Natural Born Angel (Immortal City 2)

Susan studied the detective’s face for a moment. Her eyes suddenly sparkled. “The girl.”

Adrenaline pumped in Sylv

ester’s veins. “Maddy?”

Susan nodded.

“You think she has a part to play?”

“I’m positive,” Susan said.

“And what about him?”

“We can’t say,” Maddy’s professor said. She looked towards the door. “They don’t know I’m here. A car is waiting outside. Louis is there.”

“Kreuz?”

“Yes. There are . . . some who do not agree with the Council, David.”

A look of comprehension suddenly came across Sylvester’s face. “It wasn’t DeWitt or Minx who sent me the anonymous emails about the demon attacks . . . it was you.”

Susan’s silence was all the confirmation he needed.

“We need to go. Now,” Susan said.

Sylvester pushed the almost untouched drink away from him on the bar. Susan put a hundred-dollar bill on the bar, but the detective put his hand over hers and forced her to pick it back up.

“I can buy my own drinks,” he said, slapping a twenty down and moving to leave.

In astonishment at the Angel who had just come in, the bartender spoke: “What should I do?”

Both Sylvester and Susan stopped at the threshold, the door half-open. The detective was silhouetted by the plentiful sunshine outside, hands buried in the pockets of his overcoat.

“I would recommend praying,” Sylvester said.

CHAPTER 39

Maddy’s car squeaked to a stop in the car park along the pier. She had made it quickly – the freeways were nearly empty. Residents were advised to stay inside until further notice. Fires had already started burning in the hills. Outside Maddy’s windshield, the aircraft carrier loomed heavy on the grim grey-red horizon, a juggernaut preparing for war. Yet at the moment it floated calmly on the glassy aquamarine water of the bay.

The palm trees drifted lazily along the shore, against a sky darkening from the west. They didn’t seem to pay heed to the fact that those just below were in the moment of saying goodbye to each other, perhaps for ever.

Stepping out of her car, Maddy put on her sunglasses and started walking quickly to the mass of sailors, pilots and families congregating along the dock. The unmistakable salty presence of the ocean invaded her nostrils as she made her way towards the pier, through the crowd of families trying to say goodbye. Stunned, teary-eyed farewells were happening all around her, as sailors were being ripped from their families and sent on what many experts were already calling a suicide mission against the demon horde arising in the Pacific. The coming of the prophecy. Heading directly towards Angel City.

Maddy’s head craned around the groups of people, trying to find Tom in the mass of people. With a panic, she realized some sailors were already starting to climb the long metal staircase to the deck of the aircraft carrier. They waved regretfully down at their loved ones as they reached the flight deck and stood along the rails. A small girl holding a teddy bear wept as she saw her father disappear on to the vessel of war.

Was Maddy too late? She moved faster and faster through the people, looking for Tom.

“Tom!” she cried out, scanning the crowd. What if he’d already had to board? She wouldn’t have a chance to see him. “Tom!”

Suddenly she was in his arms, their bodies against each other, arms wrapping, faces touching. “Maddy,” he said, embracing her.

She looked up at him, suddenly embarrassed. “I’m sorry, I just . . . I thought maybe you’d already left.”

Tom gazed down upon Maddy, a smile in his eyes. “I’m here. I wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye to you.”

Maddy pressed the side of her face against the side of Tom’s smooth uniform. What was happening? Where was her heart taking her?

“Why do you have to go?” she asked. She knew the question was foolish, something a little girl would ask. But she asked it anyway.