“Maybe she threatened him and he panicked.”

“Could be. Either way, I think the first one was an accident.”

“But when the guy he starts doing odd jobs for turns out to have a daughter that looks just like his former crush?”

“Those old feelings come bubbling up and he can’t resist trying to win her again. I’m just wondering which feelings came to the surface.”

“What do you mean?”

“Was it the old feelings of love or was it the feelings of betrayal? I think Faris’s life depends on which emotion held more sway. So what’s your plan?”

“I think you should go get him and drag his ass back here.”

I sat speechless. “Cook,” I said at last, my voice a harsh whisper, “how did you know what I was going to do?”

“No way,” she said, just as shocked as I was. “I have to admit, I was mostly kidding. I mean, go where? He’s already crossed, right? Then—”

This time she sat speechless. “You are not thinking what I’m thinking.”

“Bet I am,” I said with a wink.

“Charley, no.” She stood, scanned the halls to make sure no one was looking, then closed the door with a soft click. She sat in front of me and whispered, “Charley, you can’t be serious. I mean, he’s … there. Look at what we are dealing with here. Hellhounds at our gates. Spies in the closet. Departed trying to push you down mountains. If that’s what’s up here, what do you think will be down there?”

I shifted in my chair. “I didn’t think of that. I haven’t really worked out the particulars, but, you know, it’ll be a surprise. They won’t expect me.”

“That’s for sure. I know you said Reyes went to hell to get that rock on your finger—”

I couldn’t help a glance at the orange diamond on my ring finger, the cut stunning, the color surreal.

“—but he was born and raised there. He knew the layout. How on earth are you going to waltz in, find Mr. Ellix, interrogate him, then pop back out again without you-know-who finding out?”

“Reyes?

“Satan!” she screeched.

“Sorry,” I said, testy thing. “Like I said, I haven’t worked out the particulars.”

“So, we’re in agreement. That’s a crazy idea and we will never have one like that again.”

“Cook, all our ideas are crazy. That’s setting the bar a little high, don’t you think?”

She squared her shoulders. “Yes, but they aren’t all that crazy. You know, batshit.”

“Don’t worry,” I said, patting her knee. “I have insider information.”

“From who?”

“Garrett.”

“You’re going to make him go to hell again, aren’t you? That poor guy.”

“What? No. I’m going to tell him … Well, I haven’t gotten that far yet. It’s a work in progress, but I’ll figure it out. He can tell me what I need to know.”

“This is the worst idea we’ve had yet.”

“No way. Remember the time we tried to train that ferret to steal a file from that corporate guy’s office and this guy died?”

“Oh, yeah. Okay, the second worst. Who would’ve guessed he was that allergic to ferrets?”

“I felt bad about that. And if he hadn’t swindled the life savings from half the residents at Sunny Days Retirement Center, I would’ve felt really bad.”

13

NOPE. CAN’T GO TO HELL.

SATAN STILL HAS A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST ME.

—BUMPER STICKER

So, Mr. Ellix was pretty new to kidnapping. I could only hope he hadn’t tried his hands at other parts of the gig. I prayed he hadn’t violated her. If so, it would be even harder for Faris to recover. But it seemed like he’d wanted that girl’s approval in high school. Her love. Maybe he was seeking the same from Faris. And raping her would not get her approval or her love.

That was a bridge I’d have to cross when I came to it. Right now, I needed a baby. And a beer.

I strolled into the dining room, carrying my beautiful daughter in my arms. I’d practically had to rip her out of Gemma’s but I’d called dibs in the well, so she had to give in. I couldn’t get enough of her. Of holding her. Of counting her fingers and toes, marveling at how long they were. She’d been swaddled in soft pink and gray and wore a crocheted beanie on her tiny head. Her fists were curled tight and resting on either side of her nose. It was the cutest thing ever. I’d been trying to figure out who she looked more like, but alas, I’d been in denial. Of course she looked like Reyes. Thick black hair. Impossibly long eyelashes. Straight, strong nose with a curve at the tip. Full, perfectly formed mouth. She was going to knock ’em dead. Like, literally. We’d have to teach her to use her powers for good.

Garrett looked up and didn’t know which item to take from me first: Beep or the beer. He decided on Beep, then the beer. Probably a wise decision. As he bounced around with her, cooing about how she was going to save the world, I scanned the piles of copied documents. Many had Garrett’s handwriting on them. Since going to hell, compliments of Mr. Reyes Farrow, he’d been obsessed with the prophecies. With the past, as well, and the future, and how Beep would one day destroy the underworld.

“So,” I said to him, thankful that Osh had left the building. Or at least the room. “I have a question for you.”