Angel Read online

Page 39

 

  The angel appeared above Willow: life-size and radiant white. As before, her lovely face — a mirror image of Willow’s own — was bowed in repose, her wings folded behind her back. He could see the glowing outline of every feather; see every fold of the robe that fell from the angel’s shoulders.

  Alex lay looking at the angel for a long time. The halo-less image didn’t move, and neither did he. He took in the long spill of her hair, her lips, her slightly downcast eyes that looked as if she’d be smiling if she glanced up. And slowly, he could feel the dream releasing its hold on him. As the images of Jake began to fade, his breathing calmed; his heart stopped thudding.

  When Alex finally closed his eyes once more, it was Willow’s face that he saw . . . and he knew that he’d be able to sleep again.

  RAZIEL LEANED BACK in his leather chair, drumming his long fingers irritably on the gleaming wood of his desk. “Any news?”

  Jonah nodded as he shuffled through a sheaf of papers. “Yes, our police in New Jersey stopped the Porsche, but the passengers weren’t them. It appears that they dumped the car in New York City with the keys inside, and someone stole it. ”

  Raziel rubbed his forehead. “So we don’t even know what they’re driving now. Or if they’re driving. ”

  “Er . . . no,” said Jonah, his brown eyes blinking.

  Raziel dropped his hand onto his thigh with a slap. As if the half angel’s escape from the Schenectady Church of Angels four days ago, along with her would-be assassin, hadn’t been enough. “What about the remote viewers?” he asked.

  Jonah licked his lips. “Well . . . several of them have gone to Schenectady to read that girl, Beth, and see the half angel in her memories — but they say it will take time, if they get anything at all. ”

  Raziel scowled. He had thought as much. Most angels’ psychic skills didn’t extend to picking up specific information without physical contact, and even with those few who could view things remotely, it was often hit-and-miss.

  “Time,” he muttered. With the Second Wave scheduled in less than a month, time was one thing he didn’t have. Anger swept over him again that the assassin had killed Paschar. There was the ripple of pain, of course, of incompleteness that every angel felt at the death of another, but beyond that, Paschar was the only one of them who’d actually had contact with the half-breed — the only one who could have possibly found her speedily.

  “What about the aunt?” he demanded. “Is she still asking questions?”

  Jonah’s brown curls moved as he shook his head. “No. The police investigation has been closed already. She’s been told that her niece had a secret boyfriend and that she ran away with him. She seems to believe it. She’s grateful to the Church for putting her niece’s photo up; she thinks we’re trying to help find her. The friend isn’t convinced, but no one’s taking her seriously. ”

  “Good,” said Raziel shortly. It wouldn’t have troubled him to have to dispatch of either the aunt or the friend, but it would have been an aggravation that he didn’t need. “What about our person in New Mexico?”

  “He’s watching for them; he’s in contact with the Albuquerque branch. But he thinks that they should have arrived by now. So maybe they’re not coming. He doesn’t know where the assassin might go, in that case. He says that he’s very resourceful. ”

  Which wasn’t news, especially. Raziel hissed out a breath from between his teeth and fell into silence, cursing the decision to retain this particular assassin in the first place. Someone who was that good at killing angels obviously had a few brain cells; with hindsight, they should have seen trouble brewing with this one. And now he and the half angel actually seemed to have joined forces. The thought that the thing was still out there, with the Second Wave about to occur, was deeply unsettling.

  Jonah shifted in his chair. “There have been a few possible sightings from Church members,” he offered.

  Raziel’s assistant was ideally suited for his job, being devout to the angels without having been damaged by them — the boy’s energy simply wasn’t very compelling. However, at times, Raziel wanted to throttle him.

  “Yes?” he said sharply. “Do go on, Jonah; don’t hold back. ”

  Jonah cleared his throat, looking down at his papers. “Well — actually there have been thousands of possible sightings since we put the information up, but only a few that seem promising. One is a girl in Madison, Wisconsin, who matches the description; Church members there are checking her out. And there’s been a possible sighting near Toronto . . . and another in Brooklyn . . . one in Eugene, Oregon . . . one in Dalton City, Tennessee . . . one in —”

  Raziel could feel his hold on his temper slipping. “Jonah, do you actually have any good news to tell me?” he interrupted, his voice icy calm. “Or just a long list of places where teenage girls with long blond hair have been spotted?”

  Jonah quickly ducked his head down; there was a rustling noise as he rifled through his papers again. “Well, the one in Dalton City was a little different. The Church member there saw a girl in sunglasses who he thought looked suspicious. ”

  A girl in sunglasses. Was this really the best they had? Raziel pinched the bridge of his nose, wishing that he couldn’t feel headaches in his human form. “I presume they’re checking it out. ”

  “Yes, the Church members there are on it. They’ll let us know. ”

  “Right. ” The chair squeaked as Raziel sat up. “I want them found, Jonah. We can’t have that thing still at large when the Second Wave arrives. ”

  His assistant nodded. “I understand,” he said fervently. “We’ll find her — every Church member in the country knows how important it is that she be stopped. ”

  And there were no people more rabidly committed to a course of action than Church of Angels members, thought Raziel — surely the thing would be found soon; the half angel and her protector couldn’t have just vanished. “Very well,” he said curtly. “On to the Second Wave, then. I’ve had some further news. The plan is to create the opening here, in the main cathedral. ”

  Jonah’s eyes grew wide. “Here? The Second Wave of angels is really going to arrive here? Oh, my gosh, that will be — such an incredible honor —”

  “Yes, so the Council wants a bit of a welcome to take place,” broke in Raziel. “Something low-key, I should think. ”

  “Oh, no!” gasped Jonah. As Raziel looked at him in surprise, his assistant’s cheeks flushed. “I just meant — sir, you have no idea how much this is going to mean to everyone. The whole Church should be allowed to celebrate. A second wave of angels, blessing our world with love and peace — we should fill the place to the rafters! We should have choirs and a special service; we should decorate the cathedral with acres of flowers; we should —”

  “All right, I get the idea,” said Raziel. Jonah went quiet, his face alight. Raziel sat playing with a silver letter opener as he mulled it over. It did have a certain appeal — thousands of cheering Church members would show the Second Wavers just how popular the first had been, just how successful at paving the way for them. On the other hand, the logistics seemed nightmarish.