CHAPTER 3

Monday 5:35pm

A warm fire, cups of hot chocolate, and relaxing conversation filled the afternoon.  Monica actually had a hard time remembering that she was in the same house where she had spent some of the most difficult days of her existence.  It had been a safe haven then and it still was, but it was so much nicer to be visiting rather than confined.

Tess was just about to start dinner for the three of them when a brief look of concentration passed over her face and she turned to Monica.  “It’s time, baby.”

Monica’s eyes widened and she took a deep breath.  Then a smile spread across her face.  The hours of reminiscing about their recent assignments had served to encourage her.  She was looking forward to this new challenge.  She knew that it would be a bit lonely without Tess and Andrew by her side, but she was determined to do the best job she could and make them and God proud.

The agent saw Monica’s smile and tried to plaster one on his own face.  He was glad that she seemed to have gotten over her earlier trepidation, but unfortunately he had not.  He briefly wondered how difficult it would be to tail and angel, then shook his head.  Given their propensity for disappearing into thin air, it would probably be impossible.

“Well I guess that this is ‘see you later’ then,” he said as he got up and walked to where Tess and Monica were standing.

“Yes… see you later,” Monica repeated with only a slight tremor in her voice.  “Remember, I have to come back to get Lucy… and I have a feeling that the Father will arrange for you to be here when I do.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, baby,” Tess said as she hugged her young charge.  “He has a way of bringing things together.”  She pulled away but kept her hands on Monica’s shoulders.  “Now you just do your best and listen to what God is telling you.  You’ll do fine… just fine.”

“I’ll remember what you’ve been telling me too,” Monica replied with a wink, and Tess chuckled and pulled her close for another quick hug.

“Hey, don’t I get one of those?” Paul asked, a twinkle in his eye.

Monica and Tess broke apart and the Irish angel immediately turned to the agent and threw her arms around his waist.

“Of course you do!”

‘I’ll miss you, little angel.  Spending a day with you reminded me just how much.”

“I know what you mean,” Monica said as she concentrated on the feeling of his arms around her.  It was almost as good as a hug from Andrew.  “But it won’t be as long this time.”  She tilted her head up.  “And the next time we’re together, I think we need to talk more about you.” 

Her eyes narrowed and he felt like she was looking straight into his heart and soul.  He wondered if she was seeing a picture of Alex there.  He hadn’t mentioned his partner to the angels and now he considered that if anyone was going to be able to give him advice about her, it would probably be them.

“I’ll see what I can do about that,” Paul answered with a wink.

Lucy was suddenly rubbing against Monica’s ankles, as if sensing the imminent departure.  The angel bent down and picked up her cat, holding her close and kissing the top of her head.

“You be a good girl,” she said, and then handed the little cat to Paul.

Tess smiled and reached out to give Monica’s arm a final squeeze.  “We’ll see you soon, baby.”

“Take care of yourself,” Paul demanded, and before the final word was out of his mouth the little angel was gone.

*****

Monica found herself in what had to be one of the more upper crust parts of the city. In the distance she could make out the Washington Memorial, lit up like a beacon against the dark winter sky before her gaze moved to the large colonial house she was standing in front of. She knew with complete certainty that this was where she was supposed to be as she watched people mingling inside. It seemed to be a party of some sort and it was going on in full swing and she knew that beyond those doors was her assignment.

She glanced down at herself and found that she was dressed elegantly for the occasion and though she had no idea what the occasion was, Monica knew that the Father would let her know in His time. She trusted Him explicitly and knew that as the evening unfolded, she would have all she needed in order to complete the task at hand and as she rested in this knowledge, she walked up to the porch and rang the bell. A moment later the door opened and the little angel came face to face with a young woman with chestnut hair that was up piled up on top of her head elegantly and her shimmering rust colored gown accented the highlights in her hair as well as her brown eyes. Monica knew she could fit in anywhere, but for a split second she felt a little out of place.

The feeling faded almost immediately as the young woman smiled at her, “Hi. I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Alex.”

Her assignment.

The knowledge filled her as she accepted Alex’s hand and shook it, “Monica,” She replied with a smile. Already her natural curiosity was trying to figure out what sort of problem her assignment had, but she forced herself to stay in the moment and not allow her thoughts to run wild.

A brief look of amusement crossed Alex’s face as she remembered the card she had found at Paul’s farm yesterday, even though she was fairly certain that the chances of this young woman being “cat woman” were few and far between. “Come on in out of the cold, Monica.” She moved aside so she could enter and helped Monica out of her coat. “I’m acting as hostess as my brother is too busy flirting,” she explained with a laugh, “I’m not big on these formal affairs, but with my parents both being lawyers, there was no other way to go.”

Immediately feeling at ease, the angel grinned, “Yes. I much prefer something a bit more comfortable,” She replied, thinking how she now felt a far cry from how relaxed she had felt at Paul’s just moments before.

“Well, you look lovely,” Alex assured her as she hung the cream colored coat in the closet. She was trying to figure out whom it was Monica knew to be here as she couldn’t recall ever having seen her before or having heard her parents ever make reference to her, “You know the happy couple, I take it?”

“No, my Father invited me, but I would love to meet them,” She replied quickly as she moved into the living room, hoping to avoid questions about the name of her Father. Alex seemed content with her answer though and quickly moved beside her once more, “Your parents have a beautiful home.”

“A lot of pomp and circumstance, but it makes them happy,” She replied with a chuckle, “I’m just thankful I don’t have to clean it.”

Monica laughed, instantly liking Alex, “Yes, that could be a bit of a chore.”

“Come on. I’ll introduce you. I think they are holding court in the kitchen,” She winked as she led the way through the crowd with Monica in tow.

The kitchen was massive, complete with an old brick fireplace that was burning pleasantly and the angel basked in the warmth it was emitting. Talk and laughter filled the air as Monica looked around her, taking it all in stride. Though the house was huge, the rooms she had seen were surprisingly homey. Alex’s parents seemed to have an eye for antiques and several of the pieces, including the old oak table in the kitchen brought back memories of assignments long ago.

She looked up as she felt a cold glass of champagne being pressed into her hand and she found herself looking at who had to be Alex’s brother. The resemblance between the two was striking, though she surmised he had to be a few years younger than his sister.

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” He grinned at her, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Alex sighed, “Monica, this is Rob, my younger and flirtatious brother, who really needs to learn to behave himself.”

“A pleasure, Monica,” He replied, taking her hand and raising it to his lips.

The angel found herself feeling amused, thinking that the young man could stand to take a few lessons in chivalry from one angel and one agent. “Charmed, Rob,” she teased gently, her expression letting him know that she was not about to take him seriously and she grinned when he laughed.

“She sees right through me,” He exclaimed with a shake of his head, “I must be losing my touch.”

“You had a ‘touch’”? Alex asked him innocently, causing him to chuckle once more, “Where are mom and dad?”

Rob nodded to the corner of the kitchen, “Over there with their royal subjects.” He replied with a wink before watching his sister lead Monica through the crowd.

“Alexandra.”

Monica watched as Alex flinched at the name, but seemed to accept it as just one of those things that would never change, “Mom, dad, this is Monica. Monica, meet Robert and Kate.”

“A pleasure Monica,” Robert smiled warmly as he took the little angel’s hand.

As she exchanged a greeting with Alex’s mother as well, Monica couldn’t help but to feel that despite the teasing of their children, the middle aged couple was really very sweet and she found herself wondering once again what God’s purpose was for her here.

“I’m going to be heading out a bit early,” Alex told her parents once there was a lull in the conversation, “I have to work in the morning.” She left it at that, knowing her parents didn’t like to discuss her choice of jobs. They considered her work with the FBI highly dangerous and had been completely dismayed when she had gone off to boot camp at Quantico.

“Thank you for everything, sweetheart,” Kate smiled as she wrapped her arm around her daughter’s shoulders, “We’ll see you next week when we get back from Bermuda.”

Monica listened to the conversation as she allowed her mind to wander. The few sips of champagne she had ventured had her feeling just a touch light headed and she wisely put her glass on the table, wondering all the while if something was destined to happen to Robert and Kate and that was the reason why she had been sent.

*****

Paul hung up the phone in his office and walked back into the kitchen, a grim expression on his face. The news he had just gotten was anything but good as since this morning, a third body had been found. He had kept the news of his phone call this morning quiet, not wanting to worry Monica about it, but the killer had yet to be found and it was now nearly impossible for him to hide his feelings.

“Everything okay, baby?”

Tess had stayed for dinner and he had welcomed the angel’s company, using it as time to pry into exactly how Monica had been doing the last year. He had been relieved to hear that she had come far from where he had last left her, despite the heart wrenching assignment with Faith.

“Yeah, just a little problem I need to get myself assigned to tomorrow,” He stated vaguely before quickly changing the subject, “So, where was Monica sent off to?”

“Washington,” The angel replied, missing the alarmed look on the agent’s face, “I don’t have details as of yet, but she has been sent to help a young lady who is about to find herself in some trouble.”

Paul turned away as his mind raced. Though the chances were slim, he was none too pleased with the thought of the little angel being where trouble was headed. Though the city was large, she had an eye for trouble and this was one bit of trouble she in no way needed and he wasn’t at all sure she could handle. It made him wonder if somehow this was the reason he had been reunited with the angels once more and if it was, he found himself wishing that they had never shown up yesterday to begin with.

*****

Andrew sat down on the curb of the sidewalk with his head in his hands. He hated these kinds of assignments. He never minded taking anyone Home to God, but when the deaths were all related and so incredibly violent, he sometimes found himself pondering free will.

His last assignment had taken place on the upper east side of the city (change that if need be-my geography sucks and the internet is proving to be little help) in a high-class residential area and once again the victim had suffered multiple stab wounds. The killer was cold hearted and the angel could only pray that he would soon be caught in order to stop this senseless killing spree.

He looked up as he heard voices coming from two houses down the street and it seemed that a gathering was in the process of breaking up. The laughter lightened his heart somewhat as he was reminded that life was still going on all around him. He just hoped that wherever Monica was, she was safe and that the people leaving the party would soon be safe in their beds as well.

Emitting another sigh, the angel vanished from sight.

*****

“So, do you live nearby?” Alex asked as she grabbed her coat as well as Monica’s.  They had spoken a few more times throughout the evening and, as coincidence would have it, they were leaving at the same time.

“No, I’m just visiting,” the angel replied.  “I’ve been in the city before, but I’ve never even had a chance to really look around it before.”

Alex didn’t know why, but for some reason, whether it was Monica’s lilting voice, or the open and sincere look on her face, but the agent found herself taking an instant liking to her.

“Well, I’m not doing anything tomorrow.  Maybe I could show you around?”

“Really?  But I thought you told your parents that you have to work tomorrow?”

Alex leaned forward and whispered, “That was just a little excuse to leave a bit early.”

Monica laughed.  “You really didn’t enjoy yourself?  You seemed to be having such a good time.”

“Years of practice, Monica… years of practice,” Alex said as she guided the angel out the front door.  “Maybe I’ll tell you a few of my other techniques tomorrow,” she finished with a quirky grin.

“I think I’d enjoy that.”

“Great.  Where are you staying?  I’ll pick you up.”

Monica slipped her hand into her coat pocket.  “Umm… my Father checked me into the hotel,” she said as her fingertips brushed against the electronic keycard that hadn’t been there earlier, and pulled it out.  “The Downtown Marriott,” she said, reading it from the back of the card.

“Ooh, very nice,” Alex said approvingly, then gave the little angel a nudge.  “Sounds like we might be able to compare notes on what it’s like to grow up with successful parents.”

Monica smiled.  “Yes… I suppose so.”

“Great, so I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”  Alex said as they reached the bottom of the brick stairs and she turned towards the driveway.  “Actually, do you need a ride back there?”

“No, I’m fine, but thank you,”

“Okay, if you’re sure,” she said, and then walked to her car when Monica nodded affirmatively.  She glanced back to make the offer a second time, and was surprised to see her already gone.  “Boy, she must be the fastest cab hailer on the east coast!” she muttered to herself, and then climbed into her car and cranked up the heat.  It was only a short drive to her own apartment, but there wasn’t much she hated more than being cold.