“I’d like to go back to the city tomorrow,” I said. “Check with Rafe and Liesel on any updates.”
“What about your lessons?”
“Don’t you think this is more important? They were running an autopsy on the pey demon. If they can establish cause of death, it might lead to the current owner of the book.”
Elder Sam stared blankly at one of the babies as she squirmed in her crib. “The contact I mentioned—the one that led us to Ursula—he contacted us about another little girl.”
I shot him a quizzical look. “And?”
He gripped the side of the crib. “He contacted us again soon after to say there was an issue and she wouldn’t be coming. He didn’t elaborate, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s related to Charlie Mancini.” He faced me. “If you’re going back for the autopsy report, then maybe you should talk to Packer too.”
“The smuggler?” I remembered his name from a discussion about the initial break-in at the academy.
“That’s the one.”
“You think I’m ready to deal with the smuggler directly?”
Helena barked a short laugh as she changed a diaper. “I daresay you’re ready to deal with a lot more than that. I’ve seen the way you fly around outside with your weapons. You’re a one-woman army.”
Elder Sam jerked his head to the side. “What she said.”
I inhaled deeply as though oxygen would fill me with confidence. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
“Wait until after your ancient translations lesson,” Elder Sam said. “I don’t want to hear Alastor complain that we’re giving you too much rope.”
“He’s the one that started this whole thing,” I said. “If he hadn’t cast me out of the academy…”
“You’re applying logic, Cassia. Alastor’s rationale seems to be limited to his own understanding.”
I smiled. “I guess we should probably head over to the main spire to give the full report. Elder Alastor is probably getting irritated.”
“His natural state,” Helena remarked.
As carefully as I could, I lowered Ursula into the empty crib. I waited for a long moment before moving my hands away. The infant remained asleep and I exhaled.
“Out of curiosity, do we have any cambions that are part oneiri demon?” I asked.
“I think we have a little girl in Spire 5,” Helena said. “Why?”
“Do you think I could borrow her in my room before bedtime one night? I could use a good dream.”
Helena offered a sympathetic look. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Chapter Eleven
I returned to the city the next day, anxious to see if Rafe and Liesel had learned anything new—and anxious to see Rafe, of course. Rafe wasn’t at the loft, so I flew to Liesel’s and saw them on the balcony of the library. Liesel sat in a beach chair with an iced tea in the cup holder. She wore a wide-brimmed sun hat and a one-piece bathing suit. Rafe paced the balcony in a tight circle, his whole body tense. I swooped down and landed on the balcony.
“Cassia, you’re back.” Liesel tilted up her head to glimpse me from beneath her hat. “Isn’t that delightful, Rafe?”
Rafe stopped pacing long enough to smile at me. “Yes, it is.”
“Taking advantage of the warm weather?” I asked.
“Might as well,” Liesel said. “We’re still waiting on the pey demon’s autopsy results.”
“Should be any minute now,” Rafe said.
“Because you pestered them to no end,” Liesel said. “You’re making me dizzy. Either sit down or stand still.”
“Where does that leave us in the meantime?” I asked.
“In a holding pattern,” he replied. “Good thing we have the stone.”
“And they have the other one,” I reminded him.
“Yes, but they’re useless apart,” Rafe said.
Liesel smiled. “Like you two.”
“Very funny.” Rafe blew air from his nostrils. “Have I mentioned how frustrating this is?”
“Not in actual words,” Liesel said. “More like in sour expressions and a lot of grumbling.”
Rafe’s phone vibrated and he tugged it from his pocket. His sour expression evaporated as he read the text. “Hallelujah.”
“What is it?” I peered at his phone, but the bright sunlight prevented me from getting a good look at the text.
“Hopefully a lead.” He reviewed the text more closely. “No cause of death yet, but they did find traces of ginger, peppermint, and cucumber in his system.” A slow smile spread across Rafe’s face. He was handsome even when he scowled, but his smile elevated him to a whole different level.
I cast a quick glance at Liesel. “His last meal?” And not a very good one.
“They’re ingredients in a potion associated with portal use,” Liesel said. “Keeps you from vomiting if your system can’t handle the jump.”
“How does that help us?” I asked. “He was a demon. Maybe he was traveling back and forth to the Nether.”
“What if he wasn’t?” Rafe asked. “What if he was traveling back and forth somewhere else?”
“You think he might be connected to the gray market?” I asked.
Rafe clapped his hands together. “The book is still missing, right? It hasn’t turned up on the black market.”
“Because they haven’t been able to open it,” I said. “It’s worthless without the information inside.”
“It’s worth exploring,” Rafe said. “It could be evidence of a new portal.”
“Not only that,” Liesel added, “but he’s been there very recently, hence the potion.”
“Which means the market is either happening now or about to be open for business again and he’s on the set-up crew.” Rafe punched the air. “We’re going to find it this time. I feel it in my bones.”
“I’d still like to know the cause of death,” Liesel said. “It might give us more insight.”
“While we’re waiting for the rest of the report, any chance you want to accompany me to see a smuggler?” I asked. “Elder Sam asked me to speak to someone while I’m here.”
Liesel polished off her drink. “What’s the deal with that guy? Is he your boss?”
“More or less,” I said vaguely.
Liesel adjusted her hat. “I’ll hold down the fort. You two lovebirds handle the smuggler.”
“The only thing you’re holding today is a glass of iced tea,” Rafe said. “I can tell you’re in relaxation mode.”
She clinked the remaining ice in her glass. “First, this is…was a Long Island iced tea. Big difference. And second, this investigation is important. If new information comes through, I’ll abandon my post—however enjoyable it is.”
“There’s a chance the situation with Packer is connected to Charlie,” I said.
Rafe balked. “You think he’s smuggling kids?”
“Well, not in the way you think.” I inclined my head toward Liesel and Rafe seemed to get the message. If we weren’t telling her about the academy, then I couldn’t say more right now.
“I’m ready when you are,” he said.
I glanced at Liesel. “I hope you’re wearing sunscreen. Just because you’re half celestial doesn’t make you cancer-proof.”
“It kind of does,” she said. “Special healing powers, remember?”
Wow. To be half seraph. No wonder they lived extended lives.
“Before you go,” Liesel said, and held up her empty glass. “Would you mind giving me a refill?”
Rafe yanked her hat down to cover her eyes. “I’ll bet you can make that drink blindfolded.”
Liesel’s smile was evident beneath the brim. “I don’t know, but I sure do like a challenge.”
Packer’s office was located in a ramshackle building close to the port. The dilapidated condition of the building was in sharp contrast to the new development of office suites nearby. Rafe and I lingered outside the entrance. He’d received a text mid-flight and had to wait until we landed to read it.
“Cause of death was strangulation,” he said. The confusion on his face reflected the way I felt. “How’s that possible? We didn’t strangle him.”
“It makes no sense,” I said. “Is there a chance they’ve made a mistake?”
Rafe tucked away his phone. “There’s always a chance, though it’s unlikely.”
“I can see you,” a gravelly voice interrupted. “The building might be old, but the surveillance equipment is state-of-the-art.”
I turned to face the door. “My name is Cassia and this is Rafe,” I said. “I believe we have friends in common.” I didn’t want to mention the academy in case there were others inside the office.
“Is that so? Name one of them.”
“Sam,” I said.
“What color wings does he have?”
Ah, a trick question. “He doesn’t have wings.” I neglected to say “anymore.” “Unless you count his artificial ones.”
The door clicked open and I glanced at Rafe over my shoulder before entering the office.
Packer was not at all what I expected, not that I had any experience with smugglers. He sat behind a metal desk that was covered in papers of all sizes—receipts, Post-It notes, and letter-sized. His chin was covered in a square of white hair that matched the thinning hair on his head. The rough skin of his hands suggested many years of manual labor. The most interesting part of his appearance was the patch he wore over his right eye. I didn’t dare wonder what happened to the one who inflicted such a vicious wound on someone like Packer.
“I apologize for the state of my office. Gentrification hasn’t quite reached us yet.” He smiled in a way that suggested he really didn’t mind.
“That’s okay,” I said. “It’s not like we’re moving in.”
He gestured to the two folding chairs opposite the desk. “Have a seat. There’s plenty of room.”
Rafe and I sat. The seat was hard and uncomfortable, but I didn’t plan to stay any longer than I had to.
“My, aren’t you a handsome pair?” Packer said.
I peered past him to the shelves on the wall behind his desk. They were lined with items with thin spines. They couldn’t possibly be books. The shape was wrong.
Packer caught me staring and seemed to recognize my confusion. “This is called vinyl, darling.” He tugged one from its spot on the shelf. “Record albums. Ring any bells?”
“Not really,” I replied.
He placed the square on the table. There was an image of a toilet with the seat up and a wall of graffiti behind it. “This one’s a rare gem. An album cover by the Rolling Stones that never made it to mass production.”
“That’s nice,” I said.
“Nice?” He lifted the album cover and wiggled it back and forth. “The Rolling Stones, I said. Please tell me you’ve heard of them.”
I winced. “Sorry.”
He dropped the album and clutched his chest. “You’ve lived a sheltered life, I imagine. I forgive you.” He eyed Rafe suspiciously. “What about you, Watcher?”
“I’m aware of them,” he said. “They sing rock music.”
Packer opened his mouth, appalled. “They sing rock music?” He shook his head. “I just can’t with you celestials.” He put the record back on the shelf.
“We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us,” I said, because I didn’t want our lack of musical taste to start us off on the wrong foot.
Packer crossed his legs and rested his feet on the edge of his desk. “So what brings you out here? I don’t usually get visitors of your variety, no offense.”
“None taken,” I said. “Elder Sam said that you contacted the academy about a little girl, but then said there was a problem and she wouldn’t be coming.”
“And he sent you all the way here to ask about it?” Packer whistled. “I guess that shouldn’t surprise me. Those Elders like to stay hidden.”
“I happened to be in the area already,” I said. “Rafe and I have been working together on another matter.”
“A demon and an angel, huh? There’s a TV show in there somewhere.” Packer stroked the small patch of white hair on his chin. “I noticed this little girl during a negotiation recently. The guys kept her on a chain in a back room.”
“On a chain?” I blurted. “Are you serious?”
“Darling, I hate to break it to you, but I’ve seen a lot worse than that. I accidentally found her when I went looking for the head.” He grunted. “Stupid prostate. Don’t get old, kids. It’s not worth it.”
“Did she ask for help?” I asked. The thought of a chained little girl made my blood boil.
“She cowered against the wall when I came in,” he said. “Poor little thing. I knew she was special the second I laid eyes on her too.”
I appreciated that he referred to her as special. Packer just went up several points in my estimation.
“Were you able to identify the type of demon?” Rafe asked.
Packer chuckled. “I’m not that good. I just knew she was a cambion. Something about her eyes.” He looked wistful. “Not that they glowed or anything weird like that. They just seemed…otherworldly.”
“What did you do?” I asked.
“I went back to the table and I sweetened the deal,” he replied. “Told them I’d pay more if they threw in the girl.”
Nausea rolled over me. Although I knew his intentions were noble, the mere thought of buying and selling children was repugnant to me.
“And they agreed?” I prodded.
“Naturally. Money is the great communicator.” He seemed proud of this statement. “Anyway, when it was time for the exchange the next day, the girl was gone. They swore they had no idea what happened to her.”
“Is it possible she escaped on her own?” I asked.
“Sure, which is why I went on the hunt for her,” Packer said. “I have a nose for these kids. Always have.”
That made sense given his unofficial arrangement with the academy.
“I tracked her closer to Center City, but then someone else swooped in before I got there. He didn’t see me, but I caught a glimpse of him as he disappeared through a portal with her.”
Without thinking, I grabbed Rafe’s hand and squeezed. “Where was the portal?”
“Willow Grove Avenue Bridge, near the train tracks.” He chewed on a fingernail. “I thought about following, but decided it was too risky. I do my part, but I’m no hero.”
“I beg to differ, Packer.” I fought the urge to throw my arms around him and kiss him. He had no idea what a breakthrough he’d just given us.
“I don’t usually deal with the nephilim,” Packer said. “I prefer to stick to the fringes, if you know what I mean. It’s no good for a guy like me to put himself in the ethical spotlight.” He forced a smile.
“Well, we’re grateful you chose to break out of your comfort zone,” Rafe said. “You’re a hero whether you like it or not. You may have saved that little girl’s life.”
I really hoped Rafe was right about that. There was no way to be sure until we found her.
“Those kids don’t deserve to be hunted. I see garbage bins get treated better than they do.”
“Thank you so much, Packer,” I said. “For everything.”
He waved me off. “Do me a favor. Listen to the Rolling Stones and we’ll call it even.”
“Deal,” I said. I didn’t care if they sounded like a flock of seagulls on death’s door, I would endure it for Packer's sake.
The smuggler pinned a wary gaze on Rafe. “You’re not going to hold my other activities against me, are you?”
“What other activities?” Rafe asked in mock ignorance.
Packer nodded, visibly relieved.
I stood to go. “I’m sorry about your eye,” I said. “I hope it’s not too much trouble for you, only having vision in one of them.”
“Oh, this?” He pointed to his patch. “No worries, darling. That’s only for show.” He raised it to show me one perfectly good eye
underneath. “Makes me seem more intimidating. I figure it’s like wearing a power suit to the office.”
I laughed as we left the office. Packer was quite a character.
We’d barely made it out the door and Rafe was already on his phone.
I knocked his arm. “You’re not reporting him to the authorities, are you?”
“No, of course not. I’m texting Liesel to meet us at the bridge.”
“Oh.”
He cut a glance at me. “You don’t really think I’d do that, do you?”
“I guess not. I just know you like to keep the city…clean.”
“His type of illegal activity isn’t what interests us,” Rafe said. “Besides, it sounds like he’s been performing a public service for years under the radar. Who knows how many young lives he’s saved?”
A rush of warmth spread throughout my body. “That’s the way I see it.”
He stuffed his phone into his pocket. “Let’s go check out the bridge. Maybe this is the break we’ve been hoping for.”
Ten minutes later, we stood under the bridge, searching for any sign of the portal. There was a slope from the train tracks to the bridge support.
Liesel arrived about a minute later, looking hopeful. “This guy Packer is a godsend,” she said.
“Fingers crossed.” Rafe focused on the bridge support in front of him. He placed both hands flat against it. “I feel energy here.”
“Yep. It’s definitely here,” Liesel said. She showed me the image on her phone. “These footprints in the dirt match the soles of the pey demon’s shoes.”
“There’s evidence of the girl too.” Rafe stared at the ground and I moved to peer past him. Two small footprints were barely visible on the slope.
Anxiety flooded my system. “What now?”
“We need reinforcements,” Rafe said. “Whatever we find there…It isn’t going to be a walk in the park.”
Liesel whipped out her phone. “I’ll text the group.”
“No.” Rafe placed his hand on hers. “No Watchers.”
She frowned. “Why not? We’ve been looking for the gray market.”
“And what if we get there and see the only thing they’re guilty of is selling cambions?” he asked. “What do you think the others will do?”
Demonspawn Academy: Trial Two Page 11