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I was right. That sure as shit wasn’t an ordinary knife. Wish I’d gotten a better look at it.

I’m flat on my back on parched ground, but at least I can move now.

I sit up and look around.

Gravestones. A dried-up fountain. A big iron gate out front. I know exactly where I am.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery. My home away from home. Only, this isn’t my Hollywood Forever. There’s only one place this ragged, broken-down version can be. The Tenebrae.

I get to my feet. Nothing to do but what I always do. Walk out the front gate and head for Hollywood.

I don’t get far before I notice Samael next to me.

He’s in an immaculate suit. I’m in my usual ex-con finery.

“I sort of feel like I’m dead. But I can’t be dead.”

“Sorry, but I’m afraid you are.”

“But the angel half of me is still here.”

“I didn’t say it was a natural death.”

We turn up Gower Street. I stop and jab a finger at him.

“I have some serious questions for you about Hesediel.”

“No. I didn’t know she was going to do what she did. But, let’s walk as we talk.”

We take our time getting to the Tenebrae’s open plains.

“I wonder why Abbot didn’t mention the possibility that Ishii would come after me? He’s a scryer. He must have seen the possibility. Did he rat me out?”

“You’re always looking for enemies. Maybe it’s simpler than that. Think.”

I light a Malediction.

“Want one?”

“I can’t. No smoking during working hours.”

“That stinks.”

“Another reason I never wanted to be the angel of death. All the protocol.”

“Maybe you can shake the job up. Loosen your tie. Wear a tracksuit.”

“And have people think they’re being taken to the afterlife by an Eastern European mobster? I don’t think so.”

We turn east on Sunset.

“Have you thought more about Abbot and Ishii?” says Samael.

“Yeah. Maybe Abbot didn’t set me up. Maybe Audsley threw in with Wormwood. Abbot said they were protected from his seeing. Shit. That means they might come for him.”

“That’s not your problem right now.”

“Yeah, but they might go for Candy too.”