Officer Ryan turned on her sirens and negotiated her way through traffic. It amazed Michael the amount of skill this woman had. They made it to the marina in record time. When they arrived at the scene, it was utter chaos. 

There were several squad cars and two fire engines. The firefighters were in the middle of trying to get the blaze under control. The fire engulfed a boat, and the firefighters seemed desperate to get the boat subdued before it blew, reached the pier, or set fire to any of the other boats. 

Officer Ryan parked the squad car. "Stay here," she advised, "I need to find out what's going on." 

Michael wasn't sure what he should do. He had to reach his car to find Angelique, and he had no way of knowing how long all this would take. Looking around at his surroundings, he realized he really was in no position to do anything about it, as more emergency vehicles arrived and they set the blockade up. He would have to wait. 

Michael watched with fascination at all the commotion that was going on. He noticed Officer Ryan had become all business and took charge of the situation as soon as she arrived at the scene. Obviously, she was much more than she seemed.

He saw another officer approach her after she talked with the fire chief. She glanced back briefly to the squad car where Michael sat waiting for her. He suddenly had a feeling of dread. It was the look in her eyes. Her eye contact was brief before she turned her attention to another officer. 

Michael wondered at that look. There was something very unnerving about it. Confusion... pity... he couldn't place his finger on the exact thought her eyes conveyed, but he felt certain it didn't bode well for him whatever was going on. Suddenly, he saw Officer Ryan accompanied by Sargent Reid approaching her squad car. Michael knew there was trouble, but what?

He got out of the car as they approached, no longer able to sit still. "What is it?" he asked, looking from Officer Ryan to Sargent Reid. "Have you found out something about Rebecca?" 

The look of sorrow in Officer Ryan's expression was clear. "My God! She's not dead, is she? She wasn't murdered? Please, tell me she's all right!" 

Michael knew he would never forgive himself if anything happened to the girl. She was his responsibility. He should have been there on time to pick her up. If he was, none of this would have happened.

Officer Ryan looked over to Sargent Reid. Knowing the torment Michael was putting himself through, she approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. 

"It's not Rebecca," she said and she could feel the tension leaving his body. She looked to Sargent Reid to put into words what needed to be said. 

Michael felt confused. "If there is no news of Rebecca, then what's wrong?" he asked, sensing there was more to the story.

Sargent Reid stepped forward. "When did you last speak with your brother?"

"John?" Michael asked confused, "A few days ago. He was at the rectory."

"Have you heard of a boat called the 'Sea Angel'?" 

"No," Michael said, not knowing what significance the name was to hold for him. 

Taking in a deep breath, Sargent Reid let out a heavy sigh. "I'm not sure how to say this Michael, but the Sea Angel is the boat that caught fire. There was a body found on board. We believe it to be your brother's."

"What?!"

Michael felt as if the air was sucked from his lungs, as the smoke from the smoldering boat mixed with the smell of burning fuel singed his nostrils. He leaned againist the car door for support. 

"How? He can't be...," he could not form the words. 

The look in his eyes tore Officer Ryan in two. In the short time she was with him, Officer Ryan learned his brother was his only family. 

She spoke up. "We identified the boat by the records given to us by the owner of the dock. John had a year lease to dock his boat here. It was definitely owned by John McDougle. The body we found aboard, well..." 

Officer Ryan faltered again. She didn't know what was wrong with her. She had done this a thousand times in her job, but she just couldn't bear to say the words. Sargent Reid once again came to her rescue. 

"They will need to take the body to the morgue to verify the proper identification. The body is too badly burnt for a visual ID." 

Michael felt himself go into shock as the words seeped into his mind and the meaning penetrated his defenses. He felt sick.

"Take Michael back to the station we will need some information from him," Sargent Reid instructed Officer Ryan.

Michael shook his head, clearing the daze. "No, I can't. Angelique... she's missing." 

Sargent Reid was immediately alerted. "What do you mean? You said she was with you?" 

"She was with me but by the time our conversation was over she had disappeared from the station."

"Damn it!" Sargent Reid swore. "We have to locate her as soon as possible."

Seeing Michael's look of confusion, he explained, "For several months now, I have been meeting with your brother regarding a criminal investigation into his firm. John wanted the law firm to go down for their crimes. He was our key man for breaking this case wide open."

"Things had gotten much more complicated when Angelique got mixed up in this mess. I feared if his personal feelings for Angelique became known, it would put John at risk. Giving the law firm a reason to believe he wasn't their most loyal employee anymore. I believe that is why they had killed him, but Angelique is in this deeper than she realizes and I fear she is now a target too. We have to find her. We have to find her now."

"Where do you think she may go?" Sargent Reid asked. 

"The shelter," Michael said without hesitation. "I had mentioned to her about Tommy. She most likely went to the shelter to find out what the boy knew."

"I'll wrap this up, and head there next," Reid told him. "Ryan, take him to shelter, but the two of you don't make a move until you hear from me again. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," Officer Ryan said and both her a Michael got back into the squad car. Officer Ryan stole a side glance at her riding companion. He hadn't said a word since she began driving. 

She admired his strength. He had lost his brother and still; he remained focused on the situation at hand. Once the initial shock about his brother wore off, his only concern had been for Angelique. 

She recognized this single-minded focus, for it was the mindset of every officer on the force. You can't let your personal emotions take over. You must stay focused until the job is done. Then you have your mental and emotional breakdown. She worried about him. He looked so lost as he stared blankly out the side window. The morning rush hour made progress to the shelter slow. Mary prayed that somewhere in all this, there was a happy ending. 

__________

Gabriel knew something was wrong, for as soon as John left him alone in his office, he felt his brother's presence. He left the office making up some lame excuse about lunch and made it out onto the street. In a flash of light, he left this world to return to heaven, his brother standing before him.

"What is this about, Michael? I haven't much time." He believed he was close to finding Angel. It was a delay he did not believe he could afford. "You know how important it is that we find her before any damage is done."

Michael looked patiently at Gabriel. He knew Angel has been a sore point with him since she left without Gabriel's permission and attempted transference without his guidance. Gabriel took all his charges seriously, but Angel was more than that to Gabriel, and this connection has clouded his judgment.

"Don't stand there ogling me," Gabriel demanded. "Why did you call me back?"

Sighing heavily, Michael approached his brother and his friend. "I am afraid we can no longer intercede on her behalf. Not now that she is human she must do this on her own."

Gabriel paled at Michael's words. "But all those lives! She will be destroyed! You know that as well as I do."

Michael rested his hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "I know, but there is little we can do. She has turned her back on her angelic self. She must play out her destiny as a human and that means she can't be helped she has to make her own choices."

Gabriel hung his head in shame. He failed her. He told her he wouldn't allow anything to happen to her, and he failed. "I have to go back."

Gabriel looked up at Michael, more determined than ever.

"I am afraid I can't allow you to do that," Michael said. "I am just as responsible as you for this mess. I have known for a long time about your love for Angel. I have sat back and said nothing as you watched over her day after day. I know you denied her request was because you knew she was in love with her charge. I granted you the chance to bring her back, but she has now chosen the life she is to live. There is nothing either of us can do to change that now. No matter how much you love her."

Archangel Michael's heart ached for his brother as he could see and feel his aura dim ever so slightly as Gabriel accepted his words.