A Most Excellent Midlife Crisis - Robyn Peterman Page 0,2
the same.”
“Not necessarily,” he replied.
“Bullshit,” Heather said. “You would let the Angel of Mercy take a plea deal, so to speak? Get away with taking fate into her own hands unchecked? That is not how it works.”
Clarence brought his fist down on the table in frustration. “Do you have any idea what stripping an Angel could do to the order of the Universe? Do you?” he shouted.
“I do,” Gideon said coldly. His eyes turned red and his features sharpened. “I know exactly what happens when an Angel falls.”
“With all due respect,” Charlie said, nodding at Gideon. “We’re not talking about a demotion. We’re talking a removal of power, heritage and Immortality.”
“Shit,” Karma muttered with a laugh. “That would certainly suck.”
“Enough,” Clarence growled. “If the facts are indeed proven against the Angel of Mercy, the punishment shall be doled out and the price will be paid. But…”
“But what?” I asked, feeling like my world was spiraling out of control. Was Clarissa going to get off scot-free?
“But I see no clear way to prove that your husband’s death was indeed an accident,” he finished, sounding tired.
The room was silent. Gideon’s jaw worked a mile a minute and he looked like he wanted to kill Clarence. Heather was furious and pressing her temples. Gram was simply in shock. Candy seemed bored, and Tim…
Tim was grinning.
“I see a way,” Tim said.
Tim had just moved to the top of my friend list.
“Out with it, Courier,” Charlie demanded, focusing on Tim with interest.
“Blood-related Angels can see into each other’s mind by touch,” Tim reminded the others.
“This is true,” Heather said, getting excited. “It can also be broadcast.”
“Meaning?” Gram asked, as befuddled as I was.
“Meaning, an Angel could send—or rather, telecast—what he or she sees to those Immortals within close proximity,” Gideon explained.
“Like a TV show?” Gram asked.
“Close enough,” Candy confirmed, no longer bored.
“The point?” Clarence asked tersely.
“Daisy was sired by an Angel,” Tim explained. “He can be used to show us what Daisy sees in the mind of her deceased husband. We would all relive the death and know the outcome. Daisy’s neutrality or lack thereof would no longer be an issue.”
My hope died as quickly as it had started. There was a huge hurdle. An impossible hurdle.
“I don’t know who my father is,” I said flatly. “The plan isn’t possible.”
“Nothing is impossible as long as you believe,” Candy reminded me, twirling her toothpick in her fingers.
“While the idea is excellent, the reality is not. I have no idea who he is,” I repeated.
“Clarence,” Tim said, sounding ominous and cold. “Would you care to join the discussion?”
Everyone watched as Tim stood and walked to the back of the chair where Michael the Archangel was seated.
“I would not,” Clarence ground out.
“Would you rather I deliver the news? I am the Courier after all.”
Clarence Smith was not a happy man. It was very clear he knew who my father was. It was also clear that he didn’t want to give up the information. Hatred for the man who had been so kind to me for years blossomed in my chest and made it difficult to breathe. Was he so taken with Clarissa that he would let her get away with unforgivable crimes?
I’d take a Demon over an Angel any day of the week.
“The conversation is over,” Clarence said. “The meeting is done.”
“The conversation has just started,” Charlie said in a tone that made me want to hide. Charlie’s eyes blazed silver and his hands sparked menacingly. “You will reveal the name of Daisy’s father, Archangel… or there will be hell to pay. Am I clear?”
The house shook, and I wondered for a brief moment if I would have to find a new place to live. I glanced over at Gideon, but his blood-red gaze was trained on Clarence.
No one knew who my father was other than John Travolta and Tim. That was abundantly clear by the reactions of the rest of them.
“The answer will be displeasing,” Clarence said, devoid of emotion.
“I don’t care,” I said. “I want nothing to do with the man other than using him to save Steve. I’ll use him like he used my mother. He is nothing to me other than a sperm donor, a deadbeat asshole, and a means to an end. Period.”
“I’m quite sure he’ll be relieved to hear that,” Tim said with an undecipherable expression on his face. “Clarence, will you make sure to tell him what his daughter said?”