“Who?”
Maddy just shook her head, thinking of Rosenberg. She wanted to cry, but she wasn’t going to let those tears happen. Jacks pulled her into an embrace.
“Mads, the charity programme you’ve been talking about putting together is going to help get Guardians to disadvantaged people across the country,” Jacks said. “But that takes a long time; you can’t change things overnight. Especially with the Angels. When the change comes, it’s going to be huge, opening up Protection to so many more. Just like you wanted. But to pay for that, we also have to keep getting Protections that can afford to pay. You know this.”
Maddy leaned against Jackson’s chest. “But meanwhile, the threats the Council has made against Senator Linden and, well, against humans have been pretty serious, Jacks. It’s changed a lot of people’s minds, and a lot of people are starting to join his cause.” She paused. “What if he has a point? That the Angels do have too much power and influence? That Protection for Pay is ultimately corrupt?”
Jackson stiffened against her.
“That’s what Linden claims for the Immortals Bill. That it will be temporary while they investigate Protection for Pay. But the ban on all Angel activities would be open-ended. It could take years before anything was decided, and the case would probably have to go before the Supreme Court. And what until then? It’s illegal to be an Angel? For me to be me?” He narrowed his eyes at Maddy. “And, do I need to remind you, illegal for you to be you?”
Jackson gently put his hand up to her cheek. “This isn’t about the money, or any of that,” Jacks said. “It’s about basic Angel rights, Maddy.”
“I’m just. . . I don’t know,” Maddy said, a tumult of emotions fighting inside her. “There’s just so much going on.”
“You’ve been under a lot of stress. Think about that. There’s a lot of change happening. And you’re taking on a lot of responsibility. You just met the people whose lives you may one day have to save. Don’t add more pressure than is necessary. Just enjoy your first year as a Guardian and worry about the other stuff later, once you’re settled in.”
Maddy had to admit she had been feeling a bit more on edge than usual. Maybe Jacks was right. She couldn’t tell any more. For the moment, she just let Jacks hold her to him, the wind lashing against them, sending her hair streaming in all different directions as she pressed in closer. But her mind flitted back to the conference room, to the entitlement of her Protections. And how she was feeling like she was failing at her goal before she’d even begun. She was becoming a Guardian like all the rest.
Jackson gazed down at her. He seemed to be weighing his words. He took a deep breath.
“Maddy, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you. . .” Jacks said, his voice trailing off quietly.
The Angel looked down expectantly at Maddy. But her eyes were far off. She was distracted, her mind turning over and over what happened back at the NAS headquarters earlier in the day.
“I just can’t believe how arrogant they were,” Maddy said, slowly coming back to the present. She looked up at Jacks. “I’m sorry – did you say something?”
“No, nothing,” Jacks said stiffly. “It was nothing. I was just telling you it’ll be OK.” He pulled her closer again. “It’ll be OK.”
She wanted so much to believe him.
CHAPTER 26
Detective Sylvester put on the second pot of coffee of the night, stretching his back and yawning as the hot water percolated slowly through the machine. Outside his apartment, the voices of a couple arguing echoed up from the otherwise empty street. It was late already. But he still had hours of work ahead of him.
Some holiday, he thought to himself, shaking his head and smiling slightly.
Pouring himself a cup of coffee, Sylvester walked back to his living room. Stacks of files that Sergeant Garcia had delivered sat on his coffee table and on the side tables. A number of books were scattered next to his couch, with bookmarks and notes poking out. There were two tall stacks of newspapers behind the sofa. In the background, the TV played non-stop on the news channel at a low volume. As a new report came on, he turned the volume up.
“Just days before the election, there have been more calls for investigations into the ties between the violent Humanity Defence Faction and anti-Angel Senator Ted Linden’s presidential campaign. This comes after officials identified the culprit in the bombing of an Angel office as a high-level HDF operative with ties to Senator Linden’s political party. Election officials say this could derail Linden’s bid, along with his Immortals Bill and newly formed Global Angel Commission, for good.”
Sylvester turned the volume on the TV back down. He took a strong pull of the coffee and looked at all the paperwork. The leads. The dead ends. He’d taken some paid holiday time off. Everyone understood, after his work on the bombing case, which was now “solved”.
He’d basically moved his office to his apartment. This way he could work his cases – all his cases – away from the prying eyes of Captain Keele. When was the last time he had slept? He didn’t know. It didn’t matter, anyway. This was too important.
No rest for the wicked.
The detective’s eyes drew to his wall. A large global map, the kind you might see in an old high school classroom, hung there. All across the map were markings in different colours, in different countries and cities. The markings each had a date and a note. There was also a large map of downtown Los Angeles taped to the wall, with a series of notes and red X’s.
On the world map, there was a marking in the blue of the Pacific Ocean off California. It had the earliest date of any of the markings: “F-16 Downed”.
There were marks all over the map, even Antarctica, where an electrical accident with a generator at an observation station had killed ten workers. The map also included one neat marking on London – the St Pancras derailment – and another on Beijing – “Apartment Fire/Collapse”.
There was one other marking, this one with a question mark, directly in the middle of Angel City: “Bombing of Angel Administration Affairs Offices”.
After Sylvester had learned of DeWitt’s death and that the FBI found incriminating evidence of the bombing and Humanity Defence Faction materials, law enforcement had considered the case solved. The investigation now moved to a higher-level investigation into the HDF on conspiracy charges. It was time to infiltrate the leadership with undercover officers and confidential informants. The Angels were special counsel for the operation. William Beaubourg would likely be drawn in. It could get ugly. But it was out of Sylvester’s hands now.
Captain Keele was happy just to get one more case solved. It was good for stats. And what was good for stats was good for the captain’s promotion to police commander.