Broken Wings (An Angel Eyes Novel)

11

Jake

The chest is still empty. Well, not empty. The dagger’s still there, inscrutable, taunting. Jake closes it away, careful not to wake Marco. He’s out, snoring softly on Canaan’s bed, his shag of black hair hanging over the side. Jake leaves him there and retreats to the kitchen where he takes refuge at the table. He sits, his hands in fists, his body unable to relax. He tries praying, but his mind won’t still.

Brielle’s nightmare was far too detailed to be just a nightmare. Too specific. Too terrible.

Jake has very little experience with visions and prophetic dreams. He’s heard stories, of course, read accounts in Scripture, but such things are less prolific now, it seems, less common than they used to be. He needs to talk to Canaan, but he’s been gone all night. So Jake sits up, hoping to catch him before the barbecue, hoping they have some time to discuss Brielle’s dream.

And Marco. Jake didn’t realize just how much Marco remembered about the night at the warehouse. It seems doubt didn’t shroud everything.

“I see him every night,” Marco said. “I see him laughing and clapping. Mocking the children he came to purchase. And then, right before I have the chance to show him what it’s like to be victimized, he disappears. Just like he did that night. You remember that, don’t you? Him disappearing. You remember that?”

He and Brielle sat in silence while Marco ranted. They dodged questions. They didn’t dare look at one another. But Jake’s certain Marco won’t let this go. As yet, he hasn’t been able to locate a last name for Henry, but it’s not for lack of trying. Jake stares into the darkness and wonders just how big a mission this has become.

If Brielle’s dream holds any truth, Javan’s out there somewhere. In Portland, most likely. Just hours away, reunited with Henry and terrorizing a young girl. Which means Canaan’s intel is faulty. And if his intel on Javan is faulty, who’s to say Damien is still suffering the pit?

Suddenly the dagger is so much more significant than the missing ring.