Chapter 9

Buffy didn’t sleep well without all her medication and frequently awoke from nightmares. Angel reassured her each time she woke and gently coaxed her back to sleep.

By the morning neither had a very restful night but Angel had to get up and check with his bosses.

He spoke to Malcolm Lynn, the senior partner who had hired him originally and coached him through the Bar exam. He explained the situation and Lorne’s suspicions to him. He left out his relationship to Buffy and tried to win Malcolm over on the merits of the case.

“Look, Angel, If what you sat if right and she’s been harmed while in their care this is huge.” He sighed. “I also know there’s something else going on here. It’s OK, you don’t have to tell me.” He paused briefly. “I’m giving you a month off, I mean you haven’t taken a vacation in years so it’s due to you. And I’ll give you a team of three investigators.”

Angel was grateful. “Thank you Malcolm. I appreciate it.”

“I know you do. Just sort it out.”

“I will sir.”

Lorne was the next up.

“I have a few patients to see today. I thought I’d pop into the original hospital, get a copy of her records from there to check for inconsistencies.” Said Lorne.

“Good idea.”

“Which hospital treated her originally?”

Angel glanced over to her file. “Looks like… Seaview.”

“That’s not too far out of the way.”

“Will they release the file to you?”

“Shouldn’t be a problem as I’m her treating physician now.”

“If they give you any bother at all call me, I’ll have a hundred lawyers there within half an hour.”

Lorne smiled. “Thanks. Hopefully it wont come to that.” He checked his watch. “I’d better get going. I checked on Buffy, she’s still sleeping.”

“Yeah, she had a rough night.”

“Kathy’s waiting for her to wake up then she’ll check her vitals.”

“OK, have a good day.” Said Angel.

“You too.”

Lorne left just as the phone rang. Angel waved goodbye while answering it.

“I’m sending a fax through.” Mel said. “My source at the police department came through.”

“About the Gym incident?” said Angel checking to see the fax coming through.

“No. It looks like she was raped. The report says they tried to interview her twice while in hospital.”

The fax was through and Angel ripped it from the machine. “Thanks Mel. I appreciate it.” He hung up and read the report.

Buffy had been admitted to County General with a suspected rape. The report says she was uncooperative with officers and kept repeating that Vampires had raped her. A rape kit had been done on her while sedated.

Angel called Lorne on his cell phone.

“Lorne, it wasn’t Seaview Buffy was admitted to. I just got a police report, she was admitted to County General, after being raped.”

“Oh my.” Said Lorne taking a deep breath. “OK, I’ll check with Seaview, make sure she was never a patient then pick up the records from County. If what you say is true we’re looking at a complete falsification of her records.”

“And a motive for wanting Buffy out of the way.”

“Agreed. I’ll get back to you when I know more.”

“Thanks.”

Angel was reeling from this recent turn of events. He needed the information and he needed it now. He called Mel back.

“I want you to concentrate on the doctors for the time being. Find me everything you can.”

“So stop checking into her classmates?”

“No, just make the doctors a priority.”

“Got it. By the way, when this is over, your going to owe me one big present.”

“Anything you want Mel.”

Angel put the phone down to see Buffy and Kathy coming down stairs.

“What’s wrong?” asked Buffy when she saw Angels worried expression.

“I think we’re on to something. Lorne’s checking it out. Want some breakfast?”

Angel made Buffy and Kathy eggs. Buffy could see he was agitated and it worried her. After breakfast she suggested they take a walk in the grounds.