CHAPTER 26
With a surprised grunt, Faith stumbled back a step. Her hands automatically cradled Willow’s hips as she fought for balance. “What the fuck, Red?” Her mind immediately sought an explanation for the near-stranglehold Willow had on her neck. “Somebody die?” One of the girls? Giles?
Faith’s hands tightened at the same time as her stomach.
“B?” No way. Faith peered at Willow intently. “Did somethin’ happen to B?” As she waited tensely for an answer, Faith thought she heard giggles from the junior Slayers nearby.
She knew Willow giggled. She could clearly see Willow’s wide smile, too. “No, Faith!” One hand unwrapped from behind Faith’s neck and gently tapped her on the back of the head. “No one got hurt – or killed.”
Faith struggled to understand that. “Uh…OK,” she mumbled in confusion.
“Thank you.” Willow’s smile changed, becoming less bright and more…
Wanting to shake her head, Faith stared at Willow’s lips. When had Willow gotten so sexy? Mesmerized by the inviting curve and the light sheen of moisture on Willow’s mouth, she automatically leaned in closer. “Thanks for what?” she asked absently.
Willow’s head seemed to rise in anticipation; their lips were only inches apart now. “The flowers. They were beautiful.”
Just like Willow, Faith thought. Beautiful. She could almost feel Willow’s breath now. Then the meaning of Willow’s comment finally reached her brain. The flowers! Faith’s head snapped back to a safer distance. “Right.” What the hell was she doing? She’d nearly kissed Willow! “You know… Kinda wanted to do a little thankin’ of my own.” It was hard to breathe, and Faith was hot and cold at the same time. She had to get control. Now. Before she did something stupid.
Some of the color in Willow’s cheeks faded, making her freckles stand out in contrast. “Faith, why did you send me flowers?” Her voice sounded strangely choked, almost strangled.
“For the paperwork and shit.” Faith wasn’t going into more details with Chelsea only a few steps away. “Owe you way more than that, but I don’t think I’m ever gonna be able to pay you back.” How much was her life, her freedom, worth?
“Oh. That.” Willow went even paler then all of the color returned at once in a brilliant wave of red. “I thought…Well, flowers…Wow. My mistake.” Her hands dropped from Faith’s neck and she stepped away so fast she staggered.
All the heat disappeared from around Faith. The air was suddenly frigid. Glancing around, Faith realized the drop in temperature might not have anything to do with a sudden loss of heat in the building. No. Most of the cold seemed to be emanating from the group of girls clustering protectively around Willow. She frowned, unsure of the shift in mood. What had she done?
“Detective, since Faith didn’t finish the introductions,” Nicole said, her voice cutting into Faith’s confused perusal of the group, “let me take care of that.” She pointed to Willow. “This is Willow, she’s our researcher and expert in all things arcane.”
Willow held out a hand to Chelsea. “Welcome aboard, Detective. I wish the ride was going to be a little less bumpy,” she said, the previous tightness in her voice more pronounced. “We’ll try to make sure you’re buckled in safely, though.”
The situation was becoming more and more like the old Scooby meetings with every minute. Faith hated the sudden out of synch sensation almost as much as she hated the impression that Nicole had stepped in to save her…from something. Old habits kicked in automatically. Faith’s hands found sanctuary in her pockets and she threw her shoulders back. As she had the previous day, Faith hovered on the edge. She could see the point of no return looming under the toe of her shoe. One step. One smirk. One innuendo-laden comment, and all of her hard work would be lost.
Faith’s right hand popped free of its denim resting place and rubbed at the goose bumps pimpling her skin.
She wasn’t crossing that line. Repeating that vow over and over in her head, Faith watched without interference as Nicole introduced the team of Juniors in the conference room. Finally, when the fear of backsliding faded, Faith resumed her place in the conversation. “We got more Slayers gettin’ ready upstairs, Chief. Three teams. The Tweed Crew’s sending more, too. Should be here tonight.” She looked at Willow for confirmation, stepping farther away from that invisible line in the carpet at Willow’s small smile and nod.
“Giles and I did some more research while you were gone. Although the texts are pretty vague on dates and locations, I’m pretty sure Detective Lake has to be at the tribe’s ancestral home to cast her vote. I diverted the new girls in that direction; they are spreading out along the way there.”
Faith didn’t like Chelsea’s frown. Hadn’t they dealt with her disbelief at the apartment? She was so focused on finding another way to convince her of the reality of the threat that she almost missed Chelsea’s question. “What are they watching for? What kind of threat? Just the vampires that Nicole and Faith mentioned?”
There was an uncomfortable silence. The Juniors all appeared to be interested in the carpet or the walls. And Willow… Faith bit back a chuckle. From the bright flush and the way she bit her lip, it was clear she and Giles hadn’t pinpointed the army referenced in the prophecy.
“That’s kind of the problem, Chief,” Faith said quietly, coming to Willow’s rescue. She met Chelsea’s stare calmly. “All them old books talk in riddles. So far, all we know is a big ass group of undead – could be vamps, could be zombies – is out to kill you.” Giving Chelsea a grin, Faith offered her opinion. “Don’t really matter. They ain’t going to get close to you, Chief.”
***
Chelsea felt her lips twitching in response. Faith seemed very sure of their chances. Still… She couldn’t quite get past the grainy image of Night of the Living Dead that was suddenly running in her head. “Zombies?”
One of the kids in the group surrounding them laughed. “Yeah.” She held her arms stiffly out in front of her body. “Grr… Argh…”
More laughter sounded.
Thinking longingly of her once normal life, Chelsea rubbed a hand over her eyes. “What do we do now?” She understood the need to find a safe haven; however, Chelsea wasn’t used to standing on the sidelines. Not even Faith’s new scowl was going to deter her from taking an active part in her own defense. “Are we staying here or heading for St. Reginald?”
“Here, for now.” Willow gestured toward a projector and screen at the far side of the room. “I’ve got another conference call in a few minutes. The first of the new Slayers should be in position, and I’m coordinating with her Watcher.” As if sensing Chelsea’s lack of understanding, Willow clarified. “Teacher, trainer.” She flashed a quirky grin. “Basically the brains behind the brawn.”
There were a few friendly grumbles from the crowd. “Did you just call us stupid, Red?” Faith crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at Willow. “You might wanna think that over, ‘cause you and the Chief are the only non-Slayers in the room.”
“I only call it like I see it, Faith.” Willow stuck her tongue out at Faith, and Chelsea barely restrained a chuckle. Those two needed to get a room and get it over with. Of course, she thought with a smirk, maybe Willow’s description of Slayers wasn’t that far off. From what she’d seen earlier, Chelsea was convinced Faith didn’t have a clue that Willow was on the prowl.
Chelsea didn’t let herself get distracted by her mirth. “Nicole said earlier that I’m not the only target. Are you putting people on Anshu, too?” Family might be a new concept in Chelsea’s life, but that didn’t mean she was unclear on how it was supposed to work. If she had a personal guard, he needed one as well.
Her question caught Willow off-guard. Eyes widening, Willow stared at Chelsea. “Uh…”
“Sounds like a ‘no’ to me,” Faith interpreted. “Don’t blame Red, though. We ain’t real used to the protection gig.”
“Get used to it.” Now that the idea had occurred, Chelsea wasn’t backing away from it. “If the tales were true, none of this works without me and Anshu. You’ve got your own personal army here. Send some of them out to bring him in.”
A head shake answered her directive. “No can do, Chief.” Faith at least had the grace to appear sorry about that. “It ain’t that we don’t want to…” Grimacing, she admitted softly, “We don’t know where he is. The only reason we got a clue who he is is that Nic saw him try to grab you at your place the other night.”
Damn it. Chelsea ground her teeth in frustration. For all of their purported mission to protect her and to make sure the prophecy (whatever it was) didn’t happen, Faith and her crew knew very little. “I’ll make some calls.” Being a cop had some advantages; they were good at finding people. Usually.
“You can’t,” Willow protested immediately.
Letting a little of her anger leak out, Chelsea glowered at the younger woman. “Why not? You don’t seem to be having any luck finding him. If I put in a call to the House, the Sarge can quit surfing the Internet and do something useful.”
Willow turned bright red and wiggled in place. “That wasn’t what I meant, Detective,” she said softly. “It’s a bad idea to get too many people involved in…in something like this. We can’t tell them about what we do. About the supernatural.” She held out a hand in entreaty. “And, as you said, cops are good at finding people – and information. That might expose us.”
Chelsea wasn’t entirely sure that was a bad thing, but she let that part of Willow’s argument slide for the moment. Instead, she focused on the most important point. “Then, if I can’t call in the squad, you need to start looking for Anshu a little harder.” She met Willow’s eyes. “Because if he isn’t in the hotel by tonight, I’m picking up the phone.”
One of the girls in the group surrounding them cleared her throat. “If you want, me and some of the other Juniors can stake out the detective’s apartment. This Anshu might try to contact her again.”
It wasn’t clear to whom she’d addressed her statement; however, Faith was the one who answered. “Give Red some time to do her magic on the computer, Chan. It’s a hell of ra lot safer than putting you and the kids on Lake’s place. Look what happened the last time we tried that.”
Everyone glanced at Nicole – who immediately stared at the carpet.
“Besides, Lake called in her partner on that car Nic spotted. Gonna be a lot of cops cruising by, I bet.” Faith pointed at Chanise. “I ain’t saying you won’t end up hiding in a doorway so pick your crew and be ready to roll.”
Chanise grabbed the girl next to her and trotted for the door.
“Speaking of that car…” Willow moved through the crowd of girls to the table with the projector and the computer. “I think we overreacted, ladies,” she called out. “The car was registered to the NYPD. The 27th Precinct, actually. When I did a little digging, I found out that it had been checked out by two detectives: Ed Green and Cyrus Lupo. Do you know them, Detective?”
“No,” Chelsea answered automatically. Green and Lupo? Why would cops be outside…? “Munch. It has to be.”
She was only dimly aware of the looks being exchanged between Willow and Faith. “You want to fill us in, Chief? Ain’t Munch the old guy I met yesterday?”
Still trying to unravel all the pieces of the puzzle, Chelsea stifled an impatient sigh. “Sergeant John Munch,” she confirmed. “He’s been around a long time. I’m sure he’s got dozens of contacts in Manhattan. If he reached out to some friends in the Two Seven, they’d chip in.” The news was both welcome – and not. Had Munch found out something he hadn’t told her? Why would he put a detail on her apartment and not let her know?
“If he’s that deeply involved, it’s a problem.” Willow frowned and bit her lip. “With you suddenly dropping off the radar, I’m betting he calls in more backup. We can’t afford to be dodging the entire NYPD right now.”
“They aren’t the enemy!” Chelsea had reached the end of her admittedly small reservoir of patience. “Munch and Liv are trying to help – just like you.” She had to leave. This was getting them nowhere, and Chelsea wanted to ask Munch how much he’d uncovered while she’d slept.
Unfortunately, the girls around her closed ranks, and Chelsea found herself completely hemmed in. Trapped. “Can’t let you go, Chief,” Faith announced softly. “My job’s to keep you safe. Your friends may be good, but I’m better.” There wasn’t even a hint of a boast in her voice. Only rock solid conviction. “And if I ain’t enough, the Juniors have my back.”
“Me, too, Faith.” Willow’s smile was faint. And her eyes… Chelsea flinched back a step from the glowing cobalt irises. “Not all of us carry visible weapons, though.” A chill breeze seemed to blow suddenly through the room.
It all disappeared when a shrill beep emanated from the laptop and speaker combination on a nearby table.
“That’s probably the Watcher.” Willow’s eyes were once again green as she turned away from Chelsea and trotted to the computer. Seconds later, the image of a thin, rumpled man flickered onto the far wall, thanks to a projector hooked to the laptop. “Mr. Simmons?”
“Yes.” The voice matched the impression of utter exhaustion Chelsea had gleaned from Simmons’ appearance. “Ms. Rosenberg. Ms. Lehane. We are in position, approximately twenty miles from St. Reginald.” His lips twisted. “Our journey has been fraught with…difficulties.”
No one responded to that, but Chelsea sensed the tension in the conference room increase. Finally, Faith asked, “Vamps?”
“Indeed. At least…” Simmons broke off and looked away from the camera. “One moment.”
Chelsea edged closer to Faith and Willow, needing to feel part of the conversation.
After a very long minute, Simmons’ attention returned to the camera. “My apologies.” A young girl joined him on the screen. “This is Amy, one of the Slayers assigned to my team. She has the details I am sure you need.”
“Whatcha got for us, Junior?” Faith dropped into a chair and tossed her booted feet onto the table in front of her.
“Nothing you’re going to like,” Amy said grimly.
That earned a bark of laughter. “Kid, it ain’t hard to figure out I don’t like much. Just spit it out. I got one grumpy superwitch and a pissed off cop sitting next to me. I’m not the one you got to worry about.” Faith didn’t even wince when Willow’s hand smacked into her shoulder. “See?”
Amy’s smile made her look even younger. “Got it.” She grew serious again. “I’ve had patrols out since we landed. There’s…something here. Vamps, I think.”
“You think?” Chelsea leaned forward, tired of vague answers and too little information.
Her impatience changed to discomfort when a suddenly very mature Amy peered in her direction. “Yes. I think.” She shrugged. “Slayer senses are off the charts. Even inside, my head is buzzing and I keep reaching for the nearest stake. We can’t find anything, though. Nothing. Not one sign of a single vampire or demon.”
Rapid-fire typing interrupted Amy’s explanation. “Give me a second, Amy,” Willow said. “I’m looking at the topographical maps of the area. Maybe there are caves or tunnels…”
“Like in Sunnydale?” Faith’s boots thunked to the floor and she stood up, pacing back and forth next to the table.
“Maybe.” Willow didn’t look up from her computer. “Amy, Mr. Simmons, I’m emailing you what I found. There isn’t much.”
Simmons thawed enough to smile. “It’s more than we have, Ms. Rosenberg.” His eyes flickered away from the screen for a second. “In the meantime, what would you like us to do? I have six Slayers with me, and I believe more were being diverted within the next twelve hours.”
“Dig in,” Faith said while Chelsea grappled
with what was happening around her.
***
Faith watched Simmons nod. “We need to know what we’re facin’. You and the Juniors are the Research Crew.” She forced herself to stand still and meet Amy’s eyes. They were steady; although, Faith didn’t miss the flash of apprehension in their depths. “You’re gonna be stretched thin. Keep two of you with Simmons all the time, helpin’ him deal with the Tweeds in England and Red’s group here. Let another couple sleep. The rest…” She didn’t even have to finish.
“The patrols can hit the edges of the tunnels on the map and hunt for that signature we’re picking up.” Amy stepped back from the screen, only stopping when Faith held up a hand.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Junior. If you find anything, you bring it to Simmons. Don’t try to investigate on your own. While you’re looking, me and Red will figure out where we go from here.” Her right leg bounced with sudden frenetic energy as Faith realized they were getting closer to the action. “Don’t be surprised to see us on the doorstep in a few hours.”
Simmons and Amy murmured their understanding and their images disappeared. “I don’t like this.” Willow leaned back in her chair and rubbed her eyes.
“No shit, Red,” Faith agreed. A reluctant human target to protect. Another human to find. And an army of vampires waiting for them in territory she and the Juniors didn’t know. “It ain’t like it’s a new thing, though,” she reminded Willow. “How many times did you and B have all the answers going in to the big fight?”
There wasn’t an answer; Faith had known that when she’d asked the question.
“How many Slayers do you have?” For the first time since the video conference started, Chelsea joined the conversation.
“Nineteen here. Six with Simmons. Six more on the way.” Willow looked at Chelsea and clarified. “Thirty-one Slayers, probably two Watchers, and me.” Her sudden smile raised the hairs on the back of Faith’s neck. Maybe Dark Willow was lurking in the background with Dark Faith. Willow’s power was almost visible in the air. “I think I count for at least a handful of Slayers – without the stakes and super fighting skills.”
“Thirty-four people.” Faith could hear the doubt in Chelsea’s voice. “Against an army…” Shooting out of her chair, Chelsea glared around the room. “Are you out of your minds?”
Faith was only partially successful in smothering her laugh, and some of the Juniors didn’t even bother to restrain themselves. “It kinda comes with the job, Chief. Relax. It’s better odds than we normally got. Give Red a chance to use that brain of hers. She always comes up with a way to beat the Big Bad.” Pointing at Chelsea’s abandoned chair, Faith said, “Sit down. Put your feet up – it always helps me think.”
For a second, Faith thought Chelsea wasn’t going to listen. The detective was bow-spring tight, hands clenched and held at an almost-ready fighting position.
“Chief…” They didn’t have time for a throw down. Faith held her own hands up, palms out.
Chelsea’s deep breath and slow exhale filled the room. “Right. We wait for Willow.” The words sounded forced between clenched teeth.
“Not just me,” Willow said cheerfully, as if a fight hadn’t nearly broken out. She resumed typing on her keyboard. “We’re a team, and even Slayers have to contribute to the planning. The days of sparring sessions during research meetings are over.”
“Why are you lookin’ at me, Red?” Faith didn’t think anyone bought her attempt at innocence. “I’m right here, ready to help out.” She grinned, dimples out, at Willow and very slowly and deliberately sat back down. “And the Juniors are stayin’, too.”
There were a series of grumbles and some shuffling feet.
Faith turned her head and raised an eyebrow at the suddenly discomfited group of Junior Slayers. “You heard the witch. Slayer’s gotta contribute.” One by one, the girls sat down. Getting back to business, Faith sorted through everything she remembered about the original prophecy and the conference calls with Giles and Simmons. “Red, how long do we have before the Chief has to do this vote?”
“We aren’t…a hundred percent sure.” Nicole answered Faith’s question instead of Willow. “Our best guess is tomorrow or the day after. It’s been almost two hundred years since a situation like this happened, and that vote took place five days after Taharihoken died.”
“Anshu showed up two days ago.” Chelsea leaned intently forward. “It had to take him at least a day to make the trip and find me.”
As usual, Willow seemed to be right on the money. Too bad it wasn’t a good thing this time. Faith rocked back in her chair. “How many ways into this place? Red? Nic?” Anybody? “The vamps have got to know we’re heading their way. I’m betting that’s why Amy’s senses are off the charts. They’re digging in and waiting for us.”
“Then we need a way to surprise them,” Willow announced as if making that happen was simple.
Faith waited a beat to see if there was more to Willow’s statement. There wasn’t. However, she did notice how Willow stared at her in anticipation. “Uh…” For the first time ever, Faith regretted stepping in to fill Buffy’s shoes. Buffy has always been good at picking up where Willow left off.
“What about the tribe?” Chelsea’s question didn’t make sense at first. Luckily, Chelsea kept talking. “I know you think the vampires are set up and ready to cut us off. But there are two tribes involved, right? The vampires and Anshu’s – and my…” The word came out strained. “…tribe. If he’s here to warn me about the danger, won’t our tribe be willing to help out?”
“Well,” Faith hoped her flush wasn’t too apparent, “I did tell ya’ we ain’t used to working with an audience. I hadn’t thought of that.” She looked at Willow, who avoided her gaze. “Looks like the Brain Trust didn’t either.” If Chelsea was right, though, their game plan might not be so doomed to failure. “Nic, get the kids up. If we’re gonna ask the Chief’s people for help, we have to get ahold of them.” And that meant finding a Mohawk in Manhattan. “Red, do your magic while Nic goes upstairs. See if Anshu’s been leavin’ a trail.”
“I really can’t do everything, Faith.” Willow cocked an eyebrow. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, though. I’ll do what I can.”
A little surprised at the wry admission, Faith tuned out the bustling Junior Slayers and Chelsea. “You don’t have to do it all, Willow,” she said softly. Buffy had always pushed that idea. Faith knew better. Willow had been right before. They all had a part in this. “You need me to get one of the Juniors to help you?” Her voice dropped even more, and Faith leaned in closer. “Or do we let the Chief call in the troops? NYPD is gonna have a lot more ways to find this Anshu…”
Face lighting with a smile, Willow shook her head. “That wasn’t what I meant, Faith.” One hand left the keyboard, gently stroking Faith’s arm for a brief instant. “I just don’t want you to think I can wiggle my nose and have Anshu appear in the conference room. There isn’t much here for me to even use to track him.”
The hand dropped away, and Faith swallowed hard. The hotel was messing with the heat again. Sweat beaded her hairline. Wiping at it with the back of her right hand, she met Willow’s eyes and made a decision. If she didn’t do something right now, it would be business as usual, Willow would feel honor-bound to somehow save their asses one more time. “Chief, make the call.” Faith would simply deal with the fallout from Giles and his cronies if they all made it out of the fight alive.
***
Not bothering to question the change in plans, Chelsea yanked her cell phone from her pocket and turned it on. Seconds later, a single ring prefaced Munch’s clipped, “Special Victims.”
“Munch!” Chelsea was so glad to hear his voice that she nearly shouted his name.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed several of the bustling Junior Slayers turn in her direction. Waving them off, Chelsea concentrated on regaining her composure.
“I need your help, Sarge.” That was better. She sounded intense but not desperate.
The creak of Munch’s chair was loud enough to carry through the phone. “You OK, rookie? Liv’s been tearing Midtown apart trying to find you.”
Chelsea laughed despite her continued tension. She could easily imagine Olivia, scowl firmly in place, leaning over the shoulder of a TARU tech. “No need for that,” she said. “I’m at the Ramada.”
A sharp breath announced Munch’s intent.
“Don’t come here.” Chelsea cut him off. Looking up, she caught Willow’s eye. “We’re about to go on the move.” She covered the bottom of the phone. “Where and when?” Chelsea directed the question at Willow.
“I don’t…” Willow bit her lip and hesitated.
Damn it! Chelsea glared. “I need an answer or you’re going to have the NYPD on your doorstep.” It wasn’t an idle threat, not if Olivia was already on the hunt. “Where are you and the kids heading? St. Reginald?” That’s where they’d said Anshu’s tribe was located.
“Yeah.” Faith took over the conversational ball. She put a hand on Willow’s shoulder and Chelsea saw her lightly massage the muscles. “Ain’t sure how we’re getting there, Chief, but tell the old man that’s where we’re going. Figure the drive’ll take six…seven hours, even with Crash at the wheel.”
Chelsea hadn’t even placed the phone to her ear when Munch said, “I recognize that voice. What are you doing with Nicole’s friends? Chelsea? What the hell is going on?”
As much as she needed to confide in him, Chelsea squelched the impulse to divulge the details. “Later, I promise.” The room blurred and she blinked rapidly. God, she was tired. And scared. There hadn’t been a single sign of a vampire or demon, yet Chelsea read the increasing tension and sense of purpose in every girl in the conference room. This was real. It was happening. And she was the target. Her emotions trembled in her voice as she continued. “Keep it in the squad, Sarge. No more friends.”
A second passed. Then two. “Understood. What do you need?” Chelsea could picture Munch in his chair, pen in hand, eyes alert and intent.
“I need Anshu.” The words felt strange. Clearing her throat, Chelsea fought the increased burn in her eyes and the new lump constricting her throat. “The guy who was at my apartment the other night. You were right. He’s part of this, and whoever…” Or whatever, she thought. “…is after me wants him, too. He left a couple of messages on my apartment phone. It’s the only thing I have.”
“No. No, it’s not!” Nicole stepped into Chelsea’s line of sight. “We know he’s from the St. Reginald tribe. It might give you a place to start looking.”
For an instant, Chelsea wondered which of them was the experienced detective. Why hadn’t she remembered that? Then, not wanting to think about that too closely, she murmured to Munch, “Did you hear Nicole?”
“Loud and clear, rookie. You tell Nicole I expect a full explanation – and a candy bar – the next time I see her.” Munch’s chair squeaked again. “Give me a few minutes. I’ll call in the troops and start tracking your mysterious Mohawk. You need anything else…”
“I know who to call,” Chelsea finished. She closed the phone slowly, the knot in her stomach unraveling. Faith and company might be scary superheroes, but Munch was family. Chelsea trusted that over any of the girls in the room with her.
Before she had a chance to revel in the relief, though, Faith was at her shoulder. “The Junior’s is ready, Chief, and Red’s packing up her shit. We need to get you to the car.”
It was clear from her posture and the determined tone that Faith intended to stick close during the move.
“I don’t remember any planning.” The phone call to the station hadn’t eaten up that much of Chelsea’s concentration. “We’re not all fitting in the car. What about the vampires? How are we getting past them? Did you figure out…?”
Dimples peeked out as Faith laughed. “You and Red gotta be related.” Putting a hand on Chelsea’s shoulder, she steered her toward the door. “Nicole’s in charge of getting more of the girls north. She’s hooked up to the Tweed Crew on the phone, and Red’s doing her thing with the rest of the plans. All you got to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.”
“You’re kidding!” Whipping her left hand up, Chelsea spun quickly and dislodged Faith’s hand.
“Fuck, yeah.” Faith stepped around Chelsea and continued to walk away. “But it was fun to see your expression, Chief. You play a lot of poker? ‘Cause I’m thinking we need to sit down once this is all over. I could use some extra cash.”
Chelsea glowered at the teasing. “If you don’t find answers to my questions, we won’t get a chance to play cards.” As irritating as briefings were before a raid, Chelsea wouldn’t go charging into a house without one. Why weren’t they talking to the guys in England?
Then it hit her – and Chelsea felt her body grow cold.
They didn’t have time for that now. The news from the new Slayers had them on the run, and, if she was reading the situation correctly, at a disadvantage. “Willow,” she called out. Faith made no bones about who was the brains of the group. “Can you get me maps of where we’re headed? And copies of the tunnel information you sent to that Watcher?” They had a long drive ahead. Fighting vampires and zombies was new; organizing a raid wasn’t. Chelsea vowed to ignore the strange targets at the end of their trip and come up with a strategy to keep them all alive.
Still in the early stages of packing up her equipment, Willow merely nodded and turned on her computer. “I’ll have to use the hotel business center,” she pointed out.
“Uh…OK.” Chelsea wasn’t sure if she was supposed to respond to the comment.
“Let Red do her thing, Chief.” Faith was back to guiding Chelsea to the door. “Sometimes, she just yaps to herself.” They dodged the last few tables and a small group of Junior Slayers. Nicole waited for them at the exit. “What’s the word, Nic?”
Nicole fell into step, taking a position on Chelsea’s other side. Great. Now she had two devoted bodyguards. “Mr. Giles has more cars waiting for us outside. We should be able to get all of us on the road. In fact…” She paused and appeared to scan the hotel lobby. “Juanita’s team should be loading up now. I’m sending her out first.” Her grin made her look about twelve. “With the way she drives, we’ll be safer with her in front.”
“Good thinking, Kid.” Faith’s hand lifted from Chelsea’s back as she reached over to high five Nicole. “I’m gonna have to give you the General helmet. You do a damn good job moving the troops.”
Chelsea smirked when Nicole turned bright red at the compliment. You could smell the hero worship in the room as the younger girl mumbled a nearly inaudible, “Just…just doing what you told me, Faith.” She fell silent as they finished the trip through the hotel.
Bright sunlight poured through the floor to ceiling windows, and Chelsea blinked against the glare. A half-dozen sedans blocked access to the street; for a second, she thought Munch hadn’t listened to her order not to come to the hotel.
And then she saw one of the girls from the conference room behind the wheel of the lead vehicle. “Oh my God.” This was her escort.
“Yeah, I got that feeling, too.” Faith gave a dramatic shudder. “Don’t worry, though. Crash’s gonna be way the hell ahead of us. We ain’t gonna have to deal with her driving skills.” Breaking off, she waved a hand at a uniformed hotel employee. “Looks like we’re checking out early. I need somebody to give my friend a hand packing up the stuff in the room back there.” Her finger pointed toward the conference room for a second. “Nic?”
Like two long-time partners, Nicole continued smoothly. “I’ll stay here with Detective Lake.”
With a nod, Faith stalked off, heading for the front desk.
An uneasy silence descended. Chelsea rocked impatiently on her heels. “How many times have you done this?” She struggled to find a better way to phrase her real question. “The demon fighting assignment?”
For a second, Nicole fidgeted and seemed unwilling to answer. “Me and the other Juniors are new at it, Detective. We’ve seen action. Mostly nests of vampires on whatever Hellmouth the Council sends us to.” Her lips twitched. “Always with supervision, though. They don’t turn us loose like they used to. Faith would get over her thing about planes and fly to England if Mr. Giles did that.”
It wasn’t the first time Nicole had mentioned her (and the other Juniors’) inexperience. It was, however, the first time that Chelsea was actively counting on their combined fighting skills. “Oh.” Looking away in an effort to hide her surprise and unease, Chelsea stared out into the street.
“You don’t have to worry, Detective.” Was that amusement in Nicole’s voice?
Chelsea risked a look.
Sure enough, a smile hovered on Nicole’s lips and her eyes sparkled with mirth. “We may not spend all our time skulking in cemeteries like the Chosen Two, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to scream and faint when the fighting starts. Faith…The New Council is big on training and making sure we’ve got more than just a stake in our pocket.” Nicole leaned in closer. “Besides, we’re Slayers. When it comes right down to it, nature kicks in – and we kick ass.”
The reassurance wasn’t enough. Chelsea’s hand slipped inside her coat, brushing the cool metal of her backup gun. Stakes and teenagers couldn’t match bullets. Could they? “Let’s hope there isn’t any fighting.”
The lame comment drew a snort from Nicole. “You do all the hoping you want, Detective,” she said. “The rest of us know better. Prophecies and Slayers generally always lead to one thing: the end of the world…and fighting to prevent it. It’s a job hazard.”
If the conversation didn’t change direction, Chelsea feared she might run (screaming only a little) from the hotel. Crazed perps and serial rapists had nothing on the calm way Nicole discussed their situation. In an attempt to steer the topic into something less frightening, she turned away from the younger girl and peered out the window again. “When you aren’t playing bodyguard, are you stationed in New York?”
“With my accent?” Nicole laughed. When she spoke again, the drawl had thickened noticeably, each word painted with the sounds of the Deep South. “Detective, where I come from, the air smells of dogwood blossoms and fried okra – not smog and pizza from the all-night restaurant on the corner.” A slight smile took any sting from the verbal jab. “Although,” and now Nicole sounded sad, “I haven’t seen home in a while. The New Council may not steal us away from our families permanently; that doesn’t mean we aren’t relocated for training and missions on a monthly basis.”
“Sounds like the military.” Chelsea tried a little humor of her own. “Do you have uniforms, too? Faith mentioned a General’s helmet.” The image of Faith decked out in a black leather version of Patton’s cavalry uniform had Chelsea’s lips twitching.
Nicole must have found the idea amusing, too. She giggled. “I hate to tell you, but… Slayers, as a rule, are bad at following orders. Not to mention the battle we’d have over what to wear. All the stories have Buffy dashing through cemeteries in dresses and sandals.” Her eyes dropped to her own worn jeans and battered tennis shoes. “They’d have to tie me down to get me into that.”
“Not to mention Faith.” Chelsea’s chuckles joined Nicole’s new wave of laughter.
“Not to mention me, what?” Faith’s husky question sobered Chelsea – until she watched Faith stride closer.
That’s when Faith’s jeans and sweatshirt were replaced in Chelsea’s overactive imagination with a floral-print summer dress and heeled sandals.
Chelsea fought the impulse to laugh tooth and nail, losing when she saw Nicole slap a hand over her mouth and turn away, shoulders shaking. “No…nothing,” she gasped out between strangled guffaws. “We were…just waiting…for you.”
“Right.” Faith’s scowl indicated she didn’t believe Chelsea’s statement and wasn’t happy with the laughter at her expense. “Get the lead out, Junior. Red’s finally got all of her crap packed. We need to be on the road yesterday. I want to hit St. Reginald before it’s dark and the vamps got the drop on us.”
As if Faith had flicked a switch, Nicole stopped giggling and straightened. “Sorry, Faith.” She stepped closer to Chelsea, who noticed the grim, determined expression return to Nicole’s face. “Jessie’s keeping an eye on the cars. You want me to take point?”
***
“I’ll do it.” In a silent apology, Faith slapped a hand onto Nicole’s shoulder. “You and the Chief look at them maps while I drive. Red can do any checking or whatever you need on her laptop.” Although, Faith glanced over her shoulder, Willow and her bags of equipment still hadn’t made it out of the conference room. Damn it. She should never have taken Willow at her word. It always took her three times longer than planned to pack and get ready.
Chelsea’s window of voting opportunity would be over before they managed to get to the car.
Faith contemplated simply dragging Willow bodily out of the hotel as the redhead suddenly appeared, jogged through the lobby with two bellboys scurrying in her wake. “Sorry. Giles called again.” Willow’s rolling eyes indicated it hadn’t been anything important – and that was backed up when Willow continued. “He drives me crazy. How many times have we done this? And he still has to remind me to be careful and to keep him updated on our progress.”
Choosing not to remind Willow of her own “Be careful” speech from this morning, Faith shrugged. “Cut him some slack, Red. It’s the first time we’ve been out on a…job,” she responded, remembering at the last minute they had an audience, “without him. Bet he’s rubbed a hole in his glasses already.” Moving behind Willow, Faith took the three bags laden with computer equipment and research tomes from Willow’s helpers and led the way to the door.
“Since you decided to tote and carry…” Nicole said as she stepped in front of Faith. “I’ll go first.”
Faith nearly argued. Then the weight of the bags and the realization she couldn’t reach any of her weapons sank in. “Definitely gonna promote you, kid.” And demote herself at the same time. There were too many details. Details Faith didn’t see until it was too late. Looping a couple of straps over her neck and shoulder freed up one hand. At least, Faith reasoned, she’d be able to do some damage if they ran into trouble on the way to the car.
“Make sure I’ve got lots of brass, OK?” Faith didn’t understand Nicole’s grin. “I’d hate for my uniform to be plain or boring.” Then the smile disappeared. Nicole was all business as she walked through the automatic front door, one hand buried under her jacket and her eyes roaming the sidewalk.
“You next, Red.” Faith tried to regain some control of the situation by directing the rest of her troops.
Willow nodded. A second passed, and Faith felt a tingle along her senses.
It wasn’t vampires or demons.
Power radiated from Willow, a not-quite-visible nimbus of arcane energy surrounded her. “Detective, come with me. Stay close.”
Eyes wide, Chelsea looked from Willow to Faith. “Sure,” she mumbled.
It might have been amusing at another time. Right now, though, Faith didn’t have time to enjoy Chelsea’s sudden loss of poise. “Trust Willow, Chief. Ain’t nothing getting close to you with Superwitch on the job.” Checking on Nicole’s progress, Faith saw she’d reached the car and had the back door open. “Red…”
“We’re going,” Willow responded. She reached out and twined her arm with Chelsea’s. “Just a quick stroll across the sidewalk, Detective.” Like two close friends (or lovers, Faith thought fleetingly), they left the hotel.
Faith took one last look around the hotel with her eyes and her senses.
There was nothing out of place. There was no blip except Willow on her radar.
Hunching her shoulders against the cold, Faith trotted to the car and slid behind the wheel. “Buckle up. The trip ain’t gonna be this easy the whole way.” If it was, she and Buffy must have been doing it wrong back in Sunnydale. Faith put the car in gear and forced her way into traffic, watching another rental car full of Juniors pull out behind them.
***
The slow pace gave Chelsea too much time to think – and worry. To forestall more hand wringing, she leaned over the front seatback. “Do you have those maps, Willow?” The trip would give her plenty of time to look and plan. She hoped.
“Oh, sorry.” Willow’s chagrined expression was at odds with the frightening and remote one she’d worn as she’d nearly dragged Chelsea from the hotel. “I just shoved them in with my computer.” She reached down to the bad leaning against her legs. “Do you want them all? I printed everything from the area surrounding the tribal lands plus the tunnels that Amy’s checking out.”
The words tumbled together so fast that Chelsea had difficulty following along.
“Breathe, Red,” Faith commented dryly. “If you don’t get some air soon, you’re gonna pass out and then the Chief won’t get any of the shit you got for her.” Her head turned slightly, eyes continually checking out the line of cars in front of them as well as the progress of the car behind them. “I thought B said you’d gotten over babble but you been outta control since we got here.”
“I haven’t been that bad.” There was hurt…or possibly laughter in Willow’s voice. Chelsea couldn’t decide which. She did get the impression that this topic was an old and very familiar one from the way Willow wrinkled her nose and poked Faith in the thigh. “You know, the next time you get mentioned in a prophecy, I’m staying in England. You can do your own research and hack into government computer systems all on your own.” Willow broke off to unzip the computer bag and dig out a thick sheaf of paper. She held them in Chelsea’s direction and watched Faith intently.
Chelsea watched Faith, too. It was far more interesting than peering at the myriad of maps she saw on the paperwork she took from Willow.
A wave of pink slowly crept upward from Faith’s collar, staining her neck and ears. “Nah, Red. I didn’t mean nothin’. You know that. If you sent me out here with only the Juniors, we’d end up vamp food in no time.”
The pink brightened and edged toward magenta.
“’Sides, it wouldn’t be the same without you. Gotta have someone to keep me and the kids in line.” Faith’s smile was hesitant. “I’d be runnin’ around in circles while the Juniors fought over bathroom time and curling irons without them schedules and to do lists you like so much.”
“Really?” Willow’s smile began small and turned into a bright display of teeth and tongue tip in a heartbeat.
Chelsea’s observation of the interaction was interrupted by a hand on her forearm. “You want me to help with the maps?” Nicole said softly. She tilted her head toward the front seat for a second before pulling Chelsea back into position in the back. “Let them bicker while we work.”
It seemed as if Nicole wasn’t only interested in protecting her. With a nod of comprehension, Chelsea divided the handful of paper into roughly even stacks and held one out to the younger girl. “We’re looking for any place where a large group,” she still refused to say the word vampire, “could cut us off or hide.”
“Have you seen the maps?” Nicole held one up. “It would be easier to find places where we’d be safe.” The outthrust map returned to her lap with a loud rustle, and she bent her head over the rest of the pile with a grumble.
Chelsea spared a glance at the maps in her own hands. Once they drove north Schenectady, there was nothing but state forests and tiny towns. The roads seemed to shrink to two lanes. And after that…
Nicole was right. There was no place for them to hide. They’d be sitting ducks.
Chelsea stared at the maps intently, losing track of their slow progress through Manhattan. There had to be a way; she simply couldn’t find it. “It’s a deathtrap,” she muttered. The Mohawk Nation couldn’t have chosen a worse place. Her ancestral home sat on what amounted to a peninsula, surrounded by three rivers. Had they actually been in St. Reginald then digging in and holding their territory (with an army) was an option.
Unfortunately, the army was already there. An army of vampires. All waiting for them to drive down 37 West and provide a late night snack. Tossing the map in her hand to the seat, Chelsea peered blearily out the window. She wasn’t cut out for this. She wasn’t a military commander. She was a cop. A cop used to the hum of traffic and a skyline of buildings.
A cop who was trained to notice the car following them half a block back.
Straightening in her seat, Chelsea glanced quickly at Faith. Tanned hands gripped the steering wheel and Faith glared through the windshield at traffic, seemingly unaware of the tail. Willow was intent on her laptop, and Nicole hadn’t yet put down the maps in defeat.
“Faith,” Chelsea said as casually as possible. “Take a right at the next light.” They didn’t have lights or sirens; they couldn’t pull off the maneuver Olivia had tried the day before. That didn’t mean Chelsea wasn’t going to get as much information as possible.
“Problems, Chief?” Faith’s eyes met Chelsea’s in the rearview mirror – and then she started to turn in the seat.
Lunging forward, Chelsea gripped her shoulder. “Watch the road. As you’ve reminded me several times today, this isn’t your type of job. It’s mine.” The muscles under her hand bunched but Faith finally resettled behind the wheel. “I thought I saw the same car behind us. I want to see if my paranoia is kicking in or if there’s a problem. Take a right at the next light.”
“Got it.” Thankfully, Faith didn’t argue further and the click of the turn signal echoed in the tense silence of the car.
Chelsea scooted down in the seat in order to have a better view through the sideview mirror. The car was still there. So was the last car of Slayers. She saw their turn signal blink. When Faith edged into the turn lane, Chelsea held her breath. “Slow down. Way down,” she instructed. “Act like you’re looking for a place to park.”
The car slowed to a crawl immediately, and Willow rolled down her window and stuck her arm out into the chill air, finger waving around as if, Chelsea assumed, Willow were pointing at something. “I think I see the car, Detective. The gray sedan?” Her arm retracted. “Nicole, can you lean across and look in the mirror? I can’t see the plate number.”
See the license plate? The car was half a block away. Not even Chelsea, with all of her training, could make out a single letter or number. She almost laughed until Nicole sprawled across her lap.
“I got…” Nicole wiggled further, digging her elbows painfully into Chelsea’s ribs. “I think it’s an M. Or an N. And a two.” Her hand slapped the side of the car. “It if was a little fucking closer!”
Reaching down, Chelsea awkwardly patted her arm. The reassurance felt out of place, considering Nicole’s role as a bodyguard. It was an instinctive movement, though. No matter how many times Nicole claimed otherwise, Chelsea couldn’t see past her age. “Don’t worry about it.”
Nicole stared up at her in frustrated disbelief.
“Really.” Chelsea smiled slightly in defiance of the heated glare. “We don’t need the plate. We don’t even know if the car is really following us.” She didn’t know; she was fairly certain, though. “Sit up and pay attention. I’ll show you how real cops work.” Lifting Nicole off her lap, Chelsea continued. “If you ever have another protection job, you’ll be a pro.” Another look in the mirror verified the car was still with them; however, it had dropped farther back.
Maybe it wasn’t following them. Maybe Chelsea was imagining it.
Maybe she wasn’t.
Erring on the side of caution – and the possibility of staying alive another day – Chelsea turned her attention back to Faith. “Forget turning at the corner. There’s an alley up ahead, past the bakery on the right. Take it but don’t signal.” She waited long enough for Faith’s terse nod. “Willow, call the group in the car behind us. They need to keep going.”
Whatever faults Faith’s crew had, slow response time wasn’t one of them. Willow was on the phone before Chelsea finished speaking, and Faith was not-so-casually checking for the bakery. “Here’s the way this works, Nicole. The keys to a successful tail are time and distance. You have to stay far enough back that you don’t get spotted, and you need enough time to respond to changes in route. Big cities are easier than small because there are more cars and it’s harder to notice one car in the middle of the other hundred on the road.”
Nicole nodded. “You want Faith to turn to see if the car you think is following us tries to take the alley, too.”
“Exactly.” With a quirk of an eyebrow, Chelsea wryly admitted, “Only, that’s not always a sure-fire way of identifying a tail. If the people following you are determined and organized enough, they can outsmart you.”
She broke off, bracing one hand against the roof, as Faith wheeled the car into the alley. “What now, Chief?”
“Now we all stay alert. Unless the guys behind us are planning to take us out in broad daylight, they can’t risk taking the alley. They’ve got two options now. One, pray traffic thins and they can catch up to us. It isn’t a secret where we’re going. Or two, they can call for reinforcements and have a brand new car pick us up when we get back on the main street.” Chelsea pointed at Nicole. “That’s what I meant about outsmarting us. With cell phones and enough help, it’s nearly impossible to identify a good tail car.”
***
Faith listened to the law enforcement lesson and restrained the urge to slam the gas pedal through the floor of the rental car. This was out of control. Out of her control. And she hated it. Ignoring the little voice demanding that she take action, any action, Faith concentrated on navigating the dim, narrow alley and watching for any signs of the gray car behind them.
As Chelsea anticipated, though, the car was conspicuously absent. “Which way out, Chief?” Not even a few nights on patrol had given her a handle on New York’s geography.
“Take a left out. It’s one-way.” Faith heard the edge of humor in Chelsea’s voice. “The early lessons in proper tailing techniques are easy. Think big squares. All we’re doing is going around the block.”
It wasn’t clear if Chelsea was laughing at Faith or the situation. Neither struck Faith as remotely funny. Confronting the unwelcome thought that she was getting too old and set in her ways for the stresses of New Slaying, Faith said, “Left it is. Red’ll keep the Juniors from freaking. Don’t want ‘em being heroes.” She fell silent for a minute, waiting for an opening in the traffic on the main street. When they were safely underway again, Faith used all of her senses to hunt for anything out of place around them. “I got nothin’ on the radar.” Of course, she hadn’t noticed the first car, either.
Perhaps Faith’s own paranoia was rearing its head. Chelsea’s reply took a split second too long. “No. I don’t think so.” It was hard to get a read on the truth of that statement since Chelsea was peering out the window. “The car’s gone. Keep driving, and I’ll let you know if I see another tail.”
Driving wasn’t as simple as it sounded. Liberally employing the horn, Faith did her best to move through the rows of cars. Progress was slow and steady – and it felt as if they weren’t moving.
“Stop it,” Willow warned softly. One of her favorite napkin missiles sailed past Faith’s face and bounced off the driver’s side window. “Getting all ‘grrr’ at traffic won’t make us move faster.” She grinned when Faith glared in her direction. “Oooh. Are you about to go Dark Faith on me? I’m so scared.”
A choked cough distracted Faith for a moment.
“Sorry,” Nicole apologized. She cleared her throat, expression not quite making innocent. “Swallowed wrong, I guess. I’ll be fine. Just gonna sit here and study the maps. Make some plans with Detective Lake.”
Getting angry was a lost cause. Faith reluctantly acknowledged that. “Watch it, Red. You ain’t afraid of me, but that don’t mean you gotta ruin it for the Juniors, too. Did you see that? Nic was laughing at me.” She scowled. “Lookin’ at maps, my ass.”
“Don’t blame Nicole, Faith. You’re so cute when you act all Slayer-y. She couldn’t help herself.” Willow drew her left leg up onto the seat and rested her shoulder on the passenger door in defiance of the seatbelt. “Now, what’s bugging you? The traffic? The possible tail? Heartburn?”
“Were you this mouthy with B?” Faith sighed and slumped in her seat.
This time, Willow laughed out loud. “Sometimes. Mostly, though, she had to put up with Babbling Willow. Believe me, you’ve got the better model. I may still irritate you, but I don’t normally take an hour to do it. I only get really bad when Giles is around. He brings out the worst in me.”
Willow was in denial. Faith kept that thought to herself, though. “Yeah, Tweed pushes them buttons, don’t he?” She glanced sideways and shared a look with Willow. “He ain’t gotten over being English.” It didn’t help that he’d been in England since they’d defeated the First. “Maybe you need to visit and remind him what it’s like with the vamps breathin’ down his neck.” Faith had no doubt Willow would get her point across. One look at those freaky blue eyes and Giles would remember his plans for a different Council.
“No way,” Willow was quick to say. “England’s pretty – what I saw of it, anyway. All green, rolling hills and quaint villages. I’ve got other plans, though. Once this mission is over…”
When Willow’s quiet voice trailed away, Faith turned her head. Willow stared sightlessly out the windshield, lower lip caught between her teeth. “Once the Chief’s safe, what, Red?”
A nearly indistinguishable shrug was her only response.
Reaching across the seat, Faith gently touched Willow’s knee. “Something wrong?” It wasn’t like Willow to not share. “You finally gettin’ out of the business?” The concept seemed unnatural to Faith; Willow was such an integral part of what they did. Still, she’d been on the front lines since Buffy’s first days in Sunnydale – and Buffy had disappeared the second Sunnydale sank into the ground. She had to be tired.
“Oh, no.” Willow seemed to recover. Her head came up and the smile returned, even brighter than before. “I’ve got no plans to quit. Sleep for a year, sure.”
“Uh huh.” Faith didn’t believe Willow for a second. Nope. That smile was just too beaming. “You got plans, Red. I can tell.” Willow’s smile slipped and her forehead wrinkled. “You only show that many teeth when you’re up to somethin’.” Pushing her surprising advantage, Faith pressed for more. “Spill, Red. If you ain’t quitting, I bet you’re gonna toss Tweed out and take over. Head Witch and Watcher. We’ll all be dancin’ to your tune.”
A quiet, “Don’t we already?” came from the backseat, but Faith kept her attention on Willow. Nicole had work to do and Faith didn’t want to encourage her participation in the conversation.
“Let’s hear it.” While teasing Willow was fun, Faith wondered if there was more going on than she’d realized. Willow’s frown had smoothed some; however, her expression was hesitant. It reminded Faith of the much younger Willow she’d first met in Sunnydale – and that had her backing off in a hurry. “Nevermind, Red. Ain’t none of my business.”
Faith took Willow’s lack of response as agreement. Whatever Willow had planned wasn’t something she wanted to share. The silence in the car resumed. The lack of noise (with the exception of rustling maps and the occasional grumble from the back seat) made the trip drag. Tapping her fingers against the steering wheel, Faith amused herself by trying to guess Willow’s secret.
Willow knew where Buffy was. Maybe they were going to hook up and do some touring. Faith vaguely remembered Willow getting offers from colleges in England… No. Willow didn’t seem the type to play tourist. Get lost in a library, yes. Take a million pictures of some statue, no.
Huh.
The more Faith thought, the more the situation bothered her. Her tapping on the wheel grew more energetic and she glowered at the road ahead.
A bit of a conversation she’d overheard right after their arrival in New York flitted through Faith’s mind. Something about training. Willow had been on the phone with Xander. Training and getting the location just right.
Faith’s eyes widened and she stiffened against a need to stare at Willow.
Willow and Xander had been talking about a school for the new Slayers. A place for them to train and develop. A place where the Watchers were more teachers than mini-tyrants with too much authority. A place where the need to travel would be balanced out by a home base.
Glower becoming positively lethal, Faith mulled that over. If Willow was lording it over the Juniors, she wouldn’t be in the field anymore. Faith couldn’t let that happen. Willow had to be in the field. Faith needed her.
Mind racing with ways to keep from losing Willow, Faith failed to notice they’d left the confines of the City. Slowly, the landscape lost the cluster of skyscrapers and the traffic thinned. Trees dotted the side of the road and then eventually surrounded it.
Her preoccupation lasted until a red light flashed in the rearview mirror.