Angel in the Storm, Book 2 by Lisa Grace (Angel Series)

By Lisa Grace

Angel in the Storm, Book 2 in the Angel Series by Lisa Grace has been optioned for a major movie by Motion Picture Pro Studios, which has been involved in five academy award winning movies. The movie is currently in development.

Back Cover:
Fifteen-year-old Megan's younger brother Max has been kidnapped by Judas, an evil angel, who has sold him to a human trafficking ring working out of New Orleans. Judas is determined to destroy Max’s soul.
Framed for Max's murder, Megan, along with the help of Johnny who is a good angel, and her friends, must stay one step ahead of the police and an approaching hurricane in an attempt to save Max before it's too late.
In his ultimate quest to conquer Megan, Judas leaves a trail of death and offers her an impossible choice. Will Megan sacrifice herself for those she loves?

"Ms. Grace rocks the originality." werevampromance.org

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa Grace
• Release date: Sep 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301447084

Lisa Grace

The "Angel Series" has been optioned for a major movie and is now in the development phase through Motion Picture Pro Studios. They've been involved with five academy award winning films.Best pet I ever had: opossum. He makes an appearance in one of my books.I write an article every other Thursday for "Eye on the Paranormal." My most popular articles: "Are there animals in heaven?", "Measuring and Attracting Supernatural Creatures", and a three part series "Christians and Communicating with the Dead."I'm on the panel for the Indie Authors Web TV Show, hosted by Jason Matthews on the Hangout Networks, airing live 9pm Est on Monday nights.I'm a wife, mom, and enjoy rehabbing wildlife.Wildlife tip: When you pick up a Gopher Tortoise (around its middle, as they can bite a finger off) hold it away from your body as they tend to pee. I learned this the hard way.

Book preview

Megan

I keep hearing in my head the words from my Mom’s phone call, Your little brother is missing. Max is missing. The ten minutes I wait for Johnny, the angel, to drive up to the Crisis Pregnancy Center are the longest of my fifteen-year-old life. Mandy’s mom and I were able to find Mandy before she had an abortion. But I’m stuck here at the clinic until Johnny drives up. I try Max’s cell phone while I wait. Please answer! No answer.

I text him, where R U? A blank screen.

Max please answer your phone. Praying I plead please keep him safe, knowing there is nothing else to do.

I push through the waiting room door and knock on the counseling room door I saw Mandy and her mom, Farrah, go in just a few minutes ago.

The door opens. Farrah and Mandy are red faced from crying, but the stress is gone. A weight is lifted and hope has filled its place. It’s clear from the looks on their faces that Mandy is not going to have an abortion after all. My brother Max is missing. Johnny is coming to pick me up so we can look for him. I know Jude/Judas/Damon, the evil angel, has him. Mandy doesn’t know Jude is an evil angel. I haven’t found the right time to tell her.

Mandy looks startled, Max is missing?

Farrah reaches out and gives me a hug, Megan honey, I’m sure Max is okay. Maybe he just cut a class or is hiding out. I’m sure he’ll turn up soon. She smiles, her puffy red cheeks still shining with tears.

Mandy adds, You’re not making sense.

Max didn’t show up for school this morning.

She looks at me and her eyes widen in shock, I’m sure Max is fine, but I’m sorry, I forgot about school for you.

I just shake my head. Mandy thinks I’m upset because I missed school this morning. School is the last thing on my mind. Earlier I rushed to the Crisis Pregnancy Center with Farrah in the car, hoping Mandy hadn’t ended her pregnancy, and now I have to find Max before Judas hurts him—or worse.

No Mandy, it’s okay. You’re more important. I can make up my classes. But I’m worried because Max would never skip school. It’s just not him—he’s only nine. I just wanted to let you guys know Johnny is picking me up and we’re going to look for him. I give Mandy and Farrah a hug and go back out to the waiting room to watch for Johnny through the glass.

Please let Max still be alive, I say looking out the window. Time has never moved slower.

***

Max - Earlier that morning

Max left the house for the short walk to school, wishing he’d put on shorts instead, even dirty ones. All his shorts were in a dirty smelly pile on the floor in his bedroom. He forgot to put them in the laundry room when Mom asked, so now she was teaching him a lesson. Even though it was November and coming up on Thanksgiving break, the weather was hitting the high eighties by mid-afternoon. The humidity was making his jeans stick to his thighs and he’d be lucky not to be sweaty by the time he reached school.

He looked over his shoulder as he saw a nice Corvette slow down as it approached him.

The driver rolled down the window and he saw it was Damon. Damon was a friend of Troy and

Troy was Trevor’s, (his best friend since kindergarten) older brother.

Hey kid, Damon said.

Hi, nice car, Max said, pulling himself up as tall as he could while he walked. He didn’t want Damon thinking he was a little kid.

Here, get in. I got a surprise for you. Judas smiled as he nodded his head toward the passenger seat.

Max wasn’t supposed to ride with other kids. His mother would not approve of a teen Damon’s age driving him anywhere.

Nah, thanks, I’ll just walk. It would be sweet to be seen getting out of a Corvette at school. All his friends would be jealous. But his mom would ground him if she found out.

Come on, get in, Damon leans over and pushes the passenger door open, Man, I’m trying to tell ya, it’s okay. I just saw your mom; she was trying to catch you before you got too far down the road. She forgot that today’s a teacher planning day and there isn’t any school, dude.

Why didn’t she call me then?

Damon gives him a funny look, Check your phone kid.

Max digs his phone out of his pocket. The battery’s dead. He forgot to plug it in. Again. Oh yeah.

Look, she gave me twenty bucks to take you to the Devil’s Rays game.

You mean the Rays, they changed their name, Max corrects Damon.

Yeah, well, whatever. I think of them as the Devil’s Rays. I guess I’m just nostalgic, ya know? Anyway, they’ve got an early game and I was going to go by myself, but this’ll be fun. Kinda’ like I’m an older brother or something.

Max just looks at Damon trying to decide.

Look dude, your mom said you’ve been dying to go to a game. Now’s a chance to make your wish come true. Damon dangles the twenty-dollar bill out the window.

Can I borrow your phone and call her?

Sure. Damon hands his phone to Max. He dials and the phone rings. On the fifth ring, his mom picks up.

Hi honey. She sounds like she is in a tunnel.

Mom?

Yes, sweetheart?

Damon says I don’t have school today and you gave him a twenty to take me to the game?

That’s right Max. I’m sorry I forgot, but you have fun at the devil’s game okay? The static is so thick Max can barely make out what his mom is saying.

Mom, they’re just the Rays now.

I’m sorry; I keep forgetting. Have fun and I’ll see you at dinner, okay? More static.

Okay.

Max hands the phone back to Damon. He has a feeling something’s wrong, but he can’t quite figure out what it is. As Damon gestures toward the front seat, Max takes his backpack off and stows it in the back behind the seat. He slides in next to Damon and shuts the door. He looks across the street and sees an old woman in one of those old coat dresses watering her flowers. She lifts her hand and waves. He nods at her, too cool to wave back. Damon gives Max a big smile and with a look of pure joy says, This is going to be fun.

Damon steps on the gas and floors it as Max buckles in and gives him a smile in return.

***

Megan

Johnny pulls up to the clinic and I open the car door before he can even come to a complete stop.

What are we going to do? my voice cracks and tears are blurring my eyes, Max is missing and I’d been warned. I did nothing! Not even tell my parents, too afraid of what they might think about me. I should have told them to keep Max in their sight, said there was a bully after him, something! Anything, except keep quiet. I failed Jordan, the Goth kid, and he died. Then that kid Brody from the rave. I should have tried harder to save him in the hospital. I should have explained what Jude was, an evil angel. If I had, he might still be alive! Now Max. God is expecting too much from me!

I feel Johnny lightly squeezing my shoulder. We will do what we can. I know He never gives you more than you can handle. First, we have to find Max and figure out where Judas has taken him. And you can pray for forgiveness, extra strength-and faith.

I look out the window, upset and mad. I’m too mad too pray right now. I thought he’d feel some sympathy for me, for the situation I’m in. But he’s a messenger—on God’s side. He’s here for me-but not really. He’s here for God.

Who loves you? Johnny asks as we stop at a red light. I see all the people in their cars and trucks who have no idea about what is happening all around them, oblivious to the battle they are in. They’re thinking about jobs, wives, kids, bills, and vacations. But they are not thinking about their souls or the unseen enemies surrounding them.

Who loves you? Johnny asks again.

Sighing, I don’t answer him, but I do start to pray.

***

Max

When they get to Tropicana Field, Max can’t believe the amount of cars pulling into the lots and the number of people who have turned out for a daytime game. Today they’re playing the Red Sox, the second game in a three-day series.

He wished he’d asked Damon to stop at his house first; he could have put on his game-day jersey.

Before they get out of the car, Damon says, Max, wait here just for one minute, okay? I’ve got a surprise for you. I’ll be right back.

Before he can answer, Damon takes off at a brisk pace for the stadium. He really has no choice now but to wait. As the minutes tick by, the car gets warmer, so Max takes of his jacket and ties it in a knot around his waist. He’s always forgetting something and if he loses his new jacket before the cold weather kicks in, he’ll never hear the end of it from his mom. He double knots it, just in case. Right about the time he wonders where Damon is, he runs up to the car with something in a bag. As Damon hands the bag to him, Max notices that Damon’s hair is looking almost blond and he can see age lines on his face, weird. It must be a trick of the bright sunlight.

Here sport, put this on. I got one for me too.

As he opens the bag, Max sees it’s a new Rays shirt. Wow! This is so cool! I don’t know if I should.

Go ahead, put it on. It’s just a little thank you for coming to the game with me. I hate to go by myself and Troy couldn’t make it today.

Max quickly takes off his sweaty red shirt and puts on the jersey. They start hiking toward the stadium. It’s a beautiful hot windy day and the excitement of all the sport fans is growing. The Rays won game one and everyone today is hoping for a repeat performance. Cowbells are ringing all over the place and some fans are wearing crazy hats and wigs. As they enter the air-conditioned dome Max has to practically jog to keep up with Damon. If he didn’t know better, he’d almost think Damon didn’t want to be seen with him.

Damon gestures down one of the tunnels and Max nods that he’s following. They find their seats two sections above the Red Sox dugout. One player starts spitting spitballs of paper at the line ref. What a jerk, Max thinks. Soon a scattering of the wads are surrounding the ref who just ignores the player and keeps his eyes on the field. The game starts and Max looks for his favorite players while keeping track of every play in his head.

During the bottom of the third inning Rays-one, Red Sox-zero, Damon asks, Hey sport, are you thirsty, hungry? Max nods his head yes, his eyes never leaving the field.

I’m going to grab us a couple of dogs and Cokes. Be right back. Oh, you want ketchup or mustard on that?

Just ketchup, Max says, his eyes following the crack of the bat as a Rays player hits a ground ball just to the inside of the foul line.

When Damon returns it’s the top of the fourth, tie score, one-one.

Max takes a sip of the Coke and almost spits it out. It tastes chemically.

There’s something wrong with my soda, Max looks at Damon and holds it out for him to take a sip.

Damon takes a pull off the straw, makes a face and then looks at the plastic top, Oh, look. They gave me diet.

Max looks, the little diet thing is pushed in.

Damon looks at the top of his, same thing. Want me to go back and getcha a regular one?

Nah, that’s okay, I’ll drink it. When he sips it, after he takes a bite of his dog, he barely notices the aftertaste. Besides, the Rays scored another run and they’re up again. A few minutes after eating, Max sits back in his seat and closes his eyes, just for a quick minute. He hears a bat crack a hit off the bat and the whole stadium is up on its feet cheering. He feels himself lifted up and thinks with his last conscious thought, Go Rays.

***

Megan

We try the playground, and Phillippe Park along the waterfront, then down by the Indian mound where Max looks for arrowheads. His favorite places. I know he’s not at any of them. I go up to the outdoor men’s room, Anyone in here? Silence. I walk in and check, just because. Through the upper vents voices float in from little kids playing on the nearby playground. Glancing up I see a buzzing fly beating against the screen in a futile attempt to leave through the mesh. Nothing. I know who has him and I’m scared. I want to puke.

Johnny and I get back in the car. I look at my cell phone. No calls. One text from Mom. Come home. I show it to Johnny. He nods and we head to my home. I have to get control of myself; I can’t let my mom see me like this. I wipe my tears and work on getting mad at Judas instead.

Johnny, we have to tell my mom and dad Judas did this. He’s the one who took Max.

Johnny doesn’t take his eyes off the road as he drives, It’s not that simple. Judas probably hired someone to take him. He sent another evil angel to pose as him at school this morning. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. By then it was too late. Max was gone.

How did Mom find out so fast? I mean it’s only around noon. She wouldn’t have been expecting him home from school till around three o’clock. Johnny slows down the car as we go over a speed bump, rocking us back and forth.

One of your neighbors a few blocks down recognized your brother and saw him getting into a red sports car. She thought it looked fishy and couldn’t get it out of her head. She knows your family from church so she looked up your parents’ number in the directory and asked your mom to call the school to make sure he made it there this morning. That’s when your mom realized he never made it to school. When I realized I’d lost track of Judas, I drove by your house on the off chance Judas was there, and when I saw the police car out front, I stopped in. You know the rest.

Johnny pulls up on the street in front of my house. It looks like a party is going on because of all the vehicles on the street. I see a police car, a van, a black unmarked car, and Mom and Dad’s cars are in the driveway. A couple of neighbors are starting to gather in the street, whispering about what might be going on.

Johnny and I walk fast toward the front door. I’m purposely avoiding eye contact with anyone I might know. I don’t have time to answer their questions. When I walk in the door, a man in a navy suit comes up to me, Hello, are you Megan Laughlin?

Yes

I’m Detective Monroe with the FBI, and who’s your friend?

I can see my mom sitting on the couch crying, talking to one of the police officers. I try to walk to her, but Detective Monroe blocks my way.

You can see your parents in a few minutes. First I have to ask you some questions. Now who is this? He nods at Johnny.

I’m Johnny, a friend of Megan’s from school.

Johnny just drove me here. I’m not old enough to drive yet.

Son, I’m going to need to see your driver’s license.

Johnny digs for his wallet in his back pocket and hands the officer his license.

Detective Monroe looks at it and smiles, Your parents have quite a sense of humor, don’t they?

Yes, He does.

The Detective pauses and says, I’m sorry.

That’s okay, it’s ancient history.

Detective Monroe waves another officer over and says, Run this will you? as he hands over Johnny’s license.

Detective Monroe motions to the empty dining room and we go in and sit.

Now how do you know each other? He asks as he pulls out a pad of paper and a pen from the inside of his jacket. As his jacket parts, I see his gun in a holster just like in the movies.

We’re friends from school.

Dating?

We both say, No, at the same time.

I have a boyfriend, Seth; he lives in Jacksonville. Johnny hangs out with Vania, another friend of ours. Johnny slouches down in his chair, hands in his pockets. I can see how normal he must look to the detective.

I picked her up because I’m the only one with a car.

The Detective nods his head like he understands.

He leans forward and looks me straight in the eye. Look, your little brother is missing. This isn’t funny and it’s not a game. The sooner you and your friend level with me the better. We know, Megan, that you didn’t show up this morning to school, and according to your school records, you’re not the type to play hooky either. Detective Monroe pauses for a moment and looks down at his notes. Then suddenly he leans forward smacking the table for emphasis.

"What’s going on? You and your brother