came from behind Chelsea. She whipped around, finger dropping onto the trigger. There was no chance, however, to do anything more. The woman in Chelsea’s apartment moved with unbelievable speed. One hand reached out and gripped Chelsea’s right wrist, and it went numb. Despite her best intentions, Chelsea couldn’t maintain her hold on the gun. It slipped from her uncooperative fingers – right into the woman’s free hand.
“We ain’t got time to play nice, Lake.” The safety clicking back on was loud in the apartment. “I’m Faith, a friend of Nicole’s. You need to sit down and listen to what we got to tell you.” A finger pointed to the door. “After you let the kid in, though. I don’t want her out in the hall while we talk.”
Chelsea wasn’t giving up that easily. Pretending to take a step toward the door, she hoped to put Faith off guard. One step. Two…Planting her right foot on the floor, Chelsea lashed backward with her left.
The kick never landed. Instead, Chelsea felt her ankle gripped tightly and held in position mere inches from Faith’s stomach. “You done or we gonna throw down some more before you get the idea I can kick your ass anytime I want?” Her smirk set Chelsea’s teeth on edge.
“Let me go,” Chelsea gritted between her teeth. Her heart pounded. Were Faith and Nicole the people Anshu had warned her about? It was hard to think; her instincts were to run or fight, not talk or reason.
“Sure, Chief. Just make sure you let Nic inside before one of your neighbors gets suspicious and calls the cops. None of us need that right now.” The hand holding Chelsea’s ankle released, and Faith stepped back slightly.
With a tight nod, Chelsea turned and headed for the door. Her skin prickled. She could feel Faith watching her as she reached out, unlocked the deadbolt, and opened the door.
Nicole slipped past Chelsea and into the apartment. “Hey, it worked. I didn’t think you’d be able to get in. Or get her to let me in.”
She was obviously addressing Faith. Hoping that meant Nicole’s attention wasn’t on her, Chelsea slid one foot toward the hallway. If she could only get out of the apartment…
Displaying the same frightening speed as Faith, Nicole turned and smoothly pulled the door out of Chelsea’s hand. It closed with a bang. “I guess the second part of the plan didn’t work so well.” Regarding Chelsea soberly, Nicole commented, “I wasn’t lying when I said we had information, Detective. Faith and I aren’t the threat, but there is one. And it’s serious.”
This wasn’t happening. Slowly straightening, Chelsea met Nicole’s gaze. “I’m listening.” What choice did she have? She was a prisoner in her own apartment.
“Yeah, you’re listening, Chief.” Faith grinned, a pair of dimples popping out and making her look far younger than Chelsea had originally estimated. “Part of you may be listenin’, but most of you’s waiting for a chance to take me out and run. Think I been in your shoes a time or two. Sit down.” She pointed to Chelsea’s couch. “We really ain’t here to do anything but talk.”
As if to convince Chelsea of her sincerity, Faith walked into the kitchen and dragged out a chair. She placed it near the end of the sofa and straddled it backwards, muscled arms resting across the top.
Feeling like a puppet being moved by a master puppeteer, Chelsea paced across the room and dropped onto the couch. She met Faith’s eyes. “Tell me what you know.” And make it convincing. Right now, she didn’t know who to trust. “Who are you? And…you were really staking out the House, weren’t you?” The last question was directed at Nicole.
She looked at Faith before answering.
“Go ahead, kid. Lake’s gonna know soon enough.” Faith seemed to be the only one not feeling the stress of the situation. Her chin dropped onto her crossed arms as she waited for Nicole to answer.
“Yes, I was.” Nicole bit her lip and rocked on her heels. “I’m… well…” Her eyes flickered to Faith again and then back to Chelsea.
Not willing to help Nicole out, Chelsea scowled. “You’re what? Here to kill me? You sure as hell aren’t a pro.”
That stung. Nicole’s head came up and she flushed.
“Back off, Chief.” Faith rejoined the conversation. “Nic’s one of the best at what we do. You just ain’t our usual kind of job.”
Chelsea never looked away from Nicole. She was the weak link. She was the key to getting out of the apartment alive. “And what is that, exactly? Your job?” Chelsea pushed. Nicole was off balance, still blushing and looking uncertainly between her and Faith.
“See? That’s the problem,” Faith said with a sigh. “Normally, me and Nic are like cops. Like you..”
Nicole’s head snapped around, and, if the situation hadn’t been so grim, Chelsea might have laughed at the stunned look the younger girl gave Faith.
“You have a badge? What agency?” Chelsea asked the question; although, she knew neither of the other two women weren’t law enforcement. In fact, she was willing to bet Faith had more experience with breaking the law than upholding it. “If you’re on the Job, why didn’t you say that at the station?”
“’Cause they don’t give out guns and badges where we come from.” Faith raised her head and shrugged. “And the benefits is pretty shitty, too. We’re Slayers, Lake.”
She paused and waited, as if trying to determine if Chelsea was might actually know what that meant. “Slayers?” Chelsea parroted. Dear God. Cragen had been right. “You mean you’re hitmen?” Muscles tightening further, she watched Faith and Nicole closer. She hadn’t tangled with any of the Families; at least, none that she knew. Why would they send anyone after her?
Chelsea’s frantic thoughts stopped abruptly when Faith chuckled. “Kind of.” She stood in one fluid motion and appeared to search the apartment for something. “We don’t kill people, though.”
Her voice wavered slightly. Even busy planning her escape, Chelsea recognized the lie. Wanting to push both of her captors off guard, she seized on that. “Right. You expect me to believe that? I know your type.” She prayed her growing fear didn’t show and raked Faith’s body with her eyes. “I don’t see any prison ink, but you’ve been there.”
“Yeah, I have.” Faith faced Chelsea fully, and she wasn’t so calm now. The angles in her face tightened and her fists clenched around her belt. “I ain’t your normal Slayer, though. Guess you could call me the bad seed and all. Slayers don’t kill humans. It’s in the handbook, Chief.” Lips twisting in a poor attempt at a smile, she murmured, “Problem was, I never got the fucking book to read.”
Chelsea didn’t understand. None of this made any sense. Slayers didn’t kill humans? What did they kill? And… a handbook? She flexed her fingers and rocked on her heels to loosen the ache in her quads and calves. The seconds ticked by in time with the faint click of the hands on the kitchen clock.
“Faith…” Nicole’s voice was soft, as if she didn’t want to break the strained silence.
It was enough, though. Faith’s eyes flickered away from Chelsea’s. “I know. We ain’t got time for this, kid. Next time we make a plan, I’m leaving the details to you.” Her voice was still tight, but Chelsea noticed that Faith’s hands had dropped back to her sides.
That was a good sign. Maybe Chelsea could use Faith’s relaxed state. Keeping her eyes on both of the other women, she edged to her left to clear a path toward Faith. She’d take out the bigger threat first and then go after Nicole.
That idea went out the window the second Faith retrieved the gun she’d set on the couch table.
“I’m sorry, Lake. I wanted to do this different, you know?” When Faith turned, the gun was in her left hand. “I just never thought it’d be so hard to explain who we are and what’s goin’ on.”
Chelsea’s muscles quivered as she watched the weapon in Faith’s hand. This was it. She may not have understood the reason behind Faith’s presence, but she was very clear on the outcome. Dropping into a crouch, Chelsea vowed to go down fighting. No way was she going to simply stand there and let Faith shoot her.
“Me and Nic were sent here to protect you, Chief.” Faith continued to talk as she moved closer.
Her words barely penetrated Chelsea’s consciousness. She was focused on preparing for one last attempt at freedom.
Raising the gun, Faith released the clip, catching it in her right hand. “Something big’s after you, and you ain’t got a clue. I was hoping to explain all of it.”
There was only the bullet in the chamber left. Those were good odds. Chelsea took a slow, deep breath and waited. One more step would put Faith within range. She watched Faith push the slide back and engage the catch; the final shell popped out of the ejection port. Going up on her toes, Chelsea gathered herself.
“I’m gonna apologize now, Chief. I don’t know jack about guns, but I’m betting this ain’t good for them.” Before Chelsea had a change to dive at Faith, the other girl held out the gun and squeezed it between her hands.
It was so unexpected that Chelsea stumbled slightly as she lurched forward. Then she got a good look at the results of Faith’s actions and had to grab onto the back of the recliner.
The barrel of her handgun had flattened under Faith’s grip – except where the metal had melded around each of Faith’s fingers.
“What the…” Forgetting all about escape, Chelsea could only stare at the mangled weapon. “How did you do that?” She reached out with numb hands as Faith gently dropped what was left of the gun in them. Its familiar weight in her hand belied any attempts to dismiss Faith’s actions as an hallucination.
“Like I told you. Me and Nic are Slayers. If I had a thing for tweed, there’s a real long story to go with that little demo.” Faith was watching her closely. “I’m going to keep it short; we fight evil. Demons, vampires. Even Hell gods…”
Demons and vampires. Chelsea shook her head. This had to be a dream. She was still in bed, sleeping.
“Hey!” Faith snapped her fingers suddenly, shocking Chelsea out of her inner panic attack. “Don’t faint or nothing. We’re runnin’ out of time.”
***
Lake didn’t look good. Despite her darker skin tone, she was pale and her eyes were glued to the mangled metal mess in her hand. Maybe using Slayer strength on the gun hadn’t been such a good idea. Faith heaved a mental sigh. She should have let Willow come with them. At least her babble got the main points across without scaring people to death. “Take a seat, Chief. I’m gonna turn the meeting over to Nic. I’m more the muscle than the brains. She can explain what’s going on.”
She’d surprised Nicole again. Faith caught a wide-eyed look as she slowly resumed her seat on the kitchen chair.
Chelsea hadn’t moved much. She’d angled herself so that she could see both of them; however, she still stood uneasily in the middle of the room. Her head rose slightly, though, when Nicole said, “Detective Lake? You really need to sit down. This is…well, it’s going to sound like Faith and I are crazy.” She smiled slightly and took a seat herself. “I promise, only Faith needs mental help.”
Narrowing her eyes, Faith gave Nicole a long look and the smirked. The kid had talent – even if it was at her expense.
Chelsea finally moved – albeit stiffly. She avoided the couch and dropped into the recliner, the gun still clutched in both hands. “I haven’t even heard the story, and I’m absolutely certain I need to check myself into Bellevue.” Her eyes flickered back and forth between Faith and Nicole. “Is this about my family?”
“You know about them?” Nicole asked the question before Faith could. “We didn’t think you knew…” Her words faltered for a second.
“I know they left me with ACS and that some guy named Anshu thinks it was to protect me.” Chelsea was coming back to life. Her voice was more animated and she leaned forward slightly in the chair as she continued. “I’ve been followed the last few days, and not just by you.”
This was more serious than they’d thought. “Followed? Where? When?” Faith demanded.
“Yesterday morning. Two guys in a stolen car.” She turned and glared. “Some of your crew?”
“No, Detective,” Nicole said smoothly. “After you caught me outside the station, we had to regroup. Like Faith said, this kind of job is new for us. We normally go after the demons; protecting someone, especially during the day, isn’t something we’re used to doing.” She raised a hand when Chelsea started to interrupt. “How about I fill in some more details and then you can ask all the questions you want? After spending an hour with Detective Munch, I’m sure you’re better at interrogating than listening.”
“Don’t be too hard on the Sarge. He’s one of the best – even if he is a bit impatient and convinced he knows everything,” Chelsea said, the protest sounding automatic and casual.
Good. Maybe the big freak out was over and they could get down to business. Faith settled back in her chair and watched as Nicole smiled and then responsed. “He reminds me of Mr. Giles. You might get to meet him, Detective. Well, talk to him anyway. He’s in England, and I don’t think he comes to the States much anymore.”
As Nicole talked and Chelsea stopped glancing toward the door, Faith resisted the urge to stretch out the growing tension in her shoulders and neck. This might be the best way to explain the situation to Chelsea, but it took time. Experience told Faith that time was their biggest enemy right now. She didn’t say anything, though. This was Nicole’s show, and she was doing a far better job at getting Chelsea’s attention than the strong arm tactics they’d tried before.
“Faith showed you one of the things you need to know about Slayers. Our strength. We’re a little faster and stronger than most people. It helps us fight demons.” Nicole recapped the information quickly and before moving on. “Slayers have been around for centuries. We were created to balance out all the evil.”
“That’s why Faith said your current job isn’t normal.” Chelsea seemed to be putting the pieces together quickly. “People don’t usually see you working.”
Deciding to interject for a second, Faith said, “You got it, Chief. I ain’t worked a ‘day job’ since getting Called. I spend most of my time in cemeteries and old warehouses. Vamps don’t do sunlight – it makes them kinda flame-y, if you know what I mean.” She smirked and winked. “Not that that’s a bad thing.”
Chelsea’s lips twitched slightly. She grew more serious almost immediately, however. “Why protect me? It doesn’t fit with anything you’ve told me.”
Faith sighed and looked at Nicole. “Tell ya’ what, Chief. Nic can give you the lowdown on that - the short version – while you grab some gear. I’m thinking we should get the fuck out of here before whoever’s watching you decides to do somethin’ more dangerous.”
Nicole nodded. “She’s right, Detective. We think the bad guys are about to make their move. That’s why we decided to talk to you directly.”
***
Slowly pushing out of the chair, Chelsea took one more look at the door. Neither Faith nor Nicole was on guard any longer. She could make a break for freedom right now…
Chelsea’s police training kicked in before she could take a single step. She’d seen the signs that something was wrong for days: the weird McLaren case, the tail when she and Liv had been in Canarsie, her past. “Go where? A hotel? A safe house?” She didn’t disagree with leaving, not if there really were people after her. “I can’t just disappear. I have a job. And friends.” Looking at Faith, Chelsea stressed that point. “Friends who are cops. They won’t shrug and think I decided to take an unannounced vacation.”
That earned her a scowl and a tight nod. “You keep makin’ this tough, Chief,” Faith complained. Then she waved a hand at Chelsea. “Get the gear. For right now, we won’t fuck with your job or nothing. If it’s vamps after you, they can’t do anything during the day. I’ll get Red and the Tweeds on your human ‘friends’ as soon as we get you someplace safer.”
Relieved that she wouldn’t have to abandon her new squad, Chelsea took a step away from the living room. “A couple days’ worth of stuff or are we talking a long-term relocation?” How long was she supposed to sit back and let Faith and Nicole play bodyguards?
“There’s a deadline, Chief, if we got the timeline figured out right. You’re gonna have a bulls’ eye on your head for maybe a couple of weeks,” Faith responded without hesitating. Chelsea watched her hop off the chair and pace to the window. “Don’t empty the closet, OK?”
Chelsea understood only part of the comment – the deadline. “I think I can manage to pack light.” The feeling of unreality had returned. Chelsea turned toward the hallway and plodded to the bedroom. If she hadn’t felt Nicole right behind her, she might have been able to convince herself this was all a very detailed dream. To keep her mind in the here and now, Chelsea asked, “What’s the rest of the story, Nicole?”
Although Chelsea wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the rest, it was the best course of action. She needed to be prepared for…whatever was going to happen.
“Well, you wanted to know why Faith and I are here. Um…watching you.” Nicole suddenly sounded her age, some of her previous confidence slipping. “Mr. Giles and Willow found a prophecy in an old scroll in the Council’s library.”
“A prophecy?” Chelsea started laughing as she entered her bedroom. “Like Nostradamus? Is there going to be a big earthquake?” This just kept getting more and more surreal. Maybe this was only a dream.
There was a stilted silence behind her.
Chelsea slid the closet’s pocket door open and then peered over her shoulder. Nicole had both of her hands stuffed in the pockets of her jeans and she scowled in a very good imitation of Faith. “Look, you and Faith come in here with some crazy story about vampires and demons and teenaged assassins. What do you expect from me?” she asked in frustration.
“Nothing, Detective.” For the first time since their original meeting, Nicole appeared to be more than a simple teenager. Her suddenly shadowed eyes met Chelsea’s steadily. “If we could have avoided telling you this story, we would have. Slayers usually work alone.” A small, bitter smile twisted her lips. “Until a few months ago, we were sequestered as soon as were Called. Pulled away from family and friends while most of us were still kids and sent out to save the world. All of that without ‘normal’ people having a clue we were even there, dying after only a few months on the job. Luckily, that’s changing, and we’re all learning to live with the differences. One of them, recently, is protecting you.”
Nicole didn’t sound very happy about the change in her job description. Automatically pulling clothes off of hangers, Chelsea mulled over what she’d been told. It was what she’d been waiting for. Had asked for. The truth. Now that it was here, though, she felt her tension grow. Did she want to hear what Nicole had to tell her?
The short pause seemed to have helped Nicole calm down. The hard edge was missing from her voice when she continued. “I wasn’t in all the initial planning meetings after the prophecy was found. I don’t know everything Willow and Mr. Giles discovered. I do know that the prophecy names you, Anshu, and Faith, though.”
“Wait!” Chelsea spun away from the closet, arms full of shirts and pants. “Anshu’s part of this? How?” She wasn’t ready to confront Faith’s involvement. Anshu claimed to be from her family. Were they at risk, too?
Confirming her suspicions, Nicole said, “Whatever is after you – vampires, we think – is after him, too. Your family…” Breaking off, Nicole seemed to search for the right words. “Your birth family was highly placed in one of the local Mohawk tribes. From what we’ve been able to find, you are the last descendant of Takarihoken, some kind of War Lord. According to tradition, you have to be there to elect a new War Lord – or control of the title goes to another tribe.”
It was like listening to the soundtrack of a movie. Chelsea heard Nicole’s words, but they didn’t make sense. “War Lord?” Nicole had to be joking. “This is the 21st century. I know there have been movements to get the government to acknowledge the shit they pulled on the local Native American tribes and to reclaim their land, but that title would be empty. No one gives a crap about that anymore.”
Nicole’s slightly tilted head and raised eyebrow made Chelsea wonder just what, in reality, a Slayer was. That expression was better suited on Munch than on someone who looked no older than fifteen. “According to our findings, someone does, Detective. And that someone is willing to go to any lengths to ensure you aren’t able to make your selection.”
Unable to think of a response, Chelsea busied herself with shoving the clothes in her arms into a duffel bag. Nicole’s words repeated in her mind. She was the last of her family. From orphan to abandoned baby back to orphan in the span of a day. The tiny spark of hope and longing that Chelsea had nurtured deep inside about meeting the people who had given her to Wilson Grant flickered and went cold. Now, thanks to an unknown enemy, that would never happen. She couldn’t even begin to contemplate the rest of the information Nicole had given her. It didn’t seem real.
As if sensing Chelsea’s internal struggle, Nicole stopped talking and took a few steps away. “I promise we’ll keep you safe, though.”
Nicole sounded very sure of that. Despite her unease at needing someone as young as Nicole to act as a bodyguard, Chelsea unbent enough to smile. “Who’s going to keep me safe from Faith? I thought for a minute she might toss me out the window… Is that why the prophecy mentions her?” she managed to tease as she finished packing up her gear – including her backup weapon, which she shoved into its holster.
Nicole didn’t laugh; although, her lips twitched. “Faith only acts…” She stopped abruptly and pressed her lips together for a second. “Faith isn’t a threat, Detective. Not to you. If those vamps try anything, though, you should sit back and watch. She’s the best at what we do.”
Filing that information away, Chelsea zipped the duffel closed and took a last look at her room. Nothing else caught her eye. “I’m ready, Nicole,” she announced as she buckled the holster into place around her left shoulder.
“You won’t need that.” Nicole pointed at Chelsea’s gun.
One hand going automatically to the butt of her weapon, Chelsea asked, “Why not? Do you have something better?” Her eyes narrowed and she gripped the handle tightly. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on her as she continued. “New York has some pretty strict gun control laws. Do you have the right permits?”
That got a giggle from Nicole. “We might be a little more high-tech than we were a few months ago, Detective. That doesn’t mean Slayers carry guns. We’re more Old School.” Pulling up the sleeve of her shirt, Nicole showed off the wrist sheath and dagger strapped to her arm. “You can’t kill a vamp with a bullet. You have to stake them through the heart or cut their heads off.”
“Do they turn into bats, too?” Chelsea asked – only partially joking this time. “Am I going to see Dracula flying past the Statue of Liberty?”
***
Faith stood in the hallway, listening to Nicole and Lake talk. She’d made the right decision when she’d told Nicole to do the explanations. The kid had provided enough detail to get her point across without hemorrhaging at the mouth the way Willow would have. When she heard Lake’s final question, she grinned. This was going to be fun. “Nah, Chief.” Moving to the bedroom door and peering inside, Faith gave the detective the bad news. “He’s dead. B staked him a couple of years ago. And, far as I know, he was the only vamp that did the bat thing. Most of ‘em come out of the grave with nothing more freak worthy than lame clothes.”
She hadn’t anticipated Lake’s reaction. Going still and pale, Lake parroted her comment. “Out of the ground? Do you mean they crawl out of their graves?”
Sharing a look with Nicole, Faith said, “Yeah. That’s how it works. They get Turned by a vamp and gotta spend a night underground. Well, if they get buried, anyway. That’s how we,” Faith pointed to herself and Nicole, “find ‘em. We hunt through cemeteries for fresh graves. Once the new Fang Brigade digs out, we stake ‘em on the spot.”
Lake raised a hand that appeared to shake slightly and rubbed her eyes. “So vamps are like Slayers. They’re stronger than regular humans.”
Barely refraining from uttering the “Duh,” that sprang to her lips, Faith worked on being polite. They’d thrown a lot of information at Lake in the last hour. “Right. You gotta remember that once someone’s Turned, they ain’t human. They can look human, but they’re only hiding the demon. It’s the demon that’s got the super strength.”
Lake’s haunted eyes met Faith’s. “So it wouldn’t be hard for them to tear open a sealed coffin and dig through six feet of dirt?”
“They do it all the time.” Turning back to the hallway, Faith hoped Lake and Nicole would follow her to the living room. It was time to get the show on the road. “It can’t be too hard, though. B dug her way out when Red brought her back from the dead.”
“Back from the dead…” Lake’s voice was noticeably uneven. “Damn. Liv’s never going to believe this.”
Faith motioned for Nicole to precede her down the hall and watched Lake closely. Something was going on. Lake’s reaction wasn’t the usual “you’re pulling my leg” protest they got when explaining about vampires and evil. “Liv’s the butch chick you were with in the park the other night?”
If anything, her question shook Lake even more. “You were there?”
Cursing herself for starting this line of conversation, Faith shrugged and hurried after Nicole. “Me and Red were on guard duty, Chief. Didn’t want you to end up dead before we had all the answers we needed.” She broke off there, stopping in the middle of the living room. They had to get to the car – without being seen. Easier said than done now that they might have humans watching the building. “Nic, go out the front. Hang out by the door like you’re waiting for somebody.”
“OK.” Nicole looked confused even as she trotted for the door. “Am I? Waiting for someone?”
“Just me and Lake. We’re gonna take the back way out.” Lake seemed to be in good shape. A few rickety ladders and stairs shouldn’t be too hard for her. “Keep an eye out for anything outta place – people just sitting in cars, leaning in doorways…. You know the drill. Once I’ve got the car, we’ll pick you up. Be ready to move.”
The door opened and then closed softly behind Nicole.
Faith felt the weight of Lake’s gaze. “Give me the bag, Chief. I’m built for hauling shit around.” And it would keep the gun out of play.
“I can carry it,” Lake protested immediately. She looped the duffle over her shoulder, almost daring Faith to take it. “Lead the way. Watching the two of you has me all jumpy. I’m ready to get out of here.”
Eyes narrowing, Faith considered Lake’s unspoken challenge. “Don’t blame me if you can’t cut the climb, Chief,” she finally said. “You start lagging behind and I’m gonna do more than just take the bag.”
A hint of a smile appeared on Lake’s face. “Got it.”
“Good.” Faith turned away and stalked to the kitchen. “This is our way out.” Pointing to the window over the sink (the same one she’d used to get into the apartment), Faith explained their egress. “Fire escape’s out there. It ain’t in the best shape. I’ll go first and let you know when I want you to come out.” She made sure to meet Lake’s eyes as she stressed that last point. “Don’t come out until I say.”
She could see Lake gritting her teeth as she acknowledged the instructions.
Not waiting for more, Faith clambered up on the kitchen counter and slipped out the window. The rusted metal platform that comprised the fire escape landing creaked under her weight. Faith ignored the spine-chilling sound and peered at the sidewalk below.
A few people walked by, their attention focused completely on other things. No one looked up at her.
It wasn’t enough. Faith had to be sure nothing waited for them. She pushed her Slayer senses to their limit. If there was anything nearby, it wasn’t demon in nature. Keeping alert, though, Faith moved off the landing and onto the first set of downward steps. They were clearly not in the best shape; quite a few of the bolts anchoring the fire escape to the building’s brick façade were missing and the railing didn’t seem totally safe, either. “Your turn, Chief.”
Lake’s feet popped out of the window less than a second later. Grunts and a few muttered curses followed as Lake wiggled and twisted in an attempt to get her larger frame and her duffel bag through the small window. Finally, though, a rumpled and red-faced Lake stood at the top of the fire escape. “Anything down there?” She waved a hand at the sidewalk.
“Nothing I can see.” Faith didn’t go into more detail. Instead, she worked her way down to the next landing, carefully avoiding the plants, empty bottles, and other items the tenants had stored on the building’s fire escape. “Don’t move too fast or we’ll both be hitting the bottom a lot sooner – and harder – than we want, Chief. Soon as we get this prophecy shit taken care of, you might wanna call the super and complain about the fire escape. If the fucking apartment went up in smoke, might be better to stay put than use this thing.”
Lake didn’t answer. Faith heard the detective suck in a deep breath as the grating continued to creak and sag as she attempted to maneuver the fire escape during her downward progress.
Following that example, Faith remained silent and started for the next set of steps. It ended abruptly several feet off the ground. She dropped to her knees and gripped the edge of the drop ladder. The world spun slowly as Faith somersaulted forward before dangling from the ladder, pulling it down and dropping the final few feet to the sidewalk.
Backing up, she checked out Lake’s position. The other woman hadn’t yet left the last landing.
“Toss me the gear, Chief. It ain’t gonna help with the last step. It’s a bitch.” Faith grinned at Lake’s grimace. “Come on. You got at least a few inches on me. The drop’s not that bad.”
The duffel bag flew at Faith with no warning; although, she caught it easily.
“Maybe. But I’m suddenly remembering Nicole’s lecture on super strength. You have it. I don’t.” Lake took the last of the steps and slowly dropped to her knees.
***
The rusty grating dug into Chelsea’s knees, even through the dense fabric of her jeans. She contemplated her options: try Faith’s gymnastics display or get creative.
Creativity won.
Placing her hands flat on the previous step, Chelsea wiggled backward until she balanced precariously on the fire escape. She could just see Faith moving into the spot right below her. If this didn’t work and she fell, Chelsea hoped that Slayer skills would allow Faith to keep her from hitting the pavement too hard.
One final deep breath and she pushed back another inch. Her body dropped immediately, and Chelsea’s biceps burned as they bunched to keep her descent under control. She swayed from the fire escape for a second then released her hold on the metal grating.
She was proud of the fact that all Faith had to do was steady her as she landed.
“Not bad, Chief. Guess chasing bad guys is good for staying in shape.” Faith’s smirk set Chelsea’s teeth on edge. It disappeared quickly, though, as a shrill ring emanated from Faith’s pocket. “Fuck!” Digging a cell phone from her jacket, Faith flipped it open. “Nic?”
It couldn’t be good news. Chelsea automatically scanned the sidewalk. There was no room to park here, and there were only a few people braving the cold. None of them stopped or seemed interested in her or Faith. She turned her attention back to Faith.
“Got it. Don’t let ‘em know you saw them, kid. Just stay put. We’ll be at the car in a couple, and I’ll be there to get you in a flash,” Faith said tersely into the phone. “If they move, though, you head our way. It ain’t our job to take on humans.” The phone closed with a snap.
“Trouble?” Chelsea asked, even though she knew the answer.
Faith snorted. “Like fuckin’ always. Nic spotted a car down the block. Two guys camped out drinking coffee in the front seat.” Spinning on her heel, she trotted away from the front of the building.
Chelsea had to sprint to catch up. “What kind of car? Did she get a plate number?” If so, she could call the station and have a black and white check on things.
“You know what I know, Chief. Nic ain’t playing Nancy Drew out there. She did her job.” Faith’s pace increased and Chelsea pushed her limits to stay close. “You want more, check out the car when we get there.”
They were garnering a lot more attention as they sprinted down the sidewalk. Chelsea made sure her coat gaped open to reveal the badge clipped to her belt. The glint of the gold shield cleared a wider path and (hopefully) provided some reasoning for their precipitous flight. She was vowing to hit the gym more often by the time Faith rounded a corner two blocks away.
The headlights of a car parked along the street flashed and a discreet beep sounded. “In the back, Chief,” Faith warned as Chelsea reached for the front passenger door handle. “Flat on the seat. You got friends out front, and I don’t want ‘em following us when we leave.”
She met Chelsea’s glare calmly. “I can’t get the license number or a description of the car if I’m laying down,” Chelsea pointed out.
“Not my problem.” Opening the driver’s door, Faith slid behind the wheel and started the engine. Her voice continued. “Get in on your own, or I’ll toss your ass in. Your choice, Lake.”
The thought of taking Faith on was tempting. Chelsea’s hand tightened on the handle – then she reconsidered. An image of her flattened gun floated through her mind. With an irritated sigh, she took a step to the left and yanked the back door open. “Slow down as you pull in front of the apartment. I may have to keep my head down, but you don’t. Get the number, make, and model. I’ll call it in once you’ve given me the all-clear.” She tried to keep the sarcasm from her voice – and knew from Faith’s snicker that she’d failed.
“Do my best for ya’, Chief.” Faith waited until the back door closed and Chelsea sprawled uncomfortably across the seat before pulling away from the curb. From her position, Chelsea heard Faith shift in the seat. A few seconds later, she said, “Hey. It’s me.”
“What?” Chelsea rose up automatically.
Faith’s right hand reached casually over the seat and smacked into the top of Chelsea’s head to her down and out of sight. The car swerved to the right for an instant. “We’re on the way back with Lake. Looks like we got a new problem, though. Couple of guys in a car outside her apartment,” Faith announced.
Not able to see (and not willing to risk another smack), Chelsea wiggled until she didn’t feel quite so much like a pretzel.
The conversation from the front continued as the car turned left and accelerated slightly. “Give me minute, Red. Fuck.” Chelsea grinned maliciously at the aggrieved tone in Faith’s voice. “I’m gonna get the info, I promise.”
The car took another left. They were on the street in front of the main door. When the car slowed and then stopped completely, Chelsea tensed. She had to fight the need to look for the surveillance team. Faith had said she’d get the license number.
“Nic’s getting in now.” As Faith spoke, the front passenger door opened and closed.
“It’s the red car on the right,” Nicole said softly. “Only one guy inside now. The other got out and walked up the block. I think he’s trying to watch Detective Lake through her windows.”
Faith didn’t say anything, but the car nosed back into traffic. It crept along, and a few horns behind them blared their displeasure. “Red, get ready to type. I got the car comin’ up,” Faith said.
That explained the slow pace.
“Red Ford Taurus. Plate CFL 5291. White guy sitting behind the wheel. Mid-thirties and balding. Nic’s takin’ a phone pic for you.” The car sped up as Faith relayed the information. “Yeah, Red. I know. Me and Nic are being careful. I’ll take the long way back in case the dude in the car is smarter than he looked.”
Chelsea maintained her position for as long as possible – maybe another two minutes – and then sat up.
“God damn it! Get the fuck down!” Faith insisted. She turned in the seat and glared at Chelsea. “I thought we talked about this. You got guys tailin’ you, and we’re tryin’ to keep them from knowing you gave ‘em the slip.”
Calmly meeting Faith’s glare, Chelsea straightened her coat. “You might want to watch the road. An accident won’t help get me to safety faster.”
She swore she heard Faith’s teeth grinding as the younger woman spun and faced the windshield again.
Checking over her shoulder, Chelsea scanned the cars behind them. No Taurus. It looked like Faith’s maneuver had worked. “Nicole, did you get a look at the second man? The one who got out of the car?” In full Cop Mode, Chelsea automatically reached for the notebook and pen she kept in her jacket pocket. As she waited for Nicole to answer, she quickly jotted down the information Faith had already relayed to her own contact.
“Yeah.” Head tilted to one side, Nicole scowled. “I didn’t get a really good look, though. I didn’t want him to know I spotted him.” The pause was long enough for Chelsea to wonder if Nicole was going to provide the requested description. “Tall. Maybe six-two. And heavy.”
Sensing Nicole’s memory needed help, Chelsea prodded for more. “Fat or just bulky?”
“Bulky. You know…” Nicole met Chelsea’s eyes. “Like a boxer who let himself go after his last match. I wouldn’t have wanted to take him on even with the whole Slayer package.”
That wasn’t good. Faith and Nicole had both seemed very sure of their fighting abilities. If Nicole thought the guy looked that strong… “Anything else? You said white.” Feeling more than a little uncomfortable at interrogating Nicole, Chelsea still asked, “Could you tell if the guy was from another country?” Like Italy. The Mob angle might not make sense, but Chelsea wanted to be thorough. She needed to know if she had to worry about the Masuccis, in addition to vampires, demons, and… Slayers.
The inner pep talk didn’t keep her face from warming when Nicole shot her a confused look. “You mean was he from France or something?”
Chelsea nodded and wished she’d left that particular topic alone. “Yeah.”
“Sorry. He looked normal. American.” Nicole closed her eyes. “A normal guy in a leather jacket and jeans.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Chelsea soothed. Then she fell back on the only excuse she could think of. “I’m a cop. We have this thing for details…” Before Faith or Nicole could comment on that, she rushed on. “Can I borrow your phone, Faith?”
“Your battery die or somethin’?” Faith turned her head to peer into the back seat. “Or did you forget to pack it?”
In answer, Chelsea dug her own phone out of her pocket. “There are too many things we don’t know right now. Why those guys are following me. Who they are. Who they work for. If they’ve got a way to trace or listen to my calls.” The hurried explanation had been instinctual. However, as she talked, Chelsea realized her points had merit. In fact, they should have come to her sooner. They would have…if Chelsea had actually believed Anshu’s warnings.
He had been right. And Chelsea finally examined the limited information she had with the eyes of an experience investigator. “I’m going to call the plate number into the station. Munch is helping me out with…” It was still hard to say the words. Rotating her shoulders lightly, Chelsea forced herself to go on. “…with Anshu and whatever’s happening with my family.” Despite her best intentions, Chelsea’s voice wavered on the final word.
Faith didn’t turn around again, but Chelsea caught her stare in the rearview mirror. “Don’t need to call in the old guy, Lake. We got something better.”
If she hadn’t been so tired and so strung out from the events of the past few days, Chelsea would have tried to respond politely. Unfortunately, real life had created a situation even her police training couldn’t handle with ease. “What? Another handful of kids with super powers? Can one of them see the future? Maybe read minds?”
There was a stilted silence from the front seat.
Closing her eyes, Chelsea rubbed a hand over her face. “Give me the phone, Faith,” she nearly begged. Munch, Liv… The members of her new squad were at least more familiar than Nicole and Faith. She trusted them. Cops took care of their own, and not even the promise of protection from a horde of Slayers sounded better than letting her brothers in blue do what they did best.
“Red’s the best there is with the computer, Chief. She’s got the information and a way to hack into the same info Munch has.” Faith reached back and offered her phone. “But if ya’ gotta make the call, do it. I ain’t gonna fight you about it.” Her eyes locked onto Chelsea’s as she said intently, “Keep me and the kid out of it, though. Nothin’ about vamps or demons. No prophecy. No Slayers. We got enough trouble without your cop buddies tryin’ to find you and toss you in the nuthouse.”
Chelsea didn’t respond to the warning. She took the phone and flipped it open, punching in Munch’s direct line from memory. As the first ring sounded in her ear, Chelsea stared out of the windshield and marshaled her thoughts. She needed a plan or Munch was going to…
Her search for a strategy came to an abrupt halt when Chelsea heard the dull click that heralded she’d been transferred to Munch’s voicemail.
“Problems, Chief?” Faith must have noticed Chelsea’s surprise over Munch’s absence.
“No.” Chelsea disconnected the call and then slowly began to dial a new number. “It looks like the long hours caught up with the Sarge. He’s probably catching up on his beauty sleep,” she murmured as the phone began to ring again.
This time, the answer was swift. “Benson,” Olivia barked into Chelsea’s ear.
“It’s Lake.” Still without a concrete plan for divulging her news, Chelsea kept her comments to the point. “I’m on the move. There was another tail outside my apartment this morning. I need you to run the plates and a couple of descriptions.”
“You need backup?” There was a rustling sound through the phone’s speakers before Olivia continued. “I can get some unis there and meet you at one of the safe houses across town.”
Just like that, some of Chelsea’s tension eased. Olivia had her back – with no questions asked. “Not yet. I gave the guys the slip and I’ve got…” What should she call Nicole and Faith? “Some friends have lined up a place for me to stay for a while. Can you check the plates, though? And see if Munch has anything else on Anshu or the Mohawk angle?”
“Give me what you have, rookie,” Olivia ordered.
It was a relief to let her partner take charge for a moment. Chelsea relayed the information on the car and the two men. “Liv…” There was so much she wanted to say. So much that Olivia needed to know. Chelsea saw Faith stiffen in the front seat and sensed another warning on the way. “I’ve got a funny feeling that all of this is connected,” she said softly. “Anshu, my family, McLaren. But I can’t explain it. Not yet, Liv.” Probably not ever.
“Chelsea?” Olivia’s concern was evident in her use of Chelsea’s first name.
“I’m sorry. I don’t have anything more.” Nothing that Olivia would believe, anyway. “Call me back at this number when you have something.” Chelsea gripped the phone tighter and ended the conversation before Olivia could press for more. “Thanks, Liv.”
The phone closed with a soft click, and Chelsea dropped it onto the front seat.
***
Faith watched Chelsea in the rearview mirror. She recognized the older woman’s expression. She’d worn it herself at one time. Shame, confusion, and a gut level need for…something solid and safe to hold onto. Faith responded to that without thinking. “This Liv. She more than just your partner?” Smirking slightly, she turned her head enough to look at Chelsea directly and pushed. “’Cause it sounded like she wanted to come give you a hug.” The smirk grew. “Or kick your ass for not lettin’ her take care of you.”
A tide of red rushed up Chelsea’s face and she stiffened. “I guess you and all the little girls in your group don’t understand the way it works, Faith. Liv’s got my back. That’s what partners do.”
“Ah, don’t be like that.” Mission accomplished, Faith resumed scanning the road ahead. “The Juniors got a system, right, Nic? They look out for each other. One big, happy family.” Just like the Scoobies used to be, only a hell of a lot larger.
“We’d take care of you, too, Faith, if you weren’t such a pain in the ass,” Nicole added. Faith saw her lips turn up in a grin. “But we get tired of the posing. ‘I’m Dark Faith. I eat little Slayers like you for breakfast. Grr…’”
That did it. The mood in the car shattered as Chelsea snickered. Seconds later, Nicole’s giggles joined in.
Faith scowled. Damn it. She so had to work on her reputation. It was in tatters. All the time she’d spent picking up the slack from Buffy had ruined everything. No one respected – or feared - her anymore. “Wanna spend some time sparring, kid? I can show you all my mad skills.”
“Nope,” Nicole disagreed immediately. “Sorry, Faith. We’re in the middle of another apocalypse or… whatever. My boss would kill me if I got hurt playing around in the gym before the big battle. She’s a real hardass. How about a rain check?”
Ignoring Nicole’s wide grin and faux innocent expression was hard. Faith pressed her lips together tightly and locked her jaw. She wasn’t going to laugh. She wasn’t. “I ain’t waiting too long, Junior.” Faith’s voice shook only slightly as she issued her warning.
“You’re right at the top of the priority list,” Nicole assured her. “The only thing I have to do first is let Juanita take me on a driving tour of the city. As soon as I get that out of the way, I’m all yours, Boss.”
Faith lost her battle and chuckled. “Crash ain’t ever livin’ the car thing down. She and B’ll be driving legends together.” The lighter atmosphere lasted another few minutes, and then the hotel loomed ahead. “Take a good look around, Nic. Anything on the radar?” Faith asked the question as she reached out with her own senses.
“Nothing.” Nicole’s assessment backed up the lack of vampire and demon activity Faith had noted. “Shouldn’t there be something out there, though? This vote that Detective Lake has to cast... It’s soon. Like in a couple of days soon. Where are the vamps?”
It was a very good question. “Ain’t got a clue, kid. Maybe Red and the research crew have something.” Faith pulled up to the uniformed valet and unbuckled her seatbelt. “For now, keep your eyes open.” She looked at Chelsea as the man opened her door. “And your head down,” she stressed.
No one spoke as they climbed out of the car. What else was there to say? Faith’s muscles burned from strain as she swept the area with her eyes. Her close examination revealed that Nicole and Chelsea were doing the same.
“Come on, Detective.” Nicole broke the tense silence. “Time to meet the rest of the gang and maybe answer some of your questions.” She stepped in front of Chelsea, and Faith saw the gleam of a knife hilt in her palm. The rest of the blade was barely visible under the sleeve of her jacket.
Taking up the rearguard position without argument, Faith reached into her own coat and gripped the stake nestled in the pocket.
The trip through the hotel lobby seemed to take forever. Faith had traversed the carpeted area dozens of times. This time, though, she was on duty. Conscious of every person, every possible threat. It was a relief to follow Chelsea into the conference room and hear the door close behind them.
“Faith!” Willow rushed across the room toward them.
They must have found something. Faith said, “Chief, this is Willow. She’s kinda the…” Her introduction was cut short when Willow launched herself the last few steps – right into Faith’s arms.
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