Andrew caught up with Kate as she stood at the cashier’s desk to the left of the podium. She had her head down and was busily writing out the check to the charity. As she made out the check that paid for her time with her impulse purchase, she did not so much as glance in his direction. She didn’t mind spending the money—beating out her arch-rival Beth Popik had held its usual pleasure—but she had no intention of spending the time with her “eligible bachelor.” Far from it. Her only intention had been to win one more small victory in the continuing war she had declared on Beth.
Of course, Andrew had no idea of any of this when he caught up with her. He approached warily, as if afraid of startling her, the way a hunter avoids spooking an animal.
“Hi,” he said with a half smile. He was feeling awkward and unpolished, completely unsure of himself. It was safe to say that he was not certain what the protocol was for this sort of thing. Besides, he was far from used to going on dates. “I’m Andrew . . .”
Kate glanced at him, a cold, dismissive glance, and went on writing her check. She ripped it from the checkbook and handed it to the cashier.
The cashier took it. “Just a minute, ma’am,” the woman said, “I’ll give you a receipt.”
“Don’t bother,” said Kate. She turned and, still studiously ignoring Andrew, made for the door. Andrew sighed and followed along in her wake. He steeled himself against her indifference and caught up with her.
“Miss Calder?” said Andrew. “I guess I’m not really sure what happens next. Maybe you could enlighten me. I’ve never been auctioned off before.”
Kate paused and stared at him coldly. “You know,” she said finally, “I think I know practically every doctor in this town . . . and I’ve never heard of you, Dr. Andrew Friend. I can’t help but wonder why that is. Of course, a friend of Jackie Cysse’s is bound to be well known—and I have the feeling you’re not.” She looked at him critically for a second or two. “Am I right . . . ‘Doctor’?”
“Well,” said Andrew, feeling the harshness of her gaze, “that’s something I want to explain to you . . . And I thought doing so over dinner would be the perfect opportunity.”
Kate Calder stopped and looked him up and down, her face hard and unsmiling. “Look,” she said, her words clipped and cold, “nothing personal, but I’m not interested in a date with you. I spent the money because it goes to a good cause, so let’s just forget it, okay, Dr. Friend?”
Andrew shook his head slightly, like a boxer shaking off a blow. “But I don’t understand,” he said. “If you didn’t want to go out, why didn’t you just make a donation to the institute? Why did you bother to bid for me?”
“I wasn’t bidding for you,” Kate said bluntly. She had never had a problem with being frank.
“You weren’t?” Andrew asked. Somewhere inside him he felt a sense of hurt. It surprised him. He thought that the auction was the most humiliating thing he had ever undergone, but having emerged from it triumphant with the top bid, he was now determined to see it through. He knew this must be part of the assignment— there was no way he could have been placed in this position without good reason. And he was sure that his desire to dine with this infuriating woman was certainly not based on vanity on his part.
“No, I wasn’t bidding for you,” Kate explained. “I was bidding against her.” She cocked her head toward Beth Popik, who was walking up the stairs and out of the room. At that moment, Beth stopped and turned, as if she knew she was being talked about. As she glanced back at them, her eyes alighting on Andrew, she felt once again that peculiar feeling, that stab of recognition, the sense that somehow, from somewhere, she knew him.
Kate was oblivious to Beth’s gaze. “And I won,” she said. She looked pleased at her success, but Andrew could not help but see the sadness in her eyes. Kate walked away, leaving Andrew in a state of total confusion.
The angels were assembled in a corner of the hotel lobby, going over the rather puzzling— but to Tess and Monica, very entertaining— events of the afternoon.
“I don’t get it,” said Andrew, with a shake of his head. “This makes no sense at all. Why would she spend all that money just to annoy someone she works with?”
“That seems extremely mean-spirited of her,” said Monica. “And on top of that” she added, “it seems like you went through that whole thing for nothing.”
Andrew was surprised to discover that he was feeling a little defensive about that.
“Well, I did get the highest price of any guy there, you know,” he said in his own defense. “And as you keep saying, it was in aid of a good cause. That counts for something, surely.”
It was obvious that Tess was not interested in debating the smaller points of the Books and Bachelors Luncheon; she was more interested in the big picture. “I’ve got a feeling it was more than that, Andrew . . . I’ve got the feeling it was for more than we know.” She looked to Monica and Andrew, the seriousness showing in her eyes. “There’s a reason we were all called here. I’m sure of it.”
This gave Monica and Andrew pause. They had long ago learned to trust Tess’ intuition in these matters. The sheer weight of Tess’ centuries of experience gave great import to any feelings she might have. There was silence for a moment before Monica noticed a familiar figure striding across the hotel lobby, coming toward them.
“Adam?” said Monica. She glanced over at Tess. “What’s Adam doing here?” she asked, more puzzled than ever. “I didn’t know he was assigned to work with us.”
Tess shook her head slowly. “Neither did I.”
Like Andrew, Adam was an Angel of Death. He was a little older-looking, perhaps a little more urbane and sophisticated. He was dressed as formally as Andrew, but he seemed more at ease in his finery than Andrew was in his. For an Angel of Death he was something of a charmer.
“I am so sorry,” said Adam, coming up to where the angels were sitting. “Monica, you’re looking lovely! Am I too late?”
“Well,” said Tess sternly, “that depends.” She did not approve of tardiness in the angels under her supervision. “What are you talking about?”
“I had a passing in Duluth,” Adam said a touch defensively. Tess could be hard on her angels. “A charming, delightful lady, all her affairs in order,” Adam said. “Ninety-two years old, and she couldn’t wait to go home.” He smiled beatifically. “And I was all ready to take her and then, poof, Wheel of Fortune comes on . . .”
“Wheel of Fortune?” Tess said with a snort. “What on earth does Wheel of Fortune have to do with anything?”
Adam smiled. “What on earth, Tess? Well, it turned out the last thing she wanted to see on earth was the bonus round in Wheel of Fortune. She wouldn’t go until it was over.”
Andrew nodded as the picture became clear. “Oh, I get it. You were delayed, so I was sent here to cover for you.”
Adam nodded. “That’s right. Thanks.”
“But we still don’t know what the assignment is,” said Monica. “Or why Tess and I are here.”
“Wait, wait,” said Adam, holding up a hand, like a policeman stopping traffic. “Not so fast . . .” He turned back to Andrew. “Andrew, did you stand here and get randomly chosen to be a bachelor?”
Andrew nodded. “Yes. That’s right. I didn’t like it.”
“You’re not supposed to like it, Andrew,” said Adam with a smile. “It’s all part of the plan . . . And then did the doctor bid on you?”
“Yeah,” said Andrew ruefully. “I fetched six thousand bucks. The highest bid, as it turned out.”
Adam laughed. “Not bad, not bad at all. I’m not saying I wouldn’t have fetched a bit more, but six thousand dollars—that’s pretty impressive.”
“Get on with it,” growled Tess.
“Okay,” said Adam. “So, the date’s on? It’s all set up for tonight, then?”
Andrew shook his head. “If that’s the plan, then it didn’t work. She blew me off.”
Suddenly Adam was more than a little alarmed. “No,” he said urgently. “You have to go on that date with her tonight.”
“I don’t think she likes me,” said Andrew with a little smile. “Maybe you ought to go instead.”
Adam shook his head. “No, that won’t work. You’re the angel on the case now. You’ve got to follow through on this.” He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a small business card. “Here’s the restaurant you’re supposed to take her to.” He glanced down at Tess and Monica. “And I think you’re going to need some backup on this one, Andrew.”
“We still don’t know what we’re supposed to do, Adam,” said Monica. “We’ve had no instructions at all.”
Adam cleared his throat nervously. “Well, I think you’ll know what to do when you see the restaurant.” He snuck a quick peek at his wristwatch. “Look, I’ve got a scuba diving crisis in three minutes. I may be a while—it could go either way. I’ll meet you at the restaurant tonight and fill you in.” He looked sternly at Andrew and wagged his finger at him. “Just make sure you get her there.”
Then Adam turned on his heel and made for the double glass doors of the hotel lobby—but never emerged on the other side. He had vanished. The three angels exchanged a look.
“What do you make of that?” Monica asked.
“I don’t know,” said Andrew, standing up and straightening his suit coat. “But I have to get out of here.”
“Where are you going?” Tess asked.
“Hey,” said Andrew, “I guess I need a date for tonight.”