Act2

 

“She’s Faith Lehane.” Elizabeth stated.

 

She looked up from the photos and saw that her three colleagues were staring at her blankly.

 

“Faith Lehane?” Mark repeated in a dubious tone, with a wide grimace on his face. “Who the hell is that?”

 

He turned to Marina and John with a questioning expression.

 

“Do you know her?”

 

Marina shook her head. John for his part, frowned heavily and appeared to think about the question for a moment.

 

“That name reminds me of something…” he said.

 

He leaned against the table and put his chin between his thumb and index finger.

 

“Hum… Faith Lehane…” he repeated slowly.

 

“She’s a murderer.” Elizabeth explained.

 

John’s face lit up with recollection.

 

“I remember,” he said. “A young murderer in California, a few years ago.”

 

“Yeah,” nodded Elizabeth. “Sunnydale. She…”

 

“Sunnydale?” Mark interrupted. “That town that collapsed suddenly last year?“

 

“If I remember correctly, that’s where you come from Liz?” Marina asked.

 

“Right,” Elizabeth acquiesced. “I worked there for years. I worked on her case.”

 

“I thought she had been arrested?” John asked.

 

“She had been,” confirmed McKinley, before shaking her head. “Well, in fact, she turned herself in.”

 

“And?” Asked Mark, still looking dumbfounded at Elizabeth. “What’s the thing with her? What’s the story?”

 

“Shebrutally murdered two guys,” McKinley told them. “She killed Deputy Mayor Allan Finch with a wooden stake and then savagely stabbed Professor Lester Worth. She was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison.”

 

“Obviously, her sentence was shortened!” Snorted Mark.

 

“She escaped a year and a half ago, “ added John Roberts. “A spectacular escape from the LA prison. I’m surprised you didn’t hear about her. It was all over the television”

 

“I was in Chicago a year ago,” explained Marina in an apologetic tone. “I guess it was more a fuss on the west coast than over there.”

 

“You remember the story well,” Roberts said, turning curiously to Elizabeth again.

 

The blonde nodded with a half-smile on her face.

 

“I wasn’t sure at first that it was her.” She explained. “But it’s coming back to me now. Everything. It was a hard story.”

 

“What d’you mean, a hard story?” Mark asked.

 

Elizabeth grabbed again one of the photos where Faith could be seen and stared at the brunette’s face for a moment. She recalled that time – five years ago – when she was a detective in Sunnydale, remembered fragments of Faith’s history.

 

“Y’know,” she told her colleagues. “She was just seventeen at the time. The girl was quite unstable. No family. No friends. Completely screwed up. I attended her trial. No one came for her.”

 

“God, you sound like you pity the girl?” Mark questioned, unbelievingly.

 

Elizabeth McKinley shrugged casually.

 

“She was so young.” She replied. ”I’m sure a good lawyer could have spared her some years of prison.”

 

Mark couldn’t help but laughing at that.

 

“Well, she didn’t need a lawyer if I believe what we see in this picture,” He sniggered, gesturing to the photographs.

 

“Looks like she helped herself,” Marina added.

 

“Anyway, it seems we have a bigger problem at hand than our little park gang,” declared Roberts. “That young woman is a wanted fugitive.”

 

Roberts wavered for a second, then added:

 

“Well, at least will be again when we’ll report we saw her.”

 

Faced with Mark’s questioning expression, Elizabeth specified:

 

“She’s been seen in Sunnydale around the time the town collapsed. As we totally lost track of her after that point, we thought she might be dead.”

 

“Which, obviously, she’s not.” Mark said.

 

Silence fell over the room for a moment before Marina spoke up.

 

“So, what do we do now?”

 

“We have to take care of that.” Roberts answered. “We have to find her before she disappears again.”

 

“Great,” Mark exclaimed almost enthusiastically. “Some action will be good.”

 

“Believe me; you don’t want to have some action with her.” Warned Elizabeth. “She’s one hell of a fighter.”

 

Seeing Mark’s dubious face, she stated:

 

“She’s dangerous.”

 

Mark’s expression didn’t change and got even more unsure.

 

“She’s just a girl.” He countered.

 

McKinley shrugged and her face hardened.

 

“No, she’s not.”

 

Khan saw the change on Elizabeth’s face and raised his hands in a defensive gesture.

 

“Easy Liz.” He grinned. “I’m just saying…”

 

“McKinley is right,” Roberts interjected. “The police had a hard time with her in Sunnydale. She’s no ordinary woman.”

 

“Exactly,” Elizabeth approved.

 

“So how do we proceed? She may have crossed town already.”

 

“The road where we saw her is under video surveillance.” Roberts declared in a firm and commanding tone. “Khan, get the recording. We’ll try to see where she headed.  Elfey, contact all the motels around and try to find where she spent the night or if she booked a room for tonight. McKinley, find her file. I’m calling the FBI.”

 

The girls nodded and were about to leave the room when Mark called out:

 

“What about the Chinese?”

 

Roberts tapped his shoulder as he passed beside him.

 

“Forget about Chinese, Khan. We’ve got a wanted fugitive at hand. We’ll go get Chinese another day. Get to work.”

 

Mark sighed and displayed a defeated look.

 

“Damn girl,” He breathed.

 

 

***

 

 

“Here’s our new palace!” Exclaimed Faith as she opened the door of the motel room.

 

She pushed the door open to let Tara enter first and then followed her inside. The room was as small and as basic as usual. A bed, a dresser, a table and two chairs. Pale yellow walls. Nothing more.

 

“Not so much with the palace,” Faith said, rolling her eyes with disgust.

 

She threw their bag casually on one chair and plopped down heavily on the bed.

 

“You know what we should do one day?” She asked.

 

She crawled onto the bed until she sat against the wall and she stretched her legs.

 

“Tell me,” Tara answered quietly as she sat on a corner of the bed.

 

“We have to make a plan to get some money and we should book a room in a real palace.”  The Slayer declared and she stressed the word real before nodding with satisfaction. “Don’t you think?” She added then.

 

Tara smiled at Faith’s enthusiasm and approved.

 

“If you want,” she replied.

 

“Good,” the brunette answered.

 

The room fell silent for a few minutes before Faith got up.

 

“I’m gonna grab a shower,” she explained. “Then I’m gonna scout around and see if I can find something to do that pays.”

 

She went to the chair where she left the bag. She opened it and began to search for something.

 

“Well, Faith…” Tara began tentatively. “May-maybe I can co-come with you.”

 

“To what? To the shower?” The brunette smirked.

 

As Tara rolled her eyes with annoyance, she added:

 

“Finding a job?” Asked Faith in an incredulous tone.

 

The witch nodded hesitantly. Faith stopped rummaging in the bag and looked at Tara.

 

“Well, Blondie…” she said in a gentle and somewhat embarrassed tone. “Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have more money to live in better places than this.” She gestured around. “Or to do fun things or to get better meals or whatever…”

 

“But,” she went on in a firmer voice. “I don’t know your skills or anything but I’m not sure…” She faltered a second. “You’re really ready to have a job.” She finished.

 

She fell silent and waited for Tara to react. As the witch didn’t say anything, Faith resumed:

 

“D’you get it?”

 

Tara grimaced a little but acknowledged the Slayer’s assertion with a nod of her head.

 

“Maybe later Blondie?” Faith suggested.

 

Tara nodded again.

 

“Okay.” She replied simply.

 

“Okay then,” Faith said and her previous embarrassment vanished. “I’m going to the shower.”

 

She left and Tara remained alone. She looked around the room, and then went to the window. She contemplated the view outside. They were on the second floor and the window overlooked the highway.

 

The witch drew the curtains. Then, she returned to the bed, opened it and got herself ready for a nap.

 

 

***

 

 

John Roberts entered the office where his three colleagues were sitting around a table, everyone appearing to be busy.

 

“So, what do we have?” He asked.

 

They all looked up from whatever they were doing to face their boss.

 

“Got her file,” Elizabeth began, waving said file.

 

“Impressive by the way,” commented Mark.

 

“Khan?” John questioned as he went to the table. “Find something?”

 

“Yeah,” He answered. “We reviewed the recordings of the roads. She went south.”

 

“We followed her trail,” Mark went on. “She’s been seen in a bookshop. Apparently, she wasn’t alone.”

 

“Not alone?” Repeated Roberts.

 

“Yes,” replied Elizabeth.

 

She took one of the pictures from the morning and showed it to John.

 

“We can see there’s someone with her in the car,” she said. “A blonde girl, I’d say, but the picture isn’t really clear.”

 

John grabbed the picture and looked closely at it.

 

“Blonde girl,” repeated Elfey. “The bookshop owner confirmed that point.”

 

“Any idea about her identity?”

 

Elizabeth shook her head and gestured vaguely to a pile of sheets in front of her.

 

“I combed through her file and found nothing matching the description,” she sighed.

 

“From what I read, she hadn’t many friends back then,” Mark said.

 

“Well, a long time’s passed by since then. She probably made new friends.” Elfey remarked.

 

“Did the blonde young woman looked like she was with her willingly?” Asked Roberts.

 

“Uh?”

 

“According to the bookshop owner?” Roberts specified.

 

“He didn’t say much, but to him, they looked to be friends.” Marina explained.

 

Roberts nodded and put the photo down on the table.

 

“Something else?”

 

“The car,” Marina said. “A Mr. Rupert Giles is registered as the owner. He’s British. Lived in Sunnydale too. Now located in Cleveland.”

 

“We’re trying to contact this man,” added Elizabeth.

 

“Also from Sunnydale?” Insisted Roberts. “That’s probably not a coincidence.”

 

“Probably not,” approved Elizabeth.

 

“Do you know him?”

 

Elizabeth shrugged and first shook her head, then nodded.

 

“Not clearly,” she replied. “But I’m sure I heard that name before. I just can’t place it.”

 

“We found nothing about him,” stated Marina. “What about you boss?”

 

“I called the FBI,” he answered. “They were really interested. A team will be here tomorrow night.”

 

“Wonderful!” Mark exclaimed mockingly.

 

“We’ll have make to do with them, Khan.” Roberts said. “I’d like to have something consistent to tell them when they get here.”

 

“The roads are under surveillance. We’ve put out an APB on her and the car. It’s just a matter of time before we know where she’s gone.” Elizabeth said.

 

“Good,” approved John Roberts. “We have to get prepared then. Let’s try to learn everything we can about the woman.”

 

 

***

 

 

Thirty or so police officers were gathered in a room, listening attentively to their boss giving them instructions. They were all wearing bulletproof vests, helmets and weapons.

 

“You have to remember that this woman is dangerous. Don’t trust her appearance. She’s way stronger than she appears to be.”

 

“She  probably won’t surrender. She’s not known for using guns but almost certainly knives and hand-to-hand. Avoid fights with her. If she runs away, don’t run after her. The area will be totally sealed off. She can’t escape. So, don’t take any risk.”

 

“Team A is armed with tranquilizer guns. Don’t hesitate to use them. She’ll probably need a very high dose before she goes down”

 

“Team B will be comprised of our SWAT unit, they will intervene unless there is an emergency, we want to take her alive if at all possible”

 

“Everything clear?”

 

A vague approval echoed in the room and the sergeant nodded to his troops.

 

“We know she has returned at the motel. Be ready. We’re leaving now.“

 

In the back of the room, Roberts and his team were attentively attending the meeting.

 

“What do you think McKinley?” Roberts asked.

 

“It’s a good plan,” Elizabeth answered. “Sergeant Millen followed my lead. They won’t repeat the mistakes we made back in Sunnydale. She can’t escape.”

 

“The operation has been set up quickly,” remarked Marina. “Just a few hours since she’s been reported in that motel.”

 

“I knew her case quite well,” explained Elizabeth. “I knew how to proceed with her.”

 

“You’re the best Liz!” Mark smirked.

 

“It’ll work,” McKinley replied.

 

“I have no doubt about that,” he answered. “With such means and such a plan, she‘s helpless.”

 

The police officers started to leave the room. Elizabeth waited for all of them to leave and followed.

 

“Where are you going?” Roberts asked when he saw her going after the others.

 

“I’m going with them,” she explained.

 

“You don’t,” Roberts retorted firmly. “It could be dangerous.”

 

“I want to be there,” she insisted. “The operation is good. There’s no risk for me.”

 

“You’re the first to say she’s dangerous.”

 

“She is. Or at least she was,” McKinley replied. “But I have to be there. Its part of my past and as you know, most of it is buried under the ground. I don’t know… If something goes wrong, I want to be there.”

 

Roberts wavered seeing Elizabeth’s determination.

 

“Please,” she pleaded.

 

“Okay,” He gave in. “But I’m coming with you to be sure you’ll stay in the back.”

 

“That’s a deal,” she said with a grateful smile.

 

 

***

 

 

Faith entered the motel room and closed the door behind her. Tara was sitting on the bed and reading a book. She looked up from her reading when she heard the Slayer coming in.

 

“Hey,” she greeted.

 

“Still in that book?” Asked the Slayer. “God, you’ve been reading that crap for hours!”

 

She went to the bed and plopped down on the mattress beside the blonde.

 

“It’s not crap,” Tara said quietly. “It’s ma-magic.”

 

“Yeah,” Faith smirked.

 

Tara closed her book and put it aside before turning to the brunette.

 

“So, how was your day?” Tara asked. “Find something interesting?”

 

Faith rummaged through her pockets and produced some bills.

 

“Well, I wasn’t about to use interesting as a word, but I did find something which brought me a few dollars.” She said with a roll of her eyes.

 

She got up and went to the window she opened slightly. She got her pack of cigarettes out of her pocket and lit one before leaning against the wall. She puffed on her smoke and gazed outside as the sun started to decline.

 

Tara glanced at the money and smiled shyly.

 

“That’s a start,” she stated gently.

 

“Yeah,” replied Faith.

 

She puffed again and silence fell over the room. Tara took back her book and resumed her reading without paying attention to Faith anymore.

 

She was so focused in her book that she didn’t notice the change in the Slayer’s stance a few minutes later. The brunette tensed up and her eyes narrowed. She crushed her cigarette on the windowsill and threw her butt out before closing the window.

 

“Blondie,” she called. “Get up.”

 

Tara looked up and frowned at the Slayer’s tone.

 

“What?”

 

“We have to leave,” Faith ordered.

 

“What?” Tara repeated.

 

Faith came back toward the bed and started to gather their belongings.

 

“The cops,” she said. “They’re here.”

 

Tara closed the book and got up. She watched Faith hurrying around and remained motionless by the bed, not knowing what to do.

 

“What?” She repeated after a moment.

 

“They’re being deployed around the motel,” Faith explained quickly. “We have to move fast.”

 

“Are y-you su-sure?”

 

“Yeah, “ Faith replied simply.

 

She shut the bag, threw it over her shoulder and slid a knife into her belt.

 

“A-are y-you s-sure that’s the b-best th-thing to d-do?” Tara asked.

 

“I won’t go back to jail. Not again,” Faith answered. “We have to move fast,” she repeated.

 

Tara grabbed her book and slipped her shoes on.

 

“I…I…I…I’m co-coming…”

 

Faith stopped at the door and stared at the witch. The blonde looked frightened and she tried to lace her shoes with shaking hands.

 

“Stay here,” Faith said suddenly.

 

Tara looked up and frowned.

 

“Wh-what?”

 

“Stay here,” Faith repeated in a firmer tone. “I don’t want you to come with me.”

 

“Why?”

 

“It could be dangerous. If it turns ugly, I don’t want you to be with me. The cops tend to be nervous around me. Having you targeted by the cops is not part of my mission with you.”

 

Tara opened her mouth to say something but no sound came out. She tried again with no more success. Faith hesitated seeing the witch’s distress.

 

“Just stay here, I’ll come to get you later.” She told her.

 

Tara didn’t answer nor had any reaction. She was just staring at Faith with obvious anguish on her face.

 

“Don’t worry Blondie, I’m gonna come back.”

 

She put her hand on the handle and turned round to Tara again and threw her mobile phone at her.

 

“If I don’t, call Giles.”

 

With this, she opened the door and exited into the corridor. It was dark and silent. Faith waited a second for her eyes to get used to the darkness. She got discreetly away from the room and headed toward the back of the building.

 

She reached the end of the corridor and opened the back door slightly. She looked outside and tried to determine if any police officers were settled at the side of the building. She noticed nothing suspect. She hesitated about what to do.

 

A grove was fifty or so feet from the back of the motel. Maybe she could reach it without being spotted. She leaned back against the wall and breathed heavily.

 

“God…” she whispered.

 

She knew the police was there for her. Even if she had no clue how they knew she was here. The murderer she still was knew when the police were after her. She had to move fast before they surrounded the building. If it wasn’t already.

 

She opened the door and went down the stairs quickly and silently. At the bottom of the stairs, she listened carefully. No sound except the background noise of the highway. She looked around. Nothing in sight.

 

She walked along the motel wall for a dozen feet and finally started to run toward the grove. Immediately, the noise she was afraid she would hear rang at her ears.

 

“Faith Lehane! Stop immediately! Hands up!”

 

A few feet before the grove. Faith didn’t stop. She felt suddenly a violent pain in her left calve.

 

“You’re surrounded! Stop immediately!”

 

Faith saw figures stepping out of the shadows. Many, many figures. Two of them were just in front of her. She punched them so quickly they didn’t have time to react and to raise their weapons. She passed them and entered the grove. Another shot of pain, in her back this time, slowed her down. Faith felt suddenly dizzy. She staggered and put her hand on her back. Once more, she felt something hurting her back. She blinked and fell to her knees.

 

“Faith Lehane, you’re under arrest!” She heard a strong male voice yelling beside her.

 

Then, she felt hands seizing her arms, reuniting them abruptly and handcuffs closing onto her wrists. She wanted to struggle but she had no strength left.

 

“We’ve got her!” Someone shouted.

 

“What about the other one?” Another voice asked.

 

“We’ve got her too!”

 

Faith tried to listen but her consciousness faltered. Voices melted into a discordant background noise. She tried desperately to keep her eyes open but there was nothing she could do. She felt weak and her efforts were in vain. She finally passed out as two men dragged her motionless body toward the motel.