Watcher, Vampire, Slayer, Witch
Disclaimer: See part 1
Chapter 3: Watching Back
"Sure, the number is enough to locate it," Willow said, pushing away her plate. "Ann, can we work here or in the library?"
"The library will be more convenient," Ann said, rising and leading the way down the hall and across the foyer to her library.
Usually Buffy could appreciate Ann's library. She had more books than Giles did and they were more diverse in subject matter. The room was large, carpeted with
two glowing rugs, an Ardabil and an Isfahan, Giles had said. It was divided into two sections: One was by the windows in the east and south walls, for reading, and
was furnished with a sofa facing two arm chairs flanking a smaller sofa against the east windows across a large low round table. The other was a sort of work area,
with a narrow tall table behind the sofa holding one of Ann's large crystal phones and another tall table against the west interior wall holding a computer set-up and a
mundane phone. The curtains were closed this morning, and Spike was looking over the shelves as everyone else came in. He scowled.
"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked.
"Looking for a book." He had obviously showered and changed his clothes. Now he wore a linen shirt, black of course, and black leather jeans. If Ann had supplied
his clothes, she had an elaborate idea of basics.
"Well, go away."
"It's not your house, Slayer, you don't say what goes here."
"I do, however," Ann said. "And I say that if the two of you want to fight or even just argue, go do it in the practice room. It's soundproofed."
Buffy flushed.
Spike scowled at Buffy again, then looked up at Ann. "Sorry, Ann."
Ann nodded at him and turned to the Witches. "Do you want a tall table, or what?"
"We can use this one," Willow said, heading for the table by the sofas.
>>>|||<<<
"Well," Willow said. "The license plate is at Buffy's house. I suppose the van is too."
"I've been thinking," Ann said. "Finn, can you drive?"
"Yes."
"Good." Ann went on to explain.
"Can you get away with all that?" Tara asked anxiously.
"Yes," Ann said. "Everything I will do is innocuous. Even if it wasn't, all the opposition will see is Buffy leaving home in the Jaguar. No one else can track that car,
either. They can't follow her, they can't catch her, and with any luck, they won't bother Joyce if they think Buffy's gone from her home."
"You have a Jag?" Spike asked.
"Don't try it. Not today, Spike," Ann warned him.
"What kind of Jag?" Riley asked.
"XKR., V-8, coupe, five speed auto, midnight blue. It will be a little short on headroom for you, but I think you can manage.'
"Nice car."
"But Willow will be all right, won't she? It won't be dangerous for her?" Tara asked.
"Yes," Ann said. "Her well-being is a legitimate concern of yours, therefore of mine, too. If everything goes well, she won't be noticed; if things go wrong, she'll still
be safe, since I can actively protect her."
Tara looked over at Willow, who nodded. "After all, I'm not a target and I can use the cameras, Tara."
"All right."
"Let's go look at the Saturn and introduce Finn to the Jag," Ann said. "Willow, bring the other cameras."
"Wait," Buffy said. "Send me home first, so I have time to talk to Mom."
"Darkening the windows will take, maybe twenty minutes," Ann said. "Long enough?"
"Plenty," Buffy said, and the library disappeared as Ann moved her home.
>>>|||<<<
"Oh, Mom, listen." Buffy said.
"All right, honey. You have been working too hard lately. Go off with Riley for the day and we'll see you tonight."
"I'll just change clothes," Buffy said, heading upstairs. A quick glance out her bedroom window showed Ann's Saturn parked across the street. As she watched, Ann
got out of the car, walked up to the front door of the neighbor's house and went in. A moment later, Ann stood beside her. Ann grinned.
"So far, so good. Two vans, though. One facing each way. Three humans in one, four in the other. I'll try tricks A and B, the coolant leak and the flat tire, or maybe
trick C, something else. It depends."
"You seem to enjoy this." Buffy tried to keep disapproval from her tone, but occasionally, Ann's light-hearted attitude reminded her unpleasantly of Faith.
"I do. This is the best part. Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The better you are at maneuver, the less slaughter you need to create to win. This is
maneuver. I'm good at it, and what I do saves lives. Don't encourage your mom to see you off. Stay back from the windows and if they shoot at your head, duck."
Ann winked out.
Buffy looked down at her bed. Ann had left her a kevlar vest. She managed a shaky smile, striped off her sweater and put it on. It was heavy and stiff, but strangely
comforting. Looking in the mirror, the first thing she noticed was that the vest flattened her breasts like pancakes and thickened her waist. No wonder they weren't a
popular accessory. She selected a loose, high necked top, and put it on over the vest.
She heard a car pull into her driveway. She picked up her big purse and went downstairs to let Riley in the front door.
He didn't linger in the doorway, but pushed her back and shut the door at once. "Hi."
"Hi." She hugged him. He wore a vest, too.
He poked her in the ribs. "Good. Ready?"
"Just a second," Buffy said. She pulled her cell phone out of her bag, hit the speed dial button for her house and went out the door.
Joyce, who had been leaving the kitchen, turned back and answered the phone.
Riley got in front of Buffy as they walked to the Jag. Standing between her and the street, he opened the passenger door, helped her in, and shut it. He got in, started
the engine, turned on the CD player, and backed out of the driveway.
"Shotguns?" Buffy asked, looking between the two seats, then up at Riley.
"Well," Riley said, answering her stare, "Ann pointed out that shooting back is just fine."
The van facing the same way as the Jag abruptly died as its timing chain snapped. Two men got out and opened the hood, then stood around and wiggled wires and
shoved plugs. A third man exited the van and watched the second van, which started to turn around. Its left rear tire hit the curb during the Y-turn and flattened
quickly.
The Jag accelerated down the street.
"Ah, Buffy, shouldn't we make absolutely sure we're not being followed?" Riley asked.
"Well, ten minutes," Buffy glanced sideways at Riley, "or even half an hour of driving around would guarantee that we wouldn't be endangering anyone back at Ann's.
But after that, we should go back."
"You should tell Giles we'll be a little late," Riley said, and headed for the freeway.
Hidden in the back seat of the Saturn, concealed by the darkly filmed windows, Willow took pictures of everyone she saw. Once, she changed disks. Eventually,
Ann called on her crystal phone.
"Hi. How you doing?"
"I have everyone several times over," Willow said.
"Then we'll go," Ann said.
Ann, wearing more Armani, pants in black silk, lapel-less jacket in silver grey, V-neck top in black, appeared to exit the front door of the house her car was parked
in front of, got into the Saturn, and drove off. Behind them, a tow truck arrived to deal with the disabled van, while seven men stood around arguing how to change
the tire on the other.
"Can I sit up now?"
"After we go around the corner," Ann cautioned.
>>>|||<<<
Meeting the Saturn in the garage, Giles told Ann, "Riley has taken Buffy for a drive."
"Yes," Ann said. "I thought he couldn't resist that car. Don't worry, Rupert, my cars can take care of their people."
"Willow!" Tara came out of the kitchen, followed by Spike.
"They never knew I was there. Piece of cake," Willow answered Tara. "Let's get started with the computer." Followed by Giles, the two girls headed off to the
library.
On to Chapter 4
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