CHAPTER 1

Sirens in the distance heralded the imminent arrival of the police, but Monica could hardly hear them through the ringing in her ears. Her head felt heavy and her mind was spinning with everything that had just occurred. She knew that Heather and Missy would be walking through the front door any second and she couldn’t even force herself to prevent them from entering, although the last thing she wanted was for them to see the man they knew as husband and father sprawled unnaturally across the floor. All she could do was sit, in a complete state of shock, her eyes never leaving the doorway the murderer had run through.

"Baby? Baby, are you hurt?" Tess’ voice broke through Monica’s dazed stupor.

The younger angel still seemed reluctant to let her eyes drift from the scene, even after she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She shook her head and willed her eyes to focus before looking up at her supervisor.

"T-Tess? I thought… I thought you were Heather… and I didn’t want her to see… but I couldn’t…" Monica was stammering as she pushed herself off the floor, and her tear-filled eyes begged Tess to make everything right.

"Monica, you need to calm down. Heather and Missy aren’t here. The Father sent me. I was clear on the other side of the country waiting for you when He told me to come back here instead." Her tone held annoyance, but looking at the devastation on the other angel’s face, she couldn’t maintain her anger for long. There would be time enough for lectures later.

"I just stayed a little while longer," Monica tried to explain.

"And you ended up seeing something you were never meant to see, Angel Girl. Now we’re all going to have to deal with the consequences of that."

Monica lowered her eyes, knowing that she deserved much more than the mild sternness Tess was speaking with, but just longing to be held and told that things would be alright. The older angel seemed to read her mind, and her expression softened as she opened her arms to pull Monica into her comforting embrace.

Flashes of color surrounded the pair as the police cars swarmed into the driveway. Within seconds a pair of officers was inside and approaching the pair of angels, while more policemen circled around the building. Monica and Tess were quickly ushered into another room as the officers radioed back to their station and to each other.

"That’s right… yeah… a man down. You’d better send a forensic team," the officer in charge said solemnly and Monica felt her tears start again as she heard those very final sounding words.

The officer turned then to Tess and Monica, a small notepad in hand. He had a feeling that the pretty little auburn haired female had seen something as she was visibly shaken and the more information she could give him, the better. Taking a seat across from the two angels, he looked over at them, his blue eyes kind, "Can you tell me what you know of what happened here…" His voice trailed off, realizing he had never even asked her name.

"Monica," Tess replied for her friend, seeing as how her young charge was struggling to pull herself together enough to speak, "She was temporarily working for Mr. Kelly. The job had just been finished tonight and I came over here to meet her."

The Irish angel shot her friend a grateful look as she forced herself to clear her jumbled mind. The last time something like this had happened, Monica had made the mistake of being far too honest and had admitted she was an angel, which had led her to a psychiatric hospital and it seemed that neither she nor Tess wanted that repeated, "I had been out on the front porch, just enjoying the evening for a bit before I was supposed to meet my friend," She stammered, somewhat guiltily, "I came back in to give Josh the paper, but he…" She swallowed hard and blinked back tears, "He was already dead."

The officer nodded his head in understanding, "Did you see anyone nearby or was there anyone in the house who is not usually here?"

"The man who did it was standing over Josh’s body," She replied softly, feeling Tess bristle beside of her and Monica was unsure if it was out of annoyance that this was worse than she had thought, or out of protectiveness at knowing she had been in the same room with the murderer, "He was going to kill me, but then you showed up and the lights startled him enough that he missed his target thankfully." Her dark eyes glimpsed into the other room, hoping to see Andrew somewhere nearby as she longed for his comforting presence, but she was sorely disappointed to not see him.

She couldn’t help but wonder if she had only come into the house sooner, if maybe she could have stopped this, and the fact that she had been sitting out on the porch enjoying the beautiful night, while her assignment had died on the other side of the door did not sit well with her. She had stayed when she shouldn’t have, but hadn’t even been able to stop this from happening.

Monica’s thoughts were interrupted, as through the window she could see Heather and Missy being stopped on the front porch by another officer, who was apparently breaking the news to them as gently as he could. Their anguished cries could still be heard through the glass and tears clung to the little angel’s lashes.

"Monica," the officer interrupted her thoughts, clearly seeing her distress, "Would you be able to describe the man who allegedly killed Joshua Kelly and tried to tried to hurt you? I would even like you to meet with our sketch artist so she could sketch a composite based on your description. It would definitely help us with who we are looking for."

He watched her slowly nod her head, even as he knew that they had much bigger problems on their hands. Monica had seen the killer.

And the killer knew that.

*****

The next few hours were a whirl of activity that Monica could scarcely keep up with. She felt drained and overwhelmed by everything. Officer Jackson had escorted her out of the house, and Heather and Missy had fallen into her arms in tears when they saw her. Heather was begging for explanations and information, and Monica felt helplessly inadequate to give her either. Only Tess’ hand on her arm had kept her from breaking down again herself.

Once at the police station the angel was questioned again and again by different officers until she felt that she had actually relived the events. She watched as an officer brought in one man who had been caught one block away from the house. She thought for an instant that maybe things were drawing to a close, and that soon she would be safe at Home and in Andrew’s arms, but one look and she shook her head. He wasn’t the man who had shot Josh.

She sat near one of the detective’s desks, Tess hovering nearby, as the commotion went on around her. Officers shouting about possible suspects, the loud footsteps as people rushed in and out, phones ringing in the distance, and the incessant ticking from the small clock on the desk beside her; it all melded together in her mind until she could hardly stand the din.

Finally, she and Tess were led into a quiet room and introduced to a sketch artist. Monica described the image that still existed in her mind, of the man’s face staring at her so coldly, and the artist’s hands moved swiftly, putting that image down on paper.

"Thanks, Linda," Detective Montrose said as he held up the sketchpad and turned it to face the two angels. "Is this the man?" he asked.

Feeling her heart race even as all color left her already pale face, Monica nodded. "That’s him," she whispered.

The detective’s expression turned grim and both Tess and Monica noticed it and were surprised. "Thank you, Monica," he said, looking down at the drawing with a sort of angry recognition on his face. "I need the two of you to stay here while I make a few calls."

"What seems to be the trouble, Detective?" Tess asked, never one to mince words.

Detective Henderson looked at them and sighed. He didn’t really want to be giving this speech yet and decided on the most abbreviated version. "We know this man. We know him, and so does the FBI. So right now, I just need you to sit tight while I consult with them about how best to keep you safe."

He and the sketch artist left the room, and Monica turned to her supervisor. "Keep me safe? But… but surely I need to get Home now… they can catch him without me, and no one can keep me safer than God, right Tess?" she said, her words laced with uncertainty.

"Baby, you are the only witness to a horrible crime, and I think these may be some of the consequences I was telling you about. You can’t just go Home now," the older angel replied as she watched the hope drain from the little angel’s face.

"But I didn’t actually see him shoot Josh," She stammered, suddenly wanting nothing more than to forget this whole thing had ever happened, even though she knew that would be impossible.

"Angel Girl, I suppose that could be called circumstantial evidence, but it is mighty strong evidence against this man. You saw him standing over your assignment with a gun, he tried to shoot you Monica, and no one can ignore those facts. You are the one and only witness to any of this, baby," Tess spoke as gently as she could, able to see only too clearly how overwhelmed her charge was.

"So, they want to make sure that I won’t disappear on them? That I’ll testify?" She asked wearily, oblivious to what Tess already understood, but was reluctant to share, "Fine, I won’t, but why can’t I go Home until the trial?"

"It isn’t that easy, baby," The older angel replied with a sigh, "Yes, they want to make sure you testify but more importantly, they want to make sure this man doesn’t claim another victim." Still seeing confusion in Monica’s exhausted eyes, Tess reached for her hand and squeezed it gently, "You, Angel Girl. They want to make sure he doesn’t come back for you in order to finish what he started. He knows you saw him, Monica, and he knows you will testify against him if he is caught."

The little angel dropped her head into her hands, wanting to alleviate the feeling of her world spinning out of control, "Why did I stay? I was supposed to have left 45 minutes before I did! I stayed and for what? I couldn’t even stop this from happening…"

"Sweetheart, what’s done is done and there is no turning back. You just have to move forward where God leads you." Seeing that her words weren’t helping much, and wondering herself where Andrew was, Tess just rubbed her friend’s back gently. Andrew always had a way with Monica, especially when her heart was heavily burdened, but there had been no sign of him so far.

Before Tess could think of anymore advice to give, Detective Henderson returned to the room, closely followed by another man, wearing a suit and a badge and the older angel had a feeling this man was not with the police department.

"Monica, Tess, this is Agent Paul Gatlin with the FBI, " Detective Henderson explained, watching as Paul shook hands with the two of them, before the agent took a seat, "He needs to explain some things to you, Monica."

Paul didn’t miss the weary look in the younger female’s eyes, as she seemed to be struggling to keep her emotions intact after what he knew had been a very long evening for her, "Can I get you both something?" He asked kindly, trying to meet Monica’s dark, troubled eyes, "Coffee?"

The smallest of smiles formed on Monica’s lips as she nodded her head, "That would be lovely."

A few minutes later, he had returned with a styrofoam cup of steaming coffee for Monica and a cup of hot tea for Tess. Monica eagerly accepted the beverage, as she quietly thanked him, and the agent waited patiently until she had sipped at the drink, watching the hint of pleasure that shone in her eyes at the taste. He smiled, making a mental note of her obvious love of coffee as he wanted to know all he could to make her smile, especially in the days ahead that she would face.

"Monica," He began as gently as he could, once she had seemed to relax a little bit, "We’ll be leaving here soon for someplace safe. The man that you encountered tonight is extremely dangerous and I know he has not taken the fact that you have seen him lightly. His goal right now is to find you, and it is my job to make sure that doesn’t happen. We’ll be flying to a secure spot, where you will have to stay until he is caught."

Once again, the room felt as if it were spinning for the little angel as she listened to his words, "But that could take a long time. My friends…"

"I know," He said softly, seeing her distress, "Your life, unfortunately, is about to change, Monica, until this is over. I’ll be the one you’re stuck with, as well as another agent who will be meeting us there."

She swallowed back the horrible lump that had formed in her throat and concentrated on keeping her hands from shaking as she nervously clenched them together. The small, encouraging smile left Paul’s face as he watched Monica turn her eyes to the floor, to her hands, to anywhere but his face. He turned instead to Tess.

"If she has any family, now would be the time for her to contact them. It won’t take long to get things set up, and once we leave she won’t be allowed to talk or even write to them."

Tess nodded sadly, and kept her comforting hand on her Angel Girl’s back as Paul left the room. As soon as he left Monica lifted her eyes to meet Tess’. The older angel saw that a tiny bit of hope had reappeared and she was afraid of what might have caused it. She was afraid of being the one to snatch it away again.

"I don’t know how a human could go through something like this," Monica said. "To be separated from their friends and family. At least I will still get to see you and Andrew." She watched Tess’ face, waiting for her to agree with her.

Instead, Tess shook her head. "Angel Girl, that isn’t how this is going to work…"

"But you’re an angel, Tess. You can come with me and God will provide a reason for you to be there," Monica tried to reason with her, although her own thinking was far from rational.

"No I can’t. That isn’t what the Father has in mind. Things have been set in motion, and He isn’t going to just randomly interfere to allow me to remain with you. I think that I may be able to see you occasionally, but He has other work for me to do as well…" she trailed off, feeling like her words made Monica’s situation sound somehow like an inconvenience when in fact the idea of leaving her charge for an undetermined amount of time was something that she could hardly imagine doing.

Monica had known that things would be hard, but this went beyond unexpected. She had simply assumed that Tess would be allowed to accompany her wherever she went. Andrew! She hadn’t even seen him! Did he know she was being sent away? She needed to be able to at least see him and say good-bye. If only she had gone to him as soon as her case was over. She had been so eager to tell him about it. No… instead she had lingered where she was never meant to be!

Tess saw the flurry of emotions passing over the Irish angel’s face and she knew exactly what and whom she was thinking about. "Monica, stop. You need to stop getting yourself worked up, and concentrate on preparing yourself for what is to come."

"But, Andrew!" Monica’s words were both a plea and a prayer.

"I’m sorry, baby. If I knew where he was I’d get him here in a flash. You know that," Tess picked up one of Monica’s ice-cold hands and held it tightly. "Just know that he will certainly be thinking of you, and if there is anyway for him to go to you, I know he’ll take it."

Monica nodded, and unable to talk anymore, she wrapped her arms around the angel who had guided her for so long. She didn’t know how she’d manage without her presence, but she knew that she would have to do her best.

Within hours, Paul was back and gathering Monica and her things together. Tess had run out to get a suitcase of clothes that had appeared in the trunk of her car, and Monica had at least had the presence of mind to give a bittersweet smile at the fact that the Father always provided for them. Feeling as if she never wanted to let go, Monica hugged Tess, relishing in the feeling of peace she got from her, and putting the memory of that feeling in a place deep in her heart.

"I love you, Angel Girl," Tess said, her own eyes bright with tears. "Don’t you worry about anything. Things are going to work themselves out just fine."