Angels Among Us

By Catherine Greenfeder

As a child, Kay Lassiter lost her parents in a murder made to look like an accident. Kay and her brother survived, but the post-traumatic stress robbed her of the memory while increasing her psychic awareness.

At twenty-eight, Kay is picking up the pieces of her life after a more recent loss of her boyfriend, the victim of a shooting, and starting a stained glass art business in New Jersey.

Kay is visited by her guardian angel, Eviance, who knows the identity of her parents’ murderer and warns her that her life is once more in jeopardy. Somehow Kay must find the courage and the faith to fight the dark forces which threaten her and to be open to the possibility of love again.
Kay learns that despite the problems in the world, nothing is impossible when there are angels among us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catherine Greenfeder
• Release date: Apr 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463824092

Catherine Greenfeder

I am a retired language arts teacher and have written and published five books including two young adult and three romance novels. Angels Among Us is my first published romance novel and is set in New Jersey.I am a member of the Write Group, Liberty State Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America.Currently I am writing a young adult and a historical woman's fiction novel.

Book preview

Angels Among Us © 2006 by Cathy Greenfeder

Smashwords Edition, License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Cover and Layout by Judi Fennell at www.formatting4U.com

Third Edition, March 2019

Other books by Cathy Greenfeder

Romance

Wildflowers

Sacred Fires

Young Adult

A Dance Out of Time

A Kiss Out of Time

Prologue

This is for you dear. I had it blessed at the memorial mass today, the mass for your parents.

That was the anniversary mass that Kay missed because she got too busy with other things. I’m sorry I didn’t go, she blurted. It had been four years since their deaths but it still pained her and her grandmother too. Guilt ridden she hung her head, but her grandmother persisted in handing her the gold cross on the gold chain.

At fourteen Kay didn’t treasure religious medals, angel pins, and crosses her grandmother favored, but the light in Granny’s eyes made her yield a smile of gratitude. She put the chain on her neck and it hung loosely above her cardigan top, the one her grandmother knit painstakingly with arthritic hands. Her grandmother’s hands did much from knitting to gardening to art. Amazingly she managed to raise both Kay and her brother since their parents’ death. Kay felt a rush of gratitude for the old woman and hugged her about the belly. Thanks, Granny.

Her grandmother hugged her back. I know you’ve the sight, girl, she said, and it’s not easy.

No, if I say anything about visions I’m teased, Granny. It’s so unfair.

Ah, child, life is unfair, but you’re also helped by God and by the angels.

Kay moved away. Why did God and His angels let them die?

It was their time, child. But pray God spared you and Jon. We can’t know why such things happen, but we must accept.

Kay fisted her hand. I’ll know, one day, I’ll know why.

Her grandmother tenderly stroked the top of Kay’s head. Perhaps you will child, but let’s not speak of such things. And as for that boy … what’s his name … the redhead that keeps hanging about the house with your brother.

You mean Jake O’Malley? The mere mention of her brother’s best friend sent a shiver of warmth through Kay, the kind of warmth she felt under a steamy shower or after sunning on the beach. Is he back? Did he get back from camp?

Well, yes, but he and the other young lads are enough to eat me out of house and home. And me a poor widow.

She knew Jake didn’t come here for her but for her older brother Jonathan. Both juniors, they had no interest in freshman girls. Despite her and her friend Lydia’s best attempts to follow the boy’s team, they remained little more than one of many female admirers at the games.

If Jake acknowledged her at all it was as if she’d been an extension of her brother—the kid sister painting at the corner easel, the little girl that he and Jon teased, or the sick child he visited years back with a book of poetry. Face it, she told herself many times, he’s not interested.

No, today will be different, she told her mirrored reflection. Today at the diving meet I’ll get Jake to notice me.

Later that afternoon she stood at the diving board of the community pool. The gold cross glistened on her necklace. The training she’d had at St. Mary’s Academy helped her to know how to stand with knees and head bent, ready to dive right in. And that’s when she heard a buzz. The bee landed on her arm. No!

She eyed Jake and her brother. Jake waved up and gave her his award winning smile. She couldn’t disappoint him. He agreed to come and watch her dive. She said a quick prayer, the prayer of the Guardian Angel. It’s one Granny taught her, and then she got into position for the dive. Maybe now he’ll care about me.

Flying through the air, arms stretched like wings poised to splash down, followed by the whoosh of water in her ears, the vibration all around, and then the darkness.

Chapter One

Baxter, slow down this instant! Kay pulled back on the leash as the yellow Lab led a mad pace toward the moonlit lake. Darkened trees circled the silver-hued waters. Bramble spikes nicked at Kay’s shins as she ran to maintain command of the Labrador retriever.

With a sudden jolt, Baxter stopped, sniffed the ground around a row of hedges and emitted a mournful bark. What’s wrong, boy? Kay put her hand down to the ground and touched a sticky substance. She looked at it under the streetlight. Blood?

Who the hell are you? a voice bellowed from the bushes.

Kay felt the nape of hair on her neck bristle. She leaned down and grabbed the dog’s collar. Let’s get out of here, Bax.

What’s the hurry? said a man as he stepped from out of the bushes. Slight of build with rough-hewn features and a shock of slick, black hair, the man moved toward her. The party’s only begun!

Baxter growled and pulled on the leash yanking it from Kay’s slippery hold. In two seconds, the man lay sprawled on the ground with a ninety-pound dog on his chest.

Get him off o’ me! I’ll leave ya alone.

Come here, Baxter, Kay called the dog. He obeyed, but stood between her and the stranger.

Blood glistened across the ridge of the man’s nose. Yeah, that’s right, the stranger said as he rubbed the blood with the back of his sleeve, got this for grabbing this. He held up a handbag. It ain’t worth it anymore.

Good for her, Kay said, Teach you to stop robbing women and scaring them to death. She stepped further away.

Right. So you ain’t scared of this? A silver flash cut the air as the man wielded a large knife toward Kay’s face. Now throw down your jewelry… the gold watch and that thing on your neck.

Kay felt her turquoise-studded watch, pulled it from her wrist, and threw it down. Here.

And that too.

No! Kay touched the cross, an heirloom from her grandmother.

I guess I’ll have to take it.

Kay backed away and tumbled over a tree branch.

Almost instantly the knife glinted dangerously above her. Is it worth your life, lady?

As she choked on the rank smell of tobacco and stale wine, a gray mist descended on them, its intensity covering them and the stranger. The flutter of wind chimes tingled her ears. Kay sat up. Bewilderment replaced fear. Out of the mist came a man in a white suit surrounded by an aura of violet and gold. His soft features reddened with an intense fury as he turned from her to the thief. Anger lit the emerald of his eyes. Words bellowed like the force of a cyclone from his lips and the thief crunched down in fear and confusion.

Leave her be! Leave her and never come back!

The thief scrambled up and took off running as Kay’s astonishment faded.

Baxter hid behind her knees as this interloper closed the gap between them. A smile crinkled the edges of his thin lips, and his palms flew up. Peace. Be not afraid, Kay.

She stood immobile then backed away. Who... who the devil are you?

Hurt creased his brow and his glow dimmed a moment then resumed its bright appearance. Do not be ungrateful, Kay.

I’m getting out of here, she said. First the thief, now you! This must be a bizarre nightmare, one manifested like a Salvador Dali painting. She turned to run, but a firm and gentle hand held her in place.

No, please listen to me, Kay.

Who are you?

Suffice it to say I have known you a long time. And I know your gift did not protect you tonight. He stared a moment at her neckline. But this did.

Kay fingered the cross as she stared up at her strange rescuer.

A gift too, I see, he continued.

Gift?

Why is it you mortals forget what’s precious within, the precious gift God gave you? It is there, Kay. Yet you neglect it.

First a thief, now a lunatic! I should have listened to my brother and stayed out of the woods at night. What do you want?

I’m not here for material rewards.

She stared hard at him. You’re not getting that either, bud.

He shook with laughter. Oh, Kay, is that what you think? Here, come away, the danger’s not over. Hold my hand, let the dog go. He will follow.

For some unknown reason, Kay allowed the being to take her hand. His touch felt like a feather yet carried strength beyond hers. She looked down at Baxter. Follow me, boy, she called, and then Kay’s feet lifted from the ground. Oh, no!

Hold on, Kay!

As they rose above the earth, Kay cringed. Don’t worry, I won’t let go.

Over treetops and past the empty playground toward the opening to the park they flew while Baxter, a dot below, chased them through and out of the park. Please, Kay begged when they reached its outskirts, please put me down! In an instant her feet touched a soft patch of grass. Whoa! Her voice echoed the word several times until dizziness and her panting subsided. Are you an alien?

No. Don’t go in the park so late. He handed her a silver whistle on a black nylon cord. Here, if you need me again.

A whistle? I can whistle for you? She examined the tiny instrument with its indecipherable scrawl on one side. Your name? She looked up and the mist reappeared around the stranger and he vanished before her eyes. Only the dog stood beside her. Baxter nuzzled her hand, and she hooked the leash back on his collar. Come on, boy, we won’t tell anyone about this!

* * * *

The police precinct buzzed with activity when Kay walked in. She waved to several of the officers who knew her from previous visits. Detective Oatman lifted his coffee in greeting. He’s in the back room.

Thanks, Dave. Kay passed the cubicle-shaped work stations until she reached a corner office. She peered at the sign. Sergeant Detective Jonathan Lassiter.

A clean-shaven, dark-haired man stared as though hypnotized by the images on the computer screen. Kay shut the door, sat down, and waited. She tapped her fingers awhile then finally burst out with, I saw the mugger!

With the speed of the former all-star athlete he was, Jon Lassiter spun his swivel seat around the desk until he faced her. His blue eyes registered interest. Where?

Last night around ten at Memorial Park!

Jon lurched up, hands on hips as if ready to interrogate a witness. Why on earth did you go into that park alone so late at night?

Baxter had to go out and so did I.

But you could’ve walked around the block for heaven’s sake. You knew damn well the mugger’s modus operandi to be mid-week appearances in the park at night.

Let’s say, I forgot and I needed to get out from under... I’ve been hard at work on fixing up the cottage, preparing for the art show and workshops.

Too busy to think of your personal safety? He sat down, touched Kay’s folded hands and added, You’re the only close family I’ve got since Granny is gone, and Aunt Bridie is a few cards short of a full deck.

Don’t... don’t talk that way about our great aunt. She’s still a wonderful person. If it hadn’t been for her we’d have ended up in a foster home somewhere.

"Yes, I know. We owe a debt to her, but face it, Sis. She’s eighty-five and in the