I kissed his forehead, softly, as he had kissed mine. "We can go slow," I said, even as I pulled at his shirt. My legs knocked against his desperately. "Or maybe we could just do it twice."
Dee, I thought you might find this interesting. I found it while doing a job for Mouse ... I won't compromise your cop-honor by going into details about that. Sorry about the dingbats. I caught it mid-hack, er, I mean, mid-JOB, so it's not in the best shape. Plus, your rustbucket of a motherboard isn't very forgiving. Anyway, looks like your old college roommate is having more troubles. Allah protect us all from the FBI. The page P.S. [file follows]/////(*)**&)&A&*$%$%$#%$# !@$%A&*()( +..... protection program. All you need to do is give us just a little more information.
Malachim: Screw your witness protection program. I want an upgrade. I was told your office would be willing to provide me with what I need.
Agent Chan: What you're asking for is highly illegal.
Malachim: No upgrade, no info.
Agent Ramirez: Playing hardball with us isn't a very inspired idea, wirehead. You could spend the rest of your snotty little life in prison with zero access for the LINK-crimes the Malachim Nikamah have committed. As an admitted member of that organization, you're not in a position to bargain. Period.
Malachim: uh ... What do you want?
Chan: Current location.
Malachim: They're already on the move, since I was ... uh, expelled, I'm sure. I can only tell you where we were.
Ramirez: Why aren't you dead?
Malachim: What?
Ramirez: Why weren't you executed? Terminated with extreme prejudice. Silenced. Whatever you people call it. For your betrayal.
Malachim: I think you're projecting, sir. That sounds more like your organization than mine.
Ramirez: Why you impudent little ...
Chan: Let's not lose our heads. I think Agent Ramirez has a good point. Our sources tell us that the leader of the Malachim, one former-Colonel Rebeckah Klein of the Israeli army has a very fierce and unforgiving nature. She's not known to give quarter.
Malachim: To the enemy.
Ramirez: Don't get all righteous on us, Malachim. You're the one who came to us. You're the one who named names.
Chan: If we've gotten the wrong impression, why don't you tell us more about her?
Malachim: She's a nice Jewish girl. My mother would have liked me to marry her .. ))((A&A&A%
Chapter 12
Michael and I stood in an orchard. The heady fragrance of apple blossoms in the sunshine hung in the air. Swans floated on a lake nearby. Their passing caused the slightest ripple on the smooth glass surface. The water was as gray as Michael's eyes. He kissed me again. When he pulled away, I saw he was dressed in a crude tunic like the one the stained-glass angel wore. I was afraid to look at his face. Somehow I knew it held that same beatific gaze. "You're human!" I tried to tell him, but it was like I was speaking underwater. The sounds distorted, and seemed to float away.He offered me a white lily. The sheen of dew sparkled deep in its alabaster throat.
"Remember me. Some things done in the name of love have a bitter edge, Deidre."
I looked up to see the face of Morningstar superimposed over Michael's smiling face. I looked down to find the lily in my hands. I didn't remember taking it. A blast of wind fluttered through my blue robes. I looked up to see a wheel of six wings spinning through the air. It was monstrous. The apparition seemed to stare at me with Michael's eyes. URGENT MESSAGE. The sunshine disappeared behind a dark thundercloud. Lightning flashed. I saw a silhouette of an enormous wing across the office wall. URGENT MESSAGE. Locusts plagued the Nile Valley. A red mark turned avenging angels away from the door. Michael's voice echoed, "I am the archangel Michael."
URGENT MESSAGE. I woke up with a start. Running my fingers through my tangled hair, I yawned. The afternoon sun was hazy. Fishing for my blouse, I found Michael's tee shirt instead. I let my fingers caress the edges of a small rip in the material fondly with the memory of our lovemaking. URGENT MESSAGE. Pulling the shirt over my head, I mentally triggered the go-ahead switch.
Mouse was sitting in an Egyptian cafe. The setting sun bathed the whitewashed walls in a pinkish glow. The place was filled with smoke and conversation. Mouse's usually pleasant face was twisted into a scowling frown.
Well, good afternoon, I said, even though I knew it was late in the evening Cairo time. I wiped the sleep from my eyes, and stifled another yawn.
Cut the crap, Dee, he said. You're holding out on me.
Reducing his image to a small window, I mentally placed it in the right corner of my vision. I shifted part of my concentration to finding my underwear. I don't know what you're talking about, Mouse.
I'm not saying I'm not impressed, but I'm dying to know who've you got doing your hack work. You boosted Daniel from jail, right? Very clever. He smiled. The expression was eerie on the page; it was almost too realistic. I swear I saw a cold fire behind Mouse's eyes. Maybe I wasn't talking to the page after all, but the real McCoy.