By the time Cleo and I left the ranch, a hot wind was gusting from the southwest. That was trouble because it would encourage the damned to light more forest fires.
I drove to Tanner’s house. Sure enough, her garage door was open, and a black sedan was parked inside. The area around the ranch included lots of ponderosa pines, and I parked back among the trees in a spot where we could still see Tanner’s place.
“Do you mind flying over there?” I asked. “There’s always a chance she’s outside in the back gardening or relaxing.”
“Of course." She tittered like a wind chime, a sound I never got tired of hearing. After opening her window, she turned into a gray and white dove and flew off.
When she didn’t return right away, I settled in for a wait. It seemed like a good chance to meditate, and I tried to get my mind to the third level again.
I didn’t make it, but I did calm down considerably. That was worth something.
The wind continued to strengthen. Then I noticed Cleo, still as a dove, flying back.
When she landed in my truck’s seat, she changed to a person.
“Partial success,” she said. “Turner didn’t start the first two forest fires, but she and a demonic friend are eager to light the next one. At least we can prevent that tragedy. She’s about to leave to meet a devil somewhere southwest of the metropolitan area. I will go with her. Follow us in your pickup.”
Chapter 18
TURNER DROVE NORTH and west until she reached the C470 beltway around the southern part of the metro area. She took the freeway to the foothills and drove up a winding road that followed an almost-dry creek. Then she pulled into a turnout and parked.
Hide your truck, Cleo told me, and walk over to us. You and I will both share her mind until her co-conspirator arrives. Then you can move to him. He has some vile plan, but she doesn’t know the details.
I did what she’d suggested. My body shivered with anticipation. Reading minds was God’s gift to detectives. As soon as we knew what the demons’ plan was, we could take them out.
Turner looked like a dowdy, fifty-something woman with bottle blonde hair. I was surprised, given that she could look however she wanted, but one thing was sure. It was a fabulous disguise.
Inside Turner’s mind, I could sense Cleo nearby. So far, so good.
The djinn was an open book to me. She and her partner were instructed by Pierce, who was the governor after all, to start a fire southwest of the city because the wind would blow the flames straight at the suburbs, hopefully catching some people sleeping in their beds and terrifying everyone.
Once her partner shows up, why don’t we immediately get rid of both dirtbags? I asked Cleo.
We need some time to sift through his mind carefully for clues as to who set the first two fires. I checked her. She doesn’t know, despite her bragging to her boyfriend.
While we were waiting, I asked Cleo another question I hadn’t been able to figure out. If Pierce is the governor, why would he want forest fires started? If voters found out, they’d string him up.
Cleo fired back, Voters won’t find out. More importantly, the demons have started a worldwide campaign of terror, and these fires terrify people. The fear destroys faith in human governments and makes it easier for the damned to set groups of humans against each other. These are classic guerrilla war tactics. Earth will become Hell for the living.
Not a happy thought. The demons seemed well on the way to success. Even with eleven thousand angels, Milton and the legion couldn’t protect seven billion humans from the demons and each other.
-o-o-o-
A FEW MINUTES later, a large man drove up in a SUV and parked close by. Then he walked up to us. The man was tall and stout. He walked like a fighter, and he stuck his head in Turner’s open window to kiss her.
She kissed him back with excitement. Yuk!
So much for her being faithful to her centaur boyfriend. Neither of them could be trusted. I shouldn’t have felt sorry for her earlier.
I jumped into his head and checked his memory. Alexander Sparta was a five-hundred-year-old devil, definitely much more powerful than Turner. He was an experienced fighter who’d won many battles.
We have a problem, I told Cleo. This guy is tough. We might not be able to beat him.
She jumped into his mind with me. Oh, you’re right. We have a problem. I’ll let Honah know.
She left Sparta’s head and went back to Turner.
Cleo must’ve sent a message to Honah because he answered back to both of us at the same time. I can’t send a guardian angel. The demons are starting fires along the Front Range. Griffin is attempting to prevent a blaze near Boulder. I hope the situation will improve soon, then I can send help. Otherwise, you may have to do your best with those two, but don’t take unnecessary risks.
How the hell was that supposed to work? He knew danged well that every fight was risky, and we wouldn’t have bugged him if we thought we could handle Sparta. I fired back to Honah and Cleo, I’m happy to take reasonable risks, never expected to live forever, but I have family to worry about. I want your promise that if I get wiped out, you’ll make sure Ellen doesn’t suffer financially.
Cleo laughed in my head nervously. Nobody pressures Honah, Gabe.
It was good I hadn’t known that because I wouldn’t have tried. But he came right back. Fine.
Feeling lucky for a change, I sent another message. And take care of her daughter, too. Good private colleges are outrageously expensive—
I’d already started to sock money away for the little girl but Honah cut me off.
Of course, we will make sure both are financially secure. Now, I must turn to other crises.
His promises were a big weight off my chest. I got back to the business at hand and checked Sparta’s memories. He hadn’t started either forest fire, but he was eager to light one nearby.
Then I saw something more interesting. He knew Pierce well. According to Sparta’s memories, Pierce was far older and stronger, and even better, Sparta was supposed to meet the governor at a private club in the Cherry Creek neighborhood after Sparta lit his forest fire.
I passed that tidbit on to Cleo and hoped Honah would send someone soon to deal with Sparta. He was a genuine monster.
Turner asked, “So, what’s your great plan, handsome?”
“I know a human who lives in the forest west of here, a real asshole,” Sparta said. “He owns a hundred acres. If we start the fire in the middle of his property, it’ll be unstoppable by the time the humans realize the danger. Even better, we can absorb his emotions. That will be just as pleasurable.”
I was beginning to understand why Milton had so much trouble finding angels willing to mix with demons. So many on the dark side, mortal and otherwise, were vile and depraved. This was nasty work, but I’d gotten used to it as a cop.
Turner said, “I love the idea. Let’s go.”
He sat in the front passenger seat and shapeshifted into a black-haired teenage girl with huge tits. “Call me Alexi around Fuller. That’s the asshole’s name.”
Sparta snickered in a high pitched girl’s voice, “This is going to be so much fun!”
Before Turner drove away, she asked, “Maybe we should fly instead of drive? We could leave the car here.”
“You should’ve said something before I went to the effort to transform,” Sparta said. “And we need the gasoline. You did bring it, didn’t you?”
“Sure,” Turner said. “In the trunk.”
Sparta gave her directions to Seth Fuller’s house.
As the sun set, Turner drove slowly up the road. She’d transformed into a teenage blonde in a short dress with a plunging neckline. These two definitely weren’t planning to go to church.
I was surprised at the number of houses tucked back in these woods, and few owners had bothered to clear trees away from their homes. They apparently didn’t want to create defensible space. It seemed reckless.
“Here we are!” Sparta
said. “I can practically smell his greed from here.”
He turned his head to gaze at a new cedar log house surrounded with ponderosa pines. Some trees were so close to the building that their needles brushed against the outer walls.
“This guy must be really rich,” Turner said. “Can we take his Porsche?”
“No, not unless you want to tell the cops that you started this fire. Be satisfied with the glow from killing him and so many others.”
Turner parked next to the white 911 Turbo she’d mentioned. It was an incredible car, but how had she thought she could hide such a hot set of wheels out in Franktown? She hadn’t thought, simply desired.
Both Turner and Sparta got out and pulled their dresses down as far as they would go, which barely hid their butts.
Sparta rang the doorbell, and a handsome fiftyish guy with sun-streaked auburn hair answered. One hand held a margarita with a salted rim. His grin was ravenous, and I could already imagine him eager to screw both girls.
“Hi, I’m Heather. Sorry to bother you, but we got ourselves lost.”
Sparta handed him a hand drawn map he’d made in the car as part of the con. He pointed at an X on the map. “We’re supposed to be at a party there. Are we close?”
“I’m Seth.” He held out his hand, and shook both girls’ hands. His lust came through clearly with contact. “Come on in. We’ll figure this out. Would you like margaritas? I just made a pitcher.”
Turner was about to say no, when Sparta practically screamed, “Yes. We’d love a couple.”
Turner laughed. “Sure,” she said to Fuller, “I mean, who goes to parties sober anymore?”
He laughed, too, and opened the door to reveal a large vaulted living room with a burgundy leather sofa and matching recliners. The TV mounted on one wall had to be eight-feet wide. He switched the channel from a basketball game to a new-release movie channel.
“Have a seat on the sofa. I’ll be right back.”
After he left, Turner asked in a whisper, “Is he going to doctor our drinks?”
“Of course,” Sparta replied just as quietly. “He’s deliciously evil, hopes we’ll want to stay but not taking any chances. He’ll force us to have sex if he has to. Then he’ll have to lock us up or murder us. In other words, he’s perfect.”
The guy came back with his drink and theirs.
Sparta smiled at him. “Looks great. I hope you put extra tequila in mine.”
Sparta giggled and sipped the offered drink. It was super-strong, not only with tequila but some kind of drug, probably a roofie. It affected him, but not nearly as much as it would’ve weakened the teenage girl he pretended to be.
Fuller sat between the two girls. “Cheers.”
They clinked glasses with him and drank more. The a-hole did know how to make a great margarita, except for the drugs.
“Yum, terrific.” Sparta looked around at the richly furnished great room. “What do you do for a living? This place must’ve cost a fortune.”
Fuller laughed. “It did. I run a property and casualty insurance agency. Inherited it from my dad. Business has been terrific. Actually, I’m going to Paris in a few days on a private jet. Want to come?”
His gaze bounced from one babe to the other.
Turner frowned, but Sparta laughed. “You’ll pay for everything?”
“Sure,” Fuller said. “We could have a blast, day and night.”
“I’m game,” Sparta said.
After taking another gulp of her drink, Turner set hers on the oak coffee table and held up the map again. “We’re going to be late for the party, Alexi.”
Then Turner turned to Fuller. “Do you know where this house is?”
He leaned closer to her, pressing his shoulder against hers. “I love your perfume.”
Turner grinned, apparently remembering why she was there. “Isn’t it nice? My ex-boyfriend gave me a bottle for my birthday. Jerk’s gone, but I still have lots of stuff he gave me. I love nice things.”
Fuller tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Everybody does. Blondes as beautiful as you deserve the best.”
Sparta elbowed him in the chest. “What about me? Don’t I deserve the best, too?”
He turned and kissed Sparta—and me—on the mouth. Disgusting!
Sparta giggled and drank more.
The old bastard had to be thirty years older than she looked. “You’re both gorgeous.”
Fuller put an arm around Turner’s waist and pulled her closer as he stared at the map in her nearest hand. “I think so. There are so many back roads here. It’s easy to get lost.”
“Tell us about it!” Sparta said. “We’ve been driving in circles. I was so glad I saw your porch light on. One of our girlfriends is hosting the party, and we want to surprise her.”
The man leered, no doubt feeling safer because nobody would look for these girls anywhere nearby. Sparta reveled in Fuller’s sick desire and downed the rest of the margarita. “Damn, those are good.”
“Would you like more?”
She burped, and her lips began to feel numb. “Maybe a little one.”
Once he disappeared, I thought to Cleo, This is too creepy for me. Let’s destroy them all and go to that club downtown where Sparta is supposed to meet Pierce.
Not so fast, Gabe. We can’t harm a mortal, even though this one truly is a monster. We can let the demons deal with him, then we can destroy them.
I’d forgotten that important point. She seemed resigned to us fighting Sparta. If so, I wanted him as drunk as possible. And the sex part was too weird for words. I’m not hanging around for any screwing. I’ll encourage Sparta to kill Fuller first. If that doesn’t work, I’m separating from Sparta and attacking.
Cleo didn’t tell me no, so I took that as agreement.
When Fuller came back with two full glasses, Turner sipped one and set it on the coffee table. “I’m so tired. Just going to close my eyes for a minute.”
She leaned back and pretended to sleep.
Sparta picked up the map and sipped more of his margarita. “How would we get there from here?” He intentionally slurred his words, but I could tell the drinks weren’t affecting him nearly as much as I would’ve liked.
Fuller interlaced his fingers with Sparta’s. “You really shouldn’t be driving, Alexi. I can see you don’t hold liquor well. I’d hate for either of you to get a DUI.”
Sparta staggered to his feet.
Fuller lunged for his prey.
You can’t take that! I thought to Sparta. He lost his temper completely and pulled a cursed dagger out of a scabbard that suddenly appeared at his waist. With a quick slice, he cut Fuller’s throat open. Blood gushed everywhere, including all over Turner.
She jumped up and yelled, “What’d you do that for? My dress is ruined.”
Sparta turned into the man who had met Turner earlier in the day. “Sorry, I lost my temper. I was going to keep playing with him, but he caught me by surprise.”
Fuller lay on the beige carpet and twitched as he bled out. I didn’t feel the least bit sorry for him.
-o-o-o-
“WHAT NOW?” TURNER asked.
Sparta didn’t respond for a minute. He glanced at the TV, where a recent movie was playing. “That movie looks like fun. We should watch it before we light this place up. I don’t have to be downtown for hours. Or we could—”
Turner shook her head. “This place has too many ghosts. Let’s do what we came to do and leave.”
“Then go to the kitchen and find some cooking oil. Fuller will roast.”
Chapter 19
HAPPY? CLEO ASKED me before Turner left.
I will be when we get rid of these two. Honah still hasn’t sent help. How do we fight Sparta?
Cleo paused before telling me. We form our angelic bodies, and our swords will appear. I’ll take care of Turner in the kitchen then we both attack the devil.
We didn’t have much choice. Both demons had to go. They were thrilled at the th
ought of killing lots of people and animals in such a vicious way. Fine. Hurry back.
Turner left, and Sparta used his dagger to mutilate Fuller’s face. One of his signatures. He loved to slice a victim’s face to shreds.
When I heard a scream from the kitchen followed by a flash of light, I separated from Sparta and formed my normal body. Then I stepped back several paces. My sword handle appeared behind my neck. I felt like I had to say something profound. The best I came up with was lame. “Sparta, prepare to accept the Lord’s justice.”
He looked at me with wide-open eyes. “You can’t be here. Not now.”
I pulled out my white flaming sword. “If you agree to go peacefully, I’ll give you a moment to compose yourself.”
Instead he screamed, “Son of a bitch!” He dropped his dagger and pulled out a flaming sword, swinging it back and forth in front of me with quick, sure movements.
Luckily, Cleo, in full angel form, came running out of the kitchen with her own blade burning bright.
The shock of battle wasn’t as bad this time, maybe because I knew Honah would take care of Ellen and her daughter if I got wiped out. One less thing to worry about, and I wasn’t sure living forever would be great anyway.
I tried to cut across Sparta’s waist, but his sword blocked mine. What I lacked in style, I planned to make up for with enthusiasm. My sword clashed against his twice more within a second, and sparks flew. The smell of sulfur filled the great room. From side to side, I slashed, and he defended. In fact, he pushed me backwards against a wall.
What am I doing wrong? I asked Cleo.
Use the room to your advantage instead of his. With her sword, she slashed at the backs of his legs.
He spun with incredible speed and attacked her. He saw her as the big threat. No surprise. She had wings and I didn’t.
To keep him off of her, I yelled, “Face me, coward.”
It worked. He roared and using his free hand, shot a red lightning bolt at me.
I hadn’t expected any spells, and only partly got my sword in the way. The left side of my body was paralyzed. I couldn’t move without falling.
Forged by Fire (Angels at the Edge Book 1) Page 18