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located in San Diablo,” I added.
    “Wanted it badly enough to put up with the fact that the cathedral makes this town less than appealing to the general demon population.”
    I lifted a shoulder. “That was our theory, anyway. Mine and Eric’s.”
    “I say it was a good one,” David said. We’d reached the children’s playscape, and he leaned casually against the monkey bars. “So, Sheriff, now that you’ve run all the bad guys off, what will you do with your time?”
    I laughed and started counting out on my fingers. “Dishes, laundry, dust-bunny wrangling. Candy Land with the kiddo. Mediating boyfriend disputes, overseeing makeup purchases, and surviving the dangerous rite of passage known as the Teenager with a Learner’s Permit.”
    His mouth curved into a smile. “And here I thought you’d be bored.”
    “Never,” I said. I started to take a step away. I needed to get back to my car and head home. Patrolling, I can justify. Casual chitchat? Not so much.
    I never made it that far. I’d barely reached the boardwalk when something dark and fast tackled David, sending him sprawling into the sand. “Are you the one?” it demanded, then sniffed deep, like a bloodhound searching for a scent, even as I raced toward them. “If you are he,” it hissed, “release Andramelech. Release him from his shackles and know that when you do, your end will come.”
    The words still hung on his lips by the time I reached the demon. He had David by the collar of his shirt, but one swift kick to the gut knocked him off.
    The demon teetered, and I pounced. Then, without hesitation, I thrust my stiletto through his cold, gray eye.
    The body went limp as the demon departed, the familiar shimmer in the air the only sign of its passage.
    “Mr. Tomlinson, I presume?” David asked, climbing to his feet.
    “I think so,” I said. “But why did he attack you? He didn’t have a weapon, and I was standing right there. It was a no-win situation.”
    “He was newly made,” David said. “Maybe he was just stupid? Had me confused with someone else?”
    “If you are he,” I repeated. “But who?”
    David looked at me, his eyes serious. “I don’t know. But my guess is he’s looking for whoever captured Andramelech.”
    “Looking for the captor so they can kill him,” I said, shuddering. “But who’s Andramelech?”
    “No idea,” he said, looking completely baffled. “But I do know one thing for certain.”
    “There are still demons in San Diablo?”
    “Exactly,” he said. “And they’re up to something.”

Two
    “Oh, Kate,” Laura said, after I told her about David’s revelation. “Are you okay?”
    I shook off her sympathy and took another sip of my morning coffee. “I’m fine. Really.” I even think I was telling the truth. After all, I’d had a few hours to get used to the idea.
    I’d called Laura first thing Sunday morning, and she’d come right over. Now we were drinking coffee and eating the coffee cake Laura had made that morning in a fit of unbridled domesticity. Eddie kept wandering into the kitchen to cut himself “just a tad more,” but Allie and Stuart were still upstairs getting dressed for Mass. A good thing, since I didn’t want them overhearing this particular conversation.
    Timmy was in the living room, pushing the Thomas the Tank Engine train set he got for Christmas around the room while Frosty the Snowman played in the background. He’d already watched the show at least twelve dozen times over the last few weeks, but so far, he showed no sign of losing interest. I could only hope that he could maintain this level of interest throughout his academic career. If so, I had a Harvard valedictorian on my hands.
    “Honestly,” I said in response to Laura’s querying look. “I’m truly okay. It’s for the best,” I added, forcing a cheery note into my tone. “I can get back to my regularly scheduled life.”
    The truth is, I believed what I was saying. But knowing what was best