“And that’s all?”
“Yes, should there be more?”
So, the treacherous angel was trying to turn the tables on him, but Abraham was too clever for that. “Daniel told me you are responsible for teaching him how to use a computer.”
“Was,” the librarian corrected pointedly. “That was about a year ago. Now that he knows how to use one, he has no more questions to ask.” The young man regarded the diviner blandly, offering no further details of their interaction.
Abraham changed the subject. “I didn’t come here to find my son today. I’m looking for an associate of mine. We were to meet in this department.”
Chris gave a mirthless chuckle. “You must mean that extra from a Randolph Scott Western skulking over in the corner there.” He pointed.
Abraham followed his gaze to see Hunt seated at a long table by the window mouthing out the letters to a large volume he was pretending to read.
The librarian paused a moment to study the cowboy. He leaned over the reference desk and whispered archly, “I’d be surprised if your friend has cracked a book since the day he flunked out of grammar school. He doesn’t exactly fit the profile of a scholar.”
The old man cast an indignant look over his shoulder before stalking off to meet Hunt. The librarian was insufferable. Daniel would be told to limit his contact with this Chris person.
Abraham pulled out the chair next to Hunt’s and sat down.
“Howdy, boss. You’re a sight for sore eyes, and I do mean sore. I spent more time readin’ today that I done in the last year.”
“Shhhh!” Abraham raised a warning finger to his lips. “Let’s go,” he murmured.
Leroy needed very little encouragement to abandon his pursuit of knowledge. He slammed the heavy book shut, drawing more than one annoyed glance from other patrons of the reading room.
The two men hurried wordlessly out of the Ancient History section. Abraham noticed that Chris’s eyes followed them until they disappeared into the elevator. Yes, the diviner was going to speak most emphatically to Daniel about avoiding that particular Fallen angel.
***
Fifteen minutes later the diviner and the cowboy had taken up a position on the concrete banister outside the Art Institute. They were seated several feet above the sidewalk and far enough away from the lions guarding the entrance that there was no danger they would be overheard.
“At least the weather’s better than our last outdoor meetin’,” Hunt observed with satisfaction. “Why’d you all want me to wait for you at the library anyhow?”
“I wanted to see where my son spends his days.”
“Well, that place surely does explain his pasty complexion. No sunshine. Stale air. Lots of moth-eaten books. The boy must be in hog heaven workin’ there.”
“Yes,” Abraham said vaguely, his thoughts still distracted by the enigmatic librarian.
“So, you got your new doodad locked up safe and sound?” Hunt ventured. He hadn’t accompanied Daniel to the compound after their arrival the day before.
“Yes, I have it hidden away,” the diviner replied, his focus returning to the present.
“I sure hope you do because your boy says it’s worth a king’s ransom. Can’t be too careful about security for somethin’ like that. What you got? A safe or some such?”
Abraham’s gaze narrowed. “It seems to me you’re taking a very particular interest in where I store my treasures, Mr. Hunt.”
The cowboy shrugged artlessly. “I’m just lookin’ out fer your interests, boss. Security is my business.”
“Suffice it to say, the relics are very well-protected. Nobody knows their whereabouts but me and nobody ever will.”
Hunt seemed annoyed, but he forced himself to smile. “That’s good to know. Glad you got it all covered. So, what you want to see me about today?”
The diviner paused, choosing his words carefully. “I wasn’t entirely satisfied with Daniel’s report of what happened during your mission.”
“Oh?” The normally voluble cowboy seemed uncharacteristically guarded. “Why’s that?”
“I believe he may have left out some pertinent details.” Abraham shifted uncomfortably on the concrete railing. His bones were aching, but he didn’t like giving way to the weakness of the flesh.
“So, what did he tell you?”
Abraham felt that Hunt was being deliberately evasive. “Something peculiar happened during your time in Sudan, Mr. Hunt, and I intend to get to the bottom of it. I want you to tell me about the retrieval in your own words.”
For a second, Abraham thought he detected an unaccountable look of embarrassment cross Hunt’s face. The cowboy removed his hat and fanned himself with it. “Well sir, it was like this. We had a bead on that doodad and was goin’ to nab it when yer son ran afoul of some gun smugglers. I’m sure he told you that.”
The old man nodded. “Yes, he did. What I don’t understand, Mr. Hunt, is what happened after that point. Daniel said you rescued him.”
“Oh ho. So, that’s how it is.” The cowboy smirked at some secret joke.
“That’s how what is?” Abraham flared, growing impatient.
“He left out the part about them three thieves. They showed up too.”
The diviner peered at him uncomprehendingly. “You mean the three thieves that you encountered on Crete?”
“Yessir.”
“The three thieves you killed on Crete?”
Leroy scratched his head. “Funny thing about that. Turns out they wasn’t so dead as we all thought.”
“What!” Abraham’s voice echoed so loudly that the pigeons perched on the lion statues flapped away in alarm.
“Boss.” Hunt gave him a warning shake of the head. “Yellin’ ain’t gonna do no good. It sure ain’t gonna turn ‘em all back into corpses. They’re as alive as you and me.”
Abraham went pale with shock. He felt dizzy and listed to the side until Hunt grabbed his arm to steady him. “How is this possible?” he asked in a hoarse whisper.
“I’m just as stumped as you. Guess they escaped that landslide somehow and been on our trail ever since.”
Abraham rounded on him. “Why didn’t Daniel tell me?”
Hunt’s face bore a looked of confused innocence. “I reckon he didn’t want to worry you
