Heaven's Embrace

by ERIN BEDFORD

  O’Connor pursed his lips like he wanted to object to him being there but then didn’t. He turned back to Dr. Marshall, who sat behind his desk looking confused at the whole ordeal. Not wanting to linger on Gabriel’s presence any longer, I stepped up to Dr. Marshall’s desk.

  “Andrew, how are you?” I asked, my eyes scanning his desk for some kind of clue I could work with. All that was on his desk was a bunch of papers, nothing I could easily decipher.

  “I’m good. It’s nice to see you again, Jane. And your friend too.” Dr. Marshall glanced over at Gabriel who stood against the door jam, his eyes taking in everything around us. Dr. Marshall then looked back at the detective. “I’m not sure how I can be of much more help. I told you everything that I know.”

  “Lie.”

  I spun around to find Lucifer standing next to Gabriel. Crap. Crap, crappy, crap, crap. Staring at Gabriel hard, I clenched my teeth and tried to mentally tell him not to move. Not to do anything that would give away that he was corporeal now.

  Mandy placed a hand on my arm. “Did you see something?”

  I stared at Gabriel for a few more seconds before my eyes fluttered closed and I lifted my hand to my head. “I’m feeling something all right. Something isn’t right.”

  “Of course not.” O’Connor scoffed. “We’re wasting our time is what we are doing. We should be checking out her usual path home. Seeing what perverts might be living around where she travels. Not bothering this poor man.”

  “No, no.” Dr. Marshall shook his head and took his glasses off and then back on. “You’re not a bother at all. I just feel bad that I can’t tell you where Clarissa is.”

  “That’s a lie as well.” Lucifer scoffed. “This guy knows more than he’s telling now. I bet last time he didn’t know where she was which was why I couldn’t get a read on him, but now, he knows where this girl is. Don’t you think, Gabe?”

  Gabriel opened his mouth to answer, but I jumped in. “Dr. Marshall, you liked Clarissa, didn’t you?”

  Cocking his head to the side, so his hair fell over his face, Dr. Marshall gave me a small smile. “I like all my patients, of course.”

  “Lie.”

  I shot a look at Lucifer and then back to Dr. Marshall. “But you liked Clarissa more than the others?” I was reaching, but I couldn’t think of another angle to go with.

  “Well, yes.” Dr. Marshall drew out. “She was a fine young woman. Very smart.”

  “And beautiful,” I added, trailing my fingers along the top of his desk. “I’ve seen her pictures. She’s a very pretty girl.”

  “Yes?” Dr. Marshall answered his brows furrowed. “It would be hard not to notice.”

  “And I bet you noticed her, didn’t you?” I pried, tapping my nails on the surface of the desk. “With how often she came to see you, it would be only natural for you to be drawn to each other.”

  “Well, yes,” Dr. Marshall stuttered, flustered by my questions. “She’s a lovely woman. As I told her, anyone would be lucky to be with her.”

  “That’s not a lie,” Lucifer said.

  “They were sleeping together,” Gabriel said suddenly. I spun around panicking that he’d spoken while Lucifer was here. My eyes darted to Mandy and O’Connor watching in slow motion as they turned as one to Gabriel.

  Lucifer’s eyes brows crunched down as he tried to process what was going on. Even worse, Mandy asked, “How do you figure that?”

  “They can see you?” Lucifer asked, his mouth gaping open. “And hear you?”

  I waved Lucifer off, not able to answer him in front of everyone. Gabriel ignored him as well and answered Mandy, “It’s pretty obvious. The way he lights up a bit every time he talks about her. Plus,” - Gabriel pointed at a pink sweater on a chair in the corner - “I’m pretty sure that’s a woman’s sweater. Unless the good doctor here likes pink?”

  Dr. Marshall jumped to his feet grabbing the sweater just as O’Connor started for it.

  “Hand it over,” O’Connor demanded, holding his hand out.

  “It’s my sister’s.” He held it close to him as if it were the most precious thing in the world. “She must have left it here.”

  “Still lying,” Lucifer snapped at my side. “And we need to talk about this ‘Gabriel being seen’ thing. When were you going to tell me? Were you going to tell me at all?”

  I pressed my lips into a thin line and gave him an incredulous look. Under my breath, I muttered, “Later.”

  During our exchange, O’Connor got the sweater from Dr. Marshall and held it out to Mandy to put in an evidence bag. “If it’s your sister’s, then the hair on this should match her DNA and not Clarissa’s.”

  “Okay, fine.” Dr. Marshall sighed. “It’s Clarissa’s. And he’s right. We were sleeping together, but I didn’t take her. I didn’t kidnap her, I swear.”

  I glanced over at Lucifer. He glared at me but then grumbled, “He’s telling the truth.”

  “He didn’t do it,” I told the detectives and then to Dr. Marshall. “Dr. Marshall knows where Clarissa is though, don’t you? Jack was just a diversion to get us off the track.”

  O’Connor turned his fierce gaze back to the doctor who was quaking in his shoes now. “I didn’t have anything to do with Jack’s death, I swear. Clarissa doesn’t want her parents to know where she is.” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “They aren’t nice people. You should hear some of the things Clarissa told me they did to her. Locking her up, denying her meals if she didn’t go along with their rules.” He shook his head sadly. “Really terrible.”

  “Then why didn’t she go to the police?” Mandy asked, closing in on him with O’Connor. “If she was being abused, she should have said something. Hell, she’s an adult. She could have left a long time ago.”

  “But they’re paying her tuition,” Dr. Marshall informed us. “They told her if she told anyone or tried to run away, they would cut her off. She’d lose everything. Her inheritance. Her degree. Everything.”

  “So, you helped her stage her supposed kidnapping,” I offered, glancing at Gabriel for confirmation. He nodded.

  “Yes,” Dr. Marshall said solemnly. “We never wanted to get the police involved. We were surprised her parents even bothered to report it, let alone try to find her.”

  “What about her classes?” Mandy asked, brushing her hair away from her face. “You just said if she left, they’d take her money for school away. Why run away now and not after she graduated?”

  Dr. Marshall sighed, taking his glasses off and rubbing his face. “I think it’s better if you just talk to Clarissa yourself.”

  “Why can’t you just tell us?” I was getting tired of all this game of twenty questions, especially, since Lucifer was staring daggers into my back. I had a feeling the moment we were alone, he’d be starting another round of questions.

  Where the heck was Michael with my answers?

  Dr. Marshall shook his head. “It’s not something for me to share.”

  “This is a police investigation,” O’Connor reminded him with a sneer. “You’re already in a lot of trouble for that wild goose chase you sent us on. I suggest you tell us right now.”

  “O’Connor,” Mandy placed her hand on his arm. He glowered down at it, and she promptly removed it. “Let’s just go find Clarissa, and then you can interrogate him back at the precinct until you’re blue in the face.”

  The detective seemed to think about it for a moment. I almost thought he was going to argue with her, but then he nodded. “Come on, Dr. Marshall. Let’s take a ride.” O’Connor waved his hand forward, and Dr. Marshall started toward the door.

  We all turned to follow, but O’Connor stopped in place. Turning back to me, he asked, “Where’d your assistant go?”

  I looked where he pointed and saw Gabriel still standing there with Lucifer. Apparently, the effects of my blood had worn off during our conversation. The mention of Gabriel only made Lucifer scowl. Yep, I’d be getting my own interrogation once we got in the car.<
br />
  “He’s around,” I said vaguely.

  O’Connor frowned. “I don’t want him disturbing the rest of the building. We don’t want the precinct to get a bad reputation. It’s bad enough we’ve got a psychic on the payroll.”

  I ignored his little jab and said, “I’ll find him, don’t worry. He’s a free spirit, but he always finds his way back home.” Mandy fought back a smile, and I winked at her. At least, someone thinks I’m funny.

  O’Connor snorted but didn’t argue. He led Dr. Marshall out of his office by the elbow. Once he was out of the room, Mandy came over to me.

  “Where did Gabriel really go?” She searched the room as if she could find him.

  “He’s still here.” I gestured with my head toward where Gabriel stood. “He’s just incorporeal again.”

  Mandy’s nose wrinkled. “Well, that’s inconvenient. Maybe you shouldn’t bring him in public if he’s going to disappear? What would you have done if we had seen him disappear like with Michael?”

  The lights in the room flickered, and I shot a look at Lucifer. His jaw clenched so tightly I worried he might break his teeth but more importantly, I feared he’d never talk to me again.

  I shouldn’t have kept it from him. Any of them. As soon as I knew what happened Michael and I should have told them. Or at least, not did it with anyone else until we knew for sure it was safe.

  “What was that?” Mandy asked, her eyes going wide at the electrical malfunction.

  I sighed and patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll handle it. Text me the address to wherever we’re going, and I’ll meet you there. I’m afraid I have some explaining to do.”

  Mandy frowned, worry etched on her face. I could tell she didn’t want to leave me, but really, she couldn’t help. This was my mistake, so I had to own up to it. No reason to get her in the middle of it.

  “It’s fine. I promise. I’ll be right behind you,” I assured her once more, nodding my head toward the door. “I’ll lock up behind us.”

  “Oh-kay. If you’re positive, you’ll be safe.” Mandy scanned the room and then crossed her arms over her chest. “Gabriel, wherever you are. You better take care of my girl. If you lay one finger on her head, I will personally make your existence a living hell.”

  I stifled a giggle and arched a brow at Gabriel, who only grinned. “Mandy,” I laughed. “It’s not Gabriel I’m worried about. It’s the pissed off Devil whose feeling left out.”

  Mandy’s brows rose. “Oh, you mean ‘cause you’ve done it with Michael and Gabriel?”

  The need to smack her upside the head was so strong, I had to clench my hands at my sides. Between clenched teeth, I said, “Yes, that’s why. Now leave.”

  “Fine, fine. I know when I’m not wanted.” She held her hands up in front of her and then pointed at me. “But no more hanky panky until this job is done. I’m scarred for life as it is.”

  “Out!” I jerked a finger at the door.

  Mandy shot another look around the room before heading for the door. When she was gone, I hurried to shut it so I wouldn’t have to worry about an audience. With the door shut and Mandy gone, I was finally alone with the angels.

  Oh, joy.

  Lucifer stalked across the room, pacing back and forth. I waited by Gabriel while he got his thoughts together. I knew I’d screwed up. I’d take my lickings, but I wasn’t about to poke the bear.

  “I’m disappointed in you,” Lucifer said finally, his hands on his hips, his nostrils flaring wildly. “Of all of us, I have been trying to seduce you from the start and who gets to you first?” He gestured a hand at Gabriel.

  “Actually, Michael did,” Gabriel corrected him.

  I glared at him. “Don’t help.” Then turning to Lucifer, I started toward him. “It was an accident. I cut my finger and Michael wanted to heal it. Then” - I held my hands out to the side swaying back and forth - “somehow, he ended up solid and … you know.”

  “Of course,” Lucifer scowled. “It’s just like him to be the one to figure it out. He’s always been the lucky one.”

  I had a feeling there was more to that statement than Lucifer was letting on, but I let it go. Everyone had family issues, why should angels be any different?

  Stepping a bit closer to him, I smiled slightly, “If it makes you feel any better, he tried to walk through the table and ended up flipping over the couch.”

  A hint of a smile lifted the corners of Lucifer’s lips. Encouraged by his smile, I added, “And Mandy walked in on us and saw the whole package, and he disappeared without his clothes, which, by the way, will not come with you.” I pointed at the two of them as a warning. “I don’t need a collection of angelically made clothing around my house. I have enough laundry of my own I don’t do.”

  Lucifer chuckled. “I would have paid to see that. You should have snapped a picture. The great archangel with his feet over his head.” He shook his head, smiling. “Priceless.”

  I waited until Lucifer stopped laughing and then asked, “So, are we good?”

  Nodding, Lucifer said, “For now.”

  “Good, because we need to get going. Mandy’s waiting for us to end this thing.” I started toward the door with Gabriel and Lucifer on my tail.

  After we got in the car and we drove down the street, Lucifer spoke up, “So, when do I get a turn?”

  19

  The address Mandy sent me led us to a cute, pale blue house in one of those neighborhoods where soccer mom vans were the norm. Mandy and Detective O’Connor waited in front of the house with Dr. Marshall.

  When I pulled up, Detective O’Connor started griping. “What took you so long? Do you think we run on your hours? Some of us would like to go home sometime today.”

  “Sorry to take away from your knitting needles, the spirits needed a bit of coddling,” I smirked at Mandy who simply shook her head.

  “I do not knit,” Detective O’Connor growled.

  Thankfully, the guys had taken off, saying they needed to confer with Michael, who had been MIA since he became corporeal. To be honest, I needed a bit of a break from them. All that testosterone was really getting to me. I just hoped I didn’t need them to make any miraculous discoveries.

  And poor Dr. Marshall looked like he was going to be sick. He probably just wanted to get this over with and get away from us crazy people.

  Ironic since he worked with crazies for a living.

  “Should we go inside?” I gestured toward the house. “Or did you want to wait outside all day? You’re losing precious needling time.”

  O’Connor’s face turned red. “I do not knit!”

  Mandy and I ignored him and moved to the house. Dr. Marshall followed us, jumping in front to unlock the door. O’Connor brought up the rear, the steam still pouring out of his ears.

  “Don’t let her get to you,” Mandy tried to calm him. “She only does it because you react so much.”

  “She’s a child,” O’Connor grumbled as we walked into the house. “She needs professional help.”

  “I can hear you,” I twisted around to look at him. “And I’ve been in therapy before. They never really understood me.”

  “I can’t imagine why,” O’Connor snipped.

  The inside of the house was as warm and welcoming as the outside. It made me think of my grandmother’s. Soft colors and a faint smell of chocolate chip cookies.

  “Clarissa?” Dr. Marshall called out, searching around the room. “I’m home. Can you please come out here?”

  We waited there for a few minutes, but no one came out. Detective O’Connor shifted in irritation and scowled at the doctor. “Where is she?”

  Dr. Marshall’s eyes went wide, and worry creased his forehead. “I don’t know, she was here when I left this morning. I just told her I had to meet with you, but then I would be home.” Without asking, Dr. Marshall moved through the house, calling Clarissa’s name. O’Connor chased after him, probably trying to make sure he wouldn’t take off on us.

  “Where do
you think she went?” Mandy asked me, searching around the living room for any sign of where she might have gone.

  “I don’t know, but she was definitely here.” I pointed to the romance novel and the bag of cookies.

  “That could be his, you don’t know.”

  I lifted the pale pink bra off the floor with my foot and quirked a brow. “And what about this? I don’t think it’s his size.”

  “Okay, so she was here, but that doesn’t answer where she is now.” Mandy waved a hand around the room. “I don’t see a note.”

  Dr. Marshall and O’Connor came back into the room arguing. “She wouldn’t have left without telling me. Not in her condition.”

  “Her condition?” Mandy asked.

  The doctor shifted in place and frowned. “The reason Clarissa didn’t want her parents to know is because she’s pregnant. With my child.”

  Dun, dun, dun!

  I knew it. I knew there was a reason for her to take off without telling her overbearing parents. They didn’t want her to leave the house, they probably would have had a gasket if they found out she was pregnant and with her therapist’s baby no less!

  “Can you try and call her?” I asked. “Maybe she went to the store and forgot to tell you?”

  “No, no. She wouldn’t.” Dr. Marshall’s skin paled, and he kept rubbing his hands together. “She’s been very careful about telling me where she goes in case she goes into labor.”

  Frowning, I couldn’t figure out why he was so worried. Clarissa was pregnant, not disabled. Please tell me he’s not one of those kinds of guys. I might have to punch him.

  Our confusion must have been clear because Dr. Marshall explained, “Clarissa has a high-risk pregnancy. The likelihood of her going into premature labor is high. She can’t get too distressed, or she could go early.”

  “Okay, okay,” I held my hands up and came over to him. Rubbing his back, I made soothing noises. “It’s okay, we’ll find her.” I nodded to Mandy who pulled out her walkie.

  “Detective Stevenson here, we need a call into all the hospitals near Clarksville Street looking for a young woman, twenty-two, she’s —” She paused and looked at Dr. Marshall. “How far along is she?”