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?”
Tara grabbed her backpack with a little skip that set her blonde ponytail bouncing. “Sure, Dr. Childress. No problem.”
As they followed Tara out, Jake leaned over and whispered. “You know, Laney, I’ve made it through the Yucatan Peninsula, the deserts of Afghanistan, and a couple of other less desirable backwaters across the globe. I don’t think finding the parking garage will be a stretch.”
She gave a soft laugh. “Just follow my lead, okay?”
“Okay, Doc.”
As Tara walked out into the bright sunlight, Laney introduced herself and Jake to the girl. “So, you must have been excited to work with someone of Dr. Priddle’s caliber.”
Tara made a face. “Yeah, sure.”
“You didn’t like Dr. Priddle?” Laney asked.
Tara shrugged.
“You know, I really hated some of my professors,” Jake said. “They were always so full of themselves.”
Tara nodded vigorously. “Oh, I know what you mean.”
“In fact, a few students have told us that Dr. Priddle was one of the worst,” he said.
“They did?”
“Oh, yeah. Did he give you any problems?” Laney asked.
“He really wasn’t very nice,” Tara began and stopped. At Jake’s encouraging nod, though, the dam that held back Tara’s words burst. “He was actually a real jerk. Not like Dr. Masters. He was real nice. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
“Me either,” Laney said.
Tara nodded. “But Dr. Priddle was never, ever, nice. He never remembered my name and always wanted his stuff done right away, even when I had other professors’ work to do first. And he never said thank you – not ever. And, God, he was so gross. It was like he dipped himself in oil. I hated going into his office. I always felt like I needed a shower afterwards.”
Laney bit back a smile. “Did you see him before he left?”
“Oh, sure.”
“Anything stick out?”
Tara shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, I guess he was kind of weird. He said something about showing everyone who he really was.” She rolled her eyes. “What a jerk.”
“Do you know where he went?” Jake asked.
Tara’s phone beeped. She rummaged through her backpack looking for it, reading the text while answering. “I guess Montana.”
“Montana?” Jake asked.
Tara put the phone back in her bag after sending a quick text. “Yeah. He needed me to get some topographic maps of Montana around some place called Haven or Haver or something like that a few weeks ago.”
“But how do you know that’s where he was heading?”
Tara shifted her bag on her shoulder. “Because the day he left, he came to his office. He was in a big rush. I was setting up the bulletin board outside his door. Anyway, he called somebody. I don't know who. He was usually real private when he got phone calls. He even closed his door, so no one could hear.”
Tara rolled her eyes again. “Like anyone would want to. Anyway, I guess he was too distracted this time. He asked whoever was on the phone about the money and if his equipment had arrived. And then he asked how long the plane ride would be from Saint Paul to Haven or Haver or whatever. I finished the bulletin board and left. I don’t think he even realized I was there.
By now, they’d reached the parking garage and Laney thanked Tara for her help. With a last lingering look at Jake, she headed off to her next class.
Jake turned to Laney with a raised eyebrow. “Good call on the student. What made you think she’d know something?”
“Well, professors don’t like to talk about other professors, even when they can’t stand them. Students, however, love to bitch about their professors. And being she was quietly hanging out in the background, I had got the feeling she probably saw and heard a lot. So, it seemed like a good possibility.”
“Good hunch. And now thanks to Tara, we now know where we’re heading next.”
“Montana.”
“Yup. Montana.” Jake agreed.