June 2002

    "Good Lord, it’s hot in here," said Cordelia, flapping a piece of paper in front of her face.
    "No, really?  I hadn’t noticed," muttered Gunn in annoyance.  He pulled excessively on his shirt collar.
    "Shut up, Gunn," Kate said, and her fatigue was clearly evident.
    "Yes, be quiet, Gunn, and you too, Kate.  Everyone be quiet," said Wesley authoritatively.  "We’ve got to discuss this rationally.  We’ve been threatened, toyed with, or ignored for a month now.  I strongly feel that this is a time for fighting on their level.  I think we ought to push for this to go to court."
    "What?  You do realize what that means, right?" Cordelia said, looking wide-eyed at Wesley.
    "Yes, of course.  The rigged jury, the corrupt judge, I’m well aware of all of it.  However, I don’t see a more plausible solution.  This is a legal lawsuit they’ve brought against our organization!  We can’t dispute that.  They have physical proof that one of our employees willfully and wantonly damaged some of the firm’s property." Wesley glanced quickly at Angel, who was busy studying the floor.  "We can’t settle because that would require turning over all our combined assets, down to the last penny.  That includes the hotel, our homes, our personal possessions, every piece of weaponry, and every ancient artifact we own, as we are all on the list of people being sued."
    "We’d lose all that anyway if this thing goes to court!  I say we bust into one of their stuffy meetings and mess ‘em up until they cave and drop this bogus case!" Gunn exclaimed, pounding his fist on Wesley’s desk.
    "I’m inclined to agree if it will get this little meeting over with faster," Kate said in the same tired tone.  "It’s like an oven in this office."
    "I think Wesley’s right.  We should beat them at their own game, and the only way we’re ever going to do that is if we play by their rules."
    "Thank you, Fred.  Angel, what do you think?" Wesley appeared almost cautious as he watched the vampire for his response.
    Angel was still staring at the floor as though in a trance.  He looked up, and his eyes were as clear as day.
    "Wesley is right.  We defeat them on their own terms and no other way."
    "Then it’s settled.  We go to court," Wesley said decisively.
    "Excuse me, but I don’t remember settling anything!  I still think we oughta break some heads!" Gunn put both hands on Wesley’s desk and leaned forward to look him in the eye.
    "I’ll second that!  Well, not the breaking heads part, but the not settling part!" Cordelia stood up, too.
    Everyone looked expectantly at Kate.
    "What?  Am I supposed to be objecting, too?  I really don’t care how we beat them as long as we do.  You people can decide to do whatever you want and I’ll do it," Kate said, sitting back in her chair and closing her eyes.
    "Look here," said Wesley, turning back to the others.  "I’ve made my decision with the support of the majority.  We’re hiring a lawyer and that’s it."
    "I already made a call."
    "A call?  Angel, to whom?  And without discussing it with me?"
    "There was no need to discuss this with you.  You were the one who suggested it."
    "What?  When did I suggest it?" Wesley appeared dismayed.
    "When you first talked about dealing with Wolfram & Hart on Wolfram & Hart’s terms.  I took the initiative and made a call."
    "And it’s a good thing he did.  You people don’t have a chance without me." The owner of the new voice put his leather briefcase down on Wesley’s desk and began to pull out papers.
    "Lindsey?" Gunn blurted in irritated disbelief.
    "Lindsey," Angel replied.