by Claire Kane
Her father rushed over, wrapping his arms around her tight. “You’re okay. Thank the Lord. You had me so scared. Almost gave your daddy a heart attack.”
Lacey let herself cry on his shoulder like a small child. Like the time she fell off her bike at six years old and scuffed her knee, and her father came right over with a hug.
On the outside of the rubble of the theater, Mei Hua and Nainai met up with them. Mei Hua read Lacey the riot act in Mandarin Chinese, shaking her finger. Lacey could only pick out a few words here and there. Something about being scared, a mention of the police, and a… banana? No, pineapple.
Butch put an arm around Lacey’s shoulders, lovingly. “It’s okay, honeybuns,” he told Mei Hua. “She’s a risk-taker, independent, a fighter like me. Whatever’s going on, I’m sure she has an explanation.”
“But there’s dark spirits! And talking cats, and—and—and...”
“Be more open-minded, daughter,” Nainai chastised from her wheelchair that had surprisingly made it through all the chaos.
Mei Hua clamped her mouth shut like a frustrated teenager being scolded.
“Mom,” Lacey said, stepping forward. “I’m sorry for everything.”
“Lacey, how did you get out of jail?” her mother asked. “Did they find you innocent?”
“No, they didn’t. I don’t know what to do about that, because I’m fairly certain I shot and killed Pietr Ross, even if I reflexively thought I was saving him.”
Just then, a debris-dusted woman came limping forward from the rubble. “Excuse me!” she called, adjusting her askew pencil skirt. Everyone turned to look. “I’m Vanessa Consuelo.” Following behind her was a camera man who also looked beaten by a gray dust storm.
“From Entertainment Tonight,” Lacey said. “Yes.” She stepped over and shook hands.
“And you’re Lacey Ling,” the news reporter said with just as much knowledge, one of her false lashes fallen onto a high cheekbone.
“Yes,” Lacey said, feeling flattered. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I am. I don’t know what happened, but I got most of it on camera.”
Lacey nodded, not knowing if she should congratulate the woman. If that’s what she was wanting.
“I saw the reports last night before the show,” Vanessa said with a sympathetic nod. “You were arrested for the murder of Pietr Ross.”
“Yes, I—”
Vanessa cut in with great enthusiasm. “Well, let’s all thank God I got Zigmund’s confession on tape!”
Lacey’s eyes widened and she stammered in hope. “Y-you do? A-are you sure?”
The camera man lifted his equipment proudly with a smile. “I got it.”
As her parents and grandmother made whoops in celebration, Lacey clapped her hands together and said, “This is a… a miracle!”
Victor appeared, just then, interested in what all of the excitement was about.
“Even if the tape hadn’t caught it all, we’d be happy to be your witnesses.” Vanessa paused and tilted her head. “By the way, what brought you here tonight? Were you also reporting?”
“Sort of. I was doing some investigative work.”
“Of course you were. I love what you do.” Vanessa pulled a bent and dirty business card from her fuchsia suit jacket. “Call me after you have a moment to settle down from all of this.”
“I will, uh... Vanessa.” A smile grew on Lacey’s face.
The famous reporter limped off with her cameraman, and Lacey’s family shared another round of hugs. Lacey lastly turned to Victor, rather reluctantly, still dealing with the pain of knowing he’d kissed Jessica Simcox, of all angels.
“Can I talk to you for a sec?” he asked, tilting his chin toward a toppled and broken pillar of the once grand Illusion.
Lacey conceded, going over and sitting on the pillar. She clasped her hands on her lap in anxiousness and took a deep breath. She knew what was coming and it hurt.
For a long moment, Victor stood there with his hands in his jean pockets, looking down. “I have to tell you something,” he finally said, his eyes meeting hers. The blue in them shimmered in worry.
“Go on…” Lacey said.
He rubbed a hand through his dark hair, hesitating. “Okay. So… Okay…”
“Victor, it’s alright. Just tell me,” she coaxed, no matter how much it pained her. “Do I have to dive into your thoughts to get to the point?” She gave a small smile, teasing.
“Okay… So… I just want you to know I’m ready to really respect you.”
Lacey’s eyes narrowed in confusion.
“I’ve learned not even angels are perfect. I’m probably the most imperfect of all. I turned my love for you into an obsession. I’ve invaded your space, pushing myself and my feelings onto you. Unfairly, might I add. And well…”
Lacey listened intently.
“Well,” he continued, and made a snipping gesture at his heart.
“What’s that?” she asked, confused.
“Me, letting those heartstrings go. Because that’s the only way I can be a proper guardian angel.”
“And you and Jessica can move on together,” Lacey finished, surprising herself for being blunt at a moment like this.
“Wait?” He stopped, scrunching his brow. “What’s making you think that?”
“Oh, come on, Victor. I’m a big girl. You can be upfront with me.” Lacey crossed her arms. “I saw you kissing her.”
“But I—”
Lacey stood, determined. “You don’t need to explain yourself, okay? I’m the one who told you to give me some space and move on. So you’re moving on! Good.” Her face softened, knowing she was sounding too angry. Jealousy was showing, and she desperately hoped Victor wasn’t catching that. “I mean, I want you to be happy. That’s all. So please don’t feel the need to explain yourself. Just do what will make you happy. It’s better that way.”
Victor stood there, mashing his mouth shut tight. His eyes now darkly sparkled, like he too was hurt. Finally, he blinked and his chest puffed out a touch in reluctant acceptance. “Okay. Like you said, you told me to move on.”
“Yes. Go, be happy. The case is closed. My name will be cleared, and you and Jessica can be together. By what you’ve told me, the last couple days, it sounds like she’s matured into something great, and that’s what you deserve. Something great.”
“I mean, can I explain a little here?” Victor said. “If I don’t, I’ll be completely awkward around you, here on out. And that won’t make me the best partner in this ‘investigative team.’”
“What is it, Victor?” she tilted her head in exasperation, her long hair cascading softly over a cheek.
“Jessica is a great girl. So are you.” He lifted a hand. “I’m just going to need time. I’m not jumping into anything with her. I just want you to know that.”
“You say that now, Victor, but hearts are a funny thing.” She shook her head, thinking about her own heart. Swallowing her feelings, she finished, “I’m just saying, you deserve happiness, and if something happens between you two, you have my blessing. You both are angels, after all.”
Victor bit his fuller, bottom lip, thinking. Lacey couldn’t help but think that was a handsome look on him. A yearning came over her. At the very least, she wanted to look deeply into those blue eyes and brush his chin with her hand. How she wished it didn’t have to be this way. Glancing over at her parents who were embracing each other lovingly, she realized it didn’t matter if she and Victor were different, from different backgrounds. Why didn’t she ever get that before? She looked back at Victor in disappointment. But he wasn’t even mortal. A hug would feel like little more than air.
As Victor remained silent, looking so handsome, Lacey let curiosity take over. She tried penetrating his thoughts, but found she couldn’t. There was a mental block, and she didn’t know why. “I can’t read your thoughts,” Lacey uttered, fear in her eyes. “Am I losing you?”
He looked at her intently with questi
on. “I thought you didn’t want further explanation.”
“I didn’t want you to have to tell me. I just, I’m used to our connection, and I know it was sketchy today, after the tiger attack. But is something more happening, Victor? Tell me.”
“Yes.” He stopped, feeling shame. “That’s not really what I wanted to you to talk about.”
“What else is there? Tell me.”
Victor huffed. “As you know, I crossed some Heavenly boundaries when I possessed Charly. I was put on probation, and my connection to you was lost.”
Lacey’s face turned visibly pained.
“I know, I’m sorry. I thought it was you, babe. I mean Lacey. I heard a voice that I now know was Chanel, urging me to save you by any means.” He decided not to mention how he’d also opened the portal to the pit, letting all Hell break loose. “She tricked me.”
With a sigh, Lacey said, “I guess I could say, there’s always worse that can happen.”
Victor bit his tongue. Now he knew that Chanel hadn’t just tricked him, but tested him. She was seeing how far he could go to save Lacey, because of the portal. He should tell her everything… soon. Just not now. The talk about Jessica had been enough, for today. “Soooo I guess this means we’re just friends?” he asked, looking at her beneath his eyebrows.
Lacey slowly nodded.
Rao’s voice entered Victor’s mind. Tell her it’s time to go. There’s business for you to attend in Heaven. Pronto.
Jessica appeared beside Victor just then, her eyes showing expectations of leaving together. She then looked back and forth between him and Lacey, showing fear of what might’ve been said between the two.
Victor turned back to Lacey, not really knowing when he might see her again. Who knew how long a Heavenly probation could be? Or if now there’d be worse consequences for his further actions. “I have to go now. I’m sorry. For everything.” Then he disappeared in the twinkling of an eye.
The emotionally and physically weary investigative reporter stood there stunned for a long moment. The sound of ambulances blaring in the distance grew louder as they attempted to approach the shaken-up grounds of the resort hotel. By the sound of Victor’s goodbye, Lacey couldn’t be certain when, or if, she’d see her angel friend again.
EPILOGUE
Three months later. Unnamed jungle in India. 2030 hours.
Frederik Neiburg smiled as he steered the battered, gray pickup down the narrow jungle road, dodging potholes and tree roots that hadn’t been cleared in too long. Perched beside him, Moon-Amber looked like she was ready to explode with excitement. But who could blame her? After all, no less a group than Ramcom Animal Rescue Agency had picked them for this gig. Full funding, visas, a truck, and even a native cameraman to record their adventures. And time with Moon (who looked great in that wide-brimmed, flower hat) was always something worth having.
The icing on the cake was that the job involved reintroducing a pair of tigers—both riding in padded cages in the back—into the wild. The fact that it was Felix and Charly seemed almost too good to be true.
At last, they emerged into a clearing and the cameraman, Aarav, knocked on the roof of the truck, telling them they’d reached their site. Fred eased to a stop, and Aarav jumped down. As he pulled out his gear, Fred and Moon climbed out and stretched. He breathed in the scent of the jungle and closed his eyes, letting the bliss wash over him. He hadn’t been in India since… the incident… and he was grateful that Ramcom had been able to smooth things over with his passport. Shaking his head to clear the bad memories, he accepted a wireless lapel microphone from Aarav then got into position. He had been planning this moment for months, and it was time to shine.
The cameraman pulled a drone out of the cab, and sent it zipping skyward. Fred had seen the plans for this scene, and pictured it in his mind as he watched the little craft fly. It’d start with a shot of the sunset, then pan gently down until he and Moon were in the frame. He glanced at Moon, who tapped her mic and nodded, smiling, then gave a thumbs-up to the crewman. The man nodded, slowly lowered the drone to eye level then switched to his tripod-mounted camera, and called, “Action!”
Fred put on his best smile and went with it. “Hey, guys, I’m Fred Neiburg and I’m here with the lovely Miss Moon-Amber Donovan.” He gestured and smiled.
Spreading his arms, Fred walked toward the back of the truck. “My whole life, I’ve loved animals. Today, I get the chance to help them thrive. Moon-Amber and I are activists for the wild, and today, we’re reintegrating two domesticated tigers back into their natural element. The wilds of India!”
He climbed into the bed of the truck and stooped by Charly’s cage and softly tapped the bars. He leered, and in a low voice added, “They were once imprisoned and controlled by hacks posing as magicians, exploited for money in capitalistic America, used for their natural beauty in an unnatural arena for a thoughtless, gawking audience.” He shook his head, and then, with a resolute grin added, “Today, these beautiful animals are going to have freedom once again!” Moon-Amber smiled big and tucked some red hair behind an ear.
Fredrik dropped the tailgate, then lowered a ramp. “The first tiger we’re releasing was named ‘Charly’ by the barbarians who enslaved him.” He gently opened the cage. “Here you go, Charly... er... tiger boy.” He waited, picturing the perfect moment that was about to unfold as Charly was freed.
The tiger ignored the open door and, instead, simply laid down.
Moon-Amber laughed nervously and, out of the corner of his eye, Fred saw her turn toward the camera. “Long trip. Charly’s a bit confused.”
Fred felt his cheeks heat. “C’mon, guy,” he whispered, covering his mike. “You can do it. I know you can.”
The tiger raised one eyebrow, and gave him a sleepy look.
Fredrik guessed it was time for Plan B. He pasted on a smile and moved to the other cage, only half looking at the camera. “While Charly ponders his new homeland, let’s see how his friend, Felix, a rare white tiger, handles freedom. He’ll be a little out of his element this far south, but we’ve got it on good authority that he’ll adapt well and survive.” He unlatched the other cage and eased it open, gesturing. The tiger eyed him for a moment and then, to his great relief, stood and moved toward the door.
Felix stepped out and down the ramp, carefully surveying the area. Fred exhaled. “You see, ladies and gentlemen, he’s already—”
The cat darted for his cage in the blink of an eye. Fred started, then, more out of reflex than thought, slammed the cage door shut a split second before Felix reached it. Fred instantly felt stupid, and closed his eyes, waiting to hear the crash of tiger on metal.
Instead, he heard a clanging thump, and nearly fell to his knees as the whole truck rocked. Eyes wide, he spun to see Felix posing perfectly atop the cage, a furry paw raised playfully to his cheek.
“Uh,” Fred began. “He wasn’t supposed to…”
As if Felix’s stunt were a cue, Charly trotted out of his cage, and swept his eyes across the tangle of trees and vines. Fred whooped, and Moon began to cheer, only to have Charly do a one-eighty, then lithely spring onto his own cage, and mirror his friend.
“What—what are they doing?” Fred sputtered. “This wasn’t how it was supposed to go at all. They were supposed to stride out of their cages like kings, survey their territory, then roar in triumph before galloping off into an Indian sunset.”
Felix hunkered down, then sprang into the air, easily clearing Fred’s head. The man ducked anyway. “Whoa!” He hurried down the ramp to avoid taking a tiger to the face.
Just as Felix touched down on Charly’s cage, the big, orange Bengal hopped quickly to the left, then jumped in a smaller arc, landing on Felix’s box. The cats whirled, and repeated the process again and again, roaring in sync. Fred was certain the truck’s shocks would be shot.
“What are they doing?” Fred demanded.
The cameraman looked on, stunned.
Moon-Amber’s face fell. “Th
ey… I think they’re performing.”
Fredrik stood, dumbfounded, as he watched the tigers dance through what was clearly a choreographed routine. It was as if the beauty of tropical India didn’t even exist. He watched as the tigers mocked his planning and his dreams.
“No!” he shouted, waving his hands at them. The tigers took this as a signal and, as one, they began running circles around him, occasionally jumping fully over him. “You’re supposed to be kings! Not clowns!”
Then, it became clear. It wasn’t their fault. They’d been taken from this place as cubs. He spun to face the camera, and stabbed a finger at it. The tigers stopped instantly, posed, then hopped on to their cages, where they sat rather majestically.
“You see, folks? You see just how programmed they are? Those fools that used them stripped their instincts away. I think we need to do something drastic, see if it kick starts things in their minds. I’m going to push them off their cages,” Frederik said, stepping into the bed of the truck and ducking behind the cats.
Before Fredrik even got a hand on the tigers, Charly lunged, shoving him out of the truck’s bed with a yelp. The tigers leapt out after him and affectionately wrestled him around in the soft, jungle soil.
“Do something, Moon!” he yelled, certain the tigers’ tongues could lick his face clean off if he let them. Moon-Amber squeaked and dove into the pickup’s cab, slamming the door and rolling up her window. It was all falling apart around him.
“Cut! Cut the camera!” he yelled, curling into a ball and shielding his face. “Could really use a hand, here! Anyone?” At last, the tigers released Fredrik, and he staggered to his feet, rumpled and dusty. Shaking, he brushed himself off, then cringed as Charly rubbed up against his leg lovingly. He gave a weak chuckle, and quickly patted himself down. “I-I’m still alive.”
