CHAPTER 13

"Hello?" As the secretary of the Law Enforcement Agency answered the phone she could detect the tension in the voice on the other side of the line.

"Good afternoon, Beth. This is Andrew. Is Mr Collins in?"

"Oh, good afternoon, Andrew. Yes, he's just arrived. Did something happen? Did you find the boy?"

"Not yet, but I think I have some evidences that might help." He informed, on his knees, staring at the ground not far from the Clark's house.

"Ok, I'll transfer your call in a moment." She quickly dialed a couple of numbers and Ben Collins picked up the phone with urgency.

"Andrew?"

"Tire tracks, sir. I found them in the street that lies behind the Clark's house. I've checked in the garage and with the neighbors. They don't belong to any vehicle in the near area. Plus, they are still fresh and this street is seldom used."

The man's eyes grew wide with that piece of information and he rose to his feet. "Can you individualize the model?"

"We're working on that right now, but everything indicates it's a 4x4 SUV."

X

An hour later…

Andrew heaved a sigh of relief as he saw his boss walking towards him and holding a sheet of paper. There could lie the only clue to solve Aiden's disappearance. But the angel frowned with concern as he saw the expression on Mr Collins's face.

"We've searched everywhere," he informed as he approached Andrew. "But the vehicle records inform it was reported stolen three years ago in New York."

The angel of death ran his hand through his short hair, still not believing what he had just heard. "So we have nothing again?"

"Yeah, I can't believe that either. There's no other choice but to follow the criminal's MO and start searching in the woods." He said, "I'll send a team now and the other men will help me out here."

"I'll go with them, sir." Andrew quickly offered.

"Make sure your gun is loaded. I have to take this bastard whatever it takes."

That remark caused a shiver to run through his spine. Taking away the life of a God's child was never an option to him, and he prayed that he would never have to use it.

X

The group of six men started the search in the woods a couple of hours later, when the sun began to set behind the mountains of Utah. Andrew watched the beautiful sunrise as his thoughts were on his beloved Monica and the times they shared that wonderful scenario together. But now that wonderful view had another meaning: time was running out. He resented the fact that he had to leave so suddenly and couldn't even tell his wife where he was heading. But a little boy's life was in check. Besides, he knew that Monica also had an assignment to fulfill and by that time she was certainly taking care of a broken-hearted family.

The group of six walked together for some time, but then each of them took a different direction, hoping to cover a bigger area. They were carrying water and food supplies for an entire day, walk-talkies and all the necessary equipment to spend the next 24 hours in the woods, including a first aid kit that could help not only them but whoever crossed their way.

A night with no stars and no moon fell slowly on that part of the country and apart from his footsteps over dry leaves and withered twigs there was no other sound in Andrew's path. Holding a flashlight, he walked slowly, his green eyes attentively scanning the area, recording the smallest details that surrounded him. Long minutes passed by without any sign of life in the forest, and the angel started to wonder if perhaps they were searching in the wrong place.

"Help me, Father… Please show me the way." His prayer came out as a whisper. And a second later, another sound – quite familiar to his heart, reached his ears.

"He is with you, Andrew… And you are exactly where you should be…"

Startled, and somewhat not believing that he had just heard Monica's voice, Andrew turned around to face his gorgeous soul mate dressing a long white dress and involved in a beautiful glow standing right behind him.

"Angel…" he whispered, coming closer to her but not even daring to touch her – her angelic form was always such a powerful image that any other living creature would feel unworthy of any contact.

"Besides… You're following your angelic heart, so it does not surprise me that you are in the right track."

She was the one to cross the barrier between human and divine and very tenderly lay the palm of her hand against his handsome face; her gentle touch warmed his soul and seemed to bring back all the hope he was about to lose.

"Monica…" he spoke, now daring to cover her hand with his. "Angel, I thought you were with the family…"

"From now on, it is with you I will stand, Andrew. My mission with the Clark's has already been fulfilled."

"I wish you didn't have to go through this."

"Oh, my dear Andrew… I'm in this form, so there is nothing you should fear concerning myself." She spoke, and then tilted her head, looking at him lovingly. "As a matter of fact, I am the one who is fearing for your safety. That is why I am here, to help you with the Father's blessing."

He took her hand in both of his and kissed her palm – his beloved angel soothed and hypnotized him at the same time. "Angel… Your being here is always so warm and comforting, especially now…"

Monica let go of his hand to wrap her arms around his waist, in a loving embrace he returned with the same tenderness. Her love for him was so strong now that she could barely contain it and there was nothing in this world that she wouldn't do to erase so much sorrow from his heart. Andrew closed his tired eyes for a few moments, treasuring the feeling of having her in his arms once again. Her wildflowers natural scent was more accentuated when she was in that form and he could not stop breathing it in. Monica gave him strength and was a clear reminder of a higher power; without her, he would be just half of the creature he had become.

He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. "You said I'm in the right way…"

"This is what I've been told." She pulled away and searched inside his green pools, not missing the signs of exhaustion in his voice and also on his handsome face; his eyes were tired and sad at all the atrocities human beings were capable of doing.

"There are more men searching around just like me."

"I know. There is still time."

He heaved a sigh of relief at that piece of news. "Oh, thank You, Father…"

"But you have to be careful with the dangers of this forest, Andrew. You are human right now and the path ahead you might hide many risks…" she pulled away and took his hand in hers, guiding him for a few steps ahead. There, hidden behind the dense vegetation, there was a cliff.

As he shone the flashlight on the spot, Andrew realized that her appearing had just saved him. "Angel…"

"You have always been my protector. But now…" she stroked his face with her fingertips; she seemed to touch his very heart. "…now allow me to be your guardian angel. Please?"

With a slight, bittersweet smile, he nodded his head.