If Angels Fall

FORTY-ONE

The whipping of the chopper over Golden Gate Park thundered on the TV, thenfaded as the somber voice of Metro-TV News reporter Vince Vincentdescribed the kidnapping and hunt for Gabrielle Nunn.

Squeak-creak. Squeak-creak.

“And tonight, at their Sunset home, Gabrielle Nunn’smother, Nancy, made a heart-stopping plea to her daughter’s abductor…”

The story cut from the carousel at the park to Nancyand Paul.

Squeak-creak. Squeak-creak.

Keller yawned as Vincent summarized the case, howpolice linked it to Danny Becker’s kidnapping and the unsolved abduction andmurder of Tanita Marie Donner last year. The composite of Keller flashed on thescreen followed by the dramatic, blurry home-video footage of Gabrielle talkingto Keller.

Keller stopped rocking.

There was a description of Keller’s truck, then themissing poster of Gabrielle’s dog, details of her severed braids, a pictureshowing how she would look with shorter hair.

“I saw this man stop and seemed to be struggling witha child in his truck. I thought it was so strange,” Eva Blair recounted toreporters what she had witnessed near the Walker place that afternoon. “It wasunusual, so I called the police.”

Forensic experts searched for clues in the spot whereGabrielle was taken, in the parking lot, and in the secluded area where theyfound Tanita Marie Donner. Police were in Dolores Park where evidence in theDonner case was found last year. Someone in a pickup was stopped at the GoldenGate Bridge. Garbage collection was halted in Golden Gate Park and around theSunset. Trash bins were emptied, their contents prodded by officers in overallsand surgical masks. Scores of volunteers, mothers and fathers with theirchildren, walked across sections of Golden Gate Park searching for clues.Police officers and cadets went door to door with pictures of Tanita Donner,Danny Becker, Gabrielle Nunn, and the suspect’s composite. The reward for goodtips on the cases was raised to $200,000, and the SFPD and FBI had formed amultiagency task force to investigate.

A task force?

Keller swallowed. His throat was dry. Almost raw.

So be it. His mission was sanctified.

Squeak-creak. Squeak-creak.

The abductions have shaken the Bay Area to its verycore.

“It’s every parent’s nightmare.” Charlene Munroe toldreporters as she, along with her ten-year-old daughter and twelve-year-old son,combed Golden Gate Park’s wooded areas. “We helped in the search for DannyBecker. I’m a mother, too.” Charlene swept aside some grass with a stick, thencalled her children, who had ambled a few yards from her. “Stay close to me,guys! I just hope this works out for the best.”

Squeak-creak. Squeak-creak.

Vince Vincent went on about the intense investigation,the rumors about a psychic being called and contacts with police who facedserial child murder cases in Atlanta, New York, and British Columbia.

Keller switched his set off. Scattered around him werethe early editions of the major Bay papers. He had read every word, studiedevery picture, graphics, locator maps, everything on the case.

Let them search.

It was late, but he was not tired. He went to theworktable, looked through the heap of journals, binders and notes, stopping tostudy the time-worn snapshot of his three children: Pierce, Alisha, and Joshua.Laughing. A few weeks before they drowned.

They never found the bodies.

So let them search. For Raphael. For Gabriel.

They’ll never find the bodies. The Truth was revealedto him. His children were not dead. They were waiting to be reborn in celestiallight. Only God’s Angels could rescue them, transfigure them. Then togetherthey would walk in the Kingdom of God. How could police know his DivineMission? They were mortals. How could they comprehend what was preordained?

They could never know the Divine Truth as he did.

It had been revealed to him. He had been chosen. Hewas the enlightened one who would show the world God’s wonder. Edward Kellerhad been ordained; he was the light beyond sorrow, the light beyond the veil ofdeath, destined to fulfill a Holy Mission.

He was cleansed in the light of the Lord.

Soon everyone would know God’s love, His name, Hisglory.

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus. Dominus Deus sabaoth.

The Angels, soldiers of God’s merciful love, were sentto him.

Keller smiled, for it was true. He had found thefirst.

Danny Raphael Becker, Raphael of the Powers. Healed byGod. Chief of the Guardian Angels. Guardian of Mankind. Protector of Children.

And he had found the second, concealed as GabrielleNunn. Gabrielle. Gabriel. God’s ambassador to earth. The Angel who heralded thecoming of the Messiah. Gabriel had come to him. She was the messenger. She washis.

She was in the basement with Raphael.

It went according to his prayers.

Thanks to be to God. Praise Him.

Keller found the silver crucifix and slipped it aroundhis neck. Then he reached for the binder with the names of his eldest son,Pierce, and the third Angel, caressing his meticulous notes inside. One moreAngel to complete the choir. One more to complete his Holy Mission. One moreand God would initiate the transfiguration. He would find his children. Be withthem. Bring them back. Nothing could keep him from his holy destiny now.Nothing. He held his crucifix in a white knuckled grip. He’d come too far,endured too much pain. Nothing must go wrong now. Suddenly he heardsomething--

Screaming? Yes. Screaming.

Hysterical screaming from the basement where theangels were.