Agent Alpha and the Angel maker

The first Angel

warning: Chapter has the finding of a kids dead body

*Astrid*

“Honey I'm home”. I unlock the door to my little house and instantly hear heavy paws come galloping through the house. “Hi Pjuske boy, did you miss me ?”

He jumps around me with his huge body bouncing and ears flopping about. Honestly, I have no idea what breed he is, but he is the size of a big great Dane, and he looks like an old English sheepdog, but with poodle curls. And he is the sweetest dog, but a tiny bit dumb at times.

“Yeah I know, I know … you want to go for a walk”. I rub him behind the ear. “Give me five minutes to change into something more comfortable”.

I go and change out of my work clothes and into a pair of yoga pants and a light hoodie. It is late spring, so it’s not really cold outside, but not really warm either.

Walking out into the marsh area just behind my house, I am thinking about the day. No doubt it had been more hectic than most. I am honestly torn about having Zac as my partner. Yes, he is rash, accident-prone and probably suicidal, but there is something about him I like besides his ridiculously handsome face … he acts … well, he is clearly passionate about this job … I like that.

And I mean, today was probably special, it wouldn’t be like this every day working with him … How could it be, we don’t have cases like this every day … far from it.

Pjuske is trotting along, sniffling at everything, and I enjoy the peace and quiet. I am often asked if I don't feel scared, walking in the marsh area in the evening, but honestly I never have … might come from being a cop … this is not the place you are going to be assaulted. I mean who would sit here in the dark and hope some lonely woman will walk by ?

I take the leash off Pjuske. There is no one here he can bother, as it is dusk and most people are probably at home, having late dinner or tucking in their kids. The thought makes my heart kinda twist. I should be one of those people, tucking in a kid. No, it won’t help thinking about it.

Pjuske comes trotting with a stick in his mouth and throws it at my feet, then he sits down, looking up at me. “Oh, you want me to throw the stick for you ?”

He pants and looks at the stick. I pick it up and throw it down the path, watching him gallop after it, tongue hanging out his mouth.

After rummaging around a bit, he returns, throwing the stick at my feet again and I laugh, picking it up. “Again … you want me to throw it again ?”

He jumps happily on the spot and I laugh, throwing the stick again, making sure to walk while he looks for it or we would be standing here all night.

Suddenly I hear an odd sound, like little bells ringing. I stop and look around. But there is fog creeping in and I can’t see very far. It’s a weird sound to be hearing here at this time and I wonder what it could be.

I pick up the stick again but right as I throw it there is this really weird sound, like a person making a bird call, and it makes me throw the stick all wonky, hitting a tree and sending it into the rush, down a slight slope. Pjuske is of course right on it.

“Pjuske, come here”. I call, suddenly feeling chills run down my spine, without really knowing why. “Pjuske, dammit, just forget that stick”.

But I know my dog, he will continue looking, til he finds the stick. And I decide to slide down the little slope, preferring to be down there with him, instead of alone.

I hear him whimper slightly and get worried. “Pjuske ? Pjuske, where are you ? Are you okay boy ?”

He whimpers again, but now I can see him. He is standing by the edge of the water, looking at something. I slowly walk closer, holding my breath.

“No … no … oh God, no”. The small body floating in the shallow water brings back memories, bad memories, memories of another small body floating in water, of fear and pain and anger.

Pjuske whimpers again and I gently push him away, getting down on my knees on the brink. She is wrapped in something white, a dress maybe, billowing around her. Her blonde hair flowing in the water. But the weirdest thing is the wings. She has big white feathery wings. She looks like a floating angel.

I manage to pull her halfway up on the brink. There is no doubt she is dead. Pjuske whimpers yet again and I hear the weird bird call. I feel panicked and grab my phone, for some reason choosing to call Zac.

“Yeah ?” He sounds … tired maybe … definitely a bit unfocused.

“Zac … I … there is a body here … a little girl … she is dead … oh God, he gave her wings”. I am rambling a bit incoherently.

There is a lot of scrambling around. “Oh s**t darling, I am on my way. Stay right there”.

“How are you going to find me ? I am in the middle of a marsh area, no road names”. I keep cradling the small figure with my free arm.

“I am tracking your phone as we speak darling … relax … breathe … I am going to find you”. I hear a car door slam. “I’ll be there as soon as possible”.

Pjuske turns around three times and then lays down next to me. I hate losing the comforting voice in my ear, but I still say. “We better hang up, you need to focus on driving”.

“I’ll be there in … less than ten min … hang in there”. He says softly. “And I’ll call for backup, so don't worry about that”.

“Thanks”. I hang up and try to focus on holding my thoughts and mind from going to the dark places. I can’t let the pain pull me down.

Then I remember, a local girl has been missing for 4 days, snatched from the playground not far from here … this has to be her. Age seems to fit and the area. Poor parents that have to get this message.

I don’t know how much time has passed, it feels like both forever and way too fast, before I hear twigs break as someone approaches.