“In the bunker below?” Paul shrugged. “Who can say? It’s enough to know that they’re enemies of the Nephilim. Enough to know that the diviner wants them dead. He said this canister holds ten times as much plague as was entrusted to our brothers around the world. It might take days for the toxin to spread, but it’s certain to kill everybody in this underground lair. Now help me feed this tubing through the vent cover. We need to lower it deep into the air ducts for maximum effect.”
Threading the tubing through the narrow gaps in the grille proved more time-consuming than expected. Both men became completely focused on the task. They were deaf to everything else until Shem heard a twig crack behind him. By then, it was already too late.
***
Hector and Darryl studied the unconscious men lying at their feet.
Hector stooped down to collect the tubing and canister. “Good thing we got here when we did. They were on the point of dispensing the gas.”
He handed the canister to Darryl. “Why don’t you run this back to the vault? I’ll keep watch over our sleeping beauties.”
“And then what?”
“We toss these two into my truck and drop them off near their compound gates. After they wake up, they can walk the rest of the way home.”
Hector glanced at his fellow agent. “So, you think Faye’s still got a concussion?”
“Nope.” Darryl loped off to deposit the final plague canister into storage.
Chapter 54—Back to the Garden
Hannah parted the drapes in the front parlor and spied a sedan parked in the driveway. Its three occupants were ascending the porch stairs. “She’s here!” she called out excitedly. “Everybody, Granny Faye is here!”
Griffin, Cassie, and Erik hurried to take up positions near the door. Hannah pulled it open to reveal Faye flanked by Zach and Maddie.
“Welcome home!” everyone shouted in unison.
The memory guardian’s hand flew to her heart. “Goodness gracious.”
“Are you trying to give Gamma a heart attack?” Zach accused. “For crying out loud, she just came out of a coma.”
“Zachary, it’s quite all right.” Faye scanned the room and its occupants, her eyes twinkling. “It’s so good to be home again. Of course, I would have preferred to return right after I woke up but the doctors insisted on another week in the infirmary. Better late than never, I suppose.”
Zach and Maddie stepped back, trading conspiratorial smiles. Faye extended her arms, and the other four rushed forward for a group hug.
“We’re so happy to have you back with us,” Griffin said.
“Ditto,” agreed Erik.
“And you don’t have to lift a finger at your party,” Cassie added. “We did all the cooking for a change.”
They led her towards the kitchen.
“Really?” Faye sounded mildly incredulous. “Did everything... er... turn out all right?”
“We didn’t burn the house down if that’s what you mean,” the paladin reassured her.
“Although you came quite close when you nearly set fire to the yard,” Griffin reminded him. “Grill master, indeed!”
“Hannah supervised us,” the pythia said. “We might be expert artifact hunters, but none of us knows our way around a kitchen like she does.”
“Everything is set up in the garden.” Griffin held open the back screen door. “Step this way, if you please, and we’ll do the rest.”
“The pie!” Hannah scurried off in a panic to check the oven.
Erik and Griffin guided Faye to the place of honor. They’d set up the picnic table, so she could sit at the end directly beneath her beloved wisteria pergola. The table was already spread with summer salads, grilled spare ribs, corn on the cob, and pitchers of iced tea and lemonade.
The pythia registered dismay. “I forgot the cole slaw.” She dashed back inside the house.
Hannah was pulling a cherry pie out of the oven and setting it on a rack to cool just as the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Cassie offered, running to the front of the house.
Three more guests stood on the porch.
“Hi! C’mon in.” She motioned them into the parlor.
“After everything that’s happened, I wasn’t sure we’d be welcome here,” Daniel demurred.
“I invited you, didn’t I?”
Daniel’s companion extended his hand. “You must be the fabulous Cassie.” He smiled, revealing a row of perfect teeth.
“I am all that.” She laughed. “And you must be the equally awesome Chris.”
“She’s a great judge of character,” the librarian said to Daniel. “I like her already.”
The pythia focused on the child standing between the men. “And who might this be?”
The girl took a step back, daunted by the question.
“My daughter Sarah,” Daniel explained. “I want her to get used to the outside world.”
“After the party, we’re taking her clothes shopping,” Chris added.
Cassie scrutinized the gray smock the five-year-old was wearing. “And just in the nick of time.”
“Tell me about it.” Chris shook his head. “Abraham Metcalf spawned an entire generation of fashion victims just like her. He truly was evil.”
“Is Hannah here?” Daniel searched the room. “Sarah is a bit shy, but she knows Hannah. It might make her feel at ease to see a familiar face.”
“Oh, of course. Right this way.”
Cassie ushered them into the kitchen where Hannah was in the process of untying her apron.
At the sight of her, Sarah cried, “Sister Hannah!” and rushed forward.
“Oh, my goodness. I haven’t seen you in such a long time.” Hannah crouched down to hug her.
Sarah gravely studied Hannah’s short hair and Fallen attire. “You look different.”
“And if my Bloomingdale’s charge has anything to say about it, Sarah will look different too in a few hours,” Chris whispered to Cassie.
“I’m still the same old me,” Hannah reassured the child. “And to prove it, I just might have an oatmeal cookie for a special little girl.” She glanced up at Daniel for permission.
He nodded. “I don’t think one cookie will spoil her appetite.”
“Why don’t you two come out into the garden while Hannah plies Sarah with sweets,” Cassie suggested.
The pythia and her guests squeezed past Hannah with Sarah grafted to her
