thought of Sylvester’s words again. They would hire someone, or something, to do their dirty work for them. Whatever trick of the Archangels this was, Maddy was about to see the endgame.
With a flick of the wheel the Ferrari tore down the exit ramp for downtown. Maddy whipped through the streets, ignoring stop signs, lights, and oncoming traffic. All around them, sirens began to ricochet off the buildings. She could see the lights in the rearview. The police were after them now.
The tower’s entrance came into view. Maddy downshifted and hurtled toward it, braking hard to a halt right in front of the building.
Her heart was galloping uncontrollably in her chest. She looked out at wide marble stairs leading up to the lobby.
“Come on,” Maddy yelled as she threw her door open.
Gwen jumped out with her, leaving the Ferrari still rumbling behind them.
They ran up the stairs toward a row of glass doors.
Maddy didn’t need to turn around to know police cars were pulling up behind them. She heard the footsteps and shouts of the officers as they emerged from their vehicles. Reaching the glass doors, she furiously tugged at the handles until she found one door all the way to the left that was still unlocked.
She ripped it open as the footsteps pounded up the stairs.
Gwen turned to her, out of breath.
“Go. I’ll slow them down,” she panted.
“What? No!” Maddy cried.
Gwen’s eyes were suddenly, inexplicably calm.
“Maddy, I’m your best friend, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. There
Maddy met Gwen’s eyes. The unexpected words had tightened her throat.
“Gwen—” she started.
“Don’t say anything, just hurry,” Gwen said, and shoved Maddy inside the lobby. Closing the door, Gwen wrapped her arms through the handles, using herself as a human shield. Maddy could see police streaming up the steps. They slowed, advancing on Gwen.
Maddy turned and ran toward the gleaming bank of elevators.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Sylvester tore down Wilshire Boulevard in his unmarked cruiser, weaving around the teeming Beverly Hills traffic.
Overhead, palm trees swayed anxiously in the wind, leaves glinting orange in the fiery dusk. Careening across oncoming traffic on Beverly, not bothering with the red light, he pulled into the NAS building, scraping the belly of the car on the garage ramp. He screeched into the valet parking and left the car without waiting for a ticket. He took the stairs up to the lobby.
The chirpy receptionist seemed startled to see him again as he strode across the sleek lobby.
“Can I help you, sir?” she said in her pseudo-polite tone.
“Save it, honey,” Sylvester grumbled as he passed her.
She rose out of her chair, sending her latte spilling all over the desk.
“Wait! You can’t go in there!” she shrieked. He ignored her.
Turning the corner, Sylvester blew past the rows of assistants on their headsets. They gave him curious, uncomprehending stares as he passed. He could hear the receptionist’s clacking stilettos on the tile behind him, most likely trying to raise an alert, but he didn’t bother to look back. He reached the end of the hall, turned, and threw open the glass doors of the conference room.
The Archangels were sitting around the conference table in intense discussion. Their jackets were thrown over chair backs, their ties loosened. An assistant had apparently brought in coffee and trays of sushi that were set in the middle of the table, along with glasses of imported sparkling water. On the flat screen, news chopper footage of the attack on the freeway was playing.
At Sylvester’s entrance the Archangels fell silent, looking up at him with surprised expressions. Sylvester glared back. He looked at the faces of the Archangels, backbone of the NAS. His eyes found Mark, who still wore his suit jacket and appeared stunned.
Finally, Mark spoke.
“What can we do for you, David?” he said calmly.
Sylvester came into the room, letting the door close with a clang behind him. Outside, assistants watched through the glass, horrified. One of the Archangels held up a hand to them, as if to indicate everything was all right.
Sylvester felt suddenly unsure of himself. His hands instinctively went to his glasses to polish them, but he caught himself, and instead he let them drop back to his sides. He took a shaky breath and spoke.
“You know how I feel about you and the NAS.”
He paused. They were silent.
“You know I believe all of this is wrong,” he said, motioning around at the lavish surroundings of the conference room. “I believe it was never supposed to be this way, saving mortal lives for mortal money, for mortal vices. I believe you have led us astray. I believe your greed and corruption is directly responsible for the threat this city faces.”
Mark was silent, scrutinizing Sylvester intensely.
Sylvester felt his passion loosening his tongue.
“Now I want you to prove me wrong. I want you to prove to me that you still remember the old ways. That you still remember who you are. I want you to prove to me that you can defend those who can’t defend themselves, the victims, the sufferers, and the mortally endangered. Prove to me you can do your duty.” He looked around at their flawless faces. “This city needs you. Now rise up and protect it.”
A blond, chisel-faced Archangel rose.
“David. We’re working on it. These things have to be discussed first. Plans have to be approved with the city, as well as, of course, a price.”
Sylvester’s face darkened.
“You have to understand we can’t just ask Guardians to risk their lives—”
But Sylvester had stopped listening. Reaching down to his waist, he drew his service revolver.
The blond Archangel’s eyes grew wide.
Sylvester pointed the pistol at the large glass display case in the corner, the case holding the ancient armor and sword of a Battle Angel, and fired. The glass fell instantly in a cascade of ringing pieces. The bullet ricocheted off the armor and buried itself in the ceiling tiles. The room went deafeningly silent.
The armor and weapon stood in the shattered case.
Ready.
Sylvester reached in and closed his grip around the hilt of the ancient sword. The weight of it was heavy in his hand as he brought it out. He turned to the Archangels and threw the sword onto the conference table, sending sushi rolls scattering, water glasses shattering under its tremend-ous weight.
Sylvester looked around at the startled faces of the Archangels. They had all gone silent.
“Now,” he said, his tone resolute, “where are the others?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
The cold against his face. That was the first sensation he felt, the first coherent thought Jacks had since riding in the back of the SUV. His fingers became aware of the ground, cold and absolute beneath him. The wind
