ARCHANGEL

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “That will not happen again, thanks in part to your unending references to it every five minutes.” Catherine stuck her tongue out at Angelina.

  The GPS screen flashed one word: Paradise.

  “What the…” Angelina exclaimed, just before the screen switched to a directional map to Paradise, Nevada. “There goes your coffee break, love.”

  “A paradise in Nevada.” Raphael leaned back thoughtfully. “From the feeling I’m getting, this will be yet another learning experience.”

  “It is strange.” Abaddon stared at the screen. “I…I feel something missing… as if…”

  “It’s not a demon,” Raphael finished for him, closing his eyes in concentration.

  “I thought we were only about demons,” Catherine said, “and humans being used by demons.”

  “We are about whatever the Lord wants. The Lord wants us to stop by Paradise. Our purpose will become clear soon.”

  “Maybe there’s a Burger King serving demons there so Whopper Woman can get a fill up,” Angelina interjected.

  Catherine reached around and pinched Angelina’s midriff, eliciting a protesting squeal from Angelina.

  “Maybe we should stay away from the Burger King, Pudge.”

  “I’m not falling for that used up comeback, Spewy. I don’t care where we stop as long as they don’t sell liquor.”

  “Perhaps they will have one of those Starbuck places,” Abaddon said.

  “I’ll bet they do, my love,” Angelina squeezed Abaddon’s knee. “Even in the middle of Paradise we’ll only be a few miles away from the Venetian. Once we take care of whatever we’re supposed to handle we’ll only be a few miles from where we’re headed.

  As they neared their destination the GPS screen changed to directions for McCarran International Airport.

  “There you go, love,” Angelina said. “I’ve never been in an airport without seeing a Starbucks.”

  “Maybe we’re supposed to meet someone coming into the airport,” Catherine suggested. “I bet people fly into Las Vegas from all over the world.”

  “We’ll see soon enough,” Angelina replied. “We’re only a few minutes away from the airport now.”

  “I imagine we will attract a lot of attention,” Raphael said.

  “Yep, with you two big lugs, we’ll probably have security dogging us every step of the way inside just like before,” Angelina agreed. “I suggest we make our appearance in uniform, Cat, and maybe we’ll detract a little attention from the boys here.”

  “If they wear suits and we wear our habits we will at least give off a more sympathetic appeal.”

  “We will still look like a circus act, Cat,” Raphael said. “I do think dressing formally would be as inconspicuous as we ever get. In this instance I believe your nun’s habits may attract the right kind of attention.”

  “I hope we won’t have to start anything in the airport,” Angelina said. “We’ll have a hard time explaining our way out of trouble in there. I don’t want to walk a long way in this heat with our outfits on either.”

  “It would be better if we do have a long walk. The exercise will help you trim that waistline of yours, Pudge,” Catherine offered in a helpful tone.

  “I hope your nun’s habit resurrects the humility and quiet demeanor you’re supposed to exhibit at all times because the short-shorts ain’t working for you, girl.”

  “Great,” Catherine retorted, “a lecture from shrew central.”

  Chapter 22

  Terror Links

  Fifteen minutes later, the four exited the Hummer. They walked toward the elevator in the multi-level parking complex which would take them into the main airport. Both nuns were dressed in their habits, while Abaddon and Raphael wore dark, nondescript three piece suits. Raphael had chosen dark blue, while Abaddon chose charcoal gray. As Raphael surmised, the suits did little to detract from the raw power in the aura surrounding the two Archangels. Although people glanced their way, the rushed airport ambiance helped to limit close scrutiny.

  “At least the air conditioning’s working in here,” Angelina noted. “Should we just walk around for a while, Raph?”

  “Yes.” Raphael guided the group to a less hectic spot. “I see we can’t wander into each of the terminals without tickets. We can walk around the baggage claim and near the airline check in desks though.”

  “Will the Starbuck’s be on our way?” Abaddon asked innocently, but drew laughter instead.

  “I’m sure there will be a café of some kind outside the terminals,” Raphael assured him. “Let’s get started and see what kind of trouble we can get into.”

  The group walked around together within the busy airport. They passed people jostling hurriedly either toward or away from the terminals where the flights arrived and departed. Stopping at one of the few bookstores not housed within the security guarded terminals, Abaddon and Raphael waited outside while Angelina and Catherine perused the shelves of magazines and books. When no one passing by the Archangels drew their interest, Raphael gestured at Catherine. The nuns left the bookstore and rejoined their companions.

  “Nothin’, huh?” Angelina asked.

  “Not a sign,” Raphael answered. “Did either of you see a café while we walked?”

  “Most of them are inside the terminals. I glanced at the information center map though. There’s one all the way in the other direction,” Catherine replied. “I forgot to ask you before we left the Hummer. Did you guys remember your ID’s? If they stop us in here for any reason they will ask.”

  “I have Abaddon’s and mine.” Raphael took out the passports from his coat to show her. “We need to work on getting driver’s licenses like we made up for you and Ange. The Sheriff in Baker seemed satisfied with your licenses so the illusion must be working on them.”

  “Only because Cat and I remembered our driver’s license numbers,” Angelina pointed out. “Otherwise, they would have triggered an investigation when he checked the licenses on their computer database. We’ll all have to work on getting California driver’s licenses if we’re going to use it as a base for our operations.”

  “This identity stuff can get tedious. I hope you and Catherine will remind me each time I forget we cannot simply drift from one place to another without proper paperwork.”

  “All the more reason for a first class computer hookup, my dear Raphael,” Angelina concluded.

  “Agreed.”

  As they neared the café Catherine had mentioned, Raphael and Abaddon both stopped, openly scanning the area they were in. Angelina reached out and stopped Catherine. Catherine turned around, noticing the two Archangels’ interest.

  “The café’s this way, boys,” Catherine said.

  “We must go in there.” Abaddon pointed to a restaurant and bar directly to the right of them.

  “I guess we can get coffee in there but we’ll have to put Spewy on a leash around all the liquor.” Angelina ducked Catherine’s immediate swat toward the back of her head.

  “Do you already know what we’ll be looking for, Raph?”

  “Evil, Sister Mary Catherine, evil.” Raphael guided the two nuns in front of him, with Abaddon bringing up the rear. “I sense hatred pulsing out of there we must at least investigate.”

  The four entered the crowded open faced restaurant and bar, looking around casually as if for an open table. To Angelina and Catherine the establishment appeared simply boisterous and busy. Raphael and Abaddon scanned the room with grim expressions, the intensity of which caused Catherine to tug on Raphael’s arm.

  “You guys look a little too much like avenging angels in here, Raph,” Catherine whispered.

  Raphael relayed Catherine’s warning to Abaddon. He acknowledged Raphael’s words. Abaddon walked to the right and down the short isle of tables. The others followed closely, casually smiling at people who looked up at them. A group of three Middle Eastern men were huddled together around a table butting against the wall. They glanced at the two nuns with obvious distain. Cat
herine made a point of smiling and nodding at them. The three were nondescript in appearance with well groomed hair and expensive looking casual wear. Two were clean shaven while the third sported a close trimmed beard. As Angelina returned their frowning glares with one of her own she guessed all three were probably in their middle to late twenties.

  Abaddon walked past the table reluctantly, looking away from the men as if he had not noticed them. Choosing an open table opposite the men and one table down, Abaddon motioned Angelina into the chair away from the isle. Catherine slipped into the chair opposite Angelina. Raphael sat opposite Abaddon, watching his brother expectantly.

  “Those three are troubling, Raph.” Abaddon kept his attention on Raphael while watching the three men peripherally.

  “The hatred pours out of them as if from a boiling cauldron,” Raphael added in agreement. “They are not demons but I sense they are the reason we are here.”

  A slim, dark haired, young man in his very early twenties walked up to their table, looking down at the group with a smile as he passed out menus to all four companions.

  “Can I get you folks something from the bar?”

  “I would like a coffee,” Abaddon stated, without waiting for the two nuns to speak.

  “I’d like a cup of tea.” Catherine opened the menu to peruse the available food listings.

  “Coffee for me too,” Angelina added.

  “Three coffees and a tea then,” Raphael finished the drink order, glancing back at the Middle Eastern men. They were deep in conversation, speaking Arabic in hushed tones.

  After the waiter left to get their drinks, Raphael clasped his hands in front of him uneasily.

  “They plan on meeting a couple coming in on a flight from New York. After which, they plan to do something at a casino called the Billagio, but they don’t say what.”

  “Are you sure they’re not just planning on a gambling night in town with the couple?” Angelina asked as the waiter brought them their drinks and waited expectantly.

  “Are you ready to order,” the waiter asked politely, “or do you need a few moments?”

  “I’ll have the Hot Turkey Sandwich.” Catherine stared right at Angelina as if daring her to say something.

  “I’ll have the same.” Angelina smiled sweetly at Catherine.

  “Make it four orders of the turkey,” Raphael said, getting a nod from Abaddon.

  “I hope we get to eat our meal before they take off,” Catherine stated after the waiter collected the menus and left. “If not, I vote Angelina tails them until the rest of us finish.”

  “They said their friends would not be arriving for another hour,” Raphael replied. “It didn’t look like they had ordered yet anyway.”

  “You can hear their conversation from here, Raph?” Catherine asked.

  “Clearly, as can my brother.”

  “Their hatred rivals even that of the demons,” Abaddon added. “It has no purpose other than a seething malevolent drive to lash out.”

  “Lash out at whom?”

  “America, Cat, who else?” Angelina said. “I don’t suppose you could grab hold of their hands and cure them, huh? It worked with Ahmed and those soldiers overseas.”

  “Ahmed and the others weren’t driven by hatred, Ange. I freed them from a centuries old hatred they did not want. These three have little else other than their hatred. This outbreak of Islamic terrorism has been going on for centuries. Only force of arms ever stopped them.”

  “All religions have gone to war using it as an excuse.”

  “Very true, Cat, but other religions have evolved and put violence behind them. This new wave of insanity incorporating the use of human bombs to blow up perceived enemies is monstrous. If this new crop of Muslim fanatics believe they will attain heaven by blowing themselves up in the pursuit of maiming and killing as many men, women, and children as they can strike at one time, they are mistaken.”

  “You’re pretty well informed, Raph. Ange and I have always been reluctant to discuss such things because of the past wars fought in the name of Christianity.”

  Raphael laughed. “Ah, the guilt of the Crusader. It is a marvel Western Civilization ever triumphed with such foolish notions. I beheld the conversions by the sword perpetrated by past Islamic hordes but at least they did not use their women and children as shields when they fought.”

  “What of turning the other cheek, Raph.”

  “I am Old Testament, Sister Angelina.”

  “As am I,” Abaddon added vehemently, causing a lull in the conversation.

  The waiter made his appearance with their food and quickly served them. After placing four water glasses on the table he poured ice water for each of them from a pitcher.

  “Please enjoy your meal, and let me know if you wish anything else,” the waiter said.

  “We will,” Raphael answered. “Thank you.”

  “You guys are a little touchy on this deal with peaceful Islam,” Angelina observed as the waiter moved away.

  “I know little of peaceful Islam, my love,” Abaddon replied. “When I passed those men’s table I felt it would be a blessing if I wiped them from this reality. They are not of a religion. They are of hatred.”

  “I guess we better decide how we want to proceed then.” Angelina swallowed a mouthful of turkey sandwich. “We weren’t sent here to pat these guys on the back and ask them if we can’t all just get along. Apparently, some members of peaceful Islam have hit a sour note in heaven.”

  “Indeed,” Raphael agreed. “Our Lord caused the various branches of religion throughout the world in one form or another. They all share basic tenets of order, kindness, and faith. No where in any form, be it the Koran, the Bible, Talmud, or any other written rendering of faith, can anyone decipher a passage making it allowable to teach children to maim and kill other children. It is blasphemy to espouse such teachings as the word of God.”

  “I have not the patience for this waiting,” Abaddon admitted with his right hand clenched in a fist at his side while his left guided the coffee cup to his lips.

  Angelina reached down and grasped Abaddon’s right fist. Her touch gave the Archangel pause.

  “Easy, my love, we have to wait until they meet whoever they’re supposed to meet and hopefully get out of this airport. They’ve already marked us so following them around will be difficult without them noticing our interest.”

  “They can’t be armed with anything very lethal in here,” Catherine reckoned between mouthfuls. “Like Ange says though, it will be hard to keep an eye on them without arousing their suspicions. They stared holes through us when we walked by.”

  “We will not have to be very close to them,” Raphael replied. “Abaddon and I will be able to track them at will now.”

  “Wow, that’s kind of handy. Here’s the plan then. Once we’re out of the airport, I’ll provoke them and then you guys waste ‘em.”

  “Very subtle, Sister Angelina. I cannot help but think we are meant to do more than simply stop a few renegade religious fanatics.”

  “If this isn’t about demons, maybe we were meant to point the way for the authorities to round these folks up,” Catherine offered. “After all, we have a government agency with the express purpose of preventing domestic terrorism. We could put a call in to them.”

  “You mean call them and let Raph explain he overheard the men threatening to blow up something in the Bilagio?” Angelina asked. “I guess it could work but they must be planning something horrendous for us to get a GPS message to come here.”

  “Couldn’t you guys pop up and ask if we’re on the right track?” Catherine followed with another question.

  “I know the parameters of our quest appear ridiculous at times. Abaddon and I will be summoned only when the Lord feels our task is done. Until then, we must handle matters on Earth as we see fit, without disturbing the fabric of existence. It would be nice to receive direct orders at each step but I’m afraid we don’t have that particular option.”
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  “So all you have is us to guide your way and a few GPS screen flashes?” Angelina giggled. “I don’t think Cat and I will live long enough to see this through, Raph.”

  Raphael shrugged and smiled. “It seems even more indecipherable when you put it like that, Ange.”

  “It is as our Father wishes it,” Abaddon said. “We abide and we will triumph. I will not disappoint him again.”

  Abaddon’s pronouncement quieted the conversation. They continued eating in silence. The Middle Eastern men they watched finally called over a waiter and ordered their own meals. The men stopped conversing as the tables around them filled up. Raphael could only pick up short snatches of conversation between them.