I signed off and shut down my phone. They’d tracked me once that way. Then I drove to a new location and waited.
-o-o-o-
WHEN I CALLED Sid back, he said, “Here’s the situation. They see you as the next Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber. They are dying for publicity. Prepare yourself. You’re going to be arrested. We could delay the trial—”
“Why would I? I’m innocent. I want my day in court as soon as possible.”
“Either way, plan to have your life turned upside down. We’ll seek bail, but given the seriousness of the charge, that’s doubtful. If the judge does agree to set bail, it’ll be very high. Something like it was for Kevin. You’re entitled to a trial within seventy days under the Speedy Trial Act, so you shouldn’t be in jail for long. Meet me at the FBI’s Denver office.”
He gave me the address.
“Okay.” I suppressed an oath and tried to figure out why my human life was swirling down the toilet. If that happened, Ellen wouldn’t be the only one to suffer. Dad and my relatives would be heartbroken, too.
“Turn off your phone again, and don’t dawdle on the way,” Sid said. “They’ll try to track you down. I’ll call your sister to tell her what’s going on. See you soon.”
I hung up and turned off my phone. So much for staying out of the public eye. Milton and Honah were sure to be pissed.
On the way across the city to the FBI’s office, my stomach kept twisting. I figured I’d better report the bad news to the Angelic Legion sooner rather than later. Honah, I’ve managed to get myself into lots more trouble. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Colorado intends to prosecute me as a forest fire arsonist. A guy named Davidoff is the prosecutor, and the FBI agent here who’s giving me no end of trouble is Torino.
No reply…until Honah popped into my pickup’s passenger seat.
I was so surprised, I jumped.
“Sorry to startle you, my friend,” Honah said, “but time is precious.”
After a second’s pause, he said, “Okay, I have the full picture now. We’ll do what we can. A former Colorado U.S Attorney is one of my staff. He’ll know the prosecutors in Denver. John is now one of your state’s senators. I’ll check on Davidoff and Torino.” The angel vanished.
The knot in my stomach eased. I had to trust that Honah was used to fixing much bigger problems than this. Even so, I was probably going to spend some time in jail. I couldn’t raise a half-mil for a bond. I couldn’t raise a tenth of that amount.
My stomach cramped again when I realized I’d have to explain to my sister and dad how this was all just a big misunderstanding. Those would be heartbreaking conversations.
Chapter 17
I WALKED INTO the FBI’s office in north-central Denver, and I was relieved to find Sid waiting. We were met by a female special agent. “Torino just arrived, and the special agent in charge of this office wants to see you now.”
I’d figured I’d be arrested immediately, and I’d left my pocket knife and phone in my pickup.
When I didn’t get arrested, I focused on getting out of this latest jam. “Why would the office’s boss want to see me?” I whispered to Sid. “I thought they’d simply cuff me and walk me to their holding cell.”
“Something’s weird, all right,” Sid whispered back. “Please, let me do the talking.”
The special agent in charge was a woman named Maria Lopez, and her office contained four people when Sid and I walked in. Thankfully, none of them held handcuffs, so the perp walk wasn’t inevitable after all.
After a round of introductions, Sid spoke first. “Somebody screwed the pooch, didn’t they? Special Agent Torino got too carried away?”
Lopez grimaced. “Settle down, Sid. We’re trying to do the right thing here. A couple of signoffs might’ve been neglected, but much more important, Davidoff has vanished.”
Sid snorted but didn’t comment.
“Yeah,” Lopez frowned. “When last seen, he was sitting in his office downtown, talking on the phone. We can’t find him anywhere. You wouldn’t have any ideas where we should look, would you?”
I fought a grin. Davidoff was obviously a demon of some sort. The legion wouldn’t do anything to a human. Honah or one of his staff must’ve taken the guy out. The fact that Torino didn’t meet the same fate meant he wasn’t immortal. He was still a lunatic, though.
Sid took a step forward and shook a finger at Lopez. “You watch yourself, Maria. That’s damned close to an allegation.”
She raised her hands. “No, of course, I didn’t mean you had anything to do with the disappearance.”
I tried to figure out what she had meant, but I couldn’t come up with a plausible alternative.
Sid lowered his voice. “If you come after one of my clients, you’d damn well better have all your evidence tied up with a pretty bow on top. Mr. Townsend didn’t even know until a half-hour ago who Davidoff is. Good luck proving that, within those thirty minutes, he hired a hit and someone snuck into a secured Federal building to spirit away an assistant U.S. Attorney. I assume you’ve checked all the nearby men’s rooms, bars, and whorehouses?”
“Townsend’s enemies have a way of disappearing,” Torino said.
I was about to yell back at the jerk for upsetting my pregnant sister, but Sid grabbed my forearm. “Not now.”
Lopez pointed at Torino. “Enough from you, too.” Then she turned to Sid. “We are not arresting Mr. Townsend yet, but we are continuing our investigation. Don’t leave town, Mr. Townsend, without informing me first of where you would like to go.”
Lago di Nemi, Italy, sounded real good right then. Or Iran. Given how much the Iranians hated the U.S. Government, they’d never extradite me. But I wasn’t going anywhere for long without my sister, and she wouldn’t leave the ranch.
Sid nodded. “And next time, call me to arrange his surrender instead of trying to stage some grandstanding gotcha for the evening news.”
He stomped out of Lopez’s office with his hand still firmly attached to my forearm.
We left the FBI’s office just as Ellen drove into the parking lot. The sun seemed brighter than before and air warmer. Life, or immortality, was good again for the moment.
Sid motioned for Ellen to park in an empty corner. He and I huddled around her window.
Sid spoke quietly. “From now on, be extremely cautious about what you say and who you talk to. They will make a maximum effort to patch the holes in their case and arrest Gabe. Assume the Feds are listening everywhere, including in your bedrooms.”
There wasn’t much else to say. Sid obviously didn’t think the threat from the FBI was over.
After the lawyer shook our hands and left, I kissed my sister on the forehead. She didn’t ask for explanations either, which was an even bigger problem. She obviously trusted me to have told her the truth all along. If I came clean with her soon, she’d be pissed, but that would be far better than if she figured out on her own that I’d lied to her. Then, she’d be devastated.
And I couldn’t imagine keeping my new life secret from such a smart woman for another week, much less the rest of her life. “I’ll follow you back home.”
She nodded. “Just to warn you, the FBI was still searching for evidence when I left. Torino was the only one who made a helluva mess.”
I got in the pickup and headed out behind Ellen as she drove toward Interstate 70.
Honah, I can’t keep my sister in the dark any longer. She’s being harassed by the Feds, and demons seem to have targeted us, too. She needs to know the danger she and her unborn daughter face if I stay with them.
I don’t agree. Honah’s voice filled my head deeper and louder than I’d ever heard before. We don’t inform family members because immortality invariably causes jealousy and ill will. If necessary, I will alter her recollections to keep our secrets safe.
That was no answer. Ellen wasn’t the jealous type. I’m telling you, the woman is much holier than me. She’d make a much better angel, I’m sorry to
say.
Be careful, Honah thought back, don’t start thinking we will offer her immortality, too. You will only be disappointed.
I was already disappointed.
-o-o-o-
ONCE ELLEN WENT to bed, I lay on her sofa, exhausted by the crazy day.
Eventually, Milton told me, It is time for you to study the healing arts again. I have explained to Yasmin that you have not had as much quiet time to meditate as we would have preferred.
I burst out laughing. Talk about an understatement, wow!
In an instant, I found myself next to the pool in front of her cave. I was struck by the sudden transition from parched Colorado to humid Iran. A water ouzel splashed in the water, and Yasmin stood near the entrance to her home and smiled. She looked the same as before, except for a pale yellow dress that dropped to her ankles. Her long brown hair flowed loose down her back.
“Come sit with me.” She walked toward the padded bench where we’d sat before, then held out her hand with her fingers pointed up.
I placed the pads of my fingers against hers. A soothing sensation flooded through me, a reminder of how much stress I’d picked up since the last time I’d seen her. This woman would put any human shrink to shame.
Once I’d downloaded a full dose of mellow, and she’d seen what she wanted of my memories, she let go of me. “I’ve invited two senior healers to meditate with us. Through the practice, you will learn how to connect with God’s perfect grace. I will show you the way. Soon, I hope, you will be able to achieve that enlightened state of mind on your own.”
What struck me most wasn’t her kind words. Her voice was strained with worry. They were all keenly aware of how poorly I was prepared for my new life. “Sounds great.”
She beamed at me too much, as though nervous. “As soon as our colleagues arrive, we will begin. In the meantime, remove your shoes and sit cross-legged on the mattress.”
Once I was comfortable, the other angels arrived. Both looked like sixty-something European men and joined me and Yasmin on the large rock. They spoke English, but their heavy Russian accents kept me from understanding their names.
The four of us sat in a circle on the mattress and held hands. The only sound came from the water gurgling as it dropped over the lip of the pool into the brook.
“We will visit the third level today,” Yasmin said. “You will experience for yourself what is possible through serious study.”
“You’ve lost me already,” I said. “What do you mean by levels?”
“Don’t concern yourself with the details. Simply link your thoughts with ours and try to avoid thinking. Experience, and we will explain what happens later, over the years to come. As before, keep your eyes open but don’t look at anything in particular.”
Again, she was forcing me to simply trust her.
I felt like I was sitting at the top of a roller coaster, waiting for the ride to begin.
But nothing happened. No one in our group thought or moved. I could just as easily have been alone in this dense tropical forest.
Let it be, she told me.
I focused on my counting. My body relaxed, and I stopped thinking. Soon, I felt like I was dreaming, floating alone in a misty, warm, pool of water.
Yasmin was obviously in no hurry to do anything. She sat next to me, as steady as the trunk of a massive old oak. Through her touch, she shared her calmness. The Russians seemed equally satisfied to step out of the real world for a time.
My physical sensations, like the weight of my body on the cushion, slowly dissipated, leaving me contented and relaxed.
Who could ask for more? I didn’t care about achieving any level of whatever. This moment was perfect in itself. Her grotto was the only sane part of this crazy old world.
Then I remembered Yasmin’s instruction not to think. I floated in a cloud of euphoria. Subtly, that feeling changed, blended into an alert calm. I was connected mentally with the three angels. Not that any of them consciously thought anything, but I sensed them sharing my mind.
Like water rippling along in a slow-moving river, my life-force flowed in sync with theirs and pulsed in tune with some kind of underlying chord. A harmony produced by a multitude of individual notes.
Yasmin’s voice sounded in my mind. That music is God’s perfect grace. Once you’re in tune with it like this, you can channel His incredible power. This is the key to true salvation for you and those you help.
I didn’t respond. I was too afraid I’d break the spell. Instead, I allowed the music to fill me and resonate in my body.
Then a chill ran through her and the others.
Yasmin whispered, “Unfortunately, terrible trouble intrudes again. We will need to use our power to heal a cursed wound from a demon’s sword. For us to succeed, we all have to maintain this meditative state. If we don’t, the curse will flow into us and destroy all. But as long as we remain in harmony with eternal grace, the evil will pass through and be absorbed into the infinite.”
Until that comment, I hadn’t realized there would be a purpose to our seemingly casual meditation. Maybe the other angels were just as surprised. Too many times already, danger had emerged in the immortal world without warning. How did they tolerate this kind of constant threat?
My thoughts ended when a male angel appeared before us, splayed out in the center of our circle, writhing with pain. A burning, gaping wound several inches deep covered his back from his right shoulder down to his left hip, and one of his wings had been partially cut off.
Shocked, I recoiled, but the others kept a firm grip on my hands.
Gabriel, maintain your focus! Yasmin told me. We’re all at risk.
I caught myself and tried to use the steadiness of the other angels to restore my calmness. But his wound was gaping and deep, horrifying.
Close your eyes, one of the Russians thought to me. Imagine you’re here alone.
That thought saved me—and them. My revulsion faded, and I put my faith in the others.
Then we reached toward the victim in unison. We placed our joined hands on the injured angel’s body.
A burning pang sliced across my back, forcing me to writhe, and agony spread through my body. Searing daggers seemed to penetrate all over me, but I clawed myself back to sanity. Lucky, the pain peaked and faded.
The other three healers began chanting, “Lord, we humble ourselves before You. We struggle mightily to overcome the darkness that never sleeps, and now we seek shelter in the comfort of Your loving spirit.”
I took up the chant, and my suffering vanished as we continued to sing. I opened my eyes and watched the victim’s wound close and vanish. Our hands didn’t break contact with the man until his back and injured wing looked normal. Then the healers rocked back, still holding hands. The angel stood, raised his arms to the sky, and yelled something to the heavens. Then he vanished.
The others quickly settled back into the calm, alert state I’d felt before the victim arrived, but it was beyond my reach. I did my best not to think of what had just happened—it was impossible.
Yasmin let go of my hand. The other two angels said a quick goodbye and disappeared.
“Now you see the benefit of training your mind, yes? You understand what your healing powers could achieve.”
“We saved that angel from permanent extinction?”
“Indeed. I realize your mind is roiling and confused, but that will pass. When it does, you must meditate regularly. You have to learn to achieve this clear and contemplative state on your own. We never know when our powers will be needed urgently, so dedicate yourself to this path, Apprentice. The pulse of eternal grace flows through you, always at the ready if you are.”
-o-o-o-
Thursday, June 22nd
BACK AT THE ranch the next morning, I worked alone in the sweltering barn trimming the goats’ hooves. Ellen stayed inside the house where it was cooler and installed a new printer on the computer. At one point, I heard her scream through an upstairs window, “No, I
don’t want your goddamned toolbar and automatic ink delivery! Just print the damned report.”
I didn’t envy her a bit.
Not long after, Cleo appeared before me in her human form.
“Have you formulated a plan for approaching Liz Turner?” she asked.
“I’ve thought about it a lot but haven’t stumbled upon any blinding insights. I favor the direct approach. We stand on her doorstep. If our swords appear, we hack our way in and slice her to bits.”
She laughed. “The old ways are often the best. Maybe we should figure out first, though, whether she’s really a djinn and set those fires.”
“If you insist,” I replied. “I won’t be too broken up if we annihilated the wrong demon who just happened to claim the credit for mass murder.”
Cleo patted my arm. “Indeed.”
“If we’re going to check Turner’s mind first, we’ll have to play it by ear. We should show up—”
“Why play with her ears?” Cleo asked.
I kept forgetting she wasn’t modern-day woman. Hell, she wasn’t a woman at all. “It’s an expression. It means to begin a task without knowing exactly how you’ll finish it. Let’s assume we find her at home this afternoon. She’ll probably be indoors to avoid the heat of the day. Then, even as a dove, you wouldn’t be able to get close enough to merge with her mind. We might have to park nearby and wait for her to leave. She’ll be much easier to sneak up on in some public place.”
“You know the people here much better. Denver doesn’t seem hot, not in comparison to Egypt. I wouldn’t have expected her to hide indoors.”
Cleo hung around and helped me with the goats. She’d been a herder herself when she was a child, so she knew how to work with them.
-o-o-o-
AFTER LUNCH, I made up an excuse to my sister for taking off. It hadn’t been long since I’d criticized demons for lying, so I felt plenty guilty in doing exactly the same thing to a saint. I told her I was going to visit a friend from Idaho State on the far side of the city and that I might not get home until late.
Forged by Fire (Angels at the Edge Book 1) Page 17