by Alexie Aaron
Ted pulled up the van and watched as the doorman helped Mia across the sidewalk with her purchases.
“Before you have a heart attack, we ran into Quentin, and he spent his father’s ill-gotten gains on all of us, including Ralph.”
Ted didn’t understand rich people. Nor why anyone would need more than a weeks’ worth of underwear, tees, and a good pair of jeans.
“How about I drive? This way, you can work on the way home,” Mia explained.
“I’d much rather spend the time listening to you sing off key.”
“You’re so romantic. Maybe we can pull over and…
He did just that.
~
They stole ashore and into the building. One of the mates shrieked when he saw the large bony monster. They kept together as there were other spirits roaming around. The ones from the primitive civilizations really scared Captain Waite. There was plunder here at every turn, but their interest was the vault. They descended the stairs and surrounded the stone structure.
“I heard the tall fellow say he thought it was a doorway,” the first mate said.
“Nonsense, why would they go to the expense and trouble of bringing a doorway here?” Captain Waite argued. “I think we’ll post a spy and rotate every half day. We can’t bear the weight of the whole thing. We’ll wait until they open it.”
Chapter Eight
Mary Westfield shook her head as Bernard entered the office. “Dr. Wesley, the phone has been ringing off the hook. It seems that someone played silly buggers with several of the exhibits last night. Before you ask, I already had security look into things, and they have the film ready for your perusal. The long and the short of it is, there is movement of artifacts, but no one physically has been filmed moving them. No unauthorized entry past closing time.”
“Was anything taken?”
“That’s the odd thing, no. The gem exhibit looked like a fight occurred there, but all the gems are accounted for.”
“Ghosts,” Bernard said.
“Not again.”
“It could be one of our regulars, but they’ve never caused a big mess before.”
“We do have several traveling exhibits. Maybe something came attached?” Mary suggested.
“I’m thinking I should call Mia, but she was just in the city yesterday. Ralph took her shopping, so you know she’s worn out. Ted will be here tomorrow, but I should get this looked at today. “Call Burt Hicks.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. You’re calling in PEEPs after the mess they made last time?”
“For the record, the glass ceiling was scheduled to be replaced, and they saved the museum, Mary.”
The ringing of the apartment landline phone woke Mike. He reached for the portable handset and winced as Burt’s voice came over the earpiece a bit too loudly for his hungover brain.
“Give me a minute. Late night. Coffee, heading for coffee,” Mike said, stumbling into the kitchen. He jammed a pod in the brewer and a cup in the holder and sat down. “Repeat that?”
“Dr. Wesley called and would like us to consult on a problem at the museum.”
“Can’t Mia handle this?” Mike asked, putting his nose dangerously close to the coffee machine. He inhaled the aroma.
“I called her, and she will drive in after she takes Brian to preschool. Can you be there within an hour?” Burt asked. “I get the idea he wants this seen to before the museum opens for the day. He said his secretary will let you in at the employee entrance.”
“Shit, does he have the same secretary?”
“Dunno, why?”
“I slept with her.”
“Did it end badly?”
“I think she enjoyed herself. They all do.”
“I wasn’t talking about your performance. How did the relationship end?”
“I left town.”
“Geeze, we talked about this. You can’t fuck the clients.”
“That was years ago, and I don’t… well… not many…” Mike said, trying to remember who would qualify as a client.
“Be kind, professional and…”
“I’ve got this,” Mike said. “I’ll drink a cup of coffee and I’m a new man.”
“Bernard pays quickly and well. He’s a good client, and if you’re still intent on scoring Mia points…”
“Gee, how would Mia feel if she knew you were dangling her like a carrot?” Mike asked.
“Amused. I’ll call Ted and give him a heads-up.”
Mike hung up the phone, dumped some ice in his coffee, and drank it straight down. He headed to the bathroom and winced as he saw the scratch marks on his cheek. The model had slapped him when he mistakenly called her Mia when they were having sex. Her name was Betty or Betsy, something like that. She had these long nails that used to fascinate him. After she stormed out, he drank himself to sleep. “God, Mia, why do I let you do this to me?”
Mia hugged Varden before she left him in the capable hands of Lazar. “I hope to be back to pick Brian up, but traffic can be tricky on Friday coming out of the city. I hate to bother Ted; he’s lost a day’s work already on his project.”
“Why don’t you not worry about it. I’ll pick Brian up. That’s why I’m on the roster of parents,” Lazar reminded her.
“Thank you, you’re a lifesaver. Brian, head for the car. I’m going to ask Murphy if he wants to come. I hate that museum. It’s full of ghosts. It would be nice to have a friendly ghost backing me up.”
Murphy heard the bell and was pleased to see Mia standing there. He noticed she was wearing a smart looking outfit. It must have been one that she brought home from the city. She explained the situation.
“Of course I’ll come. I’m PEEPs security chief. I should check the place out.”
“Thank you,” Mia said, walking back towards the truck.
Brian had already pulled his extra booster chair out of the back and almost had it installed.
“Wow, you’re strong,” Mia commented.
Brian beamed.
“I told you the reason you have a little harder time swimming is because your muscles are dense. I bet they are just waiting for you to grow tall, and you’re going to be as strong as Uncle Ed.”
“I’d rather fly,” Brian said.
“I don’t fly,” Murphy said. “I hate it.”
“I know, but you’re dead.”
“Good point,” Murphy said.
“Honey, I didn’t know I had wings until I was an adult. Wings are tricky things.”
“But Nicholai said I should already show some signs. He said that I’ve been blessed with a brain that, if properly used, will contribute to the world.”
“He’s right about your brain. Would you like me to take you flying?” Mia asked. “You have to be very still and not wiggle.”
“Yes!”
“I think we’ll schedule it for the weekend, early in the morning after breakfast. Sunday would be best. As long as you have your chores done and behave yourself, you and I will have a mother-son flight.”
They arrived at the preschool, and Mia walked Brian in. Murphy moved around the parents until he caught a woman saying cruel things about Mia.
“She lives with all these men. Look at her expensive clothes. I think she’s a high-end prostitute.”
“Lisa, I think you’re batty. Mia’s married to that tall fellow who picks up her son.”
“Annie, you’re daft. Mark my words, Mia Cooper’s a slag.”
Murphy loosened the cap on Lisa’s coffee. He moved back to the truck and waited for Mia.
Mia walked by the group of ladies quickly, not wanting to hear anything nasty coming out of Lisa Lane-Cordoba’s mouth. She got in the truck and sighed.
“What’s wrong?” Murphy asked.
“See that woman over there with the short brown hair?”
“Yes.”
“She used to torment me in school. I don’t know what I did to her, but it must have been big because she’s held a grudge ever since.”
&nb
sp; They watched as Lisa stopped talking long enough to drink her coffee. The cap fell off and drenched her front.
Murphy laughed.
Mia backed the truck out. “Did you do that?”
“Do what?” Murph asked. “What’s a slag?”
“Slang for a woman who has sex with quite a few fellas. Maybe someone who has sex on the first date or dates more than one guy. I think it’s a bad word. Men like Mike aren’t called names when they have many sexual partners, but single women are.”
“What if someone is called a slag who is married?”
“It’s still an offensive term and probably unjust,” Mia said. “Why?”
“Just something I overheard.”
“K.”
“You look very nice in your new clothes.”
“I picked them out myself. Quentin paid for them. I’m keeping all the receipts, so when I have some extra money, I can pay him back.”
“I’m sure he meant them as a gift.”
“Baxter says that married women shouldn’t accept expensive gifts from anyone but their husband and family.”
“Quentin is your half-uncle,” he reminded her.
“True, but I’m still going to pay him back. He may need the money one day when he has a family of his own.”
“Be careful, you know how hurt Ralph gets when you pay him back. Quentin is much more sensitive.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Mia said. “You are full of interesting things today.”
“I’m just trying to be a good friend.”
“You don’t have to try. Friends have each other’s backs and understand when the other friend falters. I am surrounded by good friends, but you’re my best friend.”
“What’s Ted working on?”
“It’s hush-hush, so I’m not really sure. Except, it has to do with protecting objects.”
“Like a forcefield?”
“I guess. Maybe he should talk to Baxter. Baxter can conjure a forcefield. He’s going to teach me how to put one around myself. Maybe Ted can figure out the math that makes it work?”
“I think that’s a sly way of getting him to embrace being a wizard.”
“You’re too smart for your own good, Murph.”
“No one ever has called me smart.”
“Really? I’m surprised. The way you caught up to the present day is remarkable.”
“Thank you, Mia. But why do you sometimes call me a dumb farmer?”
“Oh, that’s just me being Bad Mia. Farmers aren’t dumb. I know it’s no excuse, but I really didn’t have good role models growing up. I let my anger drive me at times. Baxter says that I’ll learn. Now if I was as smart as you, Murph, it would be easy. But I’m not.”
“I believe in you, Mia.”
“Thank you, Murph, that means a lot. Would you mind if I put on music and concentrated on the traffic?”
“No, you don’t have to put music on. I’ll be quiet.”
“Cool beans,” Mia said.
~
Victor entered the Cooper’s condo through the upper balcony. He had waited until they left, presumably, for the museum. He was looking for something that would explain Mia’s mother’s change of heart. John Ryan promised to review her vlog entries to see if he could pinpoint when the woman may have been influenced by the Cynosura. Ted was the key. The Cynosura needed to find a way to get to Ted. Or was it something else? He worked his way through the apartment.
There were too many papers to go through on his own, so he looked for other signs of Piers Savatier’s work. The man was in prison, but he had lots of minions to do his bidding. He walked into what had to be Amanda’s study. Books with odd bookmarks filled the shelves. There was a small cardboard box pushed back haphazardly on a low shelf. He read the postmark, and it was from Orly, France. He opened the box, and inside were two worn ballet slippers.
He took out a large plastic bag and dropped the box and its contents into it. He reexamined the box through the bag. The postmark bothered him. He expected it to have been sent in the last two weeks. Instead, this had been sent to Amanda prior to the time the international team left for Iceland.
~
Father Santos confessed his sins to Father Simon. The two acted as each other’s confessor, mostly because of the type of work they did. Most priests weren’t comfortable with the supernatural element of their jobs.
After, they sat together and conversed about their flocks.
“What hurt me the most was the anger that all but roiled off of Mia,” Father Santos said.
“From what you’ve told me, she has every reason to be upset. She’s fighting to hold on to the human part of her. That means Ted and the children. They are her anchor to humanity.”
“I just feel he’s going to let her down,” Father Santos said.
“Pardon me, Paolo, but you were never a Ted detractor before. I think maybe we should examine where these thoughts come from.”
“I keep a diary,” Santos said, opening his briefcase.
“Let’s go through it together. But first, we will ask for God’s protection.”
The priests went through the secret rite that exorcists use to protect them from negative influences within themselves and outside. Father Simon called out, “If you are with God, you’re welcome here. If not, may God have mercy on your soul.”
There was a fluttering of wings, and both men were surprised to see Michael, Prince of the Angels, standing there.
Both men fell to their knees. Michael walked forward and put his hands on the heads of both men. He read all he needed to read. He stood back and waited for the priests to recover.
“What brings you to the Chapel of the Holy Spirit?” Father Simon asked.
“I’ve heard your prayers. Paolo Santos, your mind has been poisoned.”
“But how?”
“Gerald Shem gave you something you carry with you.”
Father Santos searched his pockets and brought out his rosary. “This he gave me as a gift. He said it belonged to a religious scholar I admired but had passed on.”
“Father Simon, pour your holy water on the beads,” Michael instructed.
Father Simon took a tray he kept on the altar and brought it over. “Paolo, please place your rosary on the tray.”
Santos did so.
Father Simon poured the water from his personal supply. The water steamed as it touched the beads, and it boiled away.
“I’m shocked and heartbroken,” Santos said. “How did you know?”
“Mia prayed for your soul. Mia rarely prays, so when she does, I listen.”
“So she doesn’t hate me?”
“No, Mia loves and forgives you. She hates the things that Gerald influenced you to do. When did he give you the rosary?”
“He sent it to me in Rome. I received it before I came to join Angelo and PEEPs at the hotel.”
“I would suggest strongly that you work from that point forward and examine all the things you have done and said. When you’re finished, Father Simon will cleanse the evil from your mind. If Gerald asks to speak with you or see you, decline the invitation. A mere word can bring back his control.”
“Saint Michael,” Father Simon began, “May I confer with you about a private matter?”
“Yes.”
Father Santos excused himself and walked into Father Simon’s private quarters.
“Mia’s aura has changed.”
“I’m aware of this.”
“She radiates such power, old power. The power from a thousand suns.”
“Yes, she is being used by Nyx.”
“Why?”
“We believe that there is every possibility that a doorway to the destruction of this planet could be opened soon. Mia is being prepared to meet this threat.”
“But she is just one person. How can she stop this?”
“Oh, she’ll have help. There is a prophesy that foretells of an angel who arrives on a winged horse leading an army of 500,000 lost souls. It was wri
tten a long time ago when the seer had no concept of this day and age. Fortunately, he left us with an illuminated manuscript that rewrites itself.”
“Where is this manuscript?”
“In the hands of the right person to help Mia understand her role.”
“Couldn’t you tell her?”
“I won’t be her general, but I will help when I can,” Michael promised. “Have faith and pray.”
“What shall I pray?”
“For me to have strength. I have to align myself with two entities I’m not very fond of. Pray that I can let go of my ego in order to save this world.”
“Yes, Saint Michael.”
“Take care of Father Santos. He has been shaken to his core.”
“Yes, I promise.”
“I do love the window, and thank you for your work,” Michael said.
Father Simon gazed up at the stained-glass depiction of a fierce dove with talons ready to rip evil a new one. When he looked back where Michael stood, he was gone. Father Simon crossed himself and began to pray.
~
Mike finished his assessment. He gathered his evidence and presented it to Bernard. “I think you have ghosts coming in from outside. You can see their reflections as they move through the glass doors, here and here. I think you’re dealing with a gang of some kind.”
“If it were a street gang, they would have taken things away,” Bernard said.
“They still may.”
“Do you think they are coming back?”
“I honestly don’t know. If you want, I can have a small team spend the night. I know Mia plans to go to Dieter’s game tonight, so we won’t have her with us. Without Mia, we will have to depend on our sensors. She’s on her way in and should be here soon. I’d like her to interview your resident ghosts. I think that Yellow Diamond Bill had a scuffle with someone who was paying too much attention to his prize.”
“Bill is a bit possessive about that diamond.”
“Mia still talks about the first time she met Bill.”
“You and Mia are thick as thieves. You seem to have her confidence. I’m really surprised that she would risk her marriage by continuing to be close to you.”