Willow Rosenberg pulled up to the driveway in her old jalopy, checking the note she clutched in one hand to see if the address was correct. Satisfied it was Willow turned down the lane leading into the small marina, passing the sign reading 'Safe Harbor.' A long ramp extended into the water, with a floating pump island nearby, and near the water was a large convenience store and restaurant. Near the woods bracketing the inlet were cabins for rent, probably only large enough for two people at most. Standing at the railing around the large main building was a older man, grey in the tall fellow;'s hair, but he was well muscled and fit in his almost lumberjack looking clothes. Beside him was a much younger woman, with honey blonde hair, a nice figure and dressed in a tight checked shirt and blue jeans tucked into her boots. "Ms. Rosenberg," the tall man walked up as she got out of her car. "Mr. Lawson," Willow nodded. She shook his hand as she said wryly, "No offense, but you're not what I'd expect an ex-watcher to look like." He laughed as Lawson said, "Trust me, when I retired I wanted to get as far away from being a watcher as could." "Ahem," the blonde cleared her throat as she walked up to them. "And this is Sae Jenkins," Lawson nodded to her, "co-owner of Safe Harbor." "Nice to meet you, Ms. Rosenberg," Sae nodded as she shook her hand. Addressing both of them she said, "I'm going to get tired of Ms. Rosenberg fast, why not just use Willow?" Larson chuckled, "Of course, Willow." "I'd love to," Sae added with a slight smile. "So," Willow said as she took her tool kit out of the car, the bag with all her various magical implements, "what's the situation?" "Something is... attacking residents at night," Larson summarized as the bear-like man lead her up to the building. "Something?" Willow echoed. "Descriptions vary," Sae jumped in, "about all everyone agrees with is that it's not human and it's scary as hell." "You eaten yet?" Larson asked. "Just a snack a few hours ago," Willow said. "We'll make you something," Sae smiled at Willow sweetly as she held open the front door to the café. Inside the building a few morning people were already there at various tables while a older, grandmotherly looking woman worked behind the front counter cooking away, flipping pancakes and frying eggs. There was a remarkably homey atmosphere to the place., even with the required trophies hanging on the walls along with the folksy decorations. "Alice," Lawson nodded. "Yo," the older woman replied as she put a serving of eggs on. "Three breakfast specials, please," he ordered. "Coming right up," the grey haired lady nodded as she flipped the contents of another of her cooking pans. "The special will fill you up," Sae said as they sat down at a table by the front window. "Yup," Larson agreed. Giving Willow a serious look he said, "Rumors are spreading about us being haunted, in fact we've already had a few cancellations. Do you think you can do something about it?" "I can't promise anything," Willow said firmly, "but I'll give it my best efforts." "That's all we can ask," Sae said as she reached over to squeeze Willow's hand. Willow was faintly surprised to feel a thrill of excitement at the woman's touch, though she hid it as well as she could. "Where have the appearances been happening?" she asked in a brisk, businesslike tone. "The cabins," Larson said, "and only overnight." "Then I'd better take a cabin to sleep in tonight," Willow said thoughtfully, "and wait to see what's coming." "You need any help?" Larson offered. Before Willow could answer Alice arrived with three loaded plates, stuffed with pancakes, eggs and sausage. "Here ya go," she dropped them off casually. "Thanks Alice," Sae grinned with mirth even as she saw Willow looking down at her food with wide eyes. "Another masterpiece," Larson agreed. "Thank you, ma'am," Willow agreed, wondering if she was really going to be able to finish it all without exploding. "Enjoy," Alice chuckled softly as the older woman hurried off to answer another order. Sae had a impish look, "More than you expected?" "Oh yeah," Willow murmured as she tried some sausage. "Should have warned you," Larson chuckled as he broke off some toast and began to eat, "she really likes to show off to newcomers." The rest of the day was spent with Willow exploring the marina and trying to get a feeling for the situation. She walked around the cabins, down to the water and then back to the woods, all the while trying to sense any kinds of supernatural phenomenon. Oddly, despite her best efforts, she was coming up with zero. "Hey," the voice called as a figure emerged from the trees. Sae looked good enough to eat as she slipped from the shadows of the woods, her only concession to the chill of the ocean air the addition of a leather jacket. "Hi," Willow turned, putting the piece of crystal she had been using away in her pocket. She smiled, "Beautiful place." "If you like remote," Sae smiled wryly as she walked over to Willow's side. The breeze stirred her long hair as she added, "But it is nice to visit." "You don't like it?" Willow asked. Sae shrugged slightly. "I split my time between here and the city," she admitted, "but I'd rather just leave everything to Lawson. But he feels I need to be here on site, in case he needs to make changes etcetera." "Hmm," Willow nodded. She looked out over the ocean, seeing the waves rise and fall as she asked, "Have you seen it?" "No, thankfully," Sae answered. She stepped close, looking over Willow in her jeans, long overcoat and sweats, "Not used to this chill?" "I used to live in California," Willow said in explanation. "Ah," Sae stepped close, smiling up at the slightly taller Willow. She dropped her voice, "If you like, I could... warm you up a bit?" Willow blushed. "I'm sorry," she said, "but I'm working." Sae sighed as she stepped back, "Your loss." With that she stalked off, disappearing once more into the woods. "That was odd," Willow blinked as she set off to continue her explorations. 'So if it isn't magic,' she mused as she walked, 'what is going on here?' Later on that evening Larson blinked as she entered his office, sitting down across from him as she laid out her theory as to what was going on there at the marina. "You can't be serious," he finally said. "It does sound pretty crazy," Willow admitted, "but I think we can solve this, if you'll lend me the gear." "Heh," Larson smiled wryly, "all right, I'll even help you set it up." As night fell Willow retired to her cabin, sitting back as she listened to the waves lap against the shore outside. She ate some crackers she brought along as she waited, sitting on the bed with her surprise within easy reach. "OoooooOOooooOhhhhh," the moaning cry came as something slowly shuffled it's way up to the door. "Come on," Willow murmured tensing. There was a click as the door was unlocked, then the figure burst into the room, waving glowing arms as it moaned, "Leeeave this place! Gooo!" "You have got to be kidding me," Willow said flatly as she calmly released the rope triggering her surprise. WHUMP! The weighted net dropped from the ceiling, pinning the monster to the floor as the thing make a very feminine gasp of surprise. "Why you..." it gasped. Willow picked up the walkie talkie she borrowed and sent, "Got it, Larson." Larson rushed in a few moments later, taking in the struggling figure on the floor thoughtfully. "It looks a lot less frightening than described," he noted. "Well, surprising people out of a sound sleep probably helped," Willow calmly noted as she knelt down beside their captive. She reached out, found a seam in the monster suit then pulled off the mask. "Alice?" Larson blurted. "Damn it," the older woman growled, "let me up!" "Would you mind explaining why, first?" Willow asked pleasantly. Alice glared at her under bushy eyebrows. "My family used to own Safe Harbor," she finally growled, "until bad business decisions drove them out of business." "So you figured you could drive Larson and Sae out of business by haunting the place, then buy it back cheap," Willow concluded. "Argh," Larson made a face, "why do I feel like a character in a bad sixties cartoon?" "Jinkies," Willow agreed. "Well, at least she didn't say," Sae said as she sleepily arrived, "I would have gotten away with it if not for that damn kid." "You mind letting me up?" Alice asked grouchily. "No," Larson scowled. "Now that you've caught her," Sae sauntered over to Willow's side dressed only in her nightie, "does that mean you're not working, now?" Willow blushed, "Guess so." To be continued... Notes: Yes, this is a homage to Scooby Doo. lol
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