“What’s going on?”
“There have always been differences of opinions among the members of the Council. I’ve had run-ins with most of the members over time, but we’ve worked things out and moved on. There is one member who has disliked me since the Creator elevated me because I have disagreed with them on nearly every issue that has brought me before them, and now, I’ve come to believe they are working behind the scenes with the underworld to undermine humanity.”
“Who?”
“I can’t say yet. I need more proof before I come forward—just as you hesitated to point a finger at Asmodeus. It turns out you were right to do so since it appears he wasn’t the father of Vagar. I believe there are more sinister forces at work here, but I need something to back up my theory. I need your help, Scotty.”
I sighed. Jo wasn’t a being I’d consider a conspiracy theory nut. They also weren’t a gossip, so I gave credence to their speculation.
Maybe as my last act as an angel, I could expose the traitor? I’d certainly try my best. I owed Jo for all the things they’d done for me. I just had to figure out how to repay that debt.
I was in the mortuary helping Dash take inventory of embalming supplies, and we were chatting about the garage. Dash had decided to sell it to Quinn with the caveat that he keeps the name, Clegg Cycles.
“Do you think I’m being selfish? My husband is like ‘You can’t make that a condition of the sale. That’s not fair to Quinn.’ I said, ‘Watch me.’”
I’d sensed a little tension between them since I’d been helping at Dearly & Son. There had to be more to the conflict than selling the garage.
“What’s up with you guys? You seem to be at each other’s throats these days, and that’s not normal. It’s not because I came back, is it?”
Dash stopped his counting of disposable paper sheets used to cover the guests and sat on the floor. “You’re not our problem, trust me. Something’s going on with Keir that he won’t talk tome about, and I get really pissed when I ask what’s wrong and he just shrugs and walks away.”
I wanted to say he was lucky he had his husband because I was never going to have one, but that sounded bitchy to my own ears. “I’m sorry. Maybe he needs a break? After the doppelgänger fiasco, maybe he just needs to rest?”
Dash stared at me for a second before standing and dusting off his hands. “That’s a very good idea. I should have thought of it. Thanks, Scotty.”
Sometimes, solutions to problems with a loved one don’t come as quickly as we’d like—not because we don’t care, but because we have things on our minds that occupy our attention. Maybe if I cleared my mind, I could come up with a solution to my separation from Jay?
Dash walked over to the computer desk and sat down. He began pecking on the keyboard. “Where would Dearly like to go for a few days? Where could I make my husband feel as though we’ve found heaven on earth?”
That’s it!
“Take him to Mexico. I was just there, and it’s stunning. I’m gonna take off. I need a few days away myself.”
Dash grinned at me. “Be safe, man.”
I went through theotherportal in the receiving bay of Dearly & Son that led straight to the gate of the Celestial Realm. Gabriel, one of the Archs, was standing guard, so I stepped behind an older woman and waited my turn.
“Welcome to Heaven’s Gate. I’m Gabriel. What’s your name?” Gabriel had a gentle smile on his handsome face, per usual.
He was quite beautiful—and quite unapproachable. It was as though the guy had no sexual on-switch, or so I’d heard. The other Archs fucked around all the time—many with humans, or so I’d heard—but Gabriel never did, or so the rumor went.
“Miriam Clark,” the old woman answered.
“Welcome, Miriam. I found your name. Please, come inside.”
Miriam walked through the gate and was greeted by one of the cherubs assigned as a guide. Gabriel made a notation in his book, and then glanced at me.
“Hello, Alba Protectoris Scott. What brings you upstairs?”
I crossed my fingers behind my back as though that would absolve me of the lie I was about to tell. “I need to talk to Michael. I have a dilemma, and I need his guidance.”
Gabriel’s huge wings drooped. “Maybe I can help you? I know things too. Michael isn’t the only Arch who can provide good counsel.”
“I, uh, I’m sure you do, Gabriel. This is a personal issue that’s more than a little embarrassing.” Not exactly a lie, but not the whole truth.
“I’m not judgmental, Scott. Has someone said otherwise?”
I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but I needed to get through the gate. “Gabriel, of all the Archs, I don’t believe anyone would say such a thing about you. We would all know that’s untrue. This is a situation I’ve discussed with Michael already, and I’m on a timeline.”
