Her bedroom was huge. Way too big for one person, and the bathroom adjoining was also oversized, over done, luxury she didn't necessarily need. Cordelia lay face-down on the bed, listening to the silence of the house. A bottle of valium was clutched in her left hand, her system slowly becoming tired and warm, and numb. *Thanks, ma* she thought, tossing the bottle from the bed to her dresser. *The rich girls' heroin* she thought sardonicly and rolled over onto her back. She faintly heard a noise as Consuela came in to start her work for the day.

There was the sound of feet walking over the tile in the foyeur, then the cleaning closet being opened. Cordelia wondered if Consuela grew up knowing she would be a maid for a bunch of pill-popping white rich people, or if she had dreams. Maybe she wanted to be an astronaut, the first Hispanic girl on the moon or whatever. Or did she know. Was her mother a maid? Did she teach her daughter how to scrub floors and windex windows and vacuum just perfectly so the lines would match? Probably the latter. Just like Cordelia and her mother. Stay thin, pretty, and cute. Pop a pill and all your troubles drift away. Never let them see you cry. Ever.

The phone--a private line in Cordelia's room--rang and she forced herself up to answer it.

"Hello?"

Willow's voice, "Um, Cordelia? Hi. It's Willow. Rosenberg. You know that. I mean--"

"Any day now." Cordelia snapped, "And yeah, I would think I would know the name of the girl who stole my boyfriend."

"Um. Right. Anyway, I know it's Saturday, but Giles thinks you should really come to the library--right away."

"Why?"

Willow's voice was faint and nervous, "Oh, it's just...You should just come down here really soon is all."

"Right. Why would you need me?"

"You're in danger."

Tape 1
Faith (no surname provided)
Interview 01a

A: So she was about to be killed
Q: By this time, you weren't friends?
A: I hardly knew her, and from what I did know, she was a bitch.
Q: I see. So, what about the ex? Xander.
A: I knew him, he was Buffy's best friend. Or one of 'em. But I mostly thought he was an idiot.
Q: So what happened after you all figured out she was in danger?
A: We called her.

Cordelia felt sick to her stomach, and the valium had long ago worn off. "Why would a vampire want rich girls?" She asked quietly, looking down at the table.

"We don't know." Giles said, standing down the long table, a book open in front of him, glasses in hand, "Dimaro is quite old, and it's a pattern with him to go after the upper-class, mostly teenage girls. He just recently landed in Sunnydale."

"And he killed Jenna Syczmaneski? That rich judge's daughter? She went to my country club, they said she was in an accident."

"The kind where they drain you." A voice said, and Cordelia looked up to glare at the source.

"Faith, could you be any less sensitive?" Xander shot at her, concerned eyes turning towards his ex. Cordelia ignored him.

"And I'm next?" She asked, eyes still glaring at Faith.

"That's what we figured out." Willow said, "It seems like he's starting in your neighborhood. First Karen Taymore, the victorian at the end of the block, then Jenna, and you're house is next."

"Oh, God."

"It's OK." Buffy assured her quickly, "We're gonna keep you safe, and the rest of the girls in your neighborhood. I figure you can stay with one of us till I catch this thing."

"With one of you?" Cordelia muttered, "No...I mean, I hate you guys. No offense, but I do. Xander cheated on me, with Willow. Buffy, you and I just don't get along, and I can't stay with Giles. He's old."

Giles cleared his throat, but she continued, "I'll just get my parents to...fly me out with them in Tokyo."

"They're in *Japan*?"

"Yes, Xander, Japan. Third honeymoon, if you must know."

"Cordelia, it could take way too long to get you a flight. It's not safe." Buffy insisted, "You could...you could stay with Faith."

Cordelia and Faith both looked up, "No way."

"It's the only logical solution." Giles said, "And if Dimaro is really after you, Faith would be the least likely protector. It's doubtful he even knows she exists, seeing as how Buffy is...uh..."

"The main slayer?" Faith offered, putting on a face of cool indifference, "He's right. You up for it?"

Cordelia shuddered at the inuendo soaking those four words, but nodded, "Only till my parents get me to them in Tokyo. Then I'm so out of here."