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matter how disheveled his outward appearance.
    They embraced in a big bear hug like brother and sister.
    “It’s good to see you, Samuel,” Alexandra said. She had tried calling him “Sam” a few times over the years, but it didn’t seem to fit. He was “Samuel.”
    “You too, angel,” he said. As they pulled apart, he ushered her into his office. “So, how have you been?”
    “I’m good.”
    “Keeping busy, I see?”
    She smiled. “There doesn’t seem to be any shortage of work these days. You wouldn’t happen to have any insight into that, would you?”
    Samuel shrugged. “Everybody loves New York, I guess.”
    “Even if they’ve been dead a few dozen years?”
    “What can I say? It’s a happening town.”
    “It’s certainly keeping me hopping,” she said as she dropped tiredly into one of the nondescript chairs in his office. “There’s been no shortage of work for me lately.”
    Samuel sat down opposite her and leaned back in his chair so far that she feared it might topple over. “I take it this isn’t a social call, then,” he said, unconcerned by the precariousness of his position.
    “I’m afraid not. I’ve got a delivery for you.” She chucked a thumb in the general direction of the alley where Joshua waited.
    Samuel walked over to the window that looked out over the alley. The van was parked directly below. “Too big to bring inside?” he asked.
    “Something like that,” she said. “We’ll need the loading dock for this one.”
    Samuel got to his feet, which he then slipped back into his old comfortable flip-flops. “Color me intrigued. Let’s go have a gander at your prize.”
    Samuel whistled when he saw the cargo inside the van.
    “I thought you might like it,” Alexandra told him.
    “Now this is a sight to behold,” Samuel said. “Where on Earth did you find these beauties?”
    As Alexandra regaled him with the abbreviated tale of her and Joshua’s adventure in the tower, Samuel looked at one of the glass jars,studying it intently. Halfway through the retelling of her story of how she and Joshua discovered the jars inside the tower at the former St. Matthew’s church, she wondered if he was even listening.
    “Fascinating,” Samuel muttered, interrupting her.
    Alexandra and Joshua exchanged a glance while they waited for him to say more. When he didn’t, Joshua chimed in.
    “So, can you help with these?” he asked and let his voice trail off into silence. “Or do we take them to that guy across town?” he added when he realized that Samuel wasn’t paying him any attention.
    “What?”
    Joshua shook his head, annoyed. “I thought that might get your attention.”
    “Why don’t we get them inside and off the street before someone takes notice, huh?” Alexandra interjected before old arguments resurfaced. She was all too familiar with her fiancé’s feelings regarding the supernatural side of her life. He accepted it… to a point, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. She also knew that he wasn’t overly fond of Samuel, a feeling that had stemmed from a small touch of jealousy early in their courtship. He assumed that there was something going on between Alexandra and Samuel. It took some convincing, but even though he knew that her relationship with the OAGI’s resident angel guide was a professional one, he also understood that they were old friends and, like restless spirits, some insecurities were hard to keep buried.
    “Good idea,” Joshua grumbled. “Let’s do that.”
    “Yes. Of course,” Samuel added absently, still studying the jar he carried. He seemed mesmerized by his reflection in the curve of frosted glass.
    Alexandra cleared her throat, which finally got Samuel’s attention. “You could help, you know?” There was no malice in her words, only mild annoyance. This was not the first time she had seen her friend get lost in some mystery or another.
    “Right. Sorry,” he said. “Let’s get them inside. Just let me… ah… now