Chapter 34

The day was still young and while I really enjoyed the new car scent of our current ride, I needed to get back over to Earth to grab my purse. And probably let Father Killarney know that we weren’t dead.

I parked our derelict rental a few blocks away from a phone booth.

I didn’t like to open up unregulated portals when I didn’t have to, but the legal channels weren’t worth the risk. Dad and I had pinpointed a couple of safe jump spots. This particular phone booth dumped us a ways away from the church, but nothing a good healthy hike couldn’t fix.

So we jumped and we walked all the way down the Sunset Strip, past the size zero models and hipster doucheboys. The door to the church was locked and I can’t say that I blamed Father Killarney.

“Guess we need to try going round back,” I said to Killian.

I could see Father Killarney through the windows of the rectory and knocked softly on the paned glass. I was trying not to startle him, but he jumped defensively.

He eyed me suspiciously and walked over to the door, opening it, but leaving the chain in place.

“It’s just me, Father.”

He was brandishing a candlestick in his hand, “How do I know you’re not a ghoul or a doppelganger?”

“I’m entirely too bright for a ghoul and too cute for a doppelganger,” I replied, dryly.

He lowered his candlestick and gave a low, relieved chuckle. He closed the door and I could hear him sliding the chain. When the door opened, he came over and gave me a great big bear hug.

“Gave me a fright, Maggie-girl.”

“You and me both, Father.”

“Glad to see you’re mended, Killian,” he said, giving my partner a hearty handshake.

“Fit as a fiddle,” Killian grinned, and then winced having moved just a little too fast for someone who had been almost beaten to death 24-hours before. Wuss.

“We can’t stay long, Father,” I said. “Just here to pick up my car and my things. We got some bad news on the Other Side.”

“What’s that?” he asked, hesitation filling his voice. Yah, I’d probably be scared to ask, too.

“The vampires have the jade lion again and I don’t think the cavalry is coming.”

Father Killarney nodded his head and sighed, “When he brought me your car, Xiaoming told me that you were under attack. He also told me he dumped you out in the middle of nowhere and I’ll have you know I took him to task for it.”

I patted his arm, “We probably would have been in much worse shape if he hadn’t been there to come to the rescue - even if it was a very cranky rescue.”

Father Killarney chuckled.

I saw my purse sitting on the table and went over to pick it up, “Thank you for taking care of us.”

“Now, now,” he said, “I’m afraid I am in your debt for saving my church. You name what I can do to help you next.”

I looked over at Killian and he motioned for me to take the lead. I jingled my keys in my hand, “Well, we think there may be a second lion… here on Earth...”

Father Killarney nodded his head, “Go on.”

“We need to track it down, but don’t know anything, really, about these artifacts other than what an angry old man in Chinatown told me. Any chance you have a library filled with books on ancient lost objects or know a scholar of legendary antiquities?” I said half joking.

Father Killarney rubbed the stubble of his beard thoughtfully, “Let me make a call. I know someone who might be able to help.”