by Dirk Patton
“So, our boss says you came across something,” Phillips prompted.
Brody spent a few minutes filling them in during which they paid rapt attention. Katarina’s self-control slipped at one point and she took a quick peek at Liam. He was focused on Brody but met her eyes and smiled when he saw her looking. She quickly turned away.
“What’s the FBI’s interest in this?” Phillips asked when Brody was done.
“Intersects with a case we’ve been working,” Brody said vaguely. “Turns out the missing pilot’s a DNA match for an unidentified homicide victim.”
“The Bureau works homicides, now?” Liam asked.
Brody hesitated before responding.
“When they’re the victim of a serial killer,” he said.
It went completely silent in the room for a few moments as the two men absorbed what had just been shared with them.
“The Reaper?” Phillips asked quietly.
Brody nodded.
“So, were we right in thinking this was probably drug money being moved?” Katarina asked.
“Who the hell else has that kind of cash lying around?” Liam asked.
“But why into the US?” Katarina asked, using the question as an excuse to meet his eyes. “Thought it went the other way.”
“True for the southern border. Not as much for the northern. Up here, everything flows both ways.”
Liam smiled at her again and she quickly looked away, hoping he didn’t see the flush that reddened her cheeks.
“Okay, don’t care about that,” Brody said. “I was hoping you could take a look at our vic. If he's hauling this much cash around, I'd think he's in good with the cartel it belongs to. Thinking maybe you guys might have run across him before.”
“We might have,” Phillips said. “Why don’t you send me your case file and we’ll take a look. See what we can come up with.”
“Internal FBI only, at this point,” Brody said with an apologetic shrug. “Boss’s orders. But what if I send you a pic of the guy?”
“Sure. Send it to Liam, here. He spent three years undercover in that world. If he doesn’t know the guy personally, we could run it through a couple of databases. Maybe we’ll get a hit.”
Liam pulled a card out of an ID case and slid it across the table, his eyes locked on Katarina’s.
“I’d be happy to look at what you’ve got.”
No one in the room missed the blush that started at her neck and quickly spread to her face.
“I’ll send it as soon as I get back to my desk,” Katarina said, quickly turning away.
“If this turns out to help, I’d appreciate a mention from your boss to mine,” Phillips said, handing one of his cards to Brody.
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” Brody said, passing his and Katarina’s cards across the table. “Thanks for stopping by.”
Meeting over, the DEA agents left quickly. Brody and Katarina went back to their cubicle where she accessed the electronic case file. Several hundred crime scene photos were neatly cataloged, and she spent a few minutes selecting two.
Both clearly showed the dead man’s face. A deep chasm split his skull from front to rear, the surrounding tissue charred. His brain had been reduced to a burnt puddle of jelly. She sent them to both Liam’s email and secure cell. In less than a minute, her phone rang.
“Agent Daniels, I know your guy,” Liam said when she answered.
Katarina’s heart began beating faster and she told herself it was because they were finally going to get an ID on their victim.
“What the hell did that to his head?”
“We don't know. The experts say it was a single blow and that whatever the weapon was, it flash fried everything. It had to be a minimum of forty-five hundred degrees to cook the brain and surrounding tissue like that with only a brief, single contact. So, you know him?”
“Met him when I was undercover. We've got a file on him. Want me to send it over?”
“That would be great!”
“Or... I could just hand it to you over lunch.”
Katarina felt a blush begin and for a moment didn’t trust herself to speak. What the hell was wrong with her? She was hardly a school girl and besides, she was a married woman. But there was something about Liam. The instant she’d seen him there was an almost irresistible urge to...
“Lunch would be fine,” she said before thinking about it long enough to turn him down.
“Great!” He sounded truly pleased. “Ivar’s on Lake Union? Say, twelve thirty?”
“I’ll be there,” she said, her stomach fluttering like it hadn’t in years as she put her phone away.
“That what I think it was?” Brody asked.
“He knows our victim. I’m going to pick up a file they have on him.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What the hell does that mean, uh-huh?”
“It means watch yourself around that guy,” Brody said in a quiet voice. “You’re a big girl. Do what you want. But maybe right now isn’t the time to...”
“To... what? Do my job?” Katarina asked a little hotly.
“Kat, Ray Charles could have seen how you reacted to that guy. And if that’s good for you, then whatever you need to do. Just be careful who you let in, and who you piss off. Understand what I’m saying?”
He watched her with arched eyebrows as she thought about his warning. Her excitement at seeing Liam was dampened, tempered by thoughts of her husband. Despite the divorce papers she’d had drawn up, she was still married. But, she acknowledged to herself, they hadn’t had a marriage for a year.
Besides, it was only a professional lunch with a fellow federal agent. There was absolutely nothing inappropriate about that. And if Brody thought she was actually reckless enough to let something slip to Liam...
“I got it, Brody. And you’re right. I’m a big girl. You don’t need to worry.”
Eight
Ivar’s is one of those wildly popular places with both locals and tourists. Located on the shore of Lake Union, it has both an indoor restaurant and an outdoor window facing the street where people queue up to purchase cooked-to-order fish and chips.
On the lake side of the building are three large barges chained to the shore where one can eat at a plastic table while watching boats pass by on the calm water. Sunny days mean long lines to order and a strong likelihood of not finding any place to sit.
The sun was shining when Katarina pulled into the parking lot across the street from the restaurant. She’d already noted a line that nearly stretched around the building and counted herself lucky to find a spot for her SUV. She was a few minutes early despite having taken the time to freshen her makeup before leaving the office, but Liam was already waiting.
He stood at the edge of the pavement, a buff file folder in one hand, a burning cigarette in the other. Still dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, the large pistol on his hip and gleaming gold badge around his neck drew frequent curious glances from people waiting in line.
After a quick check in the mirror, Katarina stepped out, smiling when Liam waved a greeting. His long hair was blowing in a gentle breeze coming off the lake and butterflies flitted through her stomach as she walked to meet him.
Like everything Matt did, with the exception of managing his finances, he was meticulous about his appearance. Weekly visits to the barber kept his conservatively cut hair neat and perfect. Daily runs on the treadmill kept his waist trim. And it was the norm for him to shave a second time, late in the afternoon, so that he never sported any stubble. Jeans were for Saturdays only, and then only if the cleaners had properly creased and starched them.
Liam’s beard was short, but it was obvious he didn’t spend a lot of time grooming, and his hair...
“Good to see you again,” he said warmly, interrupting her mental comparison of him to Matt.
“You, too,” Katarina said, smiling brightly and accepting his extended hand.
***
Katarina gasped when the world sud
denly shifted and she found herself standing on a cobbled street in a medieval city. Candles in hanging lanterns provided the only light. She looks down in amazement at the infant cradled in her arms.
A chorus of screams. She whirled to see a large group of people holding swords and knives, approaching at a full sprint. At first, they appear normal, then she saw the burning red eyes of a creature floating behind each human face.
“Run!”
It was Liam, only not the same Liam. He's streaked with sweat and dirt and appears a decade older. His long hair is tied into a ponytail with a leather cord and his beard hangs to his bare chest. He’s tightly gripping a broadsword.
He grabs her arm, pulling and supporting her as they flee down the street. She stumbles and he slows, then points at a door into a building.
“THERE!”
Behind them, the screams draw closer. Reaching the door, Liam blasts through with his shoulder, sending splinters flying. Stopping, he spins, pulls her to him and kisses her quickly. Gently touches the baby’s forehead.
“I love you! Now, GO!”
He shoves her through into the darkness and turns to face oncoming death. The child begins to wail as Liam spreads his feet and blocks the door with his body. Squaring off against the mob, he swings the sword as they arrive with blood curdling screams. The baby’s cry pierces the night, Liam’s rising to drown it out as he fights.
***
“Thanks for meeting me for lunch.”
Katarina was back on the sidewalk, shaking Liam’s hand. She gasped softly and looked around in a panic, expecting to see the attacking horde. But it was once again a beautiful sunny day with a long line of people patiently waiting to order their food.
“Are you okay?” he asked, the smile on his face morphing to a frown of concern.
Slowly, Katarina turned her attention back onto him, her hand slipping free of his.
“Agent Daniels? Is something wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost.”
Liam quickly scanned the area around them, looking closely at her when he found nothing amiss.
“Sorry,” Katarina forced herself to say. “I just... no sleep last night.”
Liam watched her for a few moments. She was certain he could tell her heart was pounding and cold sweat was trickling down her sides. Another look around and she took a deep breath, using every ounce of self-control to prevent it from shuddering.
“Look,” she said. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired and not feeling well.”
“I understand,” he said, disappointment in his voice. “But at least the drive wasn’t a total waste.”
“What?” she asked distractedly.
They looked at each other for a beat then he held up the file he’d brought before things could get awkward.
“This is your guy. Happy to try and fill in any blanks once you’ve read it.”
“Thank you,” she said, taking it with a slightly shaking hand and tucking it into her purse.
“Are you sure everything’s okay? Do you need some food, maybe? We don’t have to stand in line. We can go inside and get a table.”
“No!” she said, then more calmly, “No. I’m sorry I wasted your time. I... I just need to go.”
Without waiting for a response, Katarina turned and walked away. Moving slowly at first, she was rushing by the time she reached her Range Rover. Fumbling with the keys, she finally got it open and scrambled inside, instantly slapping the button to lock all the doors.
Glancing in the mirror, she could see Liam still standing on the sidewalk, watching her in confusion. After a moment, he went to a big pickup and got in, then slowly drove out of the lot.
Katarina took several deep breaths and leaned her head back on the seat’s soft leather. Suddenly she was freezing despite the warm sunshine streaming through the windows. Her entire body shook as she desperately started the engine and cranked the heat to high.
Slowly, the adrenaline coursing through her system bled off. The shivers that had gripped her so tightly subsided, then she realized how hot it was. Changing the system to maximum cooling, she leaned forward and breathed in the fresh air from a vent.
“Oh, my God. What’s wrong with me? What the hell was that?” she whispered as the temperature inside the vehicle came down.
A sudden raucous blare of sound caused her to scream in fright, but it was only her phone. Snatching it out of her purse, her thumb hovered above the ignore icon, but for some reason she accepted the incoming call despite not recognizing the number.
“Daniels,” she said into the phone, noting that her voice was anything but steady.
“Hello, Katarina. This is Mister Zophiel.”
Memories of the previous night in the forest flooded in and her heart rate shot up.
“This is not a good time, Mister Zophiel,” she said, gripping the phone tightly.
“We need to talk. About what you saw last night. What you’re still seeing.”
Images of the creatures and Liam with a sword and fleeing through an ancient city played behind her eyes and she shivered as a fresh chill gripped her.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said once she could speak.
“I must disagree, my dear. You need to understand what is happening, both to the world and to you. Can you come see me? This afternoon would be best.”
Katarina couldn’t stop replaying the horrific visions in her mind. She was frightened to her very core.
“I’m sorry, Mister Zophiel. I can’t make it out there,” she finally said. “I really don’t believe there’s any value in discussing this further.”
Before he could respond, she disconnected and dropped the phone. Still chilled, she reached for the heater controls, then the interior of the Range Rover suddenly vanished.
Nine
Katarina looked wildly about at an idyllic mountain pasture with a babbling brook. Standing in front of her, dressed in an elegant suit, was Zophiel.
“It would have been much less jarring if you’d simply come to see me,” he said.
Katarina’s hand reflexively flew to where a holstered pistol would normally be. It slapped against her side without finding it and she frantically fumbled about as she backed away from Zophiel.
“Stay back!” she shouted.
“You are completely safe, Katarina. I assure you.”
When he made no move to approach, she stopped, but was ready to flee at the slightest provocation.
“What is... how did you do this?”
She wanted to look around, to try and understand what was happening, but was afraid to take her attention off him.
“This is someplace safe where no one and nothing can harm you.”
She watched anxiously as he slowly extracted his pipe from a pocket and took his time lighting it.
“What’s in that?” she asked, pointing at the pipe.
“The best blend of Cuban and Virginia tobacco,” he said, gently puffing and generating a large cloud of smoke.
“No! What’s really in it that’s making me hallucinate?”
Zophiel’s eyes bored into hers for a moment before he smiled.
“This is not a hallucination, Katarina.” He raised his hand. “Now... calm yourself.”
She instantly felt at ease and stood staring at him as he smoked, then looked around the meadow. Bright sunshine lit a storybook scene with butterflies flitting from flower to flower. A primeval forest began at the edges of the clearing and she could hear birds singing in the trees. Splashing drew her attention to the stream and she watched as a fish broke the surface to take an insect.
“If you’re not drugging me, how did you do that?” she asked as calmly as if inquiring about the weather.
“I simply reminded you of your inner strength, my dear.”
“And what do you want with me?”
“I want to help you to continue remembering,” he said with a smile.
“Remembering?”
“Precisely! Evil is once again coming to de
vour your world. There aren’t many left who can stand against it.”
“Those... those monsters?”
“Demons, actually. They feed on death and misery and destruction. As we speak, they are finding ways to come to your world. A few at a time. Searching.”
“Searching? For what?” she asked.
“They are coming to possess bodies. To seize control and displace the rightful soul. They must be stopped now, before they find the right person and are able to set the world ablaze.”
“Demonic possession? You seriously expect me to believe that?”
“It is quite real. They have tried to destroy the world before, my dear. And nearly succeeded, several times. If those of you who can defeat evil do not rise up, then it will burn again. But this shall be the final time.”
“That man with the little dog!” she exclaimed, remembering seeing the demon dissolve into a person.
Zophiel nodded.
“Only you can see the demon who has taken over a body, my dear. Do not let them realize you can, or they will make every effort to kill you.”
“Why should I believe any of this?” she asked.
“Because, in your heart, you know the truth.”
Katarina stared at him, wanting to argue, but something inside her had been awakened.
“You remembered him, didn’t you?”
“Him? Him, who?”
“When you touched his hand, you saw something sad and terrifying.”
Katarina paused, blinking in surprise.
“Liam? Do you mean Liam?”
Zophiel smiled and nodded as he puffed away on his pipe.
“He is involved in this?”
“He is your champion, my dear. He always has been, and you always find each other.”
“What does that mean?”
“For now, that is all you’re ready to hear. But I will leave you with this. You can trust him. With your life, if need be. He never has nor will he ever betray or abandon you.”
“With my life?” Katarina asked in surprise.
“All will be explained, my dear,” Zophiel said with a smile. “All in good time.”
***
There was an instant of disorientation then she was back in the Range Rover. She blinked in surprise, looking around the interior of the vehicle.