Starfire Angels (Starfire Angels: Dark Angel Chronicles Book 1) by Melanie Nilles Page B

could fully stand. She smiled and settled back onto her
chair. "Hello? Hi, Debbie...Yes, she's here...Don't worry...No, we
just sat down to eat after another lesson...I'll let her
know...Bye."
    He hung up the phone. "Nina Russet was
there. She left a little while ago, after questioning Debbie about
you and your mother."
    "Did Debbie say anything?" What would her
aunt say about her? Debbie had kept her secret for over eighteen
years. Raea doubted she'd give it out now. Still...What if she
slipped and let out a hint of the truth? Nina Russet was sharp.
    "No. She said she'll tell you when you get
home. I heard Dave shouting in the background. She hasn't told any
of them."
    Good. Then Debbie must have said nothing.
Her cousins didn't know. But Raea wanted to know what Miss Russet
was asking this time. Until the woman left town with her story
about Dark Angel, Raea expected nothing less than trouble.

 
    Dark
Suspicions
     
    "Ted." Nina leaned back at the head of the
queen bed with her cell phone to her ear. And to think she had
expected that hole of a town to have no cell service. Shame on her.
The place didn't have much going for it, though, other than the
stories she had dug up over the weekend. Now she was stuck in the
hotel with a white-out of a blizzard beyond her window. This was
supposed to be spring. Where was the sunshine and rain? Why
snow?
    At least she could check in with Ted.
    "Good to hear from you, Nina. How's the
story coming?"
    "I'm glad you asked. It seems this town has
some interesting people. I haven't seen much—okay, nothing—of any
Dark Angel yet, but I've met others worth a segment unto
themselves."
    "But the show is a two-hour special, Nina,
completely focused on angels. We need all you can dig up on this
town's angel."
    "You'll get it, Ted. I promise. I met that
kid the priest told us about. He's been escorting me, introducing
people. Met some interesting ones. But best of all, one of his
friends has some bizarre marks on her hands. I swear they match the
images we found in the making of that ancient rituals episode. I've
never seen anything like them anywhere else. But she won't talk
about it."
    "Will anyone else?"
    "Somewhat. I think the aunt knows something,
but she's not saying much."
    "See what you can find out. But focus on the angel , Nina. See what you can find out about him .
Don't get sidetracked right now. We're on a deadline and a budget . Bad enough you're taking more than a week. Contact
the people who encountered him. Get their stories. The crew will
arrive at the end of the week. I want you to work with them; sit
out and try to catch a glimpse of this angel. I want video.
Concrete proof. You'll have less than week with them. And I want
interviews with the witnesses. Visit the sites where the encounters
happened. Take measurements. Everything. Remember that you're there
to find proof ."
    "I know. I'll get it done."
    "Good. I have faith in you, Nina. But I
can't chat. I have a meeting in five. Gotta go."
    He clicked off before she could get a word
in. Typical Theodore Feuerstein. Always busy. Always meetings,
meetings, meetings.
    Wasn't it early for a meeting?
    Ah, no. He was an hour ahead of her.
    No wonder she was hungry. She hadn't eaten
yet and it was almost nine her time. The hotel had a complimentary
continental breakfast downstairs. She could take advantage of that.
And, since she was stuck inside for the day, or more, she could
make phone calls. Josh would have the information she needed to
contact the witnesses. She couldn't meet any in person for a day or
two, but she could make appointments. The day wasn't a total
loss.
    Her stomach grumbled. "Yes. Yes. I'm going."
She slipped on her shoes and headed down the stairs, past the
indoor pool and hot tub—there was another way to waste the day—and
into the lobby.
    It was busy already with guests. Funny; she
hadn't expected the hotel would be that full.
    Two of the three round tables in the lobby
were full. The third had a couple