CHAPTER 5

Chapter 5

Tuesday 5:10pm

They pulled the car out of the underground FBI parking garage and onto the busy street.  It was ten past five, and a commuter’s nightmare.  Paul slapped the wheel in frustration.

“Well, I guess we could have planned this better,” was his only muttered comment.

Andrew was about to make a sly remark of his own but he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart.  It lasted for less than a second but it was long enough.  He sat silently, waiting to hear something else, waiting to hear Monica talking to him, but there was nothing.

“Something wrong, Andrew?” Paul asked as he glanced over at him and noticed his pale face.

The angel shook his head, not wanting to alarm Paul, and not exactly sure what he had felt.  “No, nothing.”  Monica had made no attempt to talk to him.  Maybe he had imagined that split-second of pain.  He forced himself to breathe evenly again, and at the same time willed the other cars out of the way.  He wasn’t going to be able to really relax until he saw Monica with his own two eyes.

“How far is it?” he asked as he looked out the window in an attempt to avoid looking at Paul and revealing the anxiety he was feeling.

“Not far.  As soon as we get through this intersection it should only be ten minutes or so.”

“Good… good,” Andrew whispered, not even realizing that he’d spoken aloud, and completely missing Paul’s concerned look in his direction.

Whatever Andrew didn’t want to tell him was obviously something bad.  Paul clenched his fingers around the wheel.  There seemed to be a lot of secret keeping going on lately and he was just about ready for it to end.

When he pulled the car into the driveway of the stately townhouse he nearly rear-ended Alex’s car, and he let out an audible breath.  She was here.  He and Andrew quickly got out of the car and took the front steps two at a time.  It was just beginning to snow again.  There was already a light dusting on the ground from the night before, but these flakes were slightly heavier.  It looked like they were going to stick.  Paul wondered idly if Alex was planning on spending the night or not.  With her parents’ cars occupying the garage she’d probably need help shoveling out if she did.  He had an idea where he could enlist a helper.

“Alex?” he called out as he knocked on the door.

Andrew stood by, silently.  He wanted to shout to Monica as well, but there was no telling if she was even still with Alex, and he held himself back.

When there was no sound from the other side of the door Paul began knocking louder.  “Alex!” he called again, then listened.  Nothing, and his heart was beginning to pound.  He wiggled the knob and his heart fell to his feet when it turned easily and the door swung open.  He closed his eyes for a moment and said a quick prayer, certain that Andrew was doing the same thing.

“Anyone home?” Andrew called as they entered the house, their wet boots dripping onto the parquet floor.

Paul pulled out his gun, and motioned for Andrew to do the same.  He might be an angel, but at the moment he was also an FBI agent, and if Jackson was in the house he was definitely armed and dangerous.  They took the rooms in standard high-low formation, with Paul going in high, and Andrew covering right behind from a crouched position.  Living room, study, library, and all the time, calling out to Alex.

Finally they reached the kitchen, and at first it looked as normal as all of the other rooms.  Then the cats appeared.  They came running out from under the kitchen table and meowing piteously.  Paul was no expert, but he’d spent enough time at the farm to know that the cats were more than just hungry.

Andrew was the first to spot it; the smudge of red on the tile floor.  He bent closer and then looked up at Paul, eyes filled with regret and worry.  “It’s blood.”

Paul’s eyes flashed and he stormed to the other side of the kitchen.  He saw the cat food scattered across the floor and more blood.

“Damnit!  Damnit all!  He has her!  I can’t believe it!  He has her…”

“He has them both, Paul,” Andrew said, his quiet voice a stark contrast to Paul’s raging.

“What?  No…” he shook his head.  “I mean… two spots… but she probably fought like a hellion, and anyway… You’d know if Monica…”

The expression on Andrew’s face told him everything, but the angel spoke anyway.  “I felt something back at the garage.  I was hoping that it was nothing…”

“Noooo….” Paul groaned.  “No!  Damn! That bastard!”  He slammed his fist onto the counter, sending the cats back into their hiding place.  Hie eyes bored into Andrew’s.  “You know what he’s done, Andrew… you know what he’s capable of… he’ll kill them… he’ll kill them both… if he hasn’t already…” his fist clenched even tighter, short nails biting into the flesh of his palm.

“He hasn’t Paul… I’d know… and Monica’s an angel.  She’ll be all right, and she’ll protect Alex.”

“She’s an angel who’s been hurt before,” Paul said, hating to be the one to state what they both knew to be true.  “An angel who is probably hurt right now.  The only ones who can protect them now are the two of us… and we’d better do it damn fast.”

“Paul, there’s Someone besides us…”

The agent let out a breath from between clenched teeth.  “I know that, Andrew… but He wasn’t able to save Lauren.  I think you’ll forgive me if I feel like He might need a helping hand.”

Andrew didn’t reply.  He knew that Paul’s fears were well founded.  He had seen what this man was capable of, and knowing that Monica was with him was tearing at his heart.  He had never wanted to let her go on solo assignment, and now, look what had happened.  He swallowed hard and clenched his jaw.  It was wrong to think that way.  It had been God’ decision, and if this was the result then obviously there was a reason that would be revealed in time.

“It looks like he surprised them,” he said softly as he looked around and saw that aside from the cat food, not a thing was out of place.

“Yeah.  They never knew what was coming,” the agent said bitterly.

“Paul?”

“She didn’t know, Andrew.  I didn’t tell her.  I didn’t tell her that a murderer had escaped from prison, a murderer that I put there.”

Andrew was slightly shocked.  He knew that Paul had kept the information from them, but he had suspected that was to spare Monica from having to think about such violence and evil.  “Paul, why?”

“Because I didn’t know how to tell my new partner that the man who killed my fiancée was out roaming the streets, okay?” he spat out angrily.

“Paul…”

He took a few breaths.  “I’m sorry, buddy.  It’s not you… It’s me.  I should have told her, Andrew, and now it’s too late.”

“Not yet it isn’t.”

Paul pulled out his cell phone and hit the speed dial for the agency.  “You’re right.  It’s not.  And this time I’m not going to miss.”

*****

The first thing Monica became aware of was an intense pounding coming from the back of her head. The second thing was that she was in a moving vehicle. The little angel tried to move, but her hands as well as her feet were tied and she could feel the ache in her arms. She had been tied up for quite some time judging by how badly they hurt and she could feel something digging into her wrists as she tried to move them.

Feeling a warmth up against her, she managed to turn her head, relief filling her that it was Alex, and with some careful concentration, she could just make out the sound of the woman’s breathing. She was alive. It was dark and Monica realized that something had been thrown over them, perhaps to hide them from view and this did little to comfort her. She wasn’t fond of the dark and she forced herself to breathe normally, despite the panic she was feeling.

“Alex?”

Her whispered call got no reaction from her assignment, but did get one from whomever was driving the vehicle.

“Shut up back there,” the voice growled, “One more sound and I’ll gag you before I slit your throat, you got that?”

The angel closed her eyes to ward off tears as she silently pleaded with God to help them. She could feel His love raining down on her, but even with that, she felt afraid. Monica could feel a wetness at the back of her head and knew it was blood but she tried not to think about it. She wondered briefly if Andrew knew what had happened and if he would be sent to her, but that prayer seemed to be going unanswered and a single tear slid down her cheek.

“I can’t even tell you where I am…” The words to herself were scarcely a breath as she struggled to remain awake. She was too afraid of what might happen if she fell back to sleep.

*****

Alex’s parent’s house was now swarming with police officers and FBI agents who were searching for clues and dusting for fingerprints, but Paul already knew who had been here. Even worse, he knew who now had Alex and Monica.

While they had waited for the crews to get there, he and Andrew had found both Alex and Monica’s coats on the chair in the hallway, which only confirmed what they already knew. Running a hand through his dark hair, the agent sighed. Andrew had not uttered a sound since then, as he had held the little angel’s coat in his hands before walking outside into the falling snow, leaving Paul to oversee the investigation.

Though Jackson had not left any clues behind, Paul knew it had been him. The man had threatened him as he had been led out of court the day he had been convicted for killing Lauren, but Paul had taken the threat much too lightly. Of course, he had never expected the man to escape. Jackson had been linked to several other murders before Lauren, most of them gruesome and showing a complete lack of conscience and now this monster had the two ladies who were most important in his life.

Though his feelings for Alex were not yet as strong as those he held for the angel, Paul knew that they were growing. He had even entertained thoughts of leading her to God, as that had remained the one obstacle in his having a relationship with her. But now, the thought of her dying without ever knowing the truth tormented him and he berated himself for wasting precious time keeping his silence.

Seeing that things were wrapping up in the house, the agent opened the front door and stepped outside, his eyes coming to rest on his once again partner. The angel was standing at the edge of the porch, head bowed and Paul was reminded of the night David had shot Monica, when the blond angel had spent the better part of several hours in prayer. He knew he could not begin to fathom the depth of Andrew’s feelings for the little angel, but given his own sentiment for her, he imagined that Andrew’s feelings for her were love in their purest form.

“We’ll find them,” Paul offered, trying to instill confidence that he himself was barely feeling.

The angel was silent for a moment before speaking up softly, “I know I shouldn’t be worried. She’s an angel and God is with her…she has a job to do. But not worrying and not being afraid for her goes against all that I am.”

“Believe me, I understand. I should have told Alex the truth…I should have told Monica the truth when she asked. At least then they would have known to be careful. I just never once thought this would ever touch either one of them.”

“You can’t blame yourself, Paul,” Andrew responded tersely.

He ventured a hand on the angel’s shoulder, “I know them both, Andrew. They’re strong. Alex is an amazing agent and Monica…she’s become more confident in the past year.”

Andrew stared out at the falling snow, which showed no signs of stopping and where he usually enjoyed watching it come down, now it only posed a threat to whatever was happening to Monica and her assignment, “She told you about Faith?” Seeing Paul nod his head, the angel continued, “She hid in the house for days to avoid her father. She was afraid of him.”

“And in the end, she confronted him,” Paul added softly.

“She was angry with him and that is what allowed her to overcome her fear. Getting angry now…” His voice trailed off, not willing to consider what could happen, “I’ve seen what this man is capable of.” They both fell silent once more before Andrew spoke again, “You have feelings for Alex.”

Though surprised by the comment, Paul replied, “I’m starting to, though I never meant for it to happen. I didn’t even realize it myself until a few days ago. At least the odds are better as she is not a messenger sent from God,” He forced a strained laugh, which was short lived as he watched Andrew’s eyes widen as a look of raw pain crossed his face, “Andrew?”

The angel closed his eyes as he heard the words, “I can’t even tell you where I am,” and he felt his heart break. He could feel the pain and fear in her words though they sounded like he was never meant to hear them to begin with. They were but a mere whisper to his heart, but the emotions behind them shook him as if they had been screamed at him.

He heard Paul say his name, but he ignored it for a moment, focusing all the love in his being on the little angel who was in trouble. “Where you are is in my heart, angel,” he spoke silently, praying that the Father would deliver the words to her and that she might find some comfort in them, “Paul and I will find you both. We promise.”

“Andrew?” Paul repeated, his face filled with anxiety. He had already guessed that he had felt something from Monica and though he didn’t completely understand this connection that they shared, right now it was all they had, “What is it? What did she say?”

He shook his head, “Not much, but enough to know that she is conscious.”

“Where are they?” He knew he was demanding answers, but he was desperate to find them.

“She doesn’t know,” He replied softly, “But she is afraid.”

Though Paul had already been sure that both Alex and Monica were probably terrified, hearing those words still felt like a punch in the gut. In occasional dreams the past year, he had seen her afraid at the hands of McArthur and it was a look he never wanted to see again.