Chapter Three

The Angel Haven limousine stopped a short distance from Misty’s meeting place with Taylor. She saw him leaning against the building, looking up and down the street. He was dressed simply, just jeans, a plain white T-shirt, and a pair of work boots, badly scuffed. He’d pulled his hair back into a ponytail again, and the eye-patch was in place over his left eye. The glow of the setting sun turned the red in his hair to fire.

She stepped out of the car, waving as she headed toward him. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”

He pulled her arm through his. “Not at all. You look lovely.” He grinned at her. “No running tonight?”

She shook her head. “Tonight I had the car. And you look pretty terrific yourself.” She inwardly winced. I sound like an idiot. “So, where to?”

He gestured down the street. “Just down here. It’s one of my favorites.”

She smiled as he took her hand. “Sounds great.”

There was no restaurant, only a hot dog vendor with a bright red and blue cart with enticing, steamy aromas drifting from it. Taylor waved to the man at the stand, getting a greeting in return as he led her over.

“Good evening, Frank. Two for dinner, please.” He stood there, his back ramrod straight, the tone in his voice a bit snobbish.

Misty looked at Frank. He could’ve been anywhere from his early forties to his late fifties. He had a little pot belly, and his brown hair was scattered with gray, looking like it had never been touched with a brush. Lines crinkled at the corners of his eyes as he broke out in a broad smile.

“Hey, Taylor,” he said, rolling his eyes when Taylor raised one imperious eyebrow. He sighed. “Oh, all right. What’ll it be, your Lordship?”

Taylor gave him a quick nod. “Two of your best, and spare no expense. Tonight, money is no object.”

Frank winked at Misty. “Considering you got a tab about as long as the Bill of Rights, why should tonight be any different?” He opened the little door on top and Misty inhaled deeply.

“Those smell heavenly,” she sighed.

Frank added almost everything he had on the cart to the two large hot dogs. They walked to a nearby bus bench and Misty sat down, placing their dinner next to her.

“I’ll be right back,” Taylor said. “I’ve got to get napkins and our drinks.

Misty loved the way his body moved when he walked. She watched the two men glance over their shoulders and Taylor frowned. What could they be talking about?

****

“Did you see the news last night?”

Frank nodded. “Sure did.” He passed napkins, two sodas, and extra ketchup and mustard packs to his friend. “I knew you’d be concerned, so I sent out part of the team to gather information. We’ve got people at his house, his office, and his usual haunts.”

“How the hell did Fenmore, of all people, get by us?” Jack’s good eye narrowed. “You told me all the conspirators were nailed. You said you did the body count yourself.”

Frank wiped the top of the cart and frowned. “Don’t give me that look, buddy. I taught you that look. All the bodies were accounted for that night.”

Jack’s hand curled into a tight fist, crushing the napkins. “Didn’t anyone bother to check ID’s?”

“After all these years, now you’re beginning to doubt me?” Frank fiddled with some of the items on the cart. “All we can figure is the Council must’ve faked up some of their own people so the ID’s would match.”

Jack’s shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry, Frank. You’re my team leader for a reason. Send me everything you find.”

Frank nodded. “Will do. I know how much you love paperwork. Now get back to your lady before she comes to find out what’s keeping ‘Taylor’.”

****

Misty watched the men talk and grew worried. The looks on their faces would’ve scared the devil himself. She rubbed the back of her neck. That’s it, she thought. No more beating up bad guys for a bit. I’m getting way too suspicious.

Taylor walked toward her, the dark look he’d had before replaced by a smile.

“What a killer smile,” she murmured.

He sat next to her, placing a napkin on her knee. “Thank you.”

She swallowed hard. “You heard me?”

He nodded. “You looked deep in thought for a moment. Was it my ‘killer smile’ that had you thinking, or merely the food?”

Feeling heat rising in her face, she stammered, “I was thinking what an unusual dinner date this is. I’ve got a friend from a very upscale, very proper family who wouldn’t be caught dead eating hot dogs on a bus bench. Heck. She wouldn’t be caught eating a hot dog.”

He gave her a sly smile. “You want me to bring her down to earth for you? I’d be more than happy to oblige.”

Misty’s hand flew to her chest. “Heaven’s, no. You may decide you like her more than me, and I’d never see the two of you again.”

He hesitated a moment before reaching out and running a finger lightly down her cheek. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

Misty gazed at him, her breath coming quicker as he didn’t break eye contact. A car horn blew and she jumped, sticking her thumb in mustard. She looked away eating in silence, and when they finished, he threw away their trash and pulled her arm through his. They strolled down the street, enjoying the last of the cool spring air.

“You know what I’m currently doing to make a living,” he said, watching the people passing on the way to their own destinations. “What about you?”

“I’m an attorney,” she said.

He glanced at her. “An attorney? How many cases have you won?”

She laughed. “I’m a corporate attorney. All I do is draw up contracts and sit through boring merger talks.” She gazed at him. “It’s not as glamorous as people think.”

“You don’t take care of lawsuits and things like that?”

“Not any more. You can only listen to people whine for so long before it gets to you.” She drew herself up. “I’m an official pencil pusher now.”

“What did your family think of that?” He took her hand. “Just moving along?”

Misty hesitated. “Both of my parents are dead. They were killed when I was a child, and I have no brothers or sisters. My guardian supported me and told me to do whatever made me happy.”

He squeezed her hand. “He sounds like a wise man.”

Misty smiled. “My guardian was a close friend of my parents. He helped me through the tough time after their deaths. He took me into Angel Haven and raised me. His daughter, Kristin, is my age and she’s the closest thing I have to a sister.” I think I’ll leave out the desolidification powers, the hero team thing, and the beating up villains for now.

“What’s Angel Haven?”

She smiled. “That’s the name he gave his home. He says it’s a haven for his friends to forget their troubles when they need it. The house and grounds are pretty big. One of my housemates says it should be called Angel Heaven because it’s almost that large.”

What she didn’t tell him was that Angel Haven was the base for her hero team, the Angels. Her guardian had taken in teens who also manifested paranormal abilities and had no place to go to learn to control them. In addition to having his own powers, the doctor was also a geneticist. He used his knowledge and ability to help Misty and her friends learn to use their powers. Her home truly was a haven for the Angels.

“Really? And how many housemates do you have?”

“Six. Most of them came in their teens. They were the children of my guardian’s friends and their parents felt the kids would get a better education with him then in traditional schools.”

“So Angel Haven is basically a very private, exclusive school.”

She nodded. “It used to be. None of us are in school anymore, but we still live there for now. Kristin is supposed to be getting married, but her fiancé keeps putting it off. She thinks he might be having second thoughts.”

Taylor tensed under her arm, and she looked at him. “Is something wrong?”

“My wife died thirteen years ago,” he said in a low voice. “I still miss her, and it creeps up on me when I least expect it.”

The pain in his voice brought tears to her eyes, and she blinked furiously. “Oh, Taylor, I’m so sorry.”

He glanced down at her, smiling as he wiped her tears away. “Now I’ve upset you when we were having such a good time. Hey, how about a balloon?” He led her over to a man with a handful of brightly colored balloons.

She pulled the string of a hot pink one with a smiley face. She grinned. “This one works.”

As they walked along, Misty watched Taylor continuously check over his shoulder. The nearly full moon rose, and the stars came out, dotting the sky with pinpricks of light. He checked the surrounding area more frequently the later it became.

“It’s getting late,” he said. “Is your ride coming to get you, or should I take you home?”

Misty picked at the balloon string. “I wasn’t sure what time to tell him to come for me. You can take me home, if you want.”

“Oh, I want.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I want to take you home, very much.”

He just stood there, gazing at her and she leaned fractionally closer. He broke contact first and walked her down the street to a four door Chevy with fading blue paint. A large dent over the right wheel well was beginning to rust along the edges. The interior wasn’t much better. The black leather on the edges of the seats had cracked and the dashboard was dull and dirty.

He opened the door and frowned. “Hang on a second.”

He leaned in and threw papers, CD cases, small boxes, and things she decided only men have in their cars into the backseat. As she saw how snugly his jeans hugged his butt, heat rose to her face.

If I died right now, I’d be happy, she thought. He is so on The List.

****

Misty directed him up the long driveway to the front of Angel Haven mansion. Tall columns stood the length of the low porch that went from one end of the house to the other. A single light glowed over the double doors.

“This is Angel Haven?”

“Home sweet home.”

Taylor stepped out, opening her door for her. “I can’t tell you all the times I’ve driven by here. I’ve always been impressed by this place.” He paused. “Would you mind going out with a pauper again?”

She grinned at him as they headed for the front door. “Are you making fun of me?”

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t do something like that.” He stepped closer to her and leaned in, just a little. He closed his eyes for a moment, pulling back when he opened them. “How about this Saturday?”

“Great. Same time, same place?”

“Sounds like a plan.” He walked her to the door and turned her to face him.

“Thanks again for a wonderful night,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Taylor reached out, stroking her cheek. “You’re welcome.”

She gazed at his face as he moved closer to her, too many emotions flashing through his one good eye. This is it.

He hesitated, finally stepping back from her. “Good night, Misty.”

She couldn’t believe he walked away.