Chapter 15

Lorne listened to the to the tape in horror. Buffy had not just been raped, she had been tortured. Some things turned his stomach. Still, he listened. By understanding Buffy’s ordeal he could help her deal with it. Angel sat with him, listening again. He didn’t cry this time, he let his rage build up instead.

That bastard had not only raped her, he had used his position and knowledge to shut her up.

Angel was sure there were others, probably some still in the clinic under his “care”. But that was up to the police now to find them.

Angel had destroyed the police files he had. The police had them anyway and it could get their informant in trouble.

Mel had tracked Martin Lockwood down to a trailer park. Somewhere along the line he and dad must have fallen out because there was no contact they could trace.

Angel shut the tape off as it finished.

Lorne sighed and sat back. “We have a long road ahead of us.”

“Can she get over this?”

“Yes, she’s strong. She will be OK again, if not quite the vivacious girl she was.”

“Is she up to talking to the police?”

“Yes, she assures me she is. She wants this finished as much as we do.”

“I’ll make the call.”


Detective Robins arrived fifteen minutes later with two deputies and a rape specialist named Sarah Croft. Robins looked over the evidence Angel had collected while his colleague interviewed Buffy.

At the end of looking through everything he sighed. “Just when I think I’ve seen every perversion known to man, another one crawls out of the woodwork.” He sighed and stood up. He offered his hand to angel. “Thank you sir. I’ll have to confer with my captain but I’d say they’ll be arrested before the day is out.”

“Good to know.”

Sarah and Buffy emerged from the study. Buffy had been crying again, not surprisingly.

“Sir, Buffy’s memory of the events is sketchy at best. I have reassured her that her rape kit is still on file though, just waiting for a match. She shouldn’t need to testify.”

The detective nodded. “It’s open and shut alright. Even more so with this.” He said pointing to Angels box of evidence. He sighed again. “God damn bastards.”

The detective said his goodbyes and left with Angel’s evidence.

Angel called Joyce and Hank next, this would be all over the news by tonight. Buffy’s name wouldn’t be made public but they would easily know it was their daughter.

They arrived and were a little shocked to say the least at Buffy remarkable recovery.

As Angel explained the situation to them Joyce began to cry.

“We thought it was best to leave you there, we thought they were doing everything they could. I’m sorry Buffy, I’m so sorry.”

Reassurances were made all round and they eventually left when Buffy said she was tired.

Alone for the first time Buffy and Angel sat down together.

“How do you feel?” asked Angel.

“Unreal. It’s all so…”

“Unreal?”

She smiled, “Yeah. It feels good though. I think I did the right thing.”

Angel kissed the top of her head. “I do too.”

Angel received a call to say the Lockwood’s had both been arrested.

“Good.” Was Buffy’s only comment.

They shared a late night snack then went to bed. They still shared Buffy’s bed but nothing romantic happened.