Sandy's Story (Ditch Lane Diaries Book 3) (3 page)

Baldric turned in the seat to face Sandy. “If it’s Luc’s Testament, you have to be careful. Luc’s manifesto includes a list of his contracted souls and the names of his demons and their divisions along with magic spells. The book is said to give enormous power to any human possessing it. A bit of warning, the longer a person has the book, the darker their soul becomes. I don’t think Nick knew what he was lifting. He hid the key to the lockbox in a folder in front of the air filer in the vent return in his office.”

A shiver ran up Sandy’s spine. “Lucifer’s Testament? I saw where Nick hid the folder when I held his arm this morning. I have to get the key before Cole gets it.” Sandy pulled into Nick’s driveway.

Baldric placed his hand on her knee. “Luc tortures humans, and he doesn’t care if the human is man, woman, or child. The closer you get to his operation or his book, the more dangerous your quest becomes.”

Sandy squeezed his hand. “I know it’s dangerous. He tried to kill Anna last summer. Luc won’t stop, and we can’t either. Hey, to change the subject, if I die, will I see you in heaven?”

Baldric stared into her eyes and raised her hand to his lips. He pressed a feather soft kiss on the back of her hand. “I’m not ready for your demise, but if you die today, I will find you in the Everafter.”

A slow grin lit Sandy’s face. It was reassuring to hear she would see Baldric again if she died. Sandy jumped out of the car, pulled the hood of her coat down around her ears, and zipped it up to her neck. Her snow boots crunched footprints into the sidewalk as she walked up to the front door and pressed the bell.

An older woman, whom Sandy guessed was Martha’s sister, Alice, opened the door. The woman’s eyes were red and swollen with tears. “Yes, may I help you?”

Sandy said, “I’m sorry for your loss. I’m Sandy Cothran with Channel 3 News, and I have a lead on Nick’s killer. I don’t have a lot of time to explain, and we’re probably being watched. Is there any way I could borrow the keys to Henry’s Tailor Shop?”

Alice motioned Sandy into the den and stammered, “I know who you are. I-I think he has an extra set of keys in the bedroom nightstand. I’ll be right back.”

Sandy stepped into the little den and found Martha. She lay in a hospital bed, staring out a bay window into the backyard. Sandy placed her hand on Martha’s forearm. Martha’s mind was intact. Sandy took a deep breath and said, “Martha, I’m going to help you find Nick’s killer. I promise.”

Martha answered with her mind.
Poor Nick. Did he suffer?

Sandy shook her head slowly. “I was with him until the paramedics arrived. His last words before he moved into the heavenly realm were,
I’m sorry, Martha
.”

Martha blinked several times as tears ran down her cheeks. She asked telepathically,
How do you understand me?

Sandy said, “I can read a person’s thoughts or visualize their past by touch or holding something belonging to them. I’ve been able to do it for years.”

Alice walked in the den and pressed the keys into Sandy’s hand. “Here’s the extra set of keys. Please be careful, Ms. Cothran.”

“I will. I’ll get the keys back to you. Thanks for trusting me.” Sandy squeezed Alice’s hand and left the house.

* * *

Eight o’clock in the morning and Sandy felt like it was midnight. Before starting her car, Sandy looked at Baldric sitting in the passenger seat. “Why do bad things happen to good people? Cole is a freaking wart on humanity. All for what? The love of money? Wealth?”

Baldric placed his hands on his knees. “I don’t have the right answer for you. All I can say is Cole’s free will is directly responsible for the agony of many. Luc has used him for decades. Luc has a stronghold here and will not relinquish it without a fight. You get the folder with the key, and I’ll fight off any demons who try to stop you. We’ll go to the bank, get the book, and drive straight to Everglade Farms. There’s a meeting tonight with your team.”

Before starting the car, Sandy placed her hands in prayer mode and batted her eyelashes a few times for good measure. “Shoot. I forgot about the meeting. Can you get me out of it? I need to work.”

Baldric chuckled and said, “Nope, everyone must attend, including the guardians.”

Sandy was a member of the Campbell Ridge wards along with Ruby, Anna, Jerry, and Lee. Before leaving heaven, selected humans received a specific genetic code altered by The Creator containing a part of His DNA, which blessed them with divine supernatural powers. The people who received the codes became wards. The wards worked with their assigned warrior angel in an angelic battle over the earth and the human species against Luc and his demon angels. Luc and his army had been cast out of heaven for trying to incite rebellion within the heavenly realm over six thousand years ago.

The Creator gave Anna the gift of healing and light of love. Ruby had prophetic dreams, and she’d given birth to a new ward, little Joe, in December. Jerry had the gift of writing binary code. During his code-writing sessions, sometimes he would receive encrypted messages.

Recently, Jerry received a message of a coming battle. That was why they were meeting at Everglade Farms. After Joe was born, Ruby’s mom, Lee, revealed she was a ward, too. She possessed all the powers of a warrior angel.

Years ago, while Sandy attended college, she and the girls began to journal in their diaries about their supernatural powers and events in what she coined The Ditch Lane Diaries. With every passing year, the Campbell Ridge wards became stronger. Tonight’s meeting would bring the wards and guardians under one roof for the first time to plan for the prophesied battle. Sandy sensed the battle and her drive to expose Cole were a part of a bigger picture. Her visions never allowed her to see into her own future.

As Sandy neared the tailor shop, the hair on her arms rose, and she felt a prickly sensation on the back of her neck. Something or someone was watching her, and it wasn’t Baldric.

Chapter 2

Sweetest Taboo

Henry’s Tailor Shop was crawling with cops. Baldric turned to Sandy and said, “Wait here. I’ll check.” He dematerialized and seconds later reappeared in the passenger seat. “The folder is still in front of the air filter inside the vent return. Cole’s boys are lurking outside while the police conduct their investigation. We have to wait until they leave the shop. You need to eat breakfast. You’re too skinny.”

Sandy glanced into her rearview mirror and ran her fingers over her face. “Thanks for the compliment, but I need to get inside Henry’s.”

With a raised brow, he said, “I’ll stay. I’ll make sure no one gets near the folder. Go to the diner down the street, drink a cup of coffee, and eat a bagel. You need your strength.”

Sandy rolled her eyes and waved her hand at him. “Okay, okay, Big B. Get out. I’ll be back in two shakes and a holler.” He chuckled. Sandy had nicknamed him Big B after he’d made his presence known to her in December.

Baldric appeared back inside Henry’s with his sword held in his right hand. Unnoticed by human men, He moved freely through the shop checking the place out for demon angels.

Caiojezeal (Kay-oh-jez-e-al), a commander in Luc’s army, materialized behind the walnut desk, splayed his fingers over the top, and glared at Baldric. “Where’s Luc’s Testament?”

Baldric waved cheerily to Caiojezeal. “Hey, there CJ. Missing something? You should be shouting with joy from the rooftops. Cole has secured the last piece of property on his acquisition list.”

Caiojezeal walked around the desk and stood toe to toe with Baldric. “Don’t play coy with me, you big brute. I sense Luc’s Testament. Where is it? Oh, shit. You sneaky bastard. You placed a protection veil over it, didn’t you?”

Baldric crossed his left arm over his chest and held onto his right bicep. With a feeling of satisfaction, he lied through his teeth. “As a matter of fact, I did. I have the book. Your little team in Nashville is going down. You must make retribution for the innocent.”

Caiojezeal’s sinister laugh rose throughout the office. With sarcasm, he said, “Daireann, the lovely Daireann. She’s working on her little news story about Cole. Did you think we didn’t know? Her story will never see the light of day, my old friend.”

Baldric growled and bared his teeth. “You’re not worthy to say her name. I’m not your friend, and I’m not your average warrior angel. You wanna play, CJ? Let’s play and you can tell your boss we’re bringing his division down. Yeah, tell the arrogant bastard I have him by the balls.” Baldric readied himself in the on-guard position, rotating his blade of light in front of Caiojezeal.

“Oh my, my, my, Baldric. Really? You’re getting testy in your old age. Maybe Daireann’s more than a ward to you. Huh? Is that it, Baldric? Nailing your ward?” Caiojezeal roared with laughter and slapped the blade away from his face. “What’s up with your fetish for human females? Or could this be true love? Does the old man know? Does he?” Caiojezeal laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

Baldric pushed Caiojezeal against the wall and pressed his sword against Caiojezeal’s throat. Caiojezeal tried to contain his laughter but couldn’t and burst out laughing again. He seemed oblivious to the blade of light held at his throat. Caiojezeal said, “The old man isn’t through with us yet. But you, my most worthy adversary, you risk your position, your status, all for a human female?”

Baldric’s voice deepened. “Daireann is my ward. I love her as my ward, and I’ll protect her unto my last breath. I’ll risk everything for her.”

“Blah, blah, blah. You’ve just made the game much more enjoyable. And here I thought this decade would be dull. You’ve given me a fantastic idea. I think I’ll just pop into Luc’s Arrington Estate and let my sire know you’re in love with Sandy. Oh, he’s going to have a field day. We didn’t believe we could break the Campbell Ridge wards. Thanks, Baldric.” Caiojezeal bowed and disappeared.

Baldric did a three-eighty and yelled, “Damn it. Seneca? I screwed up.”

Seneca, Ruby’s guardian angel, and Baldric’s boss, appeared before him as the humans wrapped up their investigation of Henry’s Tailor Shop. Humans rarely noticed angels, even when they appeared in front of them.

Seneca exhaled a deep breath and said, “You’re heading for big trouble. Are you really in love with Sandy? Do you want to be an earthbound angel? Don’t get me wrong. I want you to be happy, but Saints preserve us, does it have to be your ward?”

Seneca paced back and forth in the small office while he waved his hands in the air. “You’re jeopardizing our entire mission. Is there anything I can say or do to get inside that thick skull of yours? You’ve given Luc bait. The Demons of Pain and Suffering have lived inside of Sandy since she was nine. Luc will use them to get to her. A few more carefully placed demons and Sandy’s divine power could be used against us. I cannot reiterate enough what a colossal setback that would mean for us.”

Baldric slammed his fist into the wall of the office. “Do you think I fell in love on purpose? No one in heaven or earth chooses the one. She’s the one. I’ll resign my post if you need me to, but I’ll never leave her.”

“Jesus, Joseph, and Mary.” Seneca sat down in the reception chair close to the dressing room. “I knew you’d formed an attachment. Has it progressed to the physical element?”

“Ah, no. I do have scruples. I’m not sure Sandy realizes the depth of my feelings. She’s behaved since she tried to seduce me the night Joe was born.”

Seneca shouted, “Michael could take you from our team. I need you, Baldric. The Campbell Ridge wards need you, and most especially, Sandy needs you. Control your feelings and do your job. Have you got the book? If so, get Sandy, get the book, and get to Everglade Farms. I trust this conversation is over for now.”

“No, I don’t have the book, but I know where it is.” The doorbell chimed as Sandy walked into Henry’s Tailor Shop. Baldric stood erect, and the air backed up into his lungs. He glanced at Seneca in time to see the scowl.
Oh, he was in big trouble.

Seneca turned back to Baldric and shouted again, “Get a grip, or I’ll pull you myself. You’re placing her in grave danger.”

Baldric frowned and said, “I will protect her. See you later, boss.”

Poof! Seneca disappeared.

Sandy ran her fingers lightly over the silk ties arranged on the cherry pedestal table as she looked about the room. “Baldric, are you here?”

Baldric appeared at her side. “I’m here, Daireann.”

Sandy went into the little office in the back of the store. She stepped over to the air return, opened it, and pulled out the folder with the key. Her eyes held Baldric’s stare, and she said, “It’s a key to a lockbox at City Bank. I have a friend who works over there.”

Baldric read her thoughts. Sandy’s friend was a human male that she’d slept with in the past. It sucked to know the most intimate details of Sandy’s love life. He took a deep breath and exhaled.

Sandy placed the folder under her arm and raised a brow. “What’s wrong with you? I did what you said. I drank a cup of coffee and ate a bagel with cream cheese. Geez Louise, why are you mad?”

“Hmph. I’m not mad—I’m angry. Your friend at the bank. I read your thoughts, and he’s not just a friend. You slept with him.” Baldric placed his sword in its sheath.

Sandy shook her head and said, “You’re acting like a jealous boyfriend. It’s just sex, not love. Besides, I’m damaged goods. You need to quit looking at me all moon-eyed like a lovesick schoolboy unless you want to do something about it.”