Page 30 of The Morning Star
I smiled at the angel, grateful for his support.
“As for the other angel deaths…” Gabriel scowled at me.
“I’m investigating it Hel-side, but honestly we’re not even positive that it’s a demon doing this.” Yeah, there was an alleged bounty on angel wings, but I’d yet to confirm that and I hated the thought of all this shit being laid at our door, so I repeated my tired old theories about accidents, or that the killer might possibly being one of the renegade angels, or even a human with a grudge, but I think I was beginning to sound like a tin-foil-hat-wearing conspiracy theorist unwilling to accept the truth that was right in front of his face.
The killers were demons. And whoever was organizing this it was the same Ancient who was killing Grigori enforcers. It might be Remiel. It might even be Samael. Fuck, I hoped it wasn’t Samael, although the idea of Remiel being behind it all wasn’t much better.
Everyone had those uncomfortably sad expressions on their faces as I finished my eloquent arguments.
“So what if the killer tries to trap and attack Grigori again?” Rafi asked Gregory. “They’re using the gateways and demons as lures. Maybe we should set up a trap of our own?”
“I have two enforcers at each gate with the guardian. I’ve questioned each gate guardian, but beyond a description of the demons used as lures, I have no other leads.” He turned to me.
I sighed. “So it’s my job to track down these demons and trace them back to whoever hired them.” I purposefully didn’t elaborate further about what I’d discovered so far. No sense in getting everyone agitated until I was sure who was behind this.
“Yes, Cockroach, I’ll need you to do that. And it’s a priority.” Gregory pointed at me for emphasis, and I winced.
Everything was a priority lately, but I understood. “I’ve already got my household checking out rumors and tracking information. I also met with two Ancients last night who might be able to dig up additional information. Get me those descriptions of the demons from the gate guardians, and I’ll add that to the intel. And I’ll prioritize it,” I vowed.
“Good. Anything further?” Gregory looked around the room. This might just be the briefest Ruling Council in the history of angeldom.
“Yes.” Uriel stood. “I’ve been working with some local branches of human law enforcement, and I think there’s an area where we could truly be of service. I’d like to offer myself and my extended choir as liaisons.”
Gabriel frowned. “Extended choir?”
The angel blushed. “I’ve…uh, I’ve added some members to my choir who aren’t angels.”
We waited for her to expound on that, but she remained silent. Surprisingly, no one challenged her.
“I’ve been working with various heads of state to bring them on board with the idea of angelic supervision,” Gabriel told her. “We’re drafting a set of rules and basic standards of behavior that will be enforced all across the world. If you’re to be the liaison for enforcement of this and additional human legislation, perhaps you’d like to work with me on the documents?”
She nodded. “Your place or mine? Now that we’re no longer able to be in Aaru, I’m assuming you have secured a domicile?”
Gabriel squirmed. “Right now I’m staying with the Iblis.”
Uriel’s eyes nearly left her head, then she laughed. “Well, then how about my place? I’ll take you there. I doubt the Iblis wants to have us hogging up her dining room, papers spread all over the tables.”
“Anything further?” Gregory asked.
No one else had anything on the agenda, so the meeting was dismissed. I transported Nyalla back home as Gabriel was heading off to Uriel’s. We came back to find six Lows busy throwing grilled shrimp across the room for Lux and Austin to snatch out of the air with their mouths, like performing seals, as Harper laughed. There were shrimp scattered all across the floor from missed catches. I didn’t care. Lux was in one piece, and was happy, with Hunan sauce all over his lips and cheeks. A shrimp flew through the air, and Austin shoved the angel out of the way to catch it in his mouth. I held my breath, waiting for Lux to lose his temper at the clear case of cheating, but the angel just laughed and rolled, picking one of the missed shrimp off the floor and popping it in his mouth.
“Thanks for watching him,” I told Harper as I picked Lux up, relieved that he seemed to be in the same physical form he’d been in when I left. Good. That meant he hadn’t killed himself during the meeting.
The woman dug in her purse for some wet wipes, handing me one and bending down to clean her child’s face. “Austin loves to visit his half-brother,” she told me with a smile. “And your Lows were so kind to help out after Jaq and Kelly had to leave.”
“How are things working out at the rafting place?” I asked casually, as if Nyalla hadn’t told me all about it last week when we were out getting mani-pedis.
“They cut my hours.” She wrinkled her nose. “The season’s almost over and I didn’t make nearly enough to tide me over this winter. Kelly said she can get me a waitressing job at the casino, but I really wanted something with more flexible hours.”
“Perfect.” Oops. “I mean, I’m so sorry about that. You know, odd coincidence here, but I have a sort-of friend in Hel that’s looking for someone this side of the gates to set up a website and distribute product to the humans. He asked if I could recommend someone…”
Harper picked up Austin and shot me a worried frown. “A demon? I’m not sure how I’d feel about working with a demon. And distribute what exactly?”
“It’s a human. He’s looking for someone to market and distribute defensive magical items. Home security stuff. Things that could help humans protect themselves and their families from harpies, or trolls, or…angels.”
She sucked in a breath. “Count me in. Give him my number.”
I knew it. “I’ll put him in touch with you. His name is Kirby. Oh, and this doesn’t involve me at all. I had nothing to do with it. Absolutely nothing.”
