Part One

Vampire number three slapped the cross out of Wesley's hand and came in for the kill. The human raised his stake and held his ground while he fumbled around in his pocket attempting to retrieve his Holy Water container. Our of the corner of his eye the fight between Angel and the second vampire swept by; behind him he could hear Buffy engaged in a battle with two others.

"Hissssssss."

Wesley plunged the stake into his attacker as it leaped toward him. The vampire screeched and pulled away with the wood impaled neatly in its shoulder. It let out a horrific curse, ripped the offending wood from its body and again attacked the Watcher. Wesley dove to the ground and grabbed the cross. Flipping over on his back he jammed it onto the creature's face searing a deep burn across its lips and cheek. The vamp grabbed Wesley's wrist with both hands and forced the cross to the side as the Watcher sunk his fingers into its jaw pushing its head back.

The vampire's expression changed to shock a split second before its dust rained down upon into the Watcher's face.

Angel gave the Wesley a hand up from the ground and handed him his stake back. "Aaah, you want to aim for the heart. A stake in the shoulder just annoys us."

As Wyndam-Pryce adjusted and dusted off his jacket he gave Angel a withering look. "Let's give Buffy a hand." He muttered.

"Don't think she needs one." Angel commented as the Slayer disposed of her second foe.

"Jeeze! What's going on tonight?" Buffy said as she came around the tombstones. "Vamp pack number two and it's not even 9:30."

"Something's got everybody stirred up." Angel agreed.

A Cajun accented voice came from behind them. "Nice job, pretty much."

Three men came out from the shadows beside a family crypt. In the lead a short, dark haired, solidly built older man who was sarcastically applauding. He was followed by an extremely large, dark complexioned fellow who was in command of a pair of multi colored hounds which were straining on the end of their heavy leather leashes. The third man was younger than the other two, tall and slender with light brown hair and an expression which could best be described as a cross between boredom and disdain.

"Who... who are you?" Wesley asked the approaching trio.

The first man did not answer the Watcher's inquiry. Instead he pulled out a pack of cigars, lit one and addressed his companions. "Mais, look at dis. There is da Slayer, there is da Watcher and there, a vampire - helping dem. Co faire."

Buffy snapped he fingers at the strangers. "Hello! Since you got it all figured out 'ya want to..."

"Who are you?" Wesley repeated with more than a touch of irritation.

The trio acted as if Buffy, Wesley and Angel did not exist.

The younger man gave his head a toss toward the dogs. "Let's just let Baby and Blitz sort it out and get out'ta here."

The dog handler gave the dogs a bit of slack and muttered a command. Their stance stiffened as they eyed their vampire prey. Buffy positioned herself in front of them. "Bad idea." She warned the handler. "I'm usually kind to animals, but I'll make an exception."

"Way I see it your exception is this 'dead man walkin'." The younger man sarcastically interjected with a toss of his thumb toward Angel.

"I don't think I like you." Buffy spit.

"Good." He shot back with a sneer.

The older man waved his hand toward his crew. "T.Paul - Hold dem dogs, Matt - Hold your mouth. We be on da same side, pretty much." He pointed at Wyndam-Pryce. "You are da Watcher, right?"

"Correct. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce." He held out his hand expecting the courtesy of a handshake.

The man gave the extended hand a glance then ignored the gesture. "John Blanchard."

"I knew it." Angel hissed.

Blanchard blew a line of smoke toward Angel. "No one talking to you, dead boy."

For a split second the vampire's game face appeared causing the dogs to hit the end of their leashes. Angel held his tongue and backed off a step.

Wesley drew himself up. "Now see here!"

"No - you see. We do not have to check in with you, peeshwank. But I am, so you put a muzzle on and listen." As he spoke he pulled a sketch out of his pocket and handed it to Wesley. "My crew, we have been hired to find dis one."

Buffy leaned over and took a look at the drawing. "Drusilla. She blew out'ta here a year ago. Sorry about your luck, guess you'll be leaving. Oh. darn."

A frown creased Wesley's brow as he realized what was going on. "I take it you are from the Hunter's Alliance. May I remind you that the Sunnydale area is under the protection of The Council of Watchers. And in accordance with the agreement signed in 1878 between the Council and the Alliance when a jurisdiction has a proper.."

"Piss on the Council. We are here." John bluntly stated. "And when we be done, we be gone. And... I am done with dis rahdoht." With this he snatched the paper back from Wesley, gave the other two a sign to move out, turned on his heel and left.

Matt straightened up from the tombstone he had been leaning on. "How long you been the Watcher?"

"Long enough to know when protocol has been...."

"Where's the other guy?" The young man interrupted.

"Mr. Giles is no longer..."

Again Wesley was cut off, this time by Angel. "He left town, three months ago."

Upon hearing this Matt spit on the ground and left without another word.

Buffy and Wesley started after the departing hunters determined to continue the confrontation. Angel gave a soft whistle and motioned for them to come back. "Don't." He cautioned. "John Blanchard is bad news."

"Well, duh!" Buffy commented with a toss of her head.

"This is preposterous!" Wesley snapped.

Angel rubbed his head. "This is bad... and once they check out the Book it will get worse. I should probably leave town."

"What book?" Buffy muttered while still keeping an eye on the departing men. "Thought you didn't have a phone."

"The Hunter's Alliance book." Wesley answered with a bit of arrogance. "It's an American reference. Very simple, basic facts - nothing in depth like is available to trained Watchers. Sketches of vampires and their known associates, along with brief commentary on their histories and habits. ."

"And what price is on their heads." Angel added.

Buffy shot Angel a concerned look. "Sooo, are you saying you're in this book?"

"They know of Drusilla and I am her sire." Angel took a nervous glance around the cemetery. "If not my picture, I'm sure my name is mentioned."

The Slayer hopped up on a tombstone. "How old is this thing? You've been on the straight and narrow for a hundred years."

"The book was created soon after the American Civil War." Wesley explained. "Veterans of that struggle were the first organized hunters. If you could call them 'organized'. Mercenary would be a better term."

"Yeah, there was an explosion in the numbers of vampires during that time. Natural disasters and wars always lure us in. And the War Between The States made, for some reason, exceptionally easy pickings." Angel confirmed.

Wesley arched an eyebrow. "Voice of experience?"

Angel looked away. "Let's just say the word was out. I know a lot of vampires came over here during the height of it."

"Got it! A hundred years ago Joe-Yank and Billy-Reb came back from kicking butt and decided to make a buck by starting a vamp roundup service." Buffy gave her head a nod and pretended to swing a lasso. "Head 'em up... move 'em out. Stake 'em boys!"

"One hundred and thirty-four years."

Buffy cocked her head at Wesley and continued to twirl her hand. "Huh?"

"Your Civil War ended in 1865. One hundred and thirty-four years ago."

"Well I was close..."

Wesley let Buffy's history impaired comment slide and turned his attention back to Angel. "I take it you know this Blanchard chap."

"I know his reputation, gets the job done no matter who or what gets in his way." Angel let out a hiss as his features flickered to vampire for a brief moment. "Drusilla is not in Sunnydale, I'm sure of it. But they're not going to leave until they convince themselves of it. All hell is going to break loose..."

"In Sunnydale? Aahh, come on - you're kidding." Buffy hopped off of the marker. "Look, I'll admit the mansion is too wide open for you to stay there, but you could find a safer place to hang...."

"No. Only an idiot would stay in Sunnydale." Angel gave Buffy a nod of his head. "I'll catch you later. I have to get moving."

Wesley and Buffy watched as Angel slipped away.

"He's terrified." Wesley whispered. "Just the idea that this Blanchard 'might' come for him has him shaking in his shoes."

Buffy's eyes widened. "They asked about Giles..."

*~*~*~*

"They asked about me?" Rupert's brow furrowed at this piece of information. "Why?"

"Don't know. Angel told him you bailed three months ago. Then Mr. Attitude spit on the ground and left." Buffy shrugged her shoulders and plopped down on the couch.

"I've never dealt with hunters, thank God...." Rupert muttered as he continued to dig through his bookcase. "...Now where is it? I am positive I have a copy."

"Perhaps they had your physical description. He merely referred to you as the 'other guy'." Wesley offered as he leaned over the counter separating the kitchen from the living room. "It could be that they knew that Drusilla was here previously and wanted to question you, specifically."

"Oh joy..." Rupert straightened up and gazed around the room. "Maybe it's still packed away in the spare bedroom with the other general titles."

"You got more books?" Buffy rolled her eyes. "This place already looks like an explosion at Barnes and Nobles."

"Umm.. Yes..." Rupert made a "click" noise and headed for the stairwell. "Just give me a moment." He mumbled as he went up the stairs.

Wesley brought the tea tray in. "I suppose we could have misunderstood his question."

Buffy yawned and reached for the teapot. "Naaa, I don't think so. He was checking you out pretty good before he asked. 'Other guy' meant Giles, Angel caught it right off the bat, I think we all did."

Wesley fixed himself a cup and settled back into a chair. "I will have to notify the Council when I get home. They can deal with the Alliance better than we." He took a sip of tea. "Remove these people from Sunnydale as soon as possible."

"What's wrong with a bunch of Americans working in Sunnydale?" Buffy giggled. "I 'think' California is still in the United States. Haven't noticed any strange holidays on the calendar and George Washington is still on the money."

"Because it violates the agreement signed between the Council of Watchers and the Hunter's Alliance in 1878, which clearly states that 'neither party shall interfere with the duties of the other or trespass into another parties territory without written approval of all parties involved'."

Buffy blinked as Wesley's voice went up an octave.

"And furthermore an Alliance party is forbidden to interfere with the duties of an active Slayer or commit any action within two days ride of her station."

Buffy choked on her tea. "Two days RIDE?" She put her hands over her mouth and grabbed a napkin to keep from spitting tea onto her Watcher as she went from snickers to a full belly laugh. "Like, on a HORSE?"

"It was written in 1878 and there was still desolate parts of this country which did not have train service." Wesley said, not seeing anything funny.

"So we got'ta get them a horse and point them down the interstate?" Buffy snorted. "Ride 'em cowboy..." She was now wiping tears from her eyes. "Ya got till high noon to get out'ta town...."

"The standard is now set at fifty miles, that was updated in 1924!" Wesley snapped. "They are not to be here and I will not allow their interference!"

"Found it! It was in the first box." Giles stopped on the landing and arched an eyebrow at Buffy's laughter set against Wesley's annoyed expression. "Did you make a funny, Wesley?"

"I was just trying to explain to Miss Summers the necessity of removing these hunters from Sunnydale." Wesley huffed. "But as you can see, she found the 1878 Agreement rather - amusing."

Without hesitation Rupert sided with Wesley. "There is nothing humorous about the Agreement. Standards have to be kept."

"Oh pleeezze!" Buffy said while regaining a bit of her composure. "Two days ride? Written approval? Yeah... right. I don't like this bunch any more than you do, but come on guys..."

Looking like he had just bit into a lemon Wesley crossed his arms and gave a sharp nod of his head. "I am calling the Council as soon as I get home even if I have to wake up Mr. Williams at some un-Godly hour."

Giles motioned across the room. "Please, feel free to use my phone."

Buffy sat her tea down. "They are really P.O.'ed!" She thought to herself as her eyes darted back and forth between the two. Giles began pace in a circle as he leafed through the Alliance Book while Wesley dialed the Council. She stared at Rupert, he was truly put out by her laughter over the situation and Wyndam-Pryce looked like he was going to bust a seam. "Yoo-hoo? Giles?" She whispered to get his attention then held her hands up in a sign of confusion.

Rupert sat down beside her and put the Book down onto the coffee table. "When the Alliance was first forming it had a tendency to overstep its bounds in its zeal to destroy vampires. Thanks to their disregard for protocol a Slayer and Watcher were ambushed and turned in St. Louis, Missouri. Needless to say this resulted in untold deaths by two very dangerous vampires. The agreement came into being as a direct result of this incident. Yes, the verbiage seems archaic but the reasoning behind it is sound." He took his glasses off and rubbed his forehead. "Especially sound, since what the Alliance really is."

"Really is?" Buffy leaned back into the cushions. "I don't like the sound of that."

"They are strictly hunters 'for hire' and their price is obscene."

"So they do it for money, not for 'fun' like we do."

Now it was time for Rupert's voice to go up an octave. "FUN? This calling is a sacred duty bound by a code. Granted, the Council seems a bit antiquated, but there is a historical precedence for their actions. These hunters... it would not surprise me if they reported to no one."

"There might not be anyone to report to." Wesley sourly informed them. "When I awakened the Council secretary with this news he informed me that there has not been any communication between the Council and the Alliance for the past fifteen years." He sat down with a thump and retrieved the Alliance Book from where Giles had laid it. "But Mr. Williams is going to look into this post-haste. He confirmed that removing these interlopers is a priority."

As Wesley paged through the Book Giles began to question Buffy. "Tell me again about these three."

"That John was a real old guy, mid-forties maybe even fifty, he seemed to be in charge. He had a real funny accent."

Giles peered over his glasses. "Real old... I see."

"Yeah and the shaved gorilla guy with the dogs, he looked about early thirty-something. But those dogs were weird. Big hounds with white eyes and they wanted to go after Angel. And the last one was young, early twenties. He would be cute if he wasn't such a jerk. It's kinda strange but I think I've seen him somewhere before."

"He might have been engaged in reconnaissance around town. Stalking you while you were on patrol. They are always lurking around in the shadows." Giles considered.

"Here she is." Wesley quickly held the Book up to show a picture of Dursilla and then returned to the text. "First noticed in 1884, Philadelphia." He stopped and wrinkled his nose. "Philadelphia, 1884?"

Rupert waved a hand at the book. "They only consider American sightings as worthy of comment. As a rule they totally disregard European statistics. What else is there?"

"Aahh... known associates, William the Bloody. Hummm, there are two other names but they have been inked out." Wesley gave Giles a inquisitive glance.

"Whoever owned this before me seems to have blotted out the names of destroyed vampires along with creasing the page corners. The concept of a bookmark was beyond them and, as you can see, some of these mistreated pages are missing an entire corner. And, if you will notice, they also wrote what seems to be a grocery list in the back." Giles pursed his lips in disgust. "Vandal..."

Wesley shook his head. "Completely destroyed, and it's only ninety-two years old. We should expect no less, considering that the previous owner was a hunter."

Buffy leaned on the couch arm wagged a finger at them. "All right - I get it, bad hunter... bad, bad. Writes in books, uses little words, runs with scissors, on your turf... is Angel's picture in there? What else does it say about Dru.? Let's get on with it."

Wesley adjusted his glasses and gave Buffy a brief 'now see here' look. "Associates... William the Bloody. Aaahh... notes that she sounds English and; quote - crazier than a loon and dangerous. - unquote. Oh they do have a way with words...." He began to turn the pages once again. "That's the long and short, emphasis on short, of it."

The Slayer shut her eyes and sighed then watched as Wesley searched the Alliance Book for any mention of Angel.

"Angelus...." Wesley said, then went silent as he read the information."

"Well? Come on Wesley, what's it say?" Buffy asked impatiently.

"It has his picture as a long haired, bearded vampire. Then a few sentences of rather vile slurs directed at those of Irish heritage. Then the notation that he is in Europe where he belongs. That's all." Wesley closed the book with a smack.

"We should be thankful they are so inept in their record keeping." Giles sniped as he cleaned his glasses.

Buffy shrugged and stood. "I suppose that's good. Hey, it's almost 11:00. I'm going to take the long way home and hit the sack. School tomorrow, a Slayer's work is never done."

Wesley finished his tea and also rose. "I'll drive you."

"Naa, you guys stay here and plan your next move, I'll be okay." She answered as she headed for the door. Pausing with her hand on the knob she turned with a sly smile.

"Hey... Giles, Wesley - just want to remind you, we won it - in our own backward way."

Both Watchers gave her a confused return glance. "Pardon?" Giles asked as Wesley questioned, "Won what, may I ask?"

Her grin widened. "The Revolutionary War."

*~*~*~*

"What?"

"Uh.. Hello, this is Ron at Lion Technology Services of Sunnydale. I am calling to confirm that your Internet access..."

T.Paul walked to the front of the RV and dropped the phone into Matt's lap.

"Yeah?"

"Uh.. This is Ron at Lion Technology Ser..."

Matt swiveled the chair around and flicked on the computer. "We online?"

"Uh.. Yes Sir. I'm calling to arrange an appointment to come on over and set up your service."

"Took you long enough. Been what - three days?"

“Sorry about the delay Sir, we have just installed a new satellite service and we experienced a few minor delays. But we can now offer to our customers an improved variety of services which I will show..."

"I don't need you to come over, just cut the shit and give me the info."

"Password - 8rr247w. User name - vhunterg5. Both case sensitive - use lowercase. Primary DNS...."

Matt scribbled the information down on a pizza box and hung up on the service rep. "Okay, let's rock and roll. Somebody bring me another beer." He said to no one in particular as he keyed in the configuration.

Blanchard reached in the refrigerator for a brew. "You want da list?"

"Yeah, and are any of those doughnuts left?"

John came up to the front and handed Matt the beer and the list. "Not a beignet left. Not a damn thing left. We got to go makin' groceries. Got a envie for somet'ing like courtboullion or a muffuletta."

Matt wrinkled his nose. "I'll stick with Wendys. And good luck finding the stuff to make your born on the bayou grub anywhere around here. Bet there ain't a store in Sunnydale that sells 'might be possum'. At least we got beer."

"If we run out o' beer T.Paul would pass a slap on us." John laughed.

T.Paul gave a nod of agreement. "Then I put da catahoulas on you ass." He reached down and gave the dogs a rub on the head and reconsidered. "No. Might make dem sick."

"Showtime!" Matt sat back as the Alliance page loaded.

"See if Group Two still be down in Tampa." John ordered.

Matt typed in their access code and ID number then clicked for team locations. "Yeah, they're still at that sand flea campground."

"Set dis t'ing up so I can talk to Luis."

"They're not on-line. It's about eighteen-hundred back there, they might be getting ready to rumble. Want me to just send him an e-mail?"

"Yeah, tell dem what we found out last night at dat bar." Blanchard swung a chair around. "And have 'em double check with their informant." He lit a cigar and waved it at the screen. "If we be out here just pissin' up a rope tell 'em I am going to come to Tampa and kill their rat."

John sat back and watched as Matt typed a message to the other team. The kid was good, no denying it. Since he had signed up four years ago he had got things moving foreword again; web page so the teams could stay in touch; the Book reworked and updated. And balls, the kid had 'em - he had proved that the first night. If he would just learn to watch his mouth.

"Want me to sign off, 'Hugs and kisses, Johnny'?"

"I will break you fingers." John threatened. "Let me read dat before you send it."

"Don't you trust me?"

"You are a Yankee."

"Damn straight." Matt laughed and relinquished his chair to the boss. "If you want to send it just hit the button that says 'send'."

"Peeshwank..."

Matt picked up the list of names and information that Willy and a few of his customers had 'volunteered'. Top name - Angel.

"Angel, that's a damn weird name for a vampire." He said to T.Paul.

"It don madder what its name is."

"Wonder why it hangs with the Slayer?"

"It don madder."

"Think they were telling the truth about that Drusilla?"

"No."

Matt grinned and turned away. Three verbal responses in a row was about the max for a conversation with T.Paul, who preferred to let his fists or his dogs do the talking for him.

And last night at Willy's, even with T.Paul's special brand of 'conversation', each and every one had sworn that Drusilla was long gone and had not returned. Then there was the cemetery - almost five years down the shitter, missed him by three months. Matt curled his lip. "This place sucks." He paused for a second and reconsidered. "But why should I take their word for it?"

John's voice brought him back to the business at hand. "Okay, I sent it. Now let us check out dis Angel from hell and see if we be correct." John gave his head a toss toward the monitor. "Tell me if I am doing it right. Still do not get dis chouchoot."

"Yeah, first lesson: it's officially called a computer. Second, click on the icon that looks like The Book. Okay, now type in 'Angel' in the white box."

John followed the instructions. "Now dis is?"

A screen flashed up. "Search results, no matches, but we do have a list of possibilities. Angelica, Angelico the Wicked, Angelus, Angry One, Anne of Leipzig. First two males look like our best bets. Now just click on Angelico and we'll see his stats."

Information and accompanying drawing appeared.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Angelico the Wicked: Italian vampire, first sighted in Florence in 1730. Last know sighting in same location 1843. Called all females he sired "Passione" - Passion.

Assumed destroyed.

Known Associates: None confirmed.

No reference to activities in US.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well dat is picayune..."

"Yeah, it is pretty worthless..." Matt sneered at the drawing. "Man, he's ugly as hell. Wonder how he got close enough to a chick to bite her?" He drained his beer and pointed at the corner of the screen. "Now hit 'back' and do it again with the next one." As he went over to the fridge he asked the other two. "Want another one?"

"Yeah bring me another, and... GOD DAMN!" Blanchard was ticking his finger on the monitor on the updated sketch of Angelus. "It's dat bastard, all right. Listen up..." He began to read outloud.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
"...Angelus - Irish vampire, first recorded sighting in Moate, Ireland - 1755. Confirmed origin Galway, Ireland 1750 to 1755. Extremely dangerous creature noted for his vicious cruelty taken for pleasure over and above feeding. According to some sources Angelus entered the US in the mid 1920's. He is known for not running with a pack, preferring instead to hunt and den alone.

Confirmed European sightings: (1755 - 1894) Ireland, England, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Italy. Last confirmed European sighting in Romania 1897.

Two confirmed sightings in US - Both in New York, NY: 1953 - by Frank Blanchard and 1979 by Charles Karn. Information from the 1979 sighting alludes to the possibility that this vampire has become mentally unstable, but this could be a ploy. See Charles Karn's transcripts from 11/26/79 for more information.

Assumed still at large.

Known Associates - Last Three Confirmed Sightings - Status:
Beatrice O'Bannion - Belfast, Northern Ireland Area - 1957, 1980, 1998.
Confirmed still at large.
Darla - (This is the probable sire of Angelus.) Pensacola, FL - 1943;
San Francisco, CA - 1968; Las Vegas, NV - 1986. Assumed still at large.
Timothy - Only reference London, England - 1927. Assumed destroyed.
William the Bloody - Berlin, Germany - 1990; Prague, Czech Republic -
1992. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - 1999. Confirmed still at large.
Kenneth Wright - London, England - 1862; Niagara Falls, Ontario - 1933;
Detroit, Michigan - 1934. Confirmed destroyed."
--------------------------------------------------------------------

He reached out and took the beer from Matt. "Lot of shit on dis one. Have to give Old Charlie hell da next time for letting one get away."

"Yeah, and we have links on all his pals. Either we had a lot collected on him or he was one of the ones the Council supplied before that asshole Travers told us to go to hell." Matt muttered as he removed Dru's printout form the bulletin board. "William the Bloody.. ain't he on both the mark's sheet and that list?"

Blanchard scanned the handwritten notes. "Calls himself 'Spike' now. Yes, they say he left with dis wrench and then came back, then left again."

"Cool, I'm gonna have to update his sighting list to include this place and the nickname. Matt read from Dru's printout. "Aah - known associates; The Galway Devil - that's who sired the bitch, Joseph of Norwich, (UK), William the Bloody, ..."

"Galway!" Blanchard pointed to Angel's statistics. "Dat's where dis son of a bitch is from!"

"Hit 'back' and then type in 'Galway Devil' and we'll see what we got."

A rough image of Angel appeared with a short bio.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Galway Devil - exceptionally viscous vampire first sighted in the area between Galway and Moate Ireland in the mid 1750's. Terrorized area with probable sire (Darla) until late 1700's. Active in England from 1800 until last sighting in London, circa 1858.

No recorded US activity.

Assumed destroyed.

Known Associate - Last Three Confirmed Sightings - Status
Darla - last US sightings: Pensacola, FL - 1943; San Francisco, CA -
1968; Las Vegas, NV - 1986. Assumed still at large.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Matt took the mouse and clicked back and forth between the two drawings. "It's the same 'dead dick'."

John nodded in confirmation and spun the chair around. Leaning over he beat his fist on a heavy wooden box which took up a lion's share of the floor. "Got you!" He shouted. "Got you, dead on!"

T.Paul busted out laughing. "How else would it be but 'dead' on?"

Inside the box Angel awakened and strained against the chains. Voices, laughter... He jerked and let out a vampire hiss as he felt the anger rise within him.

Another thump on the box. "Hey, settle down in there rot man."

The sound of claws scratching on the box accompanied by the low growls of the catahoulas. "Damn dogs." Angel hissed as he remembered how they had tracked him halfway through Sunnydale. Then the net, that agonizing net with small crosses attached in the weave. He bit down on the block of wood tied across his open mouth let out a muted snarl.

John laughed and patted his captive's wooden tomb. "Fais do-do, Angel... Angelus.... Galway Devil... whatevers you calls yourself. You want to rest, 'cause tonight we will have a long talk about you wrenches Drusilla and Beatrice, and you friend Spike, and you sire Darla."

With this Angel froze. "He knows everything... how?"

"Mais, dat made it quiet down." Blanchard noted with a final chuckle as he turned his attention back to Matt. "Now you have to put dis new information in, keep it current. Me and T.Paul, we are going to go make a bill."

"Sure boss, 'ya want me to go ahead and put 'confirmed destroyed' in this ya-hoo's file?"

John glanced toward the box, sure that Angel was listening. With a 'go ahead' nod of his head he said just the opposite. "No, it might cooperate... it does help da Slayer."

"Got it! And I'll update the links, add a 'see Angelus' to Devil and put in plain 'Angel."

"Links?" Angel though. "So the Alliance has moved into the twenty-first century. " He forced himself to relax and concentrate on the sounds and vibrations which could be assessed through the thick wood. John and T.Paul exiting made the floor shift slightly. They must be in some sort of trailer or motor home. Work van starting and pulling away confirmed their departure. The faint click of the keys as Matt edited the web site, he must be their version of Willow. And the dogs pacing back and forth beside the box. Catahoulas, the stories he had heard about them, now confirmed by fact. Fearless, trained to track, contain and weaken their prey until the hunters arrived. Time? He felt that his bites and burns had completely healed and his strength was back. Mid-afternoon most likely, even if he could break free there was no way in hell he could avoid the sun.

The padlock ratted in the hasp and Angel involuntary cowered from the threat of sunlight as with a shrill squeak of the hinges the lid opened.

Wearing an expression of cold indifference Matt flicked open a switchblade and slid it between Angel's cheek and the leather strap which held the wooden block in place between his teeth. With one quick flick he sliced the binding. "Relax, dead boy, you're not getting sunburned." He opened the lid a bit further allowing the vampire to see the angle of the sunlight coming through the windows. "Unless you piss me off and then I just might open it all the way. Now you change your ugly face and spit out that chew toy."

Angel returned the human's stare and kept his game face as he worked the gag block free. "What the hell do you bastards want?" He asked with as much threat as he could muster.

"Where did he go?"

"That's not what I asked you..."

Matt gave a soft whistle. "Baby, Blitz... "

The dogs stuck their massive heads into the gap.

"Better warn you bloodsucker, they don't listen to me very well. So let's try this again, where did he go?"

Angel's gaze locked onto the blue/white eyes of the catahoulas. "Where did who go?"

"That's a little better, but if you still want to play dumb... the other Watcher, Rupert Giles."

"As if he would check in with me you stupid little prick." Angel spit back with a snap of his fangs.

Blitz made a lunge for the vampire barely missing laying his face open.

"Your boss would not like it if you let me be destroyed. Remember he wants to que..."

SLAM! The lid came back down.

Matt relocked the box. "I just wanted to take the easy way. But guess what shitdead, I don't need 'ya." Picking up a pilfered Sunnydale directory he paged through for a moment and dialed a number.

"Sunnydale Income Tax Department. This is Missy, how can I help you?"

"Hi Missy, this is Kevin down at the Municipal Building. We're having trouble accessing your computer. We were going to print out a citywide tax statement for the State bean counters, we keep getting denied access and my boss is breathing down my neck."

"What kind of statement do you need."

"Taxpayer name, current address, workplace and tax paid. We need the stats for last five years. Can you help me?"

"Well, I don't know. These records are confidential."

"Yeah, (sigh) I understand. Though I could save myself a trip. Go ahead and tell your supervisor to start a printing a runout. I'll be there in a couple of hours, ID in hand to pick up the first part."

"You want us to print it out? We close in two hours."

"Either you print it out, or I do."

"Our modem number is 555-8930."

"That's the number our computer has been dialing. Have you changed the passcode? Let me talk to your supervisor."

"No, it's still 'rapeandpillage'."

"Are you sure?"

(Giggle) "Yes, I've got it written on a post-it note right here on my computer."

"Well, let me try it again. Missy you are a saint. Bye now."

Matt took a drink and smiled. "Bet she was blond." He exited vh_allian.com and clicked the icon labeled 'Matthack'. Less than five minutes later he was checking Rupert's city income tax records. "Left town my ass." He yelled toward the trapped vampire. "Let me know if this sounds right. Just hiss once for yes, twice for no: 512B North Claremont; 555-7284; Sunnydale Public Schools; he had to pay a quarterly last month and he's still putting the same payroll deduction in. Too stupid to up the with-holding."

As the printer spit out the sheet Matt unlocked a desk drawer and pulled his folder on Rupert Giles.