The Rise of the Fallen (The Angelic Wars Book 2) Read Free Page A

guess.”
    “ Damn it,” she
whispered with a quick glance toward the front seat where the judge
was still on the phone. “We could use him now. Maybe he could
tell us what attacked the Nest. Or at least what's coming for us.”
She sighed and closed her eyes again. “Maybe we got out in
time. These Fallen aren't all powerful. I doubt that, whatever it is,
can track us. It will depend on its human agents to do that.”
    Chris thought about that
for a moment as he watched the trees fly by the car window. They
hadn't reached the highway yet and were moving dangerously fast on
the gravel road that cut through the forest. Both he and Natalie
bounced and slid on their seats a bit. He looked at her as she sat
quietly.
    “ So what if Talon is
at the airport when we get there? They'll report us and where we're
going, won't they?”
    Before she could answer,
Judge Hawkes spoke up.
    “ I'm sure that they
will be there. They always have someone at the airport to note the
comings and goings of others, not just our people. But they won't be
able to report on our destination,” he added with satisfaction.
    “ Why not?”
Chris asked. He assumed that anyone could follow them to their
departure gate and see where they were going.
    “ I've chartered a
plane. We can't waste time waiting for an available scheduled flight,
so we'll be able to leave as soon as we arrive at the airport.”
    If Chris had ever doubted
the wealth of the judge and his organization, this statement cleared
up those doubts.
    “ Excellent idea,
sir,” he said with pleasure.
    “ Thank you,”
the judge replied dryly. “Are you going to be all right?”
he asked Natalie with a look of concern.
    She took a moment to
answer. Finally though, she rubbed her temples and nodded once.
    “ I'll live,”
she said and then chuckled grimly. “At least until we're
caught. Thanks for listening to me back there, your honor.”
    Judge Hawkes waved away
her thanks. “What would be the point of saving angelic souls if
I wasn't willing to trust their judgment? That would be foolish. I've
been called many things,” his lips twitched in an almost smile,
“many of which I cannot repeat, but foolish isn't usually one
of them.”
    He looked at Chris. “When
you feel Sariel's presence again, let me know, would you? I think we
need his input as soon as it's available.”
    “ You bet, judge. I'd
like to know what's happening as well. I'm sure he knows more about
this than we do.”
    Chris was interrupted by
the chime from the judge's phone. The man smiled apologetically and
fished the cell from his pocket. Chris went back to watching the
trees go by, while Natalie closed her eyes again.
    “ Judge Hawkes here,”
the judge said into his phone. There was a long moment of silence and
Chris glanced idly at the man in curiosity. What he saw made him sit
up and tap Natalie's knee.
    The judge was listening to
the phone in obvious disbelief. Then his face split into a grin and
Natalie and Chris exchanged a surprised look.
    “ I don't believe
it,” Judge Hawkes said into the phone. “I simply do not
believe it. We assumed you were dead! What's that?” He rolled
his eyes. “Of course I'm pleased that you aren't dead. What an
absurd thing to ask. Now listen closely. We're heading for the
airport. We should be there in less than an hour. Can you meet us?
We're pressed for time. No, I'm not running late for a social
occasion. Stop that.” His voice changed as he listened and then
the judge nodded. “Do you know how many we lost? Of course you
do. Yes, thank you. He was a good man. Okay, fine. Are you being
followed? Excellent. Meet us by the charter counter. And keep your
head down. Talon missed some of us. I'm sure they'd like to rectify
that oversight. Good. See you soon.”
    The judge clicked off the
phone and put it back in his pocket. Both Chris and Natalie watched
him eagerly, waiting for him to tell them the identity of the caller.
But for a minute, he was lost in thought.
    “