PART 10

It was well after midnight when Angel and Giles returned to the inn. They both headed to their respective bedrooms, in his Angel found Buffy waiting.

"Where have you been?" she demanded as soon as he walked in.

"That" Angel told her as he unbuttoned his shirt, "Is none of your business." He took his shirt off and threw it over a chair.

Buffy was shocked by his bluntness and by his bare chest, "Is something wrong?"

"No" he said sitting on the bed.

"Do you want me to leave?"

"Yes… no." He ran his hand through his hair wishing he knew what he wanted where Buffy was concerned. The only thing he knew for sure were that his feelings were getting more and more confusing and that every time he saw her he was more aware of her. In fact there were parts of him that really didn't seem to understand how inaccessible she was.

She sat down next to him; "You look tired."

"Yeah, I guess I am." He took a deep breath and looked at her, "I spent the day at the library dedication. Shirley Adams-Wilkins gave a long boring speech."

Buffy's eyes widened in surprise, "Charlie's daughter?"

Angel nodded, "How did you…"

Charles Adams was my step-brother" she told him. "His father, George, married my mother when I was ten."

"I didn't know."

"I guess no one wants to be connected to me," she said sadly. "You know I can remember when Shirley was born."

"So you've been around since…"

"Since I died. On and off" she told him.

"Can you leave the inn? Go into town?" Angel asked curiously.

Buffy shook her head, "I tried to once, but I ended up back in the grey area."

"Oh."

"So did you find out anything new?" she asked.

"Not really. I met a man called RJ Finn. Riley's grandson" he said watching for Buffy's reaction.

"Riley has a grandson?"

Angel nodded, "RJ talked about his grandfather and his grandmother Harmony."

"Harmony? Harmony Kendall? Riley married her?"

"I don't know her last name."

Buffy snorted, "That witch always did have a thing for him."

"Hey, if it makes you feel any better he apparently never got over you" Angel told her.

Buffy smiled at that and forgot her tirade. "How sweet?"

"Yeah, sweet" Angel repeated really wishing that this Riley guy was around so he pound his face in.

Buffy changed the subject when she saw the look in Angel's eyes. "Anything else?"

"No. Doyle… he's the editor of the paper…said most people believed the official story."

"I heard the story that your bleached-blond friend told" Buffy said scornfully.

"So then, Harris lied. He was actually the one involved with the bootlegger and he used you a scapegoat," reminding himself of the information Buffy had told him.

"Exactly. It was Xander and the bootlegger meeting a third man. He's the one who shot me" she told him.

"But the bootlegger was also killed" Angel reminded her.

"Maybe he was causing them some trouble, or they didn't want a witness" Buffy suggested.

"Any ideas who the third man could be?"

She threw up her hands in frustration. "I don't know… if I did I'd tell you. Someone murdered me and Xander Harris, my so-called friend, lied to protect him."

"Wasn't there any witnesses from the party?"

"I don't know," she said trying to control her temper. "By the time I'd finally returned everything was over… everyone believed the lies. Ever since then I've been determined to clear my name and you're just the one to help me."

Angel rubbed his hand over his face, wondering how he'd gotten himself into this mess. "Why are you so sure I'm the one to help you?"

"I have a feeling," she said simply. "Besides there has to be a reason that you can see me and others can't. There has to be a purpose."

"I'm not as sure as you. Even if I could prove your innocence, which by the way is a very long shot by the way, who would care?"

"I care. Why else would I be here?"

Angel cleared his throat, "Where's the bootlegger then? Wasn't he murdered too? Why didn't he come back with you?"

"I just figure it was because he was guilty of his crimes. There wasn't any reason to clear his name."

Unfortunately that reason sounded logical to Angel. "All right… tell me in your own words what happened that night."

Buffy started at the beginning and told him everything that she could remember.

"You never saw the third man's face?"

"No" she said, "I do have my suspicions…"

"George?"

"No. The inn or money never meant anything to my step-father" Buffy said, "He had no reason."

"What about Charles?"

"I barely knew Charlie. Why would he want to kill me?" Angel ran out of ideas. Buffy patted him on the arm, "You know I really do appreciate your help. You don't have any obligation to me… you're a special man, Angel O'Connell."

Her touch startled him; it still amazed him that she could touch him. Even though it was an odd feeling of cold, like there was something physically between them. He was aware that they were alone in his room and that there were a million butterflies racing in his stomach. It was just his luck that the only woman to make him feel like this, didn't have a pulse.

Buffy looked down at where she was touching him; "I can't feel you, not really"

"Same here."

"I have to go now" she told him.

"But you'll be back?" he asked unable to even think about the fact that she might not return.

She smiled at him, "Poor Angel. You had no idea what you were getting into when you bought my inn, did you?"

Angel smiled back, "Not exactly."

"You must be sorry you ever met me."

"No, I'm not" he told her seriously as she faded from view. It was suddenly very quiet in the bedroom, he lay on his bed and fantasised about the one thing he could never have.

PART 11

Angel was working in the garden at the back of the inn the next morning, when he heard a voice come from behind him say, "Excuse me." Angel whirled around in anticipation of seeing Buffy and was disappointed to find that it was some strange woman instead. The woman was young about 22 or 23 and a brunette.

"Are you Angel O'Connell?" the woman asked him.

"Uh… yeah. Can I help you?"

"I'm Cordelia Chase. Mr. Giles said that I would find you out here."

Angel nodded, waiting for her to get to the point. She looked nervous, like she expected danger to be lurking behind every bush in the yard. Angel sincerely hoped that her visit had nothing to do with ghosts.

She took a deep breath, "I'm looking for a job. I can help you with the restoration… decorating… moving furniture. I work hard and I can do almost anything… cooking, cleaning, and painting. All I'm asking for in return is room and board."

Angel was surprised by her request, surely it was obvious to anyone with eyes that he wasn't ready to hire any staff. He opened his mouth to tell her he couldn't help her, but he wasn't given the chance.

"Hire her" Buffy said as she materialised next to him.

"I'm afraid I…" he began.

"You can't send her away. She needs your help" Buffy pushed.

"Look I tried to get a job in town, but there wasn't any I was qualified for" she told him. "The waitress at the Espresso Pump said that it was possible that you might have a job opening."

"She doesn't have anywhere to go" Buffy said, "I have a feeling that she'll be good for the inn and my feelings are never wrong. If any of my friends was still alive they'd back me up on that."

"I don't have any rooms ready" Angel muttered, "I just moved in myself a couple of weeks ago. We're a long way from being ready for guests or staff."

"I don't need any special accommodations, I'll sleep on the floor. I would like to help you get your inn ready to open."

"Don't send her away" Buffy urged.

Angel felt trapped, but there was something about this woman that told him she'd be an asset. He just resented that Buffy practically ordered him to hire her. "When do you want to start, Cordelia?"

Her eyes lit up; "its Cordy and I can start immediately. My stuff is in the car."

"I'll see about getting some of the furniture out of storage and into one of the rooms. You can help my uncle out for now and we'll discuss your wage later" he told her.

Cordy gave him a shy smile, "Thanks. You won't regret this." She then headed off to get her belongings out of her car.

"You are so sweet" Buffy told him, "I had such a feeling about you."

"Lets just hope that your feelings don't get me in trouble" he replied snippily. "Damn it! What am I suppose to do with her?"

"She can help you and your uncle out until the inn is open. Besides some of the stuff your uncle does when you're not around is dangerous."

"Like what?" Angel asked her curiously.

Buffy looked at him; "Well… yesterday he was up on that old ladder cleaning windows."

"I didn't know" Angel said scowling at how crafty his uncle was getting and how he needed a third eye to keep up with his schemes.

"I like your uncle. He seems really nice," Buffy said.

Angel nodded, "He is. He raised me after my parents died."

"Oh… I'm sorry."

Angel saw the sorrow on her face and moved closer. He looked at her like he was about to say something of monumental importance.

"Angel?" Giles called walking towards him and breaking the mood of the moment. "Lunch is ready."

Angel reluctantly looked away from Buffy and towards his uncle. "Sorry, Uncle Rupert. I was caught up thinking about how much work I still need to do out here."

Giles suddenly moved to in front of Angel and smiled smugly. "I knew you'd hire her. I just knew it."

"I've got to be crazy" Angel muttered. "What am I going to do with her? It's the worst time to hire any staff."

"We're going to take care of her. She needs us" Giles told him.

Angel sighed in resignation and realised that his uncle had just adopted another stray. He looked to the space that Buffy had just occupied and at the brunette dragging her things inside and wondered how he'd ever thought that being a small-town innkeeper would be a nice easy, normal life.

PART 12

Doyle was expected to arrive for dinner and when Cordy heard that her new employers were expecting a friend, she insisted that she prepare the meal.

"There's no need for you to start immediately" Giles tried to argue with Cordelia.

Angel knew that Cordy was exhausted. She and he had spent all afternoon moving furniture into what was to be her room and setting up the room for habitation. "Uncle Rupert's right, Cordy" Angel told her, "You can join us tonight instead… as our guest."

Cordy shook her head and her expression turned stubborn, "I intend to earn my own way. You and Mr. Giles enjoy your evening, I'll eat in the kitchen."

Nothing that either Giles or Angel said could convince her to change her mind. They gave in when Cordy started to whine about being left alone.

Doyle arrived a little while later, carrying a thick file, which he immediately handed to Angel. "I made a copy of everything I had on Elizabeth Summers" he said explained, "It's not much, but it's a start."

"Thanks Doyle" Angel said appreciatively.

Doyle smiled at Giles; "It's nice of yer to have me over, Mr. Giles."

Giles returned the smile, "We're delighted to have you. Our new housekeeper's making dinner."

Doyle lifted an eyebrow; "Yer hired a housekeeper?"

Angel just shrugged, "She showed up here and… uh… conscious made me hire her."

Suddenly Angel heard the sound of Buffy's laughter. Angel looked around discretely and saw her standing in a corner, he wondered how long she'd been there. He also prayed that she wouldn't humiliate him in front of the one person in this town he called friend.

They made their way into the dining room where Cordy was setting the table. Doyle didn't notice her at first, he was too busy looking at the new décor. "Yer got this place lookin' nice" he told them. "If this is a sample of what the rest will look like…" his voice trailed off when he saw her.

Angel tried not to smile at his friend's obvious attraction to Cordy.

"Isn't that so cute?" Buffy murmured in Angel's ear. "He looks like someone clubbed him over his head."

Ignoring Buffy, Angel made the introductions. "Cordelia Chase, this is Doyle… he owns the local paper."

The smile on Cordy's face faded and was replaced with a look of disgust. "You're a reporter?"

Doyle nodded; "Someone has to do it."

Cordy didn't even look at him. "Dinner is ready," she said disappearing into the kitchen.

"Uh oh. I don't think she likes reporters," Buffy said.

"No kidding" Angel muttered back sarcastically.

Doyle looked at Angel with a confused look on his face. "Was it somethin' I said?"

Angel shrugged. "Have a seat" Angel said instead. Angel and Giles sat down too.

"Hey" Buffy demanded jokingly, "Aren't you going to hold a chair out for me?"

*Wouldn't Doyle just love to see that* Angel thought. He could imagine tomorrow's headline: Towns newest resident dines with imaginary friend. Or worse: Summers' ghost makes reappearance. Wouldn't that bring out the loonies?

"Never mind" Buffy laughed, "I can see you'd rather pretend I'm not here."

That wasn't true, Angel wished that he could acknowledge her presence. He just wished that he could do it under normal circumstances.

"So… will Ms. Chase be joining us?' Doyle asked a second later, all so hopefully.

"We asked her too, but she refused" Giles told him.

"Poor guy" Buffy said noting the disappointment on Doyle's face.

Cordy did come back in during the meal for brief spells of time, each time ignoring Doyle's existence.

PART 13

After dinner they moved into the inn's sitting room. Even though they asked Cordy to join them, she refused, all the time she was avoiding looking at Doyle. Cordy's excuse was that she was tired from moving in and that after she cleaned up the kitchen she was going to bed. After Giles heard her say that he insisted on helping her clean up.

"So tell me about Cordelia?" Doyle said the moment that they were alone. "You said she just turned up lookin' for a job?"

Angel nodded, "Yeah."

"She's on the run" Doyle murmured.

"My guess is some type of abusive relationship," Angel said agreeing.

Doyle winced at the thought that Cordy was already taken, "Most likely."

"Anyway" Angel said, "I figure it's none of my business. Unless some jerk shows up and starts making trouble."

Doyle's face darkened, "If that happens, give me a call. I'll help yer take care of him."

Angel gave a distracted nod, not sure whether to answer Doyle or not.

"Isn't that sweet? He likes her" Buffy commented appearing next to Angel. "Do you think she is involved?"

Angel had wondered if she was going to follow them into the room. He lifted his shoulder in a half shrug and gave her a look that reminded her that it wasn't convenient to talk right now. He turned back to Doyle; "I appreciate you bringing me the notes. Are you sure there's nothing… no evidence to contradict Harris' story?"

Doyle shook his head. "What I found was sketchy at best," he admitted. "I interviewed some locals, dug up some old newspapers and tried to get a look at some official documents."

"And?"

"And… not much" Doyle answered. "All the locals gave the same version of the story. The articles were surprisingly uninformative and no official documents have survived."

Angel frowned, "Nothing. What do you mean survived?"

"Nothing survived the earthquake back in 1952" Doyle told him. "The town hall and court-house were reduced to rubble and everything was scrapped including the files."

"What exactly did the articles say?"

"They said that Elizabeth Summers died during a shoot-out with Constable Xander Harris, when he came to arrest her and her accomplice. Her step-father and fiancé were too grief-stricken to be interviewed, her friends clamed up and a few attention grabbers claimed that they'd always known she was a criminal."

Buffy's eyes went wide and she yelled, "Lies! All lies."

"Someone had to know something" Angel muttered in an attempt to calm her down.

"Xander knew… that little weasel" Buffy insisted. "As well as whoever shot me and that bootlegger."

"That left only the third man alive" Angel said forgetting that he shouldn't speak to her. "He's the one we have to identify. I don't know how though."

"Third man?" Doyle looked at Angel strangely. "What third man?"

Angel suddenly realised what he'd just done. "I… er… think that Xander Harris was in on the crime and Buf… Elizabeth was murdered because she walked in on them."

Doyle looked extremely skeptical. "Why do yer think that? How could yer know?"

Angel thought desperately for something to say, looking to Buffy for any suggestions. For once she was quiet, shrugging in response to silent plea.

"Yer have come across something, haven't yer? A diary? A journal? What?"

"I…" Angel started to deny it, but changed his mind. "I have come across something" he admitted, "But I can't talk about it until I get evidence."

"Evidence of what?"

"That the Adams-Wilkins fortune is founded on bootlegging and murder" Angel told him.

"Oh man" Doyle groaned. "Yer gonna get in big trouble if yer spread that around. Yer don't know how they are… especially Shirley Adams-Wilkins about her family honour. They can make things hell for yer here."

"I know" Angel replied. "Why do you think I need proof before I say anything."

"Even if yer did find proof" Doyle said, "Why bother? Yer could be harming innocent descendants. Besides after all this time, who cares?"

Buffy flinched and Angel resisted the impulse to comfort her. "Are you telling me that if you had evidence, you wouldn't release it?" he said instead.

"Of course I would… I think" Doyle said. "Why do you want to though? Yer tryin' to lay a troubled soul to rest?"

"Maybe."

"Yer sure yer haven't seen the ghost?"

"Nope."
Doyle sighed. "If yer get evidence I promise to run it. But I'll need more than yer hunches… or ghostly whisperings of a tormented spirit."

Buffy glared at Doyle, "That isn't funny."

Giles rejoined them and Angel let the subject drop. The next time Angel looked, Buffy had gone. He wondered when she'd be back and if she approved of how he was helping.

Part 14

Buffy didn't reappear during the next week. Angel wondered if she'd stayed too long that night? If she was in that grey area, gathering her strength to return to him… to the inn? Or maybe he'd never see her again? The last one was the possibility that he dreaded… he needed to see her, for more than one reason. It wasn't so bad during the day, when he could busy himself around the inn with the renovations and such, or research Buffy's death. The nights however were bad, long and restless. Angel slept in snatches, waking often to look blearily around his room, making sure that he was alone. Always disappointed when he was.

"You're an idiot O'Connell" he muttered late one afternoon, when he was all but drooping from exhaustion.

"Talking to yourself again?" his uncle, asked as he approached.

Angel laughed, "Yep."

"You'd better watch that. I might start worrying… maybe I already have" Giles said looking at him.

"I'm just tired Uncle Rupert. It's a bigger job than I'd expected, getting the inn ready to open."

"I have a feeling it's more than that," Giles said.

Angel avoided his Uncle's stare. "I'm fine?" he insisted, "How's everything inside?"

Giles recognised the tactic Angel used, but went along with it, he knew Angel would talk when he was ready. "All right. It's noisy and it's making Cordelia jumpy."

"Is she still trying to rival the Bionic Woman?"

Giles sighed, "I'm afraid so. I can't get her to slow down."

Angel shook his head; "I don't suppose she's told you anymore about herself?"

"No and I refuse to pry" Giles said. In the short time since she'd arrived, Cordy had become like a daughter to him.

"Doyle's called twice asking about her" Angel told him.

"He does seem taken with her, doesn't he?" Giles replied smiling. "Although Cordelia, the poor dear, doesn't seem interested in him."

"I'm just hoping that no one else shows up," Angel said. "We're already full and we're not even open yet."

"Not to mention Elizabeth Summers."

Angel stared at his uncle, mouth wide open. "Elizabeth…
"
Giles laughed as he walked away, "Our ghost. She's popular around these parts, she's used to scare the grade school children."

Angel could imagine Buffy's reaction to that. He found himself looking around, expecting her to appear and protest. There was no sign of her and Angel sighed, getting back to his work.

He awoke that night at three o'clock. His dreams had been disturbing, leaving him itchy, aching and covered in sweat. He didn't want to dwell on the details; he knew exactly what he'd been doing in that dream and with who. The inn was silent and Angel looked automatically to the corner that she'd last appeared in. He was alone and aware of it, as he hadn't been in a very long time. He was used to sleeping alone; his marriage had been over long before it had been formally ended. Since the divorce he hadn't had the energy to pursue relationships, it was just easier to concentrate on making a new life. Whatever he'd felt for Darla hadn't lasted, he no longer believed in soulmates or true love that lasted a lifetime. Then again, until a few weeks ago, he hadn't believed in ghosts either. He sat up and turned on the lamp. He knew he wasn't going to go back to sleep anytime soon; so he reached out to grab the book he was reading, but instead picked up the photo of Buffy. Her face smiled back at him and his chest grew tight. He'd ‘borrowed' the photo from his uncle with the excuse that he needed it as a reference for remodelling the outside of the inn. He'd known even then that he was lying. He hadn't looked at the building, his only interest had been Buffy.

"Damn it" he muttered. "Where are you?"

PART 15

Two more days passed and still no Buffy, but there were other visitors. Kate Lockley made an appearance, obviously because she'd heard about the new housekeeper. "So," she asked after she'd sat down, "Have you known her long?"

Impatient to get rid of her, Angel replied, "No."

Not getting the message Kate took a deep breath. "Angel… I was wondering if… maybe you'd like to have dinner with me?"

He swallowed, he wasn't surprised by the invitation, but he'd been hoping to avoid it. "Thanks Kate… but I'm afraid I can't."

She made no effort to hide her disappointment, " I hope I didn't embarrass you."

"No" Angel assured her, "It's just…"

"You're still stinging from your divorce?" she suggested.

That sounded good, "Yeah… it hasn't been long." He felt like a jerk for lying, but he simply couldn't think of another way.

Kate smiled, "If you change your mind…"

"Sure" Angel nodded.

Kate left soon after. Angel was relieved, the truth was he did want to date… Buffy, the one woman he wanted and the one woman he could never have. Since he couldn't have her he refused to settle for someone else, instead he clung to hope for a miracle.

Angel wasn't in any hurry to go to bed that night. He wasn't ready to face another night of waiting for Buffy. Everyone else was already in bed, leaving him to watch reruns of Star Trek on cable. Growing bored, he turned the TV off and headed to the kitchen for a glass of milk to help him sleep. Someone was in the kitchen, quiet and dressed in white. For a moment his pulse jerked, "Buff…" He stopped when he saw the dark hair. "Cordy" he said trying to hide his disappointment, "Why are you still up?"

Cordy whirled around when she heard him, "You scared the hell out of me."

"Sorry" Angel apologised, "You okay?"

"Yeah. I couldn't sleep and I thought that milk…"

"Great minds" Angel told her.

Cordy smiled, "I'll pour two."

"Thanks" Angel said walking to the cupboard. "Want a cookie?"

"Sure."

Angel shoved a pile of cookies on the table and sat across from her. Then he tried to think of something to say. "How are you settling in?"

"Great. I think I've fallen for your uncle" Cordy told him.

"All the girls do" Angel joked. Then he turned serious, "Just so you know… you're welcome to stay here as long as you want. Assuming I don't go bankrupt."

"I doubt that" Cordy told him, "Something tells me this place is gonna be popular."

"That's good to know."

Cordy finished her milk and cookies. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight Angel."

"Night Cordy."

She paused in the doorway, "Angel?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks" Cordy said.

"No problem."

Cordy nodded and went to bed, leaving Angel to wonder what, or who, had put that frightened look into her eyes. There was something about her that brought out his protective instincts. It wasn't romantic what he felt for her, it was the bond that a brother felt for a sister. He decided that fraternal feelings were a hell of a lot easier than romantic ones.

Angel took a shower before turning in; he was trying to make himself extra sleepy. He'd forgotten to take underwear into the bathroom with him, so he wrapped the towel around him and went into his room. He dropped the towel and went to step into his boxers, when something cool and tingly touched his right butt cheek.

"That really is a cute birthmark," a voice said from behind him.

Stumbling and swearing, Angel quickly pulled on the boxers and turned to face her.

She just stood there, "Hi."

He leaned against his dresser, heart pounding from the scare she'd just given him… and from the excitement of seeing her again. He hadn't realised exactly how much he'd missed her until now and how afraid he'd been that she wouldn't come back. He was in big trouble this time.

PART 16

"How long?" Buffy asked.

Angel knew what she was asking, "Two weeks."

"Wow."

"I was beginning to think you weren't coming back."

Buffy stepped closer, "Would you have cared if I didn't?"

He held her gaze, knowing he shouldn't answer. Yet he heard himself say, "Yeah, I'd have cared."

Her smile was sad, "I've been in the waiting place. I tried to come back before now, but I couldn't… I've been here awhile."

"Have you" How long had she been watching? Did she watch him take a shower?

"I saw you with the bleached-blond who sold you my inn earlier. She asked you out. In my day women weren't so forward."

"No?" He found it hard to believe Buffy had ever held anything back.

Buffy laughed, "Most weren't… You turned her down."

"Wasn't interested."

"Because you're still in love with your ex-wife?" Buffy asked.

"No, it was just an excuse."

She sat down on his bed, "You were alone with the housekeeper…"

"You were there too?" The thought of her stalking him all over his own home was disturbing.

She nodded, "I wasn't spying on you. I wanted to talk to you, but you were busy."

"I was just making small-talk with Cordy." He wasn't explaining himself… he assured himself that he was just telling her what happened. It wasn't Buffy's business who he talked to or went out with. Even if she was the only woman he was really interested in.

"She seems… nice."

"She is" Angel said.

Buffy looked at him, "Pretty too. Are you…"

Angel cut her off, "Cordy is my employee."

Buffy sighed, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. After all I did make you hire her."

Angel sat down next to her, "You were right, though."

Buffy brushed her hand along his cheek, her touch was both pleasurable and strange. "I shouldn't pry into your love life. You seem so alone, it's not right."

"I'm…" He cleared his throat, hoping that Buffy hadn't noticed how her touch had affected him. "I'm not lonely" he assured her, "I have Uncle Rupert, a few friends. You."

Buffy seemed fascinated by his chest, her hands feeling him. Her touch was cold, but it was making him feel hotter by the second. "You're so muscular. Not like…"

"Riley."

Buffy blushed, "He was kind of… Not like him."

"You saw him naked?"

"No" Buffy said insulted, "We went swimming once and I saw his chest. Women in my day didn't do anything else before marriage."

"They didn't?"

Buffy sighed, "Some did, but I didn't."

"Did you love him?" Angel asked her, praying she'd say no.

Buffy sighed, "I was fond of him."

"Was it enough for you?"

"No, but that all consuming type of love scared me. So I avoided it" she told him.

"Me too."

"You didn't love your wife?"

"I was fond of her" Angel replied.

Her hands were still on his chest, "Do you think you'll ever fall in love?"

"I don't…"

"What?" she asked him curiously.

Angel pulled a face, "I don't believe in love."

Buffy laughed, "Like ghosts?"

"Yeah."

"My mother believed in it. She told me that the night I was born she made a wish that I'd find love… like she and my father did" Buffy's eyes saddened. "Well that wish was wasted. As soon as you clear my name, I'll be gone."

"You're sure about that?"

"It's the only thing that makes sense to me" Buffy answered.

Angel closed his eyes for a moment. "You're making me reluctant to help you."

"Why?"

He touched her face, "If clearing your name means I'll never see you again, I find it hard to want to do it."

"That's sweet."

He shook his head; "It's true. You haunt me, Buffy."

She took her hands off his chest, "Don't say… we can't…"

"I know" he muttered, his mouth hovering just above hers.

A moment later she was across the room, her back to him. "Any new leads in the investigation?" she asked changing the topic.

"No." He tried to clear his mind; "I'm trying…"

"I know."

"I'm going to try again tomorrow" he told her.

"I wish I could help you" Buffy said.

"Me too."

She sighed, "I have to go now."

Angel stopped himself from reaching out to her, "You'll be back."

"Yes."

Then she was gone. He lay awake for a long, long time that night, knowing that he was a fool to wish that things were different.

PART 17

"I appreciate you seeing me this afternoon, Mrs. Adams-Wilkins" Angel said over tea in the living room of the Wilkins estate.

"A pleasure, Mr. O'Connell. I understand you wish to know about the décor of the inn? I must tell you that I can't really remember, I was young when my father sold the inn."

"Do you remember the gardens then?" he said. "There wild and I can't tell what was planted."

"I remember roses… my mother had a rose garden" she told him.

"Thanks. That is helpful," Angel said bored out of his skull.

Shirley nodded, pleased to be handing out advice. "Was there anything else?"

It was the opening Angel had been waiting for. "I've heard stories about the inn. Everyone in town has told me something about the ghost."

Shirley's forehead creased with disapproval. "That nonsense again? One would think that grown-ups had something better to talk about."

"Well, if a person believes in that… it could be interesting" Angel commented.

"I do not."

‘Me either" Angel agreed, at least until recently. "What rational adult would believe that a ghost is drifting around endlessly, seeking truth and justice."

"Exactly. Although I don't see what justice has to do with Elizabeth Summers."

Angel shrugged, "Some locals have said that she was innocent and that she was murdered because she knew too much."

"What nonsense. Someone is kidding you, Mr. O'Connell. My father's step-sibling was guilty… as embarrassing as that is."

"It was fortunate that no one questioned your grandfather" Angel said.

"Fortunate?" Shirley repeated.

"He was due to turn over ownership of the inn to Elizabeth wasn't he?"

"Makes no difference, he was innocent. I wish to have the name of this local who is slandering my family's good name" Shirley said angrily.

Angel left Shirley Adams-Wilkins home soon after that. He hoped that his lack of progress wouldn't upset Buffy, because he was trying.

"Angel, my man. Yer are definitely one brave… or stupid… son of a gun. Yer know yer got the whole Wilkins clan out for yer blood."

Angel winced and shifted the phone to his other ear. "I know I'm not a family favourite" he admitted, "Why is she mad? All I did was ask a few questions."

"And implied that her granddaddy was involved in Elizabeth Summers death" Doyle reminded him. "Not a bright idea, O'Connell."

"I only asked some questions" Angel grumbled.

"Well man, yer right pissed her off."

"Okay" Angel said, "I wasn't exactly tactful…"

"What next?" Doyle cut him off, "Are yer gonna attack her in the street?"

Angel said, "Maybe… would it work?"

Doyle ignored him, "I wish I knew why this is so important to yer."

Angel sighed, "I wish I could…" *But you'd never believe me*

"Yer behaviour is nutty… it's a seventy-five year old case."

"I know." *You'd think I was nuttier if you knew the truth. *

"Yer not gonna tell me are yer?"

"No" Angel replied.

"Well, call me if yer find anything" Doyle said.

"Sure" Angel replied hanging up. He looked around and said, "I hope you're happy. Thanks to you I'm a leper." He turned around and saw Cordy standing in the doorway staring at him. He cleared his throat, "I was…er… talking to myself."

Cordy nodded, "I just wanted to tell you that dinner will be ready in an hour."

"Good. I…uh… have some work to do in the garden.'

"Yeah" she said still staring at him.

Angel walked past her, without looking. He wondered how Buffy would feel when he was dragged away in a straitjacket.

Buffy watched Angel leave the room. She'd been watching him for awhile, but hadn't attempted to communicate. He looked so tired. She knew that he'd been working hard on both the inn and finding the truth for her. He was risking his health, his business and everything else… for her. And he'd asked for nothing in return. Was it any wonder that she'd fallen in love with him? While he probably wished that he'd never met her. She was going to set him free soon, whether he found the truth or not. He didn't deserve what she'd put him through these last weeks. It had never occurred to her that a heart that was no longer beating could still break. Now she realised that it could. Hers broke each time she left him to return to the grey place. And she knew that it would shatter completely the day she would tell him goodbye forever.

PART 18

Over the next few days, Angel concentrated on researching Xander Harris. The information was limited, but he found out that the constable had been jealous of Buffy's relationship with Riley and had a need for power, money and respect. He'd married a childhood friend and they'd had three children, only one settled in the area. Angel tracked down Harris' grandson, who lived in a nearby town. Angel explained that he'd just bought the Summers inn and was researching it's history.

Alex Harris was happy to help. "My granny Anya told me all about the shooting. Said grandpa was a real hero, but he paid the ultimate price for his dedication."

"What did she mean by that?"

Alex leaned in close to Angel, "My granny never believed the story about grandpa dropping his gun and shooting himself to death. She thought that George Adams, Elizabeth's step-daddy, killed him."

Angel tried to look as though the thought shocked him, even though he wanted to cheer. Finally someone other than he doubted the official story. "Why did she think that?" he asked.

"Revenge" Alex told him. "She said that he was mad with grief over Elizabeth's death."

Angel frowned, "Really? That doesn't sound right… they weren't close."

"Yeah well, granny Anya always was nutty and she hated the Adams' and the Wilkins'."

"Oh" Angel said disappointed, "Mr. Harris…"

"Alex."

"Alex, is there anyone alive that actually knew Elizabeth or her step-father?" Angel asked.

Alex frowned, "Maybe Charlie Gunn."

Angel froze, "Charlie Gunn?" He hadn't heard that name before.

"His mama worked at the inn and they also lived there. When he was older he worked for Adams' and the Wilkins'. About ten or so years ago they shipped him off to a nursing home" Alex said. "If he's still alive he might know something."

"Great."

"It always was strange though…" Alex started.

"What?"

"Well, neither the Adams' or the Wilkins' are nice folk. Yet they take good care of old Charlie Gunn."

Angel nodded to show that he got the point. Charlie Gunn was becoming more and more interesting. Was it possible that he knew something about Buffy's death? "Do you know which nursing home?" Angel asked.

"Nope" Alex replied. "I do know that it's in LA though."

Angel thanked the man for his help and left, all the time wondering how he was going to track the nursing home down.

When Angel got to his car, he called Doyle on his cell phone. "Did you ever come across the name Charlie Gunn?" he asked as soon as Doyle answered.

"Gunn… Wasn't he Shirley Adams-Wilkins' handyman?"

"Yeah. Why didn't you mention him?"

"I kinda forgot about him" Doyle confessed somewhat sheepishly.

Angel barely managed to control his frustration. "What do you know about him?"

"Not much. He lived at the inn when he was a boy and worked for both Shirley and her father before her" Doyle answered.

"Do you know what nursing home he's in?"

"No. Before I could start lookin', I got busy with the problems with my paper. I kinda forgot afterwards."

"I guess I'm calling nursing homes then," Angel said unenthusiastically.

"Yer think he's a lead? The guys gotta be at least eighty-five. What if he's senile?"

"It's worth a shot" Angel told him hanging up. He wondered when he'd see Buffy again to discuss the case. And then he told himself off for making up excuses, when the truth was that he just wanted to see her again.

Giles was in the lobby when Angel returned. He looked at his nephew, "Back from another one of your mysterious outings?"

Angel knew that his uncle was worried about him. He knew he was acting strange, but he couldn't exactly behave normally… after everything that had happened. He'd met a ghost and was trying to solve her murder, while he was in extreme danger of falling in love with her… even though she'd been dead for seventy-five years. How could he behave like nothing was different?

"Just getting to know our new neighbours" he told his uncle.

"New friends or enemies?" Giles asked him.

Angel winced, "Er… what do you mean?"

"I heard that you aren't exactly Mr. Popularity with the Wilkins'. What's going on Angel? Why are you asking so many questions about Elizabeth Summers?"

Angel tried to look surprised, "You were the one who encouraged me to look at the inn's history."

"Yes, but aren't you taking it a bit too far?"

"Uncle Rupert, don't worry. You know how I get when I'm involved in a project… I become Mr. Workaholic."

Giles nodded, "That's why you're successful. But this ghost business…"

"Is part of my inn's history."

"I guess" Giles said unconvinced.

"Just a few more questions and I'll forget it and concentrate on the inn" Angel assured him.

"Okay, but try not to annoy the locals" Giles replied.

"I'll try" Angel agreed.

Go to Part 19