The cell door closed behind Nathan. The two cops had processed him and thrown him into the drunk tank, where they claimed he’d remain for twenty-four hours then be freed.
“You really think he’ll turn out okay?” the police officer in front of him asked.
“Yeah, he will,” Nathan answered. He draped his hands through the bars of the cell. “He’ll need more boundaries than most. What’s going through is natural, though, so just keep an eye out and keep him focused on the positive.”
The officer considered then nodded. “Yeah, we can do that. Thanks, Nate.”
“Always here to help. Take care of the kid.”
“I will, thanks for the advice.”
The officer left, and Nathan faced the interior of his cell. He had long since grown accustomed to being approached by strangers for help. He could spot an incarnated angel in a crowd, and they could spot him, too. They were drawn to him, like Maggy said, even if he wasn’t entirely certain what about him was like a homing beacon.
The officer was a third gen with a first gen son experimenting with drugs. It happened sometimes, and Nathan hoped the kid’s spirit guide stepped up to help out.
Nathan glanced at his cell partner, who was passed out on one of the two metal, cot-like beds in the cell. It wasn’t his first trip to prison; it probably wouldn’t be his last. He’d learned to be patient when it came to how strangely things worked out.
“Hey … are you…” the voice drifted off.
Nathan sat down on the empty cot and gazed at the speaker, a first gen in the cell next door.
“Yeah,” he answered. “What happened to your clothes?”
The man in the neighboring cell wore a towel around his waist and nothing else. His aura glowed white and sparkly. He was in his twenties with dark hair and eyes.
“I, um, was real happy and slightly drunk and decided to worship my body in the middle of the street,” the man said, face turning pink. “You know that’s not allowed?”
Nathan laughed.
“Human bodies are so beautiful. It’s a shame.”
“I agree with you completely when it comes to women,” Nathan said. “I don’t want to see man-junk everywhere.”
“I guess I don’t care. I think everyone is beautiful.”
“Damn first gens. Always too damn happy.”
The man smiled. “Anyway … since we have time, I was wondering. Um, my mama died two years ago.”
“You want to say hi?” Nathan asked.
The first gen nodded.
Another of his skills: the ability to act as a medium and connect those on this side with those from the Other Side.
“It’s faster if I’m touching you,” Nathan said. He rose and crossed to the bars dividing his cell from the first gen’s then knelt beside them.
“Faster?” The first gen mirrored his movement. “We’ll probably be here for a while, at least until tomorrow.” His brow furrowed. “Why are you here, Nathan?”
“Long story. Won’t be here long, though.” Nathan stretched through the bars to take the first gen’s hand. “I need a few minutes of quiet.”
The man nodded.
Nathan closed his eyes and focused on the energy from the first gen and tapping into that of the Other Side. He silently summoned the man’s mother and waited until he felt the familiar pulse of energy in the air that told him she’d crossed over to visit.
Opening his eyes, he was able to see her faintly. Smiling, the elderly woman had silver hair and a stooped frame.
“She’s here,” Nathan said.
“I miss being able to see everyone like I could when I was an angel,” the first gen said with a sigh. “Does she look happy?”
“Dead people are always happy,” Nathan answered. “They don’t have to deal with this shit.” He motioned to the cement cell.
“That’s good. She can hear me?”
He nodded.
The first gen looked around, his gaze settling on some random point.
“I miss you, Mama. Thank you for taking good care of me. I know that we all have our expiration dates, but I’m sorry yours was so painful.”
Nathan glanced at the ghost, who would be able to speak to him. She was smiling, and tears sparkled in her eyes. The voice that spoke into his mind was soft, ethereal.
“She says she loves you and is proud of you,” he said aloud for the first gen to hear. “And to keep your clothes on.”
The first gen laughed. “I will, Mama, thank you.”
The ghost faded, returning to the Other Side. Nathan released the first gen’s hand and sat on his bed. The first gen’s aura sparkled with cheerfulness.
“I’m taking a nap. Can we talk later?” the first gen asked.
“Sure.”
Nathan watched him lay down then did so himself. He appreciated the uninterrupted time to think and to dwell on all he’d learned since arriving Monday. Folding his hands behind his head, he stretched out his legs and relaxed.
A fallen guardian, a vigilante group of rogue spirit guides, a gateway to Hell.
They were entering a new era, one that caught him off guard. Adaptable and open to anything new, he was also overly aware that this era would push him out of his comfort zone. He worked well alone and preferred to be independent in every aspect of his life. Likewise, it was going to be hard to balance or counter 3G if the members of the spirit guide corps remained isolated. 3G was willing to kill guides, and the Satanists like Eddy were growing bolder with the arrival of Shadowman.
Things were about to change completely, and he was intrigued by what was to come. Was this why his thoughts kept returning to Kaylee? Because she was different? A challenge?
Sharp, bright, and gorgeous, Kaylee didn’t seem like the kind who had someone thrown in prison just because she could. She hadn’t fallen for his lies and defended her boss, a man she clearly didn’t care for. If Nathan didn’t mention Shadowman, he suspected he’d never have gotten past her tough exterior.
Content he did, he wondered how long it’d take for her to come get him. There was no doubt she would. The pragmatic attorney had been spooked at the mention of Shadowman. How strong was Shadowman that he could manifest himself somehow beyond Mike for a complete stranger to see?
Her large, blue eyes, sharp tongue and shapely body had done more than draw his interest. He had the unusual urge to have his hands on her whenever they were around. He’d been turned on dealing with her. Women were always attracted to him, but rarely – if ever – did they fail to fall to his charm, when he used it on them the way he did Kaylee. Her defiance was more of a turn on than he expected.
I just broke up with someone. Do I really need this now? Though if it was someone like Kaylee … Maybe a fling until I leave DC for Arizona.
He tapped his fingers on the wall.
Eventually, his thoughts shifted from Kaylee to what danger she and Mike both might be in from Shadowman. He’d left Amira at the apartment under Randy’s watch while Maggy went out to try to find Mike.
Thus far, Mike was nowhere to be found, a sign that maybe Shadowman figured out they knew it was staying in the human realm. It might’ve convinced Mike somehow to leave the area. Guardian angels had the ability to be anywhere at anytime, even to be in multiple places at once. Nathan had to assume that Shadowman could as well.
It’ll be hard to kill Mike, if I can’t find him.
Nathan glanced occasionally at the clock on the wall outside the drunk tank cells.
The sooner they found Mike, the better. The only real lead they had to Mike’s whereabouts was his sexy protégé, who was putting up more of a challenge than Nathan expected.
This trip was turning out to be the best thing that happened to him in a long time.
Except he needed a cigar. The death sticks couldn’t kill him, but he was susceptible to nicotine addiction.
Nathan closed his eyes and slid into a meditative state, allowing his mind to connect to the Other Side. His breathing grew steady and slow, his focus shifting from this world to the other. The self-induced trance always left him rejuvenated and refreshed.
“Nathan.” Kaylee’s soft voice drew him from his meditation, some time later.
Took long enough.
“Yeah?” Nathan asked without opening his eyes.
“About what we were discussing earlier.”
“You mean, before you had me thrown in jail?”
“I think we should talk.”
Something in her voice made him crack open one eye. He expected to see her dressed in her suit, not casually in jeans and t-shirt with a sweater buttoned just below her breasts. She wore sandals, and there were lumps in her ponytail, as if she’d gotten dressed in a hurry. She appeared calm, though he guessed the steely exterior was hiding a great deal of emotion, based on the colors of her aura.
Nathan closed his eyes, aware he had to beat her at their game.
“I’m good here,” he replied.
“They’ll let you out, if I ask them,” she said. “I thought you wanted to talk.”
“Get me out, and we will.”
“I want it to be on my terms.”
“I get out of here in eighteen hours, so I don’t need your help. You’ve got no leverage, honey. We do it my way or not at all.”
Silence.
Nathan didn’t need to see her aura to know her anger.
“I’ll press charges,” she said finally.
“You’re a defense attorney. These cops will pay me for whatever you claim I did to you.”
“I’m a woman. They’ll believe me.”
“I can’t wait to hear you explain what we were arguing over. Will be the first time Shadowman is called to testify,” Nathan countered.
“You’ve lied to me since we met. I want to know you’ll tell me what’s going on.”
Bothered by the fear in her voice, Nathan opened his eyes and rose, crossing to the bars of the cell. He leaned against them, gazing down at Kaylee. Her breathing grew faster. He almost smiled. She was scared and upset – yet determined. The odd tension between them crackled, and he was too aware of what it felt like to put his hands on her hips earlier.
“Something happened,” he stated.
As if also aware of the sexual tension between them, she shifted away from the bars to put space between them.
“It was nothing,” she managed at last.
“This won’t work if you keep lying to me.”
“Never mind. I’ll Google it.” She started away.
“You won’t find the answers you’re looking for online,” he called. “If you need bail money, I authorized you to pick up my property. There’s cash in my wallet.”
“You did what?” She stopped and twisted to eye him. “Kind of arrogant to think I’d come back for you, isn’t it?”
“Hey, what’s your sign?”
“What?”
“Horoscope,” he said.
She looked like she wanted to strangle him, but she answered. “Pisces.”
Perfect.
“I’ll wait here, sweetheart. Don’t be too long.”
She stared at him then flushed, blue eyes glittering.
Nathan winked.
Kaylee strode away.
They were a natural match on the astrological side. His intensity and her yielding. He just had to get past the walls, and she’d be easy for him to get the information he needed from her.
He pushed himself away from the bars and sat down to put on his shoes, silently wagering how long it would take her. No sooner had he finished tying his second shoe than an officer walked down the tank to his cell.
“You’re one lucky bastard,” the officer said. “Your girl just made a good case for freeing you.”
“The only thing good about dating an attorney,” Nathan said, smiling.
The officer grunted and opened the cell. He waited until Nathan was through it before closing it and leading him out of the tank to the administrative office where prisoners were checked in and out.
Kaylee stood, arms crossed and unhappy, in the middle of the waiting area.
Nathan left her alone, despite the urge to tease her. He needed information from her, and she was close to the limit of what she’d deal with before walking for good.
Nathan checked out and joined her in the waiting room.
Kaylee didn’t wait for him but spun and strode to the exit. Nathan trailed with a wave at the police officers that brought him in.
She stopped at the door, and he saw her confidence falter. She peered into the night, as if to see what awaited her outside. She was really scared of something.
He tempered his more assertive side to keep from spooking her. He placed his hand on the door above her head, taking a moment to look over body and breathe in her scent.
“What’re you looking for?” he asked, stopping just short of their bodies touching.
“Nothing.” She shoved the door open and stepped away from him quickly.
The fall night was cold enough that he saw his breath rise to the stars when he exhaled.
Kaylee waited for him a few feet away, studying him. He joined her, moving into her personal space for warmth and his own personal enjoyment of being close to her. At her silence, he spoke.
“Here’s what I see happening. We go for a drink. You realize I’m the only one who can give you the answers you need. I realize you’ve got a lot more going for you than those cute ears and the hot bod.”
She touched her ears self-consciously.
“We figure out we can trust each other, even if we both keep lying,” he continued. “Or, we can skip all that to the part where we rip off each other’s clothing and make rough love.”
Kaylee appeared ready to laugh before she shook her head. Her emotions were near the surface, but not yet close enough to override her realism.
“This was a mistake,” she said, starting away.
“You wouldn’t make a mistake like this. Driving across DC to bail out a stranger? Not you.”
“You don’t know anything about me,” she snapped.
“I know you’re scared, and you’ve seen something you can’t rationally explain.”
She froze.
Nathan approached slowly, watching the colors of her aura as she struggled to figure out what to do. He moved in front of her and rested his hands lightly on her arms. Moonlight reflected in her pale blue eyes, and he saw the fear there. She’d taken a chance on him, because he was probably the only resort she had. Her cheeks were red from emotion and cold, her cute features and perfect complexion framed by errant golden curls. He couldn’t remember seeing anyone able to charm him with a combination of innocence and indignation.
“This is a judgment free zone,” he said softly. “Whatever you saw, whatever you think of me, I’m the one who can help you understand.”
“You’ll think I’m crazy. I think I’m crazy,” she said, breathing faster.
“Promise. I won’t.”
A car door slammed from the parking lot nearby. Kaylee jumped, clearly on edge.
Nathan didn’t give himself the chance to ponder why Shadowman showed itself to her. Instead, he focused on the gorgeous woman before him, enthralled by her face in the moonlight. How long had it been since someone had made him feel alive, just by standing close to her?
“I deal with … supernatural things for a living.” As he spoke, he instinctively cupped her cheeks, wanting to comfort her.
Kaylee’s look was tortured, her gaze riveted to his. She wanted to believe him, if she could get over her reliance on the limited reality she knew.
Nathan wasn’t certain what compelled him to do what he did next, except that he felt almost like he had fallen under her spell.
He leaned forward and touched his lips to hers lightly, briefly. She didn’t seem like the kind who would hesitate to tell him, if she wasn’t interested. Nathan pulled back enough to see her face.
She didn’t push him or yell. She was gazing up at him, lost. The vulnerable expression disturbed him. He dealt with first gens who gave him a similar look all the time. They were like little sisters who just needed a nudge in the right direction and an occasional shoulder to cry on. He never thought more of them.
He wanted to do much more than just comfort Kaylee. He wasn’t going to be able to hand her a snow globe and walk away. No, he wanted her to trust him the way others did automatically and wasn’t certain why it bothered him so much that she didn’t. He felt the urge to help remove the emotions upsetting her and ensure they never returned, to run his hands down her body and listen to her sighs of ecstasy after they spent the night together.
Did she feel the strong connection between them?
Keeping his hands off her suddenly seemed unnatural. He liked the way her body felt next to his too much. Nathan risked her anger and kissed her again, this time more than a simple brush of their lips.
He expected a knee to the groin. Kaylee hesitated then kissed him back, not the mechanical response of someone going through the motions but with intensity and longing, a physical expression of just how much emotion lingered beneath her façade.
Nathan shifted closer, his arms circling her. She leaned into him. His desire stirred, deep and intense, his need to feel the warmth of her skin against his almost inhuman, almost like she belonged to him on some level he didn’t yet understand. By her passionate response, she felt the same.
“Your place or mine?” he whispered, withdrawing enough to speak. “Mine is a few blocks away.”
She was silent, under his spell for a moment. Finally, she shook her head and backed out of his embrace.
“I can’t,” she said uncertainly. “I won’t.” This was firmer. “You’re still on trial, Nathan. You can buy me a drink. That’s it.”
He snorted. “Too late. It’s a matter of when, not if.”
“You’re a cocky son of a bitch. You know that?”
“So I’ve heard,” he replied. “Give me the keys. I’ll drive.”
“You’re not driving my car,” she objected in a voice that was still husky from his kiss.
“You wanna talk about the boogeyman or not?”
He held her gaze, not deterred by the death stare. Thus far, he really enjoyed interacting with her. He didn’t know exactly what would come of their exchanges, but he was betting she’d end up in his bed before this whole thing was over. The attraction between them was too intense.
Kaylee fished her keys out of her pocket and tossed them to him, clearly displeased. She whirled and led him into the parking lot, stopping beside the vehicle he assumed was hers. He unlocked the doors with the remote.
“If you try anything funky, I’ll call the police,” she said, waving her phone.
“You’re safe with me, Kaylee.”
***
The way he said it – with a mix of amusement and daring – didn’t do much to reassure her of anything except there was no possibility of doing things on terms other than Nathan’s. He could kidnap her and take her anywhere, where no one would look for her.
Or he could answer her questions. Right now, she had some leverage, because he seemed to think she’d lead him to Mike. She was scared enough of Shadowman that she didn’t question what happened when she had no leverage.
Her stomach in knots, Kaylee got in the car.
Nathan was silent as he pulled the vehicle out of the parking lot and onto the quiet streets.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“To my place. I’ve got a full bar. I think we both need a drink.”
Kaylee silently agreed. She gripped her phone, her lifeline, even though she suspected she’d probably have no time to act, if Nathan turned out to be some sort of murderer or monster.
He drove them to a trendy part of Clarendon and pulled the car into the garage of a four story townhouse then closed the garage door behind them.
Kaylee expected he had money. Knowing he lived in the upscale neighborhood seemed to prove it.
Nathan paid no attention to her but got out and walked through the door leading into the townhome.
She followed him, irritated when he pocketed her keys. He walked up a set of stairs to the main level, an open space that consisted of modern, minimalist décor in dark colors. Along one wall was the full bar he promised, complete with bar stools and counter in dark, aged woods.
Nathan went behind the counter and poured whiskey into a tumbler.
“Vodka cranberry?” he asked without looking up.
“Yeah. And my keys.”
He ignored the words and poured her a drink. Kaylee took it, her self-control almost at a snapping point. She gripped and released the tumbler with one hand, senses too scattered from the run in with Shadowman and the stress of dealing with Nathan.
“Drink that one down, and we’ll talk.” Nathan leaned against the counter.
Kaylee considered resisting. A glance at him reminded her that – no matter how much she hated him for it – she was at his mercy. Relenting, she tossed the drink back. It burned her throat on the way down. She swallowed then set the glass on the bar, wincing.
“That was strong,” she muttered.
“Yeah.” He poured her another drink then picked it up, leaving the bar area for the living room.
Kaylee trailed. With the amount of alcohol he put in her first drink, she’d be spilling her life story by the time she made it through the second. It didn’t help that the meds Evan gave her made her more of a lightweight.
She sat down in the oversized chair across from him.
Nathan was relaxed after his stay at the prison, his intensity remaining. He sipped his whiskey, eyes never leaving hers.
The silence irked her, but not as much as giving more ground to the stranger who knew too much about what was going on.
Nathan smiled faintly. “All right. You’re at your max. I’ll start.”
“I hate that,” she muttered. “Am I that easy to read?”
“You’re a bitch to read. But I’m not your average monkey, either,” he replied. “You know what a medium or psychic is?”
She raised her eyebrows, not expecting the question.
He waited.
“You’re serious?”
“Very.”
“Yeah, but they’re not real.”
“You know Shadowman. You think he’s of this world?” Nathan challenged.
“No, that’s just …” A nightmare. One Nathan can see. Kaylee picked up her glass and downed it. The relaxing warmth of alcohol from her first drink had started to spread through her, loosening her muscles and softening her rationale.
But she still didn’t believe in people who could talk to the dead.
“My line of work is along that vein,” Nathan continued. “I’m what’s called a spirit guide. Basically, a spiritual case worker for humans and incarnated angels.”
“Incarnated angels,” she repeated. “Okay.”
“You’re not buying any of this,” he guessed.
“Not really. But go ahead. If you want to be a psychic, I’ll humor you.”
“This works better if you believe in something supernatural,” he said. “Think of a memory from childhood. Something only you know.”
She started to smile.
“Really,” he said, sitting forward. “I’ll tell you exactly what I’m going to do. We are all connected by energy that originates from the Other Side. One of my gifts, which not many people can do, is to be able to tap into that energy and yours and interpret it in a way that no one else can. That’s how I’ll know what your memory is. If I’m wrong …” He pulled out her keys and put them on the coffee table between them. “And when I’m right, you’ll tell me where Mike is.”
“I want to know about Shadowman,” she said.
“I’ll tell you what he is either way.”
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll just take these.” She picked up her keys.
“Fine. Now, close your eyes, take my hand and envision whatever it is.”
Kaylee rolled her eyes then took his hand and closed her eyes. She drew a deep breath and sifted through her memories, wanting to find one that only she recalled or at least, one that it was impossible for Nathan to guess. His heat moved through her, up her arm and into her body. It was comforting and gentle and made her want to sink into his body like she might a hot bath.
She settled on an image of her grandparents’ backyard, from one of the annual trips she took to visit them before at their summer home in Tubac, Arizona, just south of Tucson. At the age of seven, she’d spent the vacation in awe of the saguaro cacti that looked just like cartoon cacti. They had a small cactus garden in the backyard hedged by stone. The rattlesnakes had been particularly bad that season, and she recalled her accidental run-in with one.
“Interesting,” Nathan’s ultra-low voice was soft. “I live in Tucson. You know saguaros are protected? If you cut one down you get fined.”
Kaylee wasn’t certain what to think. Maybe he got lucky guessing where she was thinking of, seeing as how he lived there.
“The rattler got in through the drainage hole in the fence,” Nathan added. “You didn’t see it until you almost stepped on it. It was a diamond back, young, and was stretched out on the stone walkway your grandpa built, sunning itself. You’re lucky you didn’t step on it. You weren’t scared, though, but … worried. Your grandpa would kill it, if he found it, and that bothered you, because despite that shell around you, you’re sensitive, sweet. Gentle.”
She opened her eyes, staring at him. Nathan’s eyes were closed, his head tilted, as if he was listening or watching something she wasn’t able to see.
Kind of like how Amira talked to the Shadowman in a way Kaylee couldn’t hear. This memory she didn’t want to recall and pushed it away.
Nathan frowned for a second then shook his head, opening his eyes.
“Convinced?” he asked.
“How did you do that?” she demanded.
“Like I said. I’m a spirit guide, someone whose job is to take care of other guides and angels and sometimes, humans,” he explained. “I do that by reading your aura, talking to your angels, communicating with those on the Other Side, channeling energies.” He shrugged. “Whatever it takes.”
“So my … energy told you about my memory. You can’t read my mind.”
“No, but I can read your aura, and right now, you’re freaking out.”
“Yeah.”
“For the record, that snake would’ve killed you. The next time you see a rattler, kill it,” he advised.
She studied him, wondering if he was walking about a real snake or about someone like him. Someone dangerous who appeared deceptively harmless.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, shivering.
“Mike’s whereabouts.”
“Shadowman first.”
Nathan sat back, and she sensed he wasn’t entirely pleased that she kept putting him off.
“All right,” he agreed. “Shadowman is a fallen guardian angel.”
“Like Satan?”
“Not the fallen angel. There’s a three-tier structure to the Other Side, with guardian angels at the top, under archangels, and the rest of the angels forming the third tier. But same concept, yes. He chose evil for some reason. Guardian angels are the elite and they usually take their responsibilities to humans as sacred.”
It was almost too much to comprehend. Almost. But it made sense on some level, too.
“Guardian angels … are they always around?” she asked.
“Not always. They can be anywhere, multiple places or nowhere at will. If you call to one, he’ll come. Some people smell comforting scents when their angels are around or see flashes of light. Some sense their presence through other means, a warm touch, a mini-hug … it just depends on how sensitive you are to them.”
Or like a hot blanket you can’t shake. Some part of her was relieved to know what Shadowman was.
Nathan was a legitimate medium and Shadowman was a demon.
“Angels are assigned at birth and stay with you until death,” Nathan added.
Shit. Was the same true of Shadowman?
“I’m ready to go home,” Kaylee said, standing. The world spun sickeningly, and she started to fall.
“Careful!” Nathan exclaimed. His arms wrapped around her, grounding her instantly with warmth and heat. His scent tickled her nose while the sensation of his body against hers jarred her, made her wonder what it would feel like if they didn’t have clothing between them.
Kaylee gripped the material of his soft sweater, wishing she hadn’t drunk anything or at least, hadn’t taken her medicine earlier. She’d still be standing on her own.
“You’re in no shape to drive,” Nathan said. “The guestroom is occupied by my roommate. You can have my bed. We’ll finish talking in the morning.”
“No, I’m okay.”
“Right.” He bent and scooped her up, lifting her easily. He smelled so good, of man, cigar and spice.
Kaylee didn’t object. He carried her up another set of stairs and down a dark hallway. He set her down just inside the door of a room and leaned forward to turn on the light. Light flooded the room. The bed was made, the bedroom’s décor mirroring that of the living room.
“Bathroom down the hallway,” he said, pointing. “You’re welcome to dig out a t-shirt from my dresser.”
She focused on balancing herself, uncertain if she wanted to throw up or pass out.
“I’ll be on the couch, unless you want company,” he said, steadying her with his hot hands.
“Do I look easy or desperate?” she demanded, throwing her head back to glare at him.
“Truthfully?”
She swiped his hands away then pushed him towards the door.
Nathan went, smiling. “You know where I’ll be if you change your mind again.”
She slammed the door on him then crossed to the bed, dropping onto it. It took all her focus to shove her shoes off. When they were gone, she fell back and wriggled her way under the covers. With her meds and alcohol combined, she was sleeping within seconds.