by R. D. Brady
An archangel—one of the highest ranks of angels. He was instilled with the duty to protect the tree of wisdom for at least for part of his time on earth. But when he wasn’t on duty, living it up seemed to be his only goal.
They had met one other archangel: Ralph, Victoria’s guardian. Ralph would have laid down his life for Victoria and was loyal to the end.
Jake’s gaze flicked to Drake’s picture. So what about you, Drake? Are you loyal to someone too?
“Jake, you need to step back from this. It’s consuming you.”
Jake sighed. He knew Henry was right. But he couldn’t help but feel responsible. He should have known she would try to run. That she would try to keep the rest of them from getting caught in the net that had slowly encircled her. But he hadn’t.
Jake ran a hand over his face. “You’re right. I know.”
“Let’s start small. How about we go grab some lunch? Yoni’s on the estate. We can grab him too.”
Jake smiled, picturing his friend. “Actually that sounds great.”
Henry stood. “Good. Meet you downstairs?”
“I’m right behind you.”
Henry headed out of the room, and Jake let his smile drop as he turned his chair to take in the board again. His eyes roamed over all the clues that had taken them nowhere. And then he looked at the picture of Laney in the middle of it all. He loved her. He always would.
But somewhere along the way, that love had shifted. He would still lay down his life for her. And he knew without a doubt that she would do the same for him. But he didn’t want her to do that—not for any of them. All he wanted was for her to let them help her.
He sighed. Where are you, Laney?
CHAPTER 2
The woods within the Chandler Preserve bloomed with life as Noriko walked quietly down a well-worn path. She marveled at how different the woods were here compared to the plant life she had grown up with on Malama Island in Hawaii. There it had been all palm trees and exotic flowers. Here, there were oaks and flowers that lasted only a season or two before fall caused them to crumble away and winter buried them under white.
Baltimore was as different as could possibly be from her upbringing, and she loved it. The cold took a little getting used to, but the crispness in the air, that was incredible. And there was another huge perk about living in Maryland.
Noriko went still, squinting at a bush in front of her, before a rustle behind her caused her to whirl around. A Javan leopard, yellow with black spots, charged toward her with a roar. Noriko braced herself as the cat barreled into her.
She slammed onto her back with a grunt. The cat stared into her eyes with its unusual green eyes, its paws on her shoulders.
Noriko stared back. The cat let out a ferocious growl, then leaned down and licked Noriko’s cheeks. She laughed, turning her head to try and avoid some of the cat’s affection. “Ugh, Tiger, you are not a humble winner.”
Tiger stepped off her, and Noriko put a hand on his back, using him to help pull herself up. As soon as she was standing, Tiger leaned into her, rubbing his head on her thigh. With a laugh, she leaned down and scratched his side. “Yes, I still love you.”
A girl a year younger than Noriko, with curly dark hair and bright blue eyes, stepped into view, a pure white panther with blue eyes at her side. “He won again, huh?” Lou Thomas asked.
Noriko grinned. “He always does.”
Lou and Noriko had met when Laney had brought Noriko back from Malama Island. The two had become fast friends. When Laney had gone missing, Henry had asked Noriko if she would mind staying for a little while to help the cats get settled. She’d expected it to be only a few months, but it had now been close to eight months since she’d last been home to Malama.
And she couldn’t head home quite yet. “Did you find her?” Noriko asked.
Lou nodded. “Yeah. Come on.”
Most of the cats were doing all right. They revered Laney. But it was actually Lou, Rolly, and Danny they viewed as members of their pack. The three of them had been made members because they had helped save the cats from the lab that had created them. These were not regular Javan leopards. No, at the behest of a particularly sadistic Fallen, the DNA of Javan leopards had been mixed with the DNA of a Fallen. The result was a whole new species, one that was larger than leopards, with most standing four feet at the shoulders—although the vets thought Tiger might actually grow a little larger than that. But more critical than their immense size was their intelligence. They were almost on par with a normal human being.
In Laney’s absence, Noriko had taken over their care. Although Henry took care of providing for their basic needs—food and shelter—Noriko was in charge of their emotional needs. Like Laney, Noriko could understand and communicate with the cats. Except Noriko’s abilities didn’t stem from a ring, but rather a unique genetic heritage.
Noriko was a member of Honu Keiki, the descendants of the people of Mu. And the descendants had brought more than ancient stories with them through the generations; they had brought abilities. These abilities had been diluted over time, but a little less than half of the members of Honu Keiki still had some form of psychic ability. Noriko was unique in that she had two abilities: the ability of prophesy, and the ability to communicate with animals.
As she and Lou walked through the preserve that Henry had created for the cats, Noriko sent out feelers trying to gauge the feelings of the cats nearby.
“How are they doing?” Lou asked.
“All right. Although the walls make them unhappy.” Because of all the attention on Laney and all those connected to her, walls had been erected around the estate to keep the world’s prying eyes from seeing the cats. But the long arm of the media had still managed to get shots. A few helicopters had flown over, and they’d even used satellite feeds. But while most commented on the cats’ size, they didn’t know what else made the cats so unusual.
“Yeah, well, they’re not the only ones. We all have walls around us these days,” Lou said.
Noriko held out a hand. “Hold up.”
Lou stopped. “What?”
Noriko nodded down the path. “Wait for it.”
Two black Javan leopards sprinted into view. They stopped short and looked at the young women for a moment, grins on their faces, before sprinting away. But that small pause was long enough to see the small dachshund with a patch over one eye sitting in a saddle on one of the cats’ backs.
Rolly Escabi and Zach Grayston blurred into view a second later.
Noriko grinned. “Princess looks happy.”
Rolly smiled. “Yup. Thanks for suggesting it.”
“Which way did they go?” Zach asked.
Lou pointed down the path. “That way.”
The boys took off again.
Lou looked at Noriko. “Princess really was okay?”
“Oh yeah,” Noriko said.
The dachshund had been rescued from the same lab as the leopards. Unlike the cats, nothing extra had been given to the poor little dog, only taken. Rolly had been unable to leave her behind when he and Lou had investigated the place.
Noriko smiled, thinking of how happy Princess seemed. “Ever since she lost her leg and eye, she’s felt so slow. So unhappy. Seeing the cats and their speed, she was jealous. So yeah, riding on Kingston’s back, Princess is very happy.”
“Well, that’s one patient handled. This way to the other one.”
Lou led Noriko off the path, through the brush, and up a small incline. Snow stayed at her side.
Noriko knew where they were heading. There was a ledge on the other side of the hill that provided a pretty good view of the enclosure. As they approached, she could hear Danny Wartowski, age seventeen, one of the head analysts of the Chandler Group and all-around nice guy.
“So I figured out if you use gold as a shield,” Danny was saying, “it would protect the transmitter long enough for me to duplicate the signal.”
“Well I’m pretty sure that topic of conver
sation would put me into a depression,” Lou muttered.
But Noriko didn’t say anything as they came around the hill. Danny looked up, his relief clear. “Hey there.”
“Hey,” Noriko said, her gaze quickly shifting from Danny to the cat next to him. “Hey, Cleo.”
Cleo lifted her head, then dropped it back down with a sigh. Danny and Lou exchanged a worried glance.
“I’ve got this,” Noriko said. “Why don’t you guys give us a little time?”
“Sure, sure.” Danny got to his feet. He nodded to the insulated bag on the ground. “I brought some bacon, but she wouldn’t take any.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Noriko said.
“Okay, we’ll, uh, meet you guys back at the house.” Lou tugged on Danny’s sleeve, and he followed her back through the trees. Snow walked over and licked Cleo’s cheek before following them.
Tiger walked over and curled up next to Cleo, laying his head gently on her back.
Noriko walked over and sat on Cleo’s other side. She ran a hand along the cat’s side. Hi, Cleo. How are you doing today?
Cleo just sighed again in response.
I know you miss Laney. But you know she loves you. She would never leave you unless she had to. There are people after her. She was trying to keep everyone safe. And you would know if something happened to her, right?
Yes.
So she’s still all right? Noriko asked the question hesitatingly, hoping the answer remained the same.
Still sleeping.
Still sleeping. Cleo had had that response for the last five or six months. Noriko had tried to understand what she meant, but the communication was not perfect. And Cleo seemed frustrated when Noriko pointed out that she didn’t understand. So Noriko just accepted the words.
Well that’s good. If she’s sleeping, she’s not hurt.
Cleo opened one eye to look at Noriko. And somehow, using only one eye, she managed to convey annoyance. But Noriko was happy for the response. Anything was better than apathy.
Importance and arrogance crept into Noriko’s mind. I’ve protected her.
I know. But just like you’ve protected Laney in the past, she’s trying to protect you now. This time, you can’t protect her. You just have to trust her.
And just like that, the arrogance and importance disappeared. It hurts.
Noriko’s heart clenched. She leaned her head into Cleo’s, gently rubbing behind her ears. I know, Cleo. I know.
CHAPTER 3
“Patrick, the Holy See is losing their patience,” Father Sean Kirkpatrick pleaded. “You must denounce her.”
Patrick paced along his kitchen island. They’re not the only ones losing their patience. He’d been on the phone for forty minutes with Sean. The phone calls had been occurring every week, each time with the same topic: the church was requesting he denounce Laney. “I have told you my answer, Sean. I will not denounce Laney. If that is the requirement for reinstating me, then I will never be reinstated.”
Even though he meant the words, they still sent a chill through him. The church had ordered him to denounce the actions of Laney four months ago. Patrick had refused. They had forced him to take a “sabbatical,” but to be reinstated, they demanded he put out a statement to the press denouncing Laney’s actions and calling on her to turn herself in.
As far as Patrick was concerned, it was would be a cold day in hell before that happened. But the idea of never being a priest again—it terrified him. Being a priest wasn’t a job. It was who he was. But this price? No, they were asking too much.
Sean sighed deeply. Patrick and Sean had gone to the seminary together. They had kept up a close friendship even as they had gone different routes in the church. Sean had gone to work behind the scenes, eventually making his way to the Vatican. Patrick had never wanted that. He had wanted to work with people and to further the archaeological understanding of the church. But despite their different career tracks, Patrick considered Sean a friend. One he’d had for over thirty years.
“I worried when you adopted her that it would become complicated,” Sean said.
“But you supported me. I always appreciated that.”
“I knew how much you loved your sister.”
The mention of Fiona brought a fresh bloom of grief to Patrick’s chest. She had been his best friend since they were children. Her death, even though twenty years ago, still felt unreal.
“When she died, I saw how hard it hit you. And when you learned of the situation Laney was in…” Sean paused. “I knew you were serious when you said you would leave the priesthood. And I knew that would be a loss for all of us.”
Sean’s words brought back not only the pain of Patrick’s sister’s loss, but the guilt of not protecting Laney. And with Laney’s current absence, that was guilt he felt anew. “I cannot do what they are asking. She has done nothing wrong.” Patrick let out a bitter laugh. “In fact, she has done everything in her power to protect those who cannot protect themselves. I will not turn my back on her.”
“But Patrick, the church is in a bind as well. Delaney has been publicly declared an enemy of the state. She is wanted by multiple countries.”
“And she is innocent. I remember someone else who was branded a criminal by those in power. Tell me, do you think the church would have ordered us to turn our back on Him as well?”
“You cannot equate your niece’s situation with that of Jesus.”
“Why not? After all, Jesus is in all of us, isn’t He?”
“Patrick, this line of defense, it will not go over well.”
“I do not care! She is my daughter. I will never turn my back on her, especially not in response to public opinion. I know who she is. I know where her heart lies. The church is on the wrong side in this. You are on the wrong side in this.”
Sean was quiet for a moment. “I wish I could see this situation as you do. But I cannot. The public reports on your niece, they are compelling. She is guilty, Patrick.”
“No, Sean. She is not.”
The stalemate hung heavy across the phone. Finally Sean spoke. “I will speak with them again. I will tell them you need more time.”
“I will not change—”
“Patrick, let me do this for you. I know what you are saying. I know you will not change your mind. But perhaps something will happen to change theirs. Do not throw away this chance. It may be your last.”
Patrick stilled. “They’re thinking of defrocking me?”
“It has been mentioned. But we are not there yet. Let me buy you some more time.”
Patrick wanted to tell Sean to shove his offer. But that was his anger talking. He closed his eyes. “Thank you, Sean.”
“I’ll speak with you next week, all right?”
Patrick sank into a chair. “Yes. Next week.”
“Take care, Patrick.”
“You too.”
Patrick placed the phone on the kitchen island and looked around the kitchen. It felt so empty. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had been over here. Not that Patrick had been avoiding people, but Laney had been the center. She had glued them together. Without her, it felt like there was nothing holding them together. The words to Yeats’s “The Second Coming” ran through his mind: Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold. She had been the center.
Samyaza stood unsullied by public opinion while Laney had been forced into hiding. And no one save those closest to Laney seemed willing to stick their neck out for her, even those who believed she was innocent.
Over the last six months, Henry, Jake, and Patrick had met with official after official to plead Laney’s case. They found people who did not believe Laney was guilty, including many who’d had the misfortune of crossing Elisabeta—yet they would not publicly offer Laney their support. The cowardice both angered and disappointed him.
And right now it felt like the church wasn’t any better. The church had left him voluntarily not out of conviction, but because they didn’t like that t
he smear campaign against Laney had also cast a spotlight on them. They were looking to mitigate that effect, but Patrick wouldn’t help them. He couldn’t. And he knew they were growing restless with him. And soon, he would have no say in what they decided. A lifetime of service, and he would be cast aside to assuage the fickle wants of public opinion.
He glanced at the clock, and with a start he realized the phone call had taken up more time than he had thought. He’d need to hurry if he was going to make it there in time. He grabbed his backpack and hurried to the door. Because while there might not be anything he could do at this moment to help Laney, he could still fulfill her last request of him.
He paused at the door, debating whether or not to get changed out of his civilian clothes and into his clerical clothing of all black. But he shook his head, opening the front door instead. He had a sinking feeling that he would be spending a lot more time in the future with more colorful clothing.
CHAPTER 4
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA
The swans circled lazily through the pond on Elisabeta Roccorio’s fifty-acre Beverly Hills estate. She watched as one ducked its head underwater for a snack. She loved the beautiful creatures. So graceful, so serene.
It had been six months since Delaney McPhearson had been sidelined. But that had only been the first part of the plan—isolating her from those who would defend her. That part had worked spectacularly. The second part of the plan, however, was proving more difficult than anticipated.
Elisabeta had planned on giving Laney a month to seep into the background, to allow the need to find her to grow. And then, when the desire for Laney’s blood had reached a fevered pitch, Elisabeta would offer her up on a silver platter.
Dead, of course.
But that moment had come and gone. And despite Elisabeta’s efforts, Laney had avoided all of her people, and had removed any digital footprint of her movements as well. It was as if she had simply disappeared.
But Elisabeta had not let this slight delay in her plans keep her from moving forward. No—Delaney out of sight was just as helpful to the bigger plan she had in play. Elisabeta had spent these last six months researching her targets. The pure number of targets had been immense at first, but slowly she had whittled them down. Now she had one group that she believed was the most promising, and a second and third target on deck, in case the first group did not turn out as planned.
