Dark Wings Descending (6 page)

“It’s my office; I work here.”

“It’s also very late. You should be home resting.” Ashley couldn’t curb the sound of censure from her tone.

“I appreciate your concern. It’s very kind of you, seeing as this is the second time today you’ve entered this office without permission.”

Ashley held up the file she’d taken. “I was returning this.”

Rafe stood and slowly walked toward her. “I’m sorry your earlier trip turned out to be a wasted journey. What were you hoping for? Something to curry favor with your boss at some newspaper or another? A
National Enquirer
exposé?”

Ashley shook her head. “I don’t work for a newspaper. I’m in the same line of business you are, Detective.”

Rafe propped herself against the table edge and folded her arms, her face stormy. “I
detect
. You seem to excel at breaking and entering. How are we remotely the same?”

“I’m a private investigator.” Ashley frowned at Rafe’s derisive laughter.

“Like I’ve never heard that one before.” Rafe rubbed at her eyes. “You’re always surrounded by light. Is that how you manipulate people? You migraine them into submission?”

“Are there cameras in this room?” Ashley asked, furtively looking around.

“The whole building is watched.” Rafe gave Ashley a pointed look. “Though obviously not well enough.”

“Then I can’t talk to you here. Is there somewhere we can go to talk?”

“I was preparing to go home.”

“Then take me home with you.”

“Sure, why not? You’ve already gotten access into my place of work; what’s giving you knowledge of my private address too? You want to case that place too?”

“I’m not a thief,” Ashley said and had the grace to concede to Rafe’s incredulous look. “It’s really not how it looks.” She was grateful Rafe had no idea that she was back in the building armed with another USB stick ready to raid their computer files.

“It never is,” Rafe muttered.

Ashley edged closer to Rafe. In the pale light cast from the low light, she could see how pale and drawn she looked. Her eyes were bloodshot and she seemed unsteady.

“Were you really waiting for me to return, Detective, or were you too tired to make the move to get home under your own steam?”

Rafe instantly bristled and stood tall. “I’m perfectly capable of leaving here.”

“Then let’s go so you and I can start again on a more equal footing.”

“You’re an information thief,” Rafe grumbled, wandering back to gather up her jacket and to turn off the lamp. “God, who needs a light when they can just follow the light you give off?”

Ashley resisted the urge to rest a hand on Rafe’s arm to guide her out the door. The uneven gait to Rafe’s walk belied her insistence she was fine.

“How long has it been since you were discharged from the hospital, Detective?”

“Long enough, and I don’t need another mother.” Rafe stared down at Ashley as she jammed her woolen hat over her shorn hair. “Who are you? What the hell do I call you when I arrest you for tampering with police property?”

Ashley guided Rafe to the elevator and they waited in silence. Rafe was trying not to take her eyes off her, but she was starting to squint.

“I could just call you Sparky, what with all the bright lights you’ve got flashing around you like a million fireflies.”

“You could just be imagining things, Detective. Your face tells the story of how pretty banged up you’ve been.”

“No, I’m seeing everything perfectly, but you somehow managed to make my fellow officers think you were someone else when you sure as hell are not her.”

Ashley pulled Rafe inside the empty elevator and pressed for the ground floor. “What
do
you see, Detective?” She tried not to flinch under Rafe’s scrutiny.

“I see more flashing lights than there are fireworks at a Fourth of July party covering you from head to toe. I can see short blond hair and a pretty face that just doesn’t lend itself to a life of crime, but I could be wrong.”

She thinks I’m pretty
. Ashley’s body warmed under Rafe’s constant gaze.

“I see street clothes, black leather, black jeans—a burglar’s standard uniform.”

Ashley laughed. “You just don’t quit, do you? I’m not a bad guy, Detective.”

“Sure, Sparky,” Rafe said as she followed Ashley out of the building. Once outside, Ashley flagged down a taxi. With a sideways glance, Rafe gave the driver her address, then sat back against the seat, her eyes closing and her breath becoming labored.

Putting her hand to Rafe’s forehead, Ashley was surprised by how chilled her skin felt, except for the burning area that was the length of the scratch. Ashley spoke to the driver. “There’s an extra ten dollars in it for you if you can get us there quicker.” She fell back in her seat as the man put his foot down and they sped ahead. “Rafe, try to stay awake, please. I can’t carry you.”

“You know my name.”

“Yes, I do, and I know you’re very sick.”

“I’m fine, just tired. First days back at work and all that.”

No, you’re actually being poisoned slowly but surely by the demon scratch that no modern medicine can cleanse.

Ashley thrust a handful of cash at the driver when he pulled up in front of Rafe’s two-story home. She pulled Rafe out of the back of the taxi and half carried, half dragged her to the front door. “Where are your keys?”

Rafe drunkenly patted at her jacket, and Ashley fumbled through her clothing to find them.

“Don’t let the cat out,” Rafe mumbled, leaving Ashley wondering what the hell she meant until she got inside the house and the sound of a plaintive meow rang out. Ashley kicked the door closed behind her, then followed the hallway through to a small living area where she was able to get Rafe to lie down on a couch. She eased her down to stretch out full-length and then knelt beside her.

“I’ve got nothing worth taking.”

Ashley smiled at Rafe’s one-track mind but deliberately ignored her comment. “Are you watching, Detective? You’re not going to want to miss this.” She removed the glamour surrounding herself and saw Rafe’s mouth ease into a relieved smile.

“No more lights,” she said. “How’d you do that?”

“Magic.” Ashley took off her jacket and rolled up her shirt sleeves. “I’m going to need you to trust me.”

“So much prettier without all the sparkly bits.” Rafe’s voice trailed off as she started to ramble. “Such beautiful blue eyes for a thief too.”

“You’re very sick, but I can help you.” Ashley gently removed the woolly hat and placed her hands on Rafe’s face.

“Your hands are soft,” Rafe said. “What’s your name, Sparky?”

“Ashley Scott.”

Rafe repeated it. “Ashley.” She opened her eyes to look at her. “Am I dying, Ashley Scott?”

Surprised by how easily and without fear Rafe asked the question, Ashley stumbled over her reply. “No, no, Rafe, you’re not dying. You’re very sick, though.”

“I should have died that night in the alley, but Dean shot the guy. Big bastard he was too. He had horns that grew out of his temples as I watched, and these flaming red eyes.” Rafe shivered under Ashley’s touch. “Glowing red eyes. You don’t have those. You have golden sparkles instead.” She closed her eyes once more. “Am I going crazy, Ashley? Because it feels like I am.”

“No, you’re not. You’re just seeing things no one is meant to see.” Ashley felt something bang her elbow. A black head butted her again. “Hi, kitty.” The big cat climbed into her lap and pressed in close, rubbing its head on her arm.

“That’s Trinity.”

“She’s beautiful.”

Rafe opened one eye directly at Ashley. “Yes, she is.”

Feeling her face flame, Ashley was unaccustomedly flustered. “No flirting while I’m trying to heal you,” she grumbled, gently nudging the cat out of her way and settling in nearer to Rafe’s body.

“My ex said I didn’t know how to flirt.” Rafe’s voice sounded slurred.

“Shows how much she knew.” Ashley pressed her fingers harder on the jagged line across Rafe’s forehead. Rafe’s whole body jerked like she’d been jolted with a blast of electricity.

“I’m sorry,” Ashley spoke softly, channeling as much of her energy as possible through her fingertips. “I think you meeting me today made you sicker.”

“I was fine until I cornered you,” Rafe said, her voice faint.

Ashley pressed a little harder. “I touched your wound, and it accelerated the seeping of its poison into your body, probably because it sensed my healing capabilities. I unintentionally stirred it up.”

“Are you going to be trouble for me, Sparky?”

Ashley smiled at the wistful tone. She watched Rafe’s face relax as she began to fade out. “I promise I’ll try only to ever be good for you,” Ashley said, sensing when Rafe slipped into unconsciousness. She turned her full attention to the matter at hand, removing the poisonous residue left by the demon’s horn that was spilling into Rafe’s veins. Ashley knew Rafe would have only gotten increasingly sick as the poison leaked into her body. Why she had felt the need to touch the angry woman who had pinned her against the wall hadn’t escaped Ashley. It wasn’t just the call of the poison to her healing capabilities; it was something more basic. Rafe had been injured, and it hurt Ashley to see Rafe trying so hard to mask her obvious pain. She’d wanted to take Rafe’s pain away, make her whole again.

Ashley wiped away a trickle of sweat off her face and pressed ahead with the healing. “I wish I could heal your other injuries,” she whispered, knowing that her skills were limited to the supernatural and could not accelerate the mending of Rafe’s fractures and other wounds. Trinity curled up at Ashley’s side, leaning heavily against her, the contented purr rumbling through Ashley’s leg. “Guess you trust me with your mom.” Ashley looked down at the cat and was met by large golden eyes looking back at her. “I promise I’m helping her. I need to get rid of the demon dross in her body. It would eventually kill her if left untreated.”

Trinity let out a plaintive mewl.

“Yeah, I know, demons in Chicago. Who’d believe it, eh? Like the city isn’t crazy enough.”

The steady thrum of the cat’s steady purring pulsed in rhythm to the energy coursing through Ashley’s body. She was heartened to finally see the skin around the cut start to turn pink as the poison left Rafe.

“Just a little longer, Detective, and you’ll be as good as new.” Ashley could feel the poison entering her own skin, but her body was capable of fighting it off, rendering it useless, nullifying its vile disease. “See, now, wasn’t it a good thing we crossed each other’s paths? You were in need of a healer, and I just happen to have the healing you required.” She frowned at her own comment. “
Eli.
I bet Eli planned this whole damn thing.” She spoke aloud as if Rafe could hear her and be able to contribute. “Not the demon part. Eli wouldn’t have set you up to meet with the demon. But our meeting has his stamp of interference masquerading as free will written all over it.” She saw with some satisfaction the jagged skin marring Rafe’s temple start to heal.

She made a face at Trinity, who was looking up at her intently, obviously fascinated by every word she was uttering. “He’s Eli; he has
connections
; he knows everything.” She shook her head. “Except for who this killer is in these crimes. Not even he has had that revealed yet.” She felt the powerful push of a head against her arm. “Which is a shame, Trinity, because it would save me the bother of touring around the streets at night having to look at dead women who don’t deserve to die. I could be putting that time to better use.”

She lifted her fingers off Rafe’s skin and examined her work. “There, that looks much better. I guess I was meant to help your owner live, because something tells me she’s one of the good guys.” Ashley sat on the floor with her back to the couch, shaking her hands out as if flicking off the remnants of the demon poison. She cracked her knuckles sharply as she waggled her fingers free of the cramp they had experienced from the intense pressure she’d placed on them.

Trinity climbed into her lap, demanding attention. Absently Ashley petted the cat, enjoying the simple task of running her fingers over the animal’s soft fur. One-handed, she reached for her phone and called for takeout. “Can’t let my blood sugar drop, can we?” she asked the cat, who just nudged her hand in a hint for less talking, more stroking. “Hope your mom likes Hawaiian pizza. I’ve got a strange craving for pineapple after that healing.” She listened to the soft breathing behind her as Rafe slept in a healing-induced slumber. “I ordered enough for four people, so when she wakes up she should have a slice left at least.”

The cat blinked at her.

“What? I’m starving. I’ve been reading dry old police files all day. It didn’t give me much time to grab a snack.” She picked the cat up and cuddled her. “Let’s go see if we can find some plates and glasses. I ordered a bottle of cola, and if I can’t find something suitable I’m drinking straight from the bottle and you can choose to be grossed out or not.”

She wandered into the kitchen and began opening Rafe’s cupboards to find what she needed. The domesticity of her actions made her pause for a moment. It had been a long time since she’d been in a home. A real home, as opposed to a hotel room hastily acquired for business reasons. Ashley couldn’t remember the last time she’d sat down for a meal with someone, to share conversation and maybe move to something more intimate. She snorted softly, startling the cat in her arms.