Toby lifted his brows at me and stepped into the apartment. The guy seemed willing to talk even though he hadn't actually invited us in. I followed Toby inside and quietly closed the door behind us. Then I went over to the man—the priest—and held out the crucifix.
“Is this yours, Father... ?”
“Father Adami,” he supplied absently as his gaze fixed on the crucifix. “Si, that's mine.”
He didn't reach for it.
“Would you like it back?”
He shook his head. “Please, take it with you. I can't bear to see it again.”
I exchanged a surprised look with Toby and then passed him the crucifix. Toby tucked the crucifix into his jacket and then pulled a wooden chair over for me; setting it right before the priest.
“Okay,” I said gently as I took the seat. “Could you tell me what happened?”
“Are you a believer, Ms... ?” He blinked as if he'd just realized that he had let two strangers into his home.
“I'm Vervain,” I said. “This is my boyfriend, Toby.”
“Oh, hello,” he said with a little smile; automatically relaxing as if knowing our names made us friends.
“Hello,” I said with a soft smile. “I am a believer. I probably believe in far more than you do, Father Adami. I've seen proof.”
“So have I,” he whispered fanatically as leaned toward me. “I've seen the Devil, Vervain, and he is fearsome.”
“I've seen him too, Father,” I managed to say it without smiling. “He does exist. So, you tried to cast him out of Felisa?”
“I did,” he said sadly. “I tried every prayer that I know. I splashed her with holy water and called on our Lord for guidance and protection. But nothing worked. The Devil laughed at me, and the things he said.” Father Adami stopped to shiver. “I could not repeat them; not ever.”
“It was only you?” I asked. “No one was helping you?”
“Si; just me,” he confirmed. “But I failed. I have been hiding here in shame and fear; praying nearly constantly for Ms. Bianchi's soul.”
“So, if you didn't free her, then who did?” Toby asked.
“I don't know.” Adami shook his head. “I have called the family every day to check on Ms. Bianchi. Yesterday, no one answered, but today they told me that she has been saved; the demon was cast back to Hell.”
“They didn't tell you who exorcised the demon?” I asked.
“They said that God sent them an angel,” Adami murmured reverently. “I would have been skeptical before this, but after all I've seen and how hard I've prayed, I believe that God did intercede and send the Bianchis help.”
“An actual angel?” I asked. “Or could they have meant that in a more figurative way; as in a man who seemed as if he were sent from God because he was able to exorcise the demon?”
“It could be the latter,” he agreed. “God has many ways of helping us. But I have this feeling.” His face went peaceful as he looked out of the window and up to the sky as if he could see Jerry looming there. “I know that God heard me; he heard all of us, and he sent an angel to free Felisa.”
“From what I know of... God, it's possible,” I said as I gave his hand a pat. “Thank you for speaking with us, Father. You've been very helpful.”
“You're welcome.” He looked back at me. “Why did you need to know all of this?”
“I have a friend who is possessed,” I said as I stood. “I was hoping to find someone to help him.”
“But... didn't the Bianchi's give you my crucifix?” He frowned as he tried to work it all out. “Why didn't they tell you of the exorcist who helped them?”
“Thank you again, Father,” I said as I hurried out the door with Toby.
Before Father Adami could follow us, Toby and I traced back to the minivan.
Chapter Six
“An angel?” Odin asked. “Is that what they told you two?” He looked at Horus and Morpheus with obvious annoyance.
Toby and I had driven back to Eztli's villa and found the others there, waiting for us. Our impostor detectives were in the middle of recounting their conversation with Felisa's family when Toby and I walked in. The attention shifted to us immediately. The lateness of our arrival and the fact that we'd taken the minivan implied that we'd found a trail, and they wanted to know who we'd tracked. Especially since everyone else had come up empty-handed.
So, Horus had to pause his report while Toby and I told everyone about Father Adami.
“As I was saying,” Horus said imperiously. “The family had nearly given up hope after the priest left, and then”—Horus looked down at his little, black detective notebook and read from it as if he were an actual detective—“a knock sounded on the front door and echoed through the house ominously. Mrs. Bianchi went—”
“Echoed ominously?” Finn chuckled. “Really?”
“This is why I'm quoting,” Horus said impatiently. “She said some rather dramatic things.”
“Well, her daughter had just been possessed,” Morpheus said in their defense. “They've been through a lot.”
“If I may?” Horus waved his hand at his notebook.
“Babe, stop being a dick and just read the damn thing,” Hekate huffed.
“I'm trying to,” Horus huffed back. “Now, where was I? Oh, yes; Mrs. Bianchi answered the door, and there stood an angel sent from God.”
“Fuck! It's the fucking Angels again,” Finn snarled. “I'm getting sick of those feathered assholes.”
“Well, that isn't the finest imagery,” I muttered.
“It takes one to know one,” Horus said dryly.
“Then you should know all about it,” Finn shot back.
“Bird-shifters,” Blue said to his wife as he rolled his eyes.
“Blood-drinkers,” Horus shot
