Michael snorted. “He’s an idiot,” he said, flipping open the folder. “You told him where the kid was. He’s just bitter because he didn’t want to listen and someone else ended up finding her and stealing his moment of glory. I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with him anymore.” Michael looked up at that. “Not that most of the force is like that, Cass. We’ve always appreciated any information you give us.”
Cass smiled. “I know. I just figured that you passing this along might go better than me doing it,” he said, gesturing again toward the file. It held information about an insurance policy that a certain dead person was sure the police were unaware of. Cass had promised to bring it to their notice.
Michael closed the folder, tapping it against the table. “Sure thing, Cass. I’ll always take any information you can give me. You’ve been so helpful over the years.”
Michael almost looked like he was going to ask a question at that point, probably one that Cass wasn’t sure how to answer, but Ari sauntered up behind Michael at that moment, and Cass almost had to squint at the bright glow that emanated from their ties when Ari leaned down to kiss Michael’s head and hug him.
That done, Ari looked over at Cass, smiling broadly. “Bruh! How’s coffee shop life, my dude?”
Always so damn friendly. Cass couldn’t help smiling. “Still sorting out the recipe book, Ari,” Cass joked.
Ari looked crestfallen at that. “My dude, I really did not mess with itthatmuch. And that one recipe was actually a hit, so I can’t be totally faulted,” he insisted, smiling again.
Cass was about to reply, but Ari was back to leaning down against Michael, saying something softly in his ear before giving him a little nibble on the neck. Michael wiggled a bit, and those threads between them flared brightly again.
“Ok, ok, you two, off with you. I gave Michael what I needed to, and you guys obviously have plans,” Cass laughed.
Ari boomed out laughter while Michael turned a shade of red, but they didn’t waste much time excusing themselves, calling out thank yous and goodbyes as they went.
Cass just smiled to himself. He did like those two, and he was sure he hadn’t seen the last of them. They were a totally unlikely pair, but somehow it worked for them.
His musings were interrupted as he noticed an angel in a white suit appear across the street. He had glorious white wings, pale hair, and his suit was blinding in its stark whiteness. He also looked utterly serious and not at all fun, and he had just noticed Cassius and was headed across the street.
Fantastic. Apparently his afternoon wasn’t done yet. Cass picked up his phone and put his earbud in. He didn’t think this one was fully corporeal yet—-he had that slightly too bright quality that probably meant most mortals couldn’t see him—and Cass didn’t like being caught talking to the seemingly empty air.
The angel sauntered across the street, stopping at the table in front of Cass and staring at him.
“It isn’t polite to stare,” Cass announced, causing the angel to part his lips in surprise. The angel looked down at himself comically, probably wondering why Cass could see him.
“Anything I can help you with?” Cass asked.
The angel brightened up a bit, and it was like the rest of the world faded out at that, and the angel suddenly had on a heavenly looking, bright white robe. Cass had the impression that most people probably couldn’t see either of them at this moment.
Well, that was new.
It came to Cass suddenly that this was probably an officially sanctioned angelic message. He’d heard of such things from his grandmother when she’d been teaching him about the sight, but he never expected to get one.
“Gabriel?” he asked. “Messenger of god?”
The angel parted his lips again in surprise, deflating a bit, and the shine died down just the slightest bit. Cass almost laughed at the disgruntled face the angel made.
“You know, giving official messages never used to be this difficult,” the angel groused. “You are supposed to be in a state of shock, awe, and wonder. Where is the incredulity? Where is the astonishment and reverence for this miraculous moment?”
“Eh, I’ve watched too much tv for shock and awe at an angel in a white robe,” Cass joked.
The angel, who Cass still thought might be Gabriel, sniffed disdainfully. “I told the angelic department that deals with mortal entertainment that they were letting things get out of hand. Mortals have no appreciation for miracles anymore. Why bother when you can watch one on a tiny screen whenever you want? It’s appalling,” he grumped.
Cass just laughed. “We do love our entertainment. Anyway, enough of it comes from true events, so I guess you guys only have yourselves to blame,” Cass added.
“Yes, well, it does rather make my job more difficult. Why, just last week I delivered a message, and the woman actually asked if maybe I could do it again whilehoveringabove her. And then she had the gall to take out her cell phone, like she was going to film me!” Gabriel muttered in disgust. “I am not going to end up on social media, for heaven’s sake.”
“You would be quite the star, though,” Cass joked. “They’d love you. You could be tik tok famous.”
Gabriel sniffed again. “Yes, well, that isn’t my job. Which is, by the way, why I’m here. I have a job to do.”
Cass motioned his arm forward. “By all means, go ahead. Sorry to interrupt.”
Gabriel straightened his robe, brightened up again, and cleared his throat. “Cassius Priam,” he intoned. “Behold, I bring you tidings of a great task that must be performed. Do not beafraid, Cassius, for the Almighty has found favor with you, and you shall receive all the blessings of that favor in your task. You shall know the one you must help by his appearance, and together you will bring balance back to the afterlife.”
