The Belial Stone (The Belial Series #1)(45)

He cleared his throat. “So tell me, Dr. McPhearson, what do we do now?”

“We find the site. That’s where Tom will be.”

“Besides believing it’s in the U.S., we have no idea where to look.”

“Actually, I do have an idea about that. While you guys have been tracking down all your sources for any information, I’ve been thinking about the weak link in this chain. It’s Priddle. He’s the one who brought Drew on, and then Drew sent me the paper. Priddle left his university, quickly. I’m betting there are some clues there.”

Jake nodded. She was right. He should have thought of that. “Not bad for a professor.”

She grinned. “Well, I have my moments.”

“I’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

“And I’ll go with you.”

He shook his head. “No chance. It’s too dangerous.”

Laney’s expression was fierce. “Drew was killed because of all of this. Mike and Rocky were hurt and four other officers were killed. I won’t sit here twiddling my thumbs while you take all the risks. The sooner we find out where the site is, the sooner all this ends. Besides, I’m guessing you’re not well-versed in academic-speak. I am.

Jake wanted to argue with her. He didn’t want her going. She’d be safer here. He knew, though, that she was right. She’d already lost Drew to this madness. If it were him, he’d go crazy without something to do. And she was more familiar with talking to academics than he was. His form of interrogation generally involved fists and sharp instruments. Neither would be too helpful in this case.

She smiled and his breath caught. But nothing was going to happen to her, he vowed. He wouldn’t let it.





CHAPTER 34



Saint Paul, MN



The flight to Minnesota that morning had been happily uneventful. Laney spent most it reviewing the information she’d gathered on angels. It was fascinating stuff. According to theologians, mankind had been sharing the earth with angels since the beginning of time. Although, generally speaking, the angels had just made short visits rather than taking up residence.

When talking about the power of angels, however, the research mainly addressed nephilim, the offspring of angels. They were reported to be giants with incredible strength, speed, and cruelty. And if that’s what half-angel beings were capable of, she didn’t want to imagine what full-blooded angels were capable of.

In the abstract, it might be fascinating, but in terms of potential opponents, it was terrifying.

Now as Jake pulled into one of the parking garages at the University of Saint Paul, Laney felt a mixture of familiarity and sadness. A wave of grief had blindsided her on the way over. Their route had taken them past Drew’s neighborhood. She hadn’t mentioned it to Jake. It hurt too much to talk about.

The ache in her chest grew at the sight of the familiar campus. Brick academic buildings, many with ivy covering their walls and columns announcing their entryways, lined the intersecting pathways that broke up the University of Saint Paul’s 100-acre campus. Set on the outskirts of Saint Paul, the campus was boarded by Mississippi River on the eastern end of the campus.

She kept expecting to see Drew bound across the green grass and wrap her in a bear hug, like the last time she’d visited. It didn’t seem real that he was gone. Pushing those feelings aside, she led Jake across campus to the building that housed the archaeology program.

The office of Dr. Sean Childress, chair of the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, offered an incredible view of the river. That was, however, all they had gotten out of their visit. In regard to information on Dr. Priddle, the man simply wasn’t any help. All he would say was that the department greatly admired Dr. Priddle’s work, and they were sad to see him go.

“And if Dr. Priddle re-emerges, will he be offered a tenure-track position?” Laney asked.

Dr. Childress pushed his glasses up his nose and looked at a spot behind Laney. “Due to budget constraints and differing visions for his role in the department, that is unlikely.”

Laney knew that was academic double-speak for ‘we couldn’t stand him,’ but neither she nor Jake could get any additional information out of the tightlipped chair.

“And you have no idea where he went?” Jake asked.

“No. He left us in quite a bind. I’ve asked the whole department, but I’m afraid Dr. Priddle wasn’t very social.” Academic translation: He was an ass.

After thirty more minutes of getting nowhere, Laney stood. “Well, thank you for your time, Dr. Childress.”

Dr. Childress rose from behind his desk, placing a hand across his rotund mid-section. He pushed his glasses back up his nose with his index finger again and extended his hand towards Laney and then Jake. “We’re always happy to help the Chandler Group. And I’m sorry again for your loss. Drew was truly a gifted academic.”

Laney nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She gestured towards the student at the back of the office working on the computer. “I wonder if we might borrow your student aide for just a short while. This campus is so large. I was hoping she could direct us back to our car.”

“Of course, of course,” Dr. Childress said magnanimously. He turned to the petite blonde. “Tara, could you please show Dr. McPhearson and Mr. Rogan to where they need to go?”