by Margaret
“It’s Derek. I’m sorry to bother you, Rachel, but it’s time to walk the cat.”
There was a moment’s pause, then the door opened. Rachel stood behind the door, so that he had trouble seeing her. What he could see of her looked terrible. Her face was puffy and her eyes were red and nearly swollen shut. She had gone to fetch Sampson and now she thrust the cat and his harness out the door and into Derek’s arms.
“Are you okay?” Derek asked, grasping Sampson awkwardly.
“I’m sorry, Derek, I can’t talk right now.” Rachel slammed shut the door.
A moment later, she opened it and flung out Sampson’s leash. She shut the door again.
Derek didn’t bother with the leash. Holding the cat in his arms, he headed for the elevator. He noticed that Sampson’s fur was wet and he guessed it was from Rachel’s tears. He walked the cat up and down in front of the building, so he could keep an eye on things.
“She told me everything, sir,” Sampson said, spitting with indignation. “Zanus is blackmailing her. He wants her to do something really bad in the pit tomorrow. Something to do with Euros. I don’t understand it, but here’s what she told me.”
Sampson gave Derek the details, then added, “From what Rachel says, it could have a devastating effect on the world economy! Might touch off riots, rebellions. Even full-scale war—”
“You don’t mean bad,” said Derek. “You mean apocalyptic.”
“I think this is it, Derek. This is the big one. She told him she wouldn’t, but he talked about terrible things happening if she didn’t cooperate. I don’t know what she’s going to do. She’s supposed to see him tonight to give him her answer.”
“This is what he’s been leading up to,” said Derek. “The other stuff was just to suck her in, give him something on her. Damn it, Archangel Michael let this go too far!”
“We can take him out, Commander,” said Sampson. He unsheathed his claws and bared his fangs.
“I have orders,” said Derek glumly. “I have to report this to Angel William. He’ll decide what to do.”
“That’s all, sir?” Sampson glared at him. “You’re going to go running to your superiors? Now’s the time to fight, not talk. I thought you were a warrior!”
“Not anymore apparently,” said Derek bitterly. “Come on. You better go back. At least one of us should be with her. And I’ve got to go tell William.”
“Right, sir,” said Sampson.
Derek carried the cat upstairs but paused outside the door.
“Sampson, promise me something.”
“Cats don’t make promises, but I’ll take it under advisement. What do you want, sir?”
“Notify me immediately if anything goes wrong. Even if you don’t know what it is. I need to know if she’s in danger.”
There was a long pause, then Sampson said somberly, “Derek, Rachel’s in danger now.”
Rachel didn’t answer when he knocked, so he quietly opened the door. She was asleep on the couch, still clutching soggy tissues in her hand. Not wanting to disturb her, he let Sampson in and placed the leash on her counter. Sampson jumped onto the couch, keeping vigil over Rachel as she slept.
“You take care of her and yourself,” Derek warned the cat. “Zanus will stop at nothing.”
Sampson curled up inside Rachel’s arms.
Derek left to find William. He’d probably be fired if the manager discovered he’d walked off the job, but that didn’t matter now. After a long walk through parts of Chicago that no one liked to admit existed, he found William under the Fullerton Street bridge with a lot of other homeless people.
The angel was playing craps.
Fifteen
“I feel a pair of deuces comin’ up next, boys! Whaddya say, double or nothing?” William shouted.
Several ragged people in the crowd placed their bets, tossing coins and dollars onto the pavement. Then they all gathered around to watch William’s throw.
Lifting his right hand in the air, William shook the dice and then threw them against the wall. He gazed at them expectantly as they bounced to the street.
A pair of fours came up.
William groaned and shook his head. Cheers came from the crowd.
“William?” Derek exclaimed, amazed.
The angel jumped and whipped around.
“Oh, uh, hullo, Derek.” William gave a sheepish grin and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
“Are you gambling?” Derek asked.
“Well, yes, you did catch me indulging in a game of chance or two. But I’m not really gambling,” William hastened to assure him. He edged closer to Derek, grabbed him by the collar and whispered, “You see, the dice are loaded.”
“You’re cheating these people?” Derek said, shocked.
“No, no, no,” said William hurriedly. “It’s not like that.” He smiled proudly. “I always lose! People hate charity, but they love losers. Besides, I do so enjoy craps,” he added wistfully. “And it’s been years since I played. Not allowed up there, you know.” He cast his gaze heavenward.
“If I could tear you away from your game for a moment, I need to have a word with you. There’s news,” Derek said.
“Yes, of course.” William pulled some money out of his pockets, tossed it on the ground, and followed Derek down the alley. “What have you heard?”
“Zanus is making his move. He’s blackmailing Rachel, asking her to do something in the market tomorrow. I don’t understand it—”
“Tell me everything you know,” said William.
Derek explained what he’d heard from Sampson. William nodded and looked very grave.
“This is serious, Derek. You were right when you said it was apocalyptic. Will she do it? Do you know?” William asked urgently.
“She doesn’t know what she’s going to do.” Derek shook his head. “He told her he’d expect her decision tonight. William, it’s tearing her apart. We’ve got to do something.” Derek’s fists clenched. It was obvious what he wanted to do.
“We are doing something, Derek,” William said severely. “You and Sampson will maintain your position of surveillance. We can’t intervene. Not at this moment. She must make this decision herself. It’s critical.” William scratched his beard and sighed deeply.
Derek glared at him. “What do you mean, we can’t intervene. I have to stop him. I have to stop her.”
“Derek, calm down,” William said sharply. “Listen to me. Our mission here is not to win this battle, but to win the war. We need to know who else is involved. A single archfiend didn’t bring this about on his own. There’s a worldwide network here. We need to know who Zanus is working with and then we can take them all down. Do you understand?”
“No, I don’t understand!” Derek returned angrily. “Rachel is in danger. What if she does refuse, William? She’ll lose her job, maybe even go to prison or worse. Zanus won’t take no for an answer. He might kill her, for God’s sake—”
“Use your brain, Derek!” William admonished. “He won’t harm her physically. He needs her cooperation and he knows she would never help him if he carried out his threats. He’s trying to scare her, coerce her.”
Derek shook his head, unconvinced. “We should destroy him—”
“We can’t. Not now. You’re not seeing the whole picture, Derek. You just see one little part of it. Heaven does know what it’s doing.”
“I’ve heard that before!” Derek retorted. “When the Inquisition was breaking my bones on the rack!”
“Derek, you have let yourself get personally involved,” said William sternly. “I warned you about that. Am I going to have to remove you? I don’t want to.” His voice softened. “Your work so far has been invaluable, the information we’ve gained…But I will if you force me to do so.”
Derek eyed him grimly. His fists were still clenched. He was looking at William, but all he was seeing was Rachel, so miserable and unhappy. He could still feel her tears on Sampson’s fur.
“Yes, I’m per
sonally involved,” Derek said with quiet dignity. “Yes, I love her. But isn’t love what Heaven’s supposed to be all about?”
He turned on his heel and walked away. He could feel William staring after him. He could feel the angel’s sympathy and also his worry.
“Don’t worry,” Derek shot back over his shoulder. “I’ll obey. I’ve obeyed for several hundred years. I’m not going to stop now.”
Frustrated, he walked back to the building and returned to his post. He couldn’t do anything but sit and watch and wait. He felt as if he was being stretched on the rack all over again.
The familiar black limousine pulled up in front of the building. Derek waited tensely for Rachel to walk out of the elevator, but she didn’t appear. His heart swelled with admiration and pride. She’s not coming. She’s not going to go through with it. So you can just drive away, Mr. Archfiend. Go back to your seat by the fire…
The door of the limo opened. Zanus stepped out. His face was dark and ugly, his lips compressed.
Zanus entered the building and walked up to Derek’s desk.
“Call Ms. Duncan and tell her I am here,” Zanus ordered him.
Derek was tempted to take the phone cord and wrap it around the fiend’s neck and choke him to death—slowly. He had promised to obey orders, and, like a good soldier, he would. Besides, he had a feeling he was going to enjoy this.
“Who should I say is calling?” he asked pleasantly.
“You know who is calling,” said Zanus coldly. “And if you know what is good for you, you’ll do as you’re told.”
Derek put in a call to Rachel’s apartment.
“Ms. Duncan, this is Derek. You have a guest waiting for you in the lobby.”
He heard her make a choking sound. Then she drew a ragged breath and said, “Tell Zanus I’m not feeling well. I won’t be able to come to dinner with him this evening.”
She hung up the phone.
Derek had to fight back a grin as he delivered the message.
“Mr. Zanus, Ms. Rachel sends her regrets, she is ill and will not be able to go to dinner with you this evening. I suppose you’ll be on your way, then?” Derek added, rising to his feet. “Here let me hold the door for you—”
Zanus’s face darkened. “The hell she will!” he muttered. He shoved his way past Derek, stepped outside the building to stand under the awning. Zanus deftly flipped open his cell phone.
He spoke briefly into the phone, then hung up and returned to the car. Derek expected it to pull away, but it remained.
He began to get worried. Fifteen minutes later, Rachel emerged from the elevator. She looked pale and ill.
Derek rose to his feet. He wanted so much to tell her she didn’t have to do this. She just had to say the word and he would defy Heaven itself for her.
“Rachel…” he said softly.
She just shook her head and strode past him, walking more quickly now, as though she feared if she slowed down, she would not make it at all.
We’ll get you out of this, Rachel, Derek promised her silently. Just be strong. It’ll all turn out okay.
He remained at his post until they returned, determined to make certain that Rachel arrived home safely.
The limo pulled up earlier than usual. Rachel stepped out and walked to the front door of the building. She didn’t look behind her and so she didn’t see Zanus emerging from the other side. Derek walked over to the door and held it open.
Zanus came up behind her and grabbed hold of Rachel’s arm. “I think you should reconsider—”
Rachel turned around. She was extremely pale, but she was in control. “We’ve already gone through this. I don’t plan to continue this discussion. Please let go of me. I’m not feeling very well and I have to be up early in the morning.”
Zanus continued to hold on to her. His expression was grim. “Then let me come up with you. I want to make sure you’re all right.”
“I am quite capable of taking care of myself,” Rachel returned. Her eyes glimmered with tears, but she blinked them back. “Please let go of me.”
Her eyes connected with Derek’s. That was all the signal he needed. Derek stepped outside and laid his hand on Zanus’s arm.
“Ms. Duncan asked you to let go of her,” said Derek.
“Rachel, I insist—” Zanus was saying, talking past Derek to Rachel.
“I believe Ms. Duncan asked you to leave, sir,” Derek said again. Then he gave Zanus’s arm an expert twist. Zanus grunted in pain and released his hold on Rachel. She escaped inside the door. Zanus’s gaze focused on Derek. The fiend’s black eyes fixed balefully on him.
“This is none of your business, boy,” Zanus said curtly and he started to shove Derek out of the way. “Trust me,” said the fiend. “You don’t want to make this your business.”
“On the contrary,” Derek stated calmly. “My business is protecting the inhabitants of this building. One of those inhabitants has asked you to leave. Now either you do so on your own or I will be glad to assist you. More than glad.”
Rachel was now in the building. She hadn’t gone up to her apartment yet, however. She was standing near in the lobby.
Zanus paused for a moment as though he was reevaluating the situation. He gazed intently at Derek, then called past Derek’s shoulder, his words meant for Rachel.
“Darling, I’m sorry I upset you. Please get some rest tonight. Tomorrow is a big day,” he said, his tone fraught with meaning.
Zanus then turned his gaze to Derek, who still had fast hold of him.
“I know who you are, Commander,” Zanus said in a soft voice, his words meant for the two of them alone. “And you should consider working for our side.” He glanced with scorn at Derek’s uniform. “The expense accounts are better.”
He broke free of Derek’s grasp and walked down the stairs toward the limo’s open door. Derek stayed where he was until the car drove off.
“He’s gone,” Derek said. He turned around and walked over to her, touching her shoulder gently. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll stay here all night. He won’t bother you.”
“Thank you,” Rachel said brokenly.
She looked ready to crumple, so Derek swept her up in his arms. “I’ll take you to your apartment.”
“I can walk,” she protested. “You don’t have to carry me—” She gave a wan smile. “That’s not really part of the duties of a doorman.”
“How do you know?” Derek asked, tightening his grip on her. “Have you read the doorman’s handbook? ‘Carrying fainting women to their apartments.’ It’s on page ninety-six.”
She tried to smile, but her lips quivered. “Oh, Derek, I’ve done something terrible, and I’m in such trouble, and there’s no way out of it.” A tear slid down her cheek.
“Yes, there is,” he said, his heart aching for her anguish. “Tell me what I can do.”
“You can’t do anything,” she returned in hopeless, despairing tones. “No one can. I’ve done this to myself.”
She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. She did not sob. She cried silently and that was worse. He watched the tears slide down her cheeks. He felt her warmth, felt her body tremble against his. He smelled the fragrance of her hair that brushed his cheek and the softness of her breasts pressed against his chest. He was overcome by desire and love and pity and anger, so that for a moment it seemed his heart would burst from the pain. The pain of longing. The pain of love. The pain of frustration.
He had not felt this angry at God since He had abandoned him so long ago. If he could have, he would have stormed into Heaven this moment, gone raging to stand at the throne of the Lord, and railed against Heaven.
He couldn’t, however. That would only make things worse. And, besides, he couldn’t leave Rachel.
She insisted on walking on her own. He accompanied her to her apartment, keeping his arm around her, holding her close, letting her lean on him. She didn’t speak, but she seemed to find comfort in his nearness. When they came to her
door, she looked up at him.
“Thank you, Derek. You’ve turned out to be a true friend. I want you to know I appreciate it.”
She put her key in the door.
“Let me help,” he said.
She turned around, faced him. “You are,” she said. “Just by being here.”
She opened the door. Derek waited outside to make certain nothing was amiss.
Sampson was there, claws out, back arched, tail puffed up like a bottle brush, ready to attack.
“It’s okay, Sampson,” said Rachel, bending down to pick up the cat. “It’s Derek. Not Zanus.”
She rubbed her cheek against Sampson’s head. “They say animals are good judges of people. Sampson never has liked Zanus. I should have known.”
“Try to get some sleep,” Derek advised.
Rachel shook her head. “I’m so wired I’m not sure I can. Besides, I have a decision to make. Good night, Derek. Thank you again.”
She shut the door.
Sampson’s voice rang in Derek’s head.
“Will Rachel be safe tonight?” Sampson asked anxiously.
“I hope so,” said Derek, and he sighed. “I don’t know, though. She told Zanus she wouldn’t go along with him, but he has a pretty strong hold on her. I’m not sure what she’ll do.”
“What do we do?” Sampson asked.
“Our orders are to do nothing,” Derek said grimly.
“Well, then, if we’re not supposed to do anything, is somebody up there doing something?” Sampson demanded.
“I hope so,” said Derek. “I certainly hope so.”
Sixteen
When Derek returned to the lobby, the night man was on duty. Derek told him that there’d been a problem between one of the tenants and a man who was harassing her. On no account was this man to be allowed into the building. Derek gave the night man a description of Zanus, then went to his apartment. He paced back and forth, thinking through the situation and he came to the unfortunate realization that while Zanus wouldn’t be likely to harm Rachel because he needed her to assist him in his nefarious schemes, Zanus didn’t need Derek at all. And he undoubtedly considered Derek a serious threat. He wondered what Zanus would do to him, suspected it would be something nasty.