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  As soon as Uriel was gone, Gabriel waved a hand and reopened the hole in the clouds. He could see Julia, still sitting beside her car, cradling Alex’s body. Gabriel frowned, his wings drooping sadly on his back. Raphael laid a gentle hand upon his shoulder.

  “Be well, Brother,” she said. She stepped away, then disappeared into the mist.

  “I would have preferred there to be another way. She did not need this heartache.”

  “As would I,” Michael said, stepping up beside him.

  “Why would you have her surround herself in a shield you know is useless?”

  “It is not useless at all, Gabriel.”

  “Michael, you know it only worked for Alex because he wove his with spirit.”

  “It is our alarm system, Brother—a beacon. We are unable to see the entity, but she can alert us in this way. It fled when I scanned the area, so until we can figure out how to deal with this thing, that is what we’ll do.”

  “I see. The others answered your call.” Gabriel lifted his eyes to meet Michael’s. “Uriel demands answers, as usual. The others were too busy to question anything.”

  “It is comforting that they answered, nonetheless. I have often wondered if they would.”

  Gabriel raised an eyebrow, but let the statement pass unchallenged. He refocused his attention on the scene below. “That child saw you. And I believe it saw the other thing, as well.”

  “Yes, I know,” Michael said with a wave of his hand. “Children can see it, and dogs—or so it would seem—and she can see it, now that she remembers how to see fully. And if she throws up that shield every time it is near, we will know it is there.”

  “That ‘shield’ is too bright, Michael. It may attract other unpleasant things. A web of energy like that one is a beacon to those from whom we would sooner keep her safe.”

  “I think that is the least of our worries.” Michael turned away from Gabriel, surveying the scene below once more. Both Archangels were still for a few moments, until Gabriel broke the silence.

  “We have an unknown enemy. Did you have any sense of where it came from?”

  “It was unnatural, Gabriel. Its every movement was unnatural. And the odor that accompanies it seems to speak clearly as to its place of origin.” Michael had a distant look in his eyes, even for him.

  “It smelled of the Earth.”

  “Rotting Earth,” Michael countered. “If not of its origin, then, at least it must speak of its intent.”

  “Could it be Lucifer? Would he dare to leave his exile and break your laws of creation?”

  “I don’t think even Lucifer would cross that line again, Brother. I believe we have a new enemy on the rise. You have much work to do. You are the Messenger. You must spread this word.”

  “What word exactly would you have me spread?”

  “That we have a new enemy. A new being—one that is not of the Creator. And that we must be alert.”

  Gabriel bowed his head in acquiescence. “We all have much work. Be well, Brother.”

  Michael stood silently for several minutes after Gabriel’s departure. He appeared more transparent than ever he had, trying to be everywhere and see everything, hoping to find some hint as to what they were facing.

  XV

  THEY had to pry Julia’s arms from around Alex and pull her away. Once she had the okay from the paramedics, Julia was taken to the police station. As the officer led her to the squad car, her eyes lingered on Alex’s body. With a tightened grip on her stone, she tried in vain to will him back to life.

  They told her that her car was evidence and had to stay at the scene to be processed. She looked at them and blinked twice.

  “Processed,” she said. She heard their words, but none of it sank in.

  Now that Michael had shown her how to remember, she rewound her time with Alex, savoring moments with him. Their first kiss. The first time he told her that he loved her. The day they met. Their last time being intimate.

  I’ll just stay with him, she thought. I can still be with him.

  Tears trickled down her cheeks and slid their way down her neck. The officers escorted her into the station, and she vaguely heard them asking her questions through her visions of Alex. She lifted her hands to her face, and realized she could smell his cologne on her palms.

  She inhaled deeply, going further into her memories—she was sitting on her sofa, snuggled up beside Alex. He had one arm wrapped around her shoulders. She could smell him, feel his warmth and even his heartbeat. She sighed.

  -You must not do this, girl.- Michael’s voice echoed through her mind, sending a ripple through the memory.

  Julia pressed her body closer to Alex, wrapping her arms around his waist. She looked up at him and he smiled at her in that way that always made butterflies dance in her stomach.

  -Leave me alone, Michael. I did what you asked. Now leave me alone.-

  -You cannot stay here. You are needed on Earth. We need you.-

  -I can stay here with him. He’s real here.- Julia rested her head upon Alex’s shoulder.

  -You know that isn’t true, girl. He is a vision. You cannot leave everything behind to live within a memory.-

  -Everything? What is everything? Alex was all I had!- As Julia’s anger flared, the image of Alex wavered and started to fade.

  -You have many things. You have nurtured your business like a child. You have friends, like Sandra and Charlie. You have us. You have your family.- Michael’s voice bounced off the inside of her skull.

  -My family? I don’t even know what family is! Leave me alone!- Julia tapered off as her grief overwhelmed her once again. Her whole body shook as she sobbed into her hands, her tears washing away the last remnants of Alex’s cologne.

  -How will you learn what family is if you turn your back on your life this way? You are stronger than this. You have things to take care of.-

  -I’m tired, Michael, and I want to stay with Alex.- But Michael’s last statement had struck a chord with her, and her resolve waned. She knew she was responsible for the people who worked for her, if nothing else. Her staff relied upon her for their livelihood. But there was something else in Michael’s tone. Something that pulled at her core. -What things?-

  -We need to find the source. It was not that waiter who caused Alex’s death, it was the thing in the woods. We must find it and stop it.-

  She knew he was right. That thing had killed Alex, not the waiter, even though she had seen the gun in Clyde’s hands. Her grief transformed into rage. Julia ground her teeth together so hard her jaw ached. She wanted to scream, but was afraid if she did that to Michael, inside her head, she might actually split her skull.

  -Fine. I’ll do it.-

  -You must rejoin the living, girl. Go now.-

  Julia withdrew from the memories and blinked. She was sitting at a table in an unfamiliar conference room. She had no memory of entering it, or of sitting. There was a bottle of water and a box of tissues on the table. A stocky female detective sat across from her, eyeing her expectantly. Another detective, an older male, stood by the door with one hand on the doorknob. She vaguely recognized them as the detectives who had taken her from the scene.

  “I’m sorry,” Julia said. “What were you saying?”

  The detectives exchanged a glance, and the man let go of the knob and turned to listen.

  “We were asking you if you needed medical help,” the woman said, concern obvious in her eyes.

  “You were non-responsive,” the man said coldly. “I’m sorry,” Julia mumbled. “I just… Who are you?”

  “I am Detective Alyssa Cole.” Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail that made Julia’s temples throb just to look at. Cole gestured to the other detective. “This is my partner, Detective Frank Salter.”

  The name suited the cop, given the flecks of gray sprinkled throughout his buzz-cut. Julia nodded at both and took in a long, shuddering breath.

  “We understand, Ms. Samson, you have been through a horrible orde
al.” Cole sat back in her chair. “Why don’t we give you a few minutes to collect yourself?”

  Salter nodded and stepped out.

  The moment her partner left the room, Cole offered her a sad smile. “Can I get you anything, ma’am?”

  “Do you have coffee?” Julia asked. Her eyes fell to the pile of soggy tissues beside her. She shook her head. She had never been so despondent that she had no memory of what was going on around her. She brought a shaky hand to her forehead.

  “I’ll get some,” the detective said with a kind smile. She stood and walked out, leaving Julia alone with her thoughts.

  By the time Julia finished telling the police everything, she was completely exhausted. An officer had driven her car back to the station, where it had been processed and cleaned—marginally. At least there was no longer a blood trail down the side of the driver’s door. Still, Julia couldn’t bring herself to drive it, so she called Sandra, who answered on the first ring.

  “Julia? Are you okay, love?”

  “I-I…” Julia squeezed her eyes shut. Her voice came out in a near-whisper. “Can you help me?”

  “Where are you? Julia, are you okay?” Sandra’s voice became shrill.

  “I just need… I just… Alex.” A sob wrenched itself from her throat. “He’s dead. The waiter… Alex is dead.”

  “What? No!” Sandra’s voice cracked. “Julia, I’m so sorry.”

  Her friend’s sympathy opened the gates that had held her tears at bay. Julia folded over and buried her face in her knees, pressing the phone to the side of her head like the hug she so desperately needed. A stammering, “Please help me,” was all she could manage.

  “Where are you?” Sandra’s sniffles gave way to alarm.

  “I’m okay,” Julia croaked. The last thing she wanted to do was to spark one of Sandra’s panic attacks. She took a deep, steadying breath and sat up. “I’m at the police station. I have to go home, but I can’t drive.”

  “I’ll be right there.” There was a rustle of movement on the other side of the phone, and the jingle of keys. “Which precinct?”

  “Second. Wait!”

  “What?”

  “I need…” She didn’t know how to ask. Finally, the words formed for her. “My car is here.”

  “I’ll take care of it. I’ll be there in twenty.”

  Julia stared at her phone once it disconnected. She dialed Alex’s number, but hung up before the voicemail kicked in. As much as she wanted to hear his voice, she thought it might send her over the edge.

  Sandra barged into the station, her red-rimmed eyes scanning the foyer until they landed on Julia. She ran over, arms spread wide, and flung them around Julia, repeating, “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  After a few minutes, Julia pulled away. “Thank you for coming, Sandra. I just can’t…you know…but I don’t want to leave it here, either.”

  “It’s no trouble, love. My Bobby drove me down. He’ll follow us back in your car and take me home. We’re happy to help.” Sandra took a deep breath. “I should have done something more last night after my car was…”

  “No.” Julia held up a hand, cutting Sandra off. “You will not take the blame for this, Sandra.”

  Julia knew there was much more to Alex’s murder than she could tell Sandra, but she simply didn’t have the energy to be the one doing the consoling.

  “I’m sorry,” Sandra said, hanging her head as though she realized exactly what Julia had just thought.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Julia said. “Please.”

  Sandra wrapped a warm arm around Julia’s shoulders and led her out of the building and toward the parking lot. She shut off her memories and they drove home in silence.

  “Let me come in and fix you some tea,” Sandra offered when they arrived at Julia’s townhouse. “You shouldn’t be alone right now.”

  “No, thank you, Sandra.” Julia unlocked her door and stepped inside. She turned and faced Sandra, blocking the entryway as though Sandra was one of those dreaded door-to-door salespeople. “I need to be alone.”

  Sandra grimaced and eyed Julia with skepticism. Finally she sighed, shrugged, and reached a hand forward to give Julia’s a squeeze. “I’m right at the other end of the phone, should you need me, love.”

  “I know,” Julia said, her tone softening now that she realized Sandra was going to leave her alone. “Sandra?”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t open the restaurant tomorrow. I’ll pay everyone for their shifts, but I want it closed.”

  “Consider it done.”

  “And Sandra?”

  “Yes?”

  “Lower the flag.”

  Sandra nodded. “Get some sleep, Julia,” she said before turning and heading to her car.

  Julia watched as Sandra got in and Bobby leaned over to give her a kiss. A profound sadness hit her like a sucker punch to the gut. She closed the door, locking the bolts and drawing the chain into place. She leaned back against the door and sank to the floor, hands over her eyes as she wept.

  After more than an hour, cried out and barely awake, she stood and dragged herself to the computer. She clicked on IM and waited for it to load.

  She opened a window to Charlie and sat with her fingers hovering over the keys, unsure what to type. Finally, she decided to go with the plain truth.

  Julia: Alex was murdered. In front of me. I need you, Charlie.

  The tears spilled down Julia’s cheeks as she read and reread her words. She raised her eyes to the ceiling.

  “How do I live?” Once again, she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

  When she managed to gain control, she stared at the screen for more than an hour. No response. When she couldn’t keep herself upright any longer, she closed the laptop and went to bed, feeling more alone than she ever had.

  “I should go to her,” Gabriel said. The clouds swirled behind him as he paced. “I might convince her that she does have family.”

  Michael fixed Gabriel with a skeptical stare. “I think that would not benefit her at this time, Brother. She is in a delicate place, and right now she blames you for everything.”

  “Me?” Gabriel’s eyes widened, then his shoulders slumped forward as his wings sagged. “She hates me still. I hoped she would focus her anger on the beast.”

  “She has. But I fear if you were to stand in front of her right now, you would be the one to wear her wrath.”

  “I do not understand this. She seems to desire family.” Gabriel raised his hand to his chest. “I am her family.”

  “You are. And she does desire family.” Michael nodded and put a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder, stopping him mid-pace. “But she does not know what family really means, any more than you do. She was only beginning to learn, with Alex and his mother, what it might mean to have one.”

  Gabriel waved an arm, opening a hole in the clouds. Through it, he saw Julia, curled into the fetal position on her bed. “Perhaps I should sit with her. That is what they do when they convalesce, is it not? Sit at one another’s bedsides?”

  Michael smiled and nodded. “It is what they do. But she is not ill. We must allow her grief to fade, and hope she will find a reason to remain on Earth. And a reason to join us.”

  “Hope,” Gabriel repeated, his words barely audible. “Do you think she will join us? After all this, do you think it is possible?”

  Michael peered down at Julia’s slumbering body, her head nestled into her tear-soaked pillow. He adjusted his wings and stood in silent vigil, shoulder to wing with Gabriel, leaving the question unanswered.

  XVI

  THE unmarked police car pulled up to the curb in full view of Julia’s living room window. The two detectives from the day before climbed out. Julia watched as they met on the sidewalk, exchanged a few words, and then continued toward her front door.

  When the doorbell rang, she walked to the door on autopilot and swung it open, her swollen eyes squinting against the bright sunlight.

 
; “Hello, Ms. Samson, we met yesterday,” the woman said. “Detective Cole? And my partner, Detective Salter?”

  “Yes, I remember.”

  “We’d like to ask you a few more questions,” Salter said, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

  “Do you mind if we come in?” Cole held her head high, her back straight. She seemed to be trying to put on a tough appearance.

  Julia moved aside and waved them in. “Would you like some coffee?”

  The detectives looked at one another; both opened their mouths to speak, but neither one did. Finally, the woman answered.

  “We don’t want you to go to any trouble, ma’am.”

  “It’s no trouble, it’s already made,” Julia said. She proceeded to the kitchen, came out with coffees for all three, and sat at the dining room table. With a glance and a wave of her hand, she offered the officers a seat, and they obliged.

  Julia faced the female cop. “What can I do for you today?”

  “There are a couple things,” Cole answered. “Do you know what happened to the vic—er, Alex’s leg?” The detective had the decency to look embarrassed for having almost called Alex “the victim.”

  “His leg?” Julia had no idea what Cole was talking about.

  “His left calf.” Cole watched Julia intently.

  Oh shit. Where that thing cut him. “I’m not sure,” Julia said, glad that the swelling in her eyes would mask her sudden realization. She dabbed them with a tissue. “I think he tripped as we fled the forest. Sprained his ankle or something. He was limping.” Well, at least that part was true.

  The detectives exchanged a look.

  “What is this about?” Julia looked from Cole to Salter and back again.

  “We’ve had to quarantine the body,” Salter said bluntly. “It’s infected, and still spreading.”

  “Infected with what?” Julia asked, mortified as she pictured the scary stick fingers tearing through Alex’s pants.

  “We’re not sure, Ms. Samson.”

  “The whole left side has decayed,” Salter cut in. “Post mortem. And now what’s left is festering.”