Angel Be Good (12 page)

"Take him out," insisted Walter. "He's
killed our security chief and you can get him if you try."

"It's not safe. Hell, Danvers is his
hostage. If I miss, Danvers is dead, and you know it."

"Smith could turn that gun on us at any
time. Hurry and get him while you have the chance."

The policeman took a pace away from Nat's
office door, but didn't follow Walter's directions.

What was it Walter wanted anyway, wondered
Nat. Why rush the officer when he clearly wasn't ready to act?

"Look, Coleman." The cop's voice was raspy,
deep, angry. "I know my job and I'll thank you to leave me the hell
alone to do it."

"While you sit on your ass, trying to decide
what to do, Smith is making plans to get away." Walter leaned
directly into the officer's face. "I expect you to do the job, or
I'll get someone in here who will."

Nat sat straighter in his chair. Perhaps he
hadn't bought Walter lock, stock and barrel after all. Perhaps
Walter thought of the corporate insurance policy that virtually
assured him the slot as Nat's successor.

"You'll back off or I'll have you arrested,
Coleman. I don't take this bull from anyone, and certainly no
panty-legged corporate yes-man." The officer ordered, in a voice
not to be argued with, "Back off."

Rather than following orders, Walter grabbed
the officer's gun from his holster and darted toward the open door
into Nat's office. He shot wildly into the room.

Nat heard a groan, then the camera moved
into his office, showing the scene that hadn't been visible from
the outer office. Smith clutched his left thigh with a blood soaked
hand. In the other, he checked to make sure the hammer was fully
cocked on his gun.

"See you in hell, Danvers."

He pulled the trigger.

At the burst of the gun, Nat's computer
monitor simultaneously exploded, throwing shatters of glass into
the air like a hailstorm. Yelling, he flung himself over Daphne to
protect her from the shards and bursts of electricity that shot
into the air. Within seconds, the longest seconds he'd ever lived
through, the computer stopped spewing.

*

Leonard took his place at the great table in
the Hall of the Angelic Council. The other angels seated about the
round table had guarded expressions on their faces.

Only Gabriel smiled, his posture relaxed,
his brilliant white feathers glowing in the holy light. A number of
rolled up scrolls lay on the table in front of Michael, and he sat
intently reading one.

Lines of worry creased David's face as he
suggested the meeting get started.

Leonard unwound the scroll he'd brought
containing information about Daphne and Nat. He issued a silent
prayer that the Angelic Council would find it in their power to
help the young humans.

"Please state your case, Leonard."

"As you are aware, Daphne was sent to help
Nathaniel reexamine his past, prior to taking up her new life. At
the time the decision was made, the Council felt there was little
risk in this undertaking for Daphne would remain with Nathaniel for
only a few hours."

Leonard cleared his throat. "Once again, I
fear the Council miscalculated."

The great hall filled with voices,
resonating against the marble and echoing the sound with increased
volume as it bounced through the cavernous room.

Michael stood. "Silence."

Immediately, his word was obeyed.

"Explain yourself, Leonard." Michael
regained his seat.

"By throwing two healthy young people
together in close circumstances, with the facility to learn more
about each other due to the intensity of the mission, I am
convinced they've achieved what few mortals have. True love. A
binding of the souls." Leonard paused, waiting for their
reaction.

"How can this be?" asked David. "Nathaniel
is far from Daphne's ideal. She's a good child. I'm afraid the same
cannot be said for Nathaniel."

"When they first met, that was true. But, by
the very nature of her task, Daphne has been instrumental in
reshaping and refining Nathaniel's core. She, in essence, evoked
all that was good and fine in Nathaniel."

There was a mixed chorus of "hosannahs" and
"surely nots" from the angels at the table. Undaunted, Leonard
stood and continued. "May I remind you these were the very traits
that led this Council to choose to intercede on his behalf? In
doing so, and in learning the painful experiences that led
Nathaniel from his promising course, Daphne has fallen in love with
the new man he has become . . . As long as she is there to continue
with her guidance it is my belief their love will grow along with
their spiritual growth."

There, he'd presented his argument. He took
his seat.

As usual when Gabriel was worried, his wings
fluttered as if stirring the air would blow away the problem.
Silence reigned in the great hall. Gabriel's wings stilled. He
smiled. "What is your recommendation, Leonard? You know these young
people far better than we."

Again, Leonard cleared his throat. "If it is
possible to allow Daphne to remain?"

"Impossible," shouted Michael. "I thought we
made it very clear that her body is temporary. We have no control
over these matters."

"Then I don't see what can be done. However,
in your wisdom, perhaps you can find a way for these souls who
belong together to remain that way? Perhaps Nathaniel could be
placed into a body along side Daphne? Perhaps they should be given
the option of joining each other in heaven?"

Leonard's voice broke. "I cannot bear the
idea of tearing the two of them apart. Oh, you who are infinitely
wiser than I, I beseech you. Please, find another answer."

Michael consulted Gabriel. He circled the
table, in whispered dialogue with the other angels. Returning to
his chair beside Gabriel, he shook his head.

Gabriel spread his hands, then fisted them.
"I cannot see another path other than that we've chosen, Leonard.
Surely, they cannot love each other in such a short time? Surely
you've misunderstood what you've seen. Perhaps Daphne and Nathaniel
feel drawn to each other merely by their circumstances. Remove them
from each other and the symptoms will disappear. Unless and until
you can present us with something more tangible, the previous
decision of this Council shall remain in effect."

Leonard wanted to argue. Wasn't belief in
something intangible what they'd wanted Nathaniel to learn in the
first place? And, having learned that, would they then turn their
backs on him? He reminded himself that the Council had been chosen
by the Highest of the High and His infinite wisdom would steer the
Council to making the right choice.

The Council must be correct and Leonard was
wrong. Despite appearances to the contrary, Daphne and Nathaniel
did not belong together. Once Daphne took up her new life, Leonard
would comprehend why the Council had acted as they had.

*

Daphne twisted out from beneath Nat.
"Heav-y."

"Sorry." Nat stumbled to his feet amid the
shards of glass. "I didn't mean to crush you."

"I didn't mean you're heavy; I meant the
situation."

"Oh." He brushed a sliver of glass from her
hair. "You okay?"

Daphne nodded.

"Let's go see if we can find a phone." Nat
grabbed her hand and pulled her out the office door. First he
checked his secretary's phone. It was as dead as his own.

Entering Walter's office, Daphne lifted a
receiver. "Nothing."

Joining hands again, they ran from room to
room, office to office. Not one phone on the entire floor
worked.

"I'd really like to do something for that
family tonight, Daphne. Let's take the elevator down to security
and see if the phones there are working."

As soon as the elevator doors swung open,
they rushed inside, then Nat jabbed the button for the ground
floor.

Within moments, they found the appropriate
room. Nat swung the door open, revealing an empty control room
filled with television cameras which monitored all access to the
building as well as the showrooms, selected hallways and even the
employee lunch room.

"Shouldn't a security man be in here?" asked
Daphne, clearly mesmerized by the bank of monitors and electronic
equipment. Then she giggled and pointed to a monitor. "Look."

Clearly depicted on the screen was Curtis,
Nat's security chief, curled up on top of a Formica lunch table,
soundly asleep. What the heck, it was Christmas. Besides, with all
the security measures at Danvers and Son, he doubted there was any
real risk.

"Must've been some rum punch."

Nat leaned over the desk and picked up the
receiver. "Bingo. It's working." He tapped out a series of
numbers.

Johnson answered on the third ring, his
voice heavy with sleep. "Sorry to wake you, Johnson. It's Danvers.
I need some help."

"It's after three in the morning," Johnson
replied. Nat could hear the rustling of bedsheets. "You haven't
been arrested, have you?"

"Hell, no."

"Damn. Thought I'd finally gotten my
Christmas wish."

"Very funny. Got a pen and paper? You'll
need to take notes." Nat gave him careful instructions about
locating the homeless family, including orders to take them to a
suite at a deluxe hotel near the office, to have them order
anything they wanted from room service and to have the bill sent to
him.

"Johnson," Nat added, "all the little boy
really wants for Christmas is a puppy. A Dalmatian. Is there any
chance you could find one for him?"

"I'll do my best. I hate the idea of a kid
being disappointed."

He'd been correct in calling Fred Johnson.
Somehow, Nat'd suspected that Johnson had a heart of gold. "If you
can't find a Dalmatian, could you look for one with spots? I know
it's a hardship, but I'd very much appreciate your help. Harry
wants a spotted dog."

"Man, Danvers, have you been bitten by the
Christmas spirit? You'll have to drink rum more often."

"Something like that. I'll talk with you
later about making permanent arrangements for the family."

"Got it."

"And about giving you a well-deserved
promotion."

"Th-thank you."

"And, Johnson?"

"Yes, sir?" he asked warily.

"Merry Christmas." Nat hung up with a huge
grin on his face. Johnson had dropped the phone in amazement. Even
better, little Harry might learn that sometimes life is fair, that
dreams can come true.

*

Daphne watched as Nat spoke on the phone,
proud of the changes he'd made in his life. However, she was far
too aware of the clock above the monitors, tick-ticking away their
remaining time together.

Not only did she hate the idea of leaving
Nat, but also she worried about what her fate would be. Nat's
future was now assured. He'd changed. But what of her future and
what of the people in her past she'd never see again?

Leaving Nat made her think of other people
she'd left behind. She'd never had a serious relationship with a
man, but she'd cared deeply for her mother and stepfather. Nat had
promised to make sure they were okay. Knowing she'd soon forget
them along with Nat, she felt coldly empty inside. What was life
without anchors?

Nat finished his calls, then turned to her
and ran his palm through her hair. "What's wrong?"

"I'm just down over the whole thought of
leaving in a few hours. I'll no longer be me."

He took her in his arms. "I can't imagine
you being anyone but yourself."

Daphne snorted. "Leonard said something like
that, too. But the fact remains, I won't be me. I'll be some other
woman with a different history entirely. I'm going to miss you and
I'm going to miss my family."

She watched Nat struggle with her leaving,
his emotions reflected in his eyes. "I guess I'll have to be strong
for both of us. I want you, Daph, more than I'll ever want another
woman. I'm still hoping Leonard will let you stay. But if I've got
to be strong, if that's part of loving you, then I'll be a marble
pillar for you to lean on." He pulled her into his arms.

As had been the case from the beginning,
Nat's embrace felt deeply right. Without hesitation, she knew she
belonged in the circle of his arms. She'd had to be strong until
now, but Nat's offer of sharing the burden was tempting. The ache
deep in her heart was new to her. All her life she'd been strong
and certain. Perhaps that was a legacy from her parents. "Nat,
would you help me call my mom?"

He pulled back and looked at her with
puzzlement. "I don't think you can do that. As far as she knows,
you've been dead for over twenty years. She'd think you were a
ghost or something."

"I know." Her voice broke. "But I want to
hear her voice just once before I forget her. This is so hard, Nat.
The Council didn't know the toll their request would take on my
heart. I hate saying goodbye. I always have. I suspect it's
something I have to learn about and I need to say my goodbyes to
her."

Nat's jaw flexed. "I'll call her for you.
I'll pretend to be an old boyfriend or something, and you can
listen in. Will that do?"

Daphne nodded. "Just to hear her voice. Yes,
please, Nat."

"What's the number?"

"You'll need the long distance operator.
They live in El Dorado, Arkansas."

"You sure they're still there?"

"My mother would never leave her home." She
gave him the phone number, mentioning that it was a party line and
likely to have quite an audience.

"I don't think there are any party lines
anymore, Daph. Our conversation should be private."

She smiled, remembering the nosey Mrs.
Clooney. "Some people must be awfully disappointed by having their
opportunities for gossip severely curtailed."

Nat laughed, then tensed. He signaled her to
listen in. She leaned her head against his so she could share the
receiver.