A 'Touched By An Angel' Story

By: Yvette Jessen

Divorce. It was such an ugly word, but it was the reality for Sharon Peters. The 14-year-old girl made her way outside of the movie theater. She had gone there to see a movie with two of her best friends, but afterwards, she just wanted to be alone. After a teary good-bye with them, she made her way in the direction of the coastal area where she lived. The seaside always offered her the solitude she needed, and so her primary interest at this moment was to reach the beach, sit down in the sand, and get a grip on her emotions.

It had been decided in court earlier that week that she would have to move in with her mother in Franklin, California as of the following day. After having spent her entire life here in the coastal city of San Diego, she was now being told that she would be leaving her home to move to a town located about 50 miles inland.

Sharon thought she would die when her father told her that she would only be able to visit him during school vacations and that she would lose her beloved beach. This was too much for her, she adored the coastline, and from her father's beach side home, she could see it from her bedroom window. Somehow, she felt a sense of freedom whenever she was there.

One of her favorite things to do was to walk along the coast at night, when the light of the moon could be seen reflecting off the still water. This evening, it was clear, and the moon was full. After she had walked about a mile from the movie theater, she reached the seaside and removed the silver sandals she wore on her feet. Walking did not bother her, she was into sports, and had become a fairly good beach volleyball player as she was growing up. Recently, unbeknownst to either of her parents, she had gotten interested in surfing and was learning how from one of the college boys she knew.

As she walked, she could feel the soft cool sand beneath her feet, and she sighed deeply. It wasn't fair, she thought to herself, as her mind drifted back to two days before when her father had told her that she would have to leave. How could her parents do this to her? She was angry with her mother, why couldn't she just let her stay there with her father, where she was happy? Why did she have to pursue this with a custody battle? Couldn't she see that Sharon loved being where she was?

Contrary to the resentment she harbored, she really did love her mother. It tore her in pieces when she thought about how she would have to get used to making new friends, and attending a new school. All the friends she had, she had met when she was a child. Being somewhat shy, she feared what she would have to endure in this strange new place.

As she continued to contemplate this, she realized that leaving the one place where she felt at home was the most horrible feeling she could imagine. She knew that school would be one of the harder adjustments she would have to cope with, but the most difficult had to be the inability to walk to the coastline when she needed the feeling of total freedom.

She plopped down on the sand, her summer dress blowing in the breeze and her tears falling freely. After a few minutes passed, she looked down at her watch. She had told her father that she would be home by ten. Ever since she was little, her father had lived in a beachfront home, and so her nightly walks on the beach were acceptable because she had always promised not to go too far.

It was now nine, and so she had an hour to reflect on the feelings she had about leaving behind this place she had grown to love. She looked out at the water and could see the stars reflecting on the still ocean. To her it was the most beautiful sight she could imagine, but the sadness she felt, seemed to override everything else.

She glanced up when she saw a man approaching where she was sitting. Obviously he didn't see or notice her, because he said no words as he passed by and continued slowly walking up the coast, an unbelievable sadness shadowing his handsome features.

This man stopped suddenly and turned around and faced in the direction of where she was sitting and when she glanced up, she could see that he was now standing some three feet away. She followed his gaze, and recognized that a couple was involved in a heated argument further down the beach.

Not wishing to intrude, Sharon stood up quietly and started putting her sandals back on her feet as she watched them, all the while, she somehow felt compelled to walk even closer to the third person. As she came closer, she could see that the man in the beige suit looked as though he was either absorbing or reflecting the light, which was cast down by the light of the full moon.

As she came even closer, she recognized Brad Hawkins as well as his younger, 18-year-old girlfriend, Tracy. An involuntary shudder cursed through her body as she heard his words emerging in a sort of slurring cadence. It was obvious that he was angry, so much so that Sharon felt an undeniable sensation of fear cursing through her body. In fact, just from watching them, she could not help but recall the rumors, which were going around the neighborhood about this couple. Brad was addicted to drugs and alcohol, he was aggressive, and was known to beat Tracy in broad daylight. Up to this point, the police had even been called countless times regarding domestic disturbances.

Sharon continued to stare at the couple, her eyes only watching the man in beige through her peripheral vision. Suddenly, without warning, the man turned around, and his gentle eyes met her own. For some reason, she could read the intense concern that was present in his eyes, they were telling her to leave, to get out of the area, but she was somehow rooted to the spot and she remained, even after he started walking towards the couple.

Before she could back away, she watched as Brad pulled, what appeared to be a knife from his jacket and lunged towards the woman who was still standing next to him. Seconds passed and a bloodcurdling scream emerged from the woman as Sharon stood, shock enveloping her, and she witnessed the woman's body crumpling to the ground in a heap.

Unsure of what to do, Sharon could feel a wave of dizziness overcome her and she backed away hoping all the while that the man would not see her, but before she could conceal herself in the shadows, Brad had turned around and his steel gray eyes met hers.

"Oh my God," Sharon whispered under her breath as the man started to come closer to her, the knife still in his hand as he approached.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" Brad sneered, once he had reached her, his free hand reaching out and gripping her shoulder, her eyes filled with fear as she saw the moist stickiness of the blood of his girlfriend still on it.

Sharon attempted to back away, her body jerking out of Brad's grasp but as she backed away from him. In the distance, the sounds of sirens blaring caused him to back away from her, thus retracing his steps and disappearing in the distance leaving Sharon staring at the woman’s body. She could feel the nausea now overwhelming her and she allowed her body to sink to the ground, as shocked tears streamed from beneath her eyes.

By this time, the man in beige was slowly approaching the woman's body, and kneeling down as though he wanted to speak to her. The teenager glanced up and watched as a nimbus of white light enveloped the woman, and within seconds, it had disappeared along with the man.

The seconds slowly ticked by and Sharon rested her spinning head in her hands all the while not noticing that the man in beige had appeared from out of nowhere and was now standing directly in front of her.

"Don't be afraid," he offered gently, thus causing her to look up suddenly. He came over to where she was on the ground, his eyes meeting her own, and the light that had once encompassed him was now gone and she could only see that he was still dressed in beige, and regarding her with concern.

She nodded numbly, but stared at him in profound disbelief, all the while shaking her head unsure of what to say or do next. She could see him much better now, he was still dressed in the beige suit, he had shoulder-length blonde hair, and his green eyes sought her brown ones.

Sharon backed up away from him, hoping to put as much distance between them as she could. In her haste to get away, she stumbled and fell backwards onto the sand, all the while her eyes regarded him as though she was terrified of what he would do to her in having witnessed what had just happened.

She looked up and could see that he was now coming towards her.

After a few seconds passed, he reached her side, and placed his hand on her shoulder. His voice could be heard above her hammering heart. "Are you OK?"

Sharon forgot her initial fear of him once her eyes met his. Looking at him, she saw sympathy and compassion, but there was something else in his eyes a sadness that went beyond description. Seeing this in him somehow reminded her of the isolation that she often felt when she would consider her own life. Eventually, she looked away, but glanced back over at him when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

The tears continued to stream down her cheeks, her earlier thoughts completely forgotten as she clamped her eyes shut all the while regarding him as though she was an animal trapped in a corner. "Please don't hurt me, Mister. I swear I won't tell anyone what I saw…" Her words came out rushed as though speaking caused difficulties.

After a few seconds, she began to feel her energy giving out, and his face became a blur as she realized that she was starting to go into shock. She could feel the cool breeze as the stranger sat down in the sand next to her and she finally collapsed, her head resting against his chest. He wrapped one arm around her shoulder in an effort to hold her up as well as to calm her.

With his free hand, he brushed it gently through her hair. "Don't be afraid, Sharon, I won't hurt you." She was still leaning against him, but her eyes were wide with terror when she heard him speak her name.

"H-How do you know my name?" Sharon cried hysterically. When she felt his gentle arms holding her and instead of trusting him, she clamped her eyes shut and hoped that whatever he intended, he would do so quickly. "What are you going to do to me?"

"Shhh," he spoke softly, his voice leaving a calming effect on her. "I'm not going to do anything to you."

"W-who?" She stammered unsure if she would be able to speak.

"I'm an angel and I was sent from God to take Tracy Home," he smiled down at her. When he saw her trembling, he rested a gentle hand on her shoulder, and offered her a serene look. "I would never hurt you, sweetheart, but unfortunately, because of what you witnessed tonight, you could be in danger," he said.

She nodded, unable to utter a sound. After a few seconds, she sat up.

"Do you feel OK?" He asked, concern in his voice. "Perhaps we should call someone to come and pick you up, maybe take you to the hospital or to the police."

"No, I'm OK, I don't live too far away and I just want to go home," she answered, making an attempt to stand. However, she was still feeling a trace of dizziness from the shock and eventually, she fell back onto the soft sand. "Maybe I should sit here a little longer." She whispered more to herself than to him. She scooped up a handful of sand and allowed it to trickle through her fingers.

The man nodded, knowing all the while that she really should not be alone, but when he made eye contact with her again, he smiled gently as he helped her to her feet. "You take good care of yourself. If you need someone, you call the police, alright?"

She nodded numbly once she was on her feet and after she was standing without any of his assistance, she ran away as fast as she could, all the while ignoring the sounds of the approaching police cars. She glanced back to make sure the angel wasn't following her. When she recognized that he was no longer with her, she shook her head rapidly, a mixture of disbelief and complete terror written all over her face.

*****

The Angel of Death named Andrew knew that he was in trouble, this was nothing like the normal assignments he usually got. Sharon had not only seen him, but she had also run away from him, and he wasn't sure why it was, but he had the strangest feeling that she would need him, and very soon. Father, please take care of her, she's been through something really traumatic tonight, and I fear for her.

Not to worry, Andrew, she's going to be your next case, but you're going to get some backup from Tess and Monica, came the Father's loving answer.

Not as her Angel of Death, Father, she's only 14.

Andrew, I cannot tell you what will happen, but you need to trust in Me and help that little girl, she's going to need a friend, and you're going to fit that description, but be careful, My angel, be very careful, as this assignment poses not only you to danger, but will also pose Sharon to danger, the Father's assurances returned, and though they did little to calm his nerves, he knew that the Father was going to do whatever He could to help the young girl. Yet, even with the warnings, Andrew wasn't so concerned for himself, but he was overcome with worry for Sharon.

Sighing sadly, he knew that she was in grave danger and he didn't even have to talk to the Father to realize it, there was something that saved her from getting killed that night, but with the real murderer still on the loose, he wasn't sure how much he could do to help keep her from getting into anymore trouble.

There was also no question in his mind, he had frightened her and during a time when she would need to know love more than ever before. All he could do right now was wander up the beach all the while standing in angelic form as the police talked to the other witnesses in the area. He released a pent up sigh when he could hear their words, and though the authorities could not see him, he could hear the description that the police were getting were of him and not of the man who had actually murdered the woman. Sighing deeply, he glanced up to see Monica and Tess standing next to him.

"You're here too?" He asked weakly.

"Yes, baby, you knew we would be coming, the Father told you he would be sending us as backup. We also realized that you're going to have a difficult assignment ahead of you," Tess said.

Together, the three angels walked back down the beach, and when they reached the parking lot, they spotted and retrieved Tess' prided red Cadillac. "You need to go to her house and wait, Andrew, stay the night, and watch over her, she's going to need your help, tonight, even if she doesn't believe it," Tess said gently. "Monica and I will get to Franklin and wait for you there. Once morning comes, you come there with Sharon, OK? You're going to be her guardian angel, Andrew, a position you're not quite accustomed to, but one of the utmost importance. You know that this child has to survive these events."

Instead of arguing, the Angel of Death nodded as Tess and Monica got into the car.

They all knew that it was late, and although Andrew was now the prime suspect in this murder case, he remained as advised there and walked towards the house where his assignment lived. He knew that she was in trouble, and even if she did not realize it, she would need all the help that God's angels could provide her with.

His mind drifted back to Sharon and he could somehow sense that she was frightened of him, but he also sensed a number of things about her and he wished that she hadn't have run away. He feared that in her disillusioned state that she might say something that might incriminate him, thus rendering her helpless when it came to him being able to protect her.

"Angel Boy," Tess' voice brought him crashing back down to earth and he smiled weakly when he heard her voice.

"What is it, Tess?" Andrew asked.

"Try to think about Sharon, and not about yourself, OK?" Tess asked as she started the car and they drove in the direction of the interstate highway, which would lead to the small town of Franklin.

"What can we do, Tess?" Monica asked, the auburn headed angel smiling weakly, but she was as confused about this assignment as much as Andrew probably was.

"Well, Miss Wings, that little girl's really frightened right now and for good reason. She's really going to need all the help that an angel can give to her. Not only is she going to have to find the courage to speak about what has happened, but the man who committed this heinous act has also recognized her. You know as well as I do that Sharon Peters witnessed a murder tonight, and it's going to be up to her to help our Angel Boy out of the trouble that he is finding himself in."

"They think that Andrew committed a murder, Tess, that's crazy!" Monica whispered. "Andrew wouldn't hurt a fly."

"You know it, I know it, and the Father knows it, Angel Girl, but there's a little girl in San Diego who doesn't know that yet," Tess said. "And all we can do right now is just keep the faith."

*****

Sharon made it to her father's beach house five minutes before ten. "D-Daddy," she called out half expecting to hear an answer, but knowing that her father had gone out as well and probably wouldn't be back until later.

When she heard no sounds in the house and found it dark, she hesitantly made her way into the living room, her entire body shaking like a leaf and she glanced around nervously. Hesitantly, she turned on the lamp on one of the side tables and sat down on the sofa, all the while trying without much success at getting a grip on her emotions.

Glancing over, she spotted a note lying on the table. She reached for it, her hand trembling as she picked it up and began to read.

In one corner of the room, Andrew stood watching her, his presence unknown to her, but he could see that she was positively petrified by what she had witnessed, her actions indicative of it. Sharon returned the note to the coffee table and realized that her father was not due home for another hour, perhaps two. As she contemplated all of this, the tears continued to stream down her cheeks.

"Oh God, I'm so scared," she whispered under her breath. As she heard the sound of something falling and hitting the ground outside the small beach front home, she turned her head quickly, and realized that the sound that emerged had been caused by neighbor's cat, which yowled as it fled from the scene. Sharon reached for an afghan and wrapped it around her body. As she did, her voice cried out in desperation. "Please, God, help me…" As her voice trailed off, she looked up and could see that the angel she had seen on the beach was now standing in the room. "I-it's you…"

"Yes, Sharon?" He spoke, his voice gentle.

"W-What are you doing here?" She whispered, her voice shaking slightly, and she glanced towards the front door. "I-I mean, I thought I had locked the doors." As she spoke, she could hear something crashing through the window, and she covered her face with her hands as the tears continued to wash down over her face. "Oh God, help me get through this night, I'm so frightened."

"He will, sweetheart, He will," Andrew said softly.

The teenager nodded, but for some reason, she could not bring herself to believe his words. She watched as he approached where she was sitting. "W-Who are you?"

"My name is Andrew," he said softly as he sat down across from her on the sofa and anticipating her next question, he smiled gently at her. "Don't worry, Sharon, the doors are all locked, as are the windows, and I'm here to help you."

She nodded numbly and looked down at her lap. "You're not going to hurt me because of what I s-saw?"

He shook his head. "No, its like I told you on the beach, Sharon, I have no intention of hurting you. God sent me here tonight to help you and you know that you're in a great deal of trouble right now and He knew that you could use a little extra help."

"I know, I s-saw that man, h-he lives a few blocks away from here," she whispered.

"Where are your parents now?" Andrew asked.

"My dad and his girlfriend went out," Sharon said shrugging her shoulders. It was no secret; her father had met another woman, Penny Higgins, and had started dating her as soon as the divorce had become final earlier that year. Although she liked Penny, she felt somewhat torn whenever she thought about her parents. She was more like her free-spirited father, and had nothing in common with her mother. Brenda Peters was overbearing, and possessive, and thinking about her made Sharon feel slightly intimidated.

"You have to tell them what happened," Andrew said gently.

"T-they won't listen, Andrew," she looked at him, her eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. "All they have concerned themselves with during these past months is this stupid custody battle and only how it's affecting them, but not me," she sighed deeply, her eyes filling with tears. "What should I do?"

"I don't know, yet, Sharon, but I can't tell you what to do," he said gently, "I can only be here with you, at the very least, until you are able to go to sleep. You're not still afraid of me, are you?"

"I was at first, but…" her voice trailed off and she swallowed the persistent lump that had formed in her throat.

Andrew stood up and came over to where she was sitting and once he had sat down next to her, he rested his hand on her shoulder. When she cowered slightly away from him, he continued speaking, his voice gentle. "It's OK, I know you're afraid right now, and I do truly understand. I know that I scared you back there, but it wasn't intended and yet, I don't know why it was that you could see me out there, but maybe it was for a reason, maybe that's why God sent me to be with you right now."

"You're an Angel of Death? I-I mean; you took her away?"

Andrew nodded. "Yes, I am."

"I used to read books about angels when I was a little girl…" She said softly, but her voice trailed off and she looked up at him. His collar-length blonde hair was neatly combed, but instead of being eloquently dressed in a beige suit, he was now dressed more casually, and she felt more at ease with seeing him dressed in jeans and a lightweight beige sweater.

"Sharon, although you may be in danger, I don't know yet if I'm here as yours," he said earnestly. "I do know that I'm here to help you face the truth, and right now, running away to Franklin isn't going to help when it comes to speaking out about what you saw tonight," Andrew said gently.

The teenager nodded and leaned up against the pillows on the sofa. "I wish I could forget what I saw."

"I know, as do I," he said softly.

"You do?" She asked weakly, but looked into his eyes. "Have you ever been afraid?"

"Yes, I have, and right now, I'm afraid; for you," he said gently.

"But, I don't understand, you don't even know me?"

"I know, but that doesn't change the fact that I care for you," he nodded and brushed a gentle hand through her tangled hair.

"You won't let Brad hurt me?"

"I will do what I can to protect you, but Sharon, you're going to have to talk about what you saw tonight," Andrew said gently. "I know you're afraid, but you can't go through this alone."

She nodded wearily, and he could see that she was tired, too tired to face this at this moment, and he watched as she stretched out on the sofa. "I'm so tired, but I don't know if I'll even be able to sleep, I'm so scared," she whimpered. "Please, Andrew, can you promise me that you won't leave me here alone."

"I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere," he said and smiled compassionately at her.

Sharon closed her eyes, her thoughts now focused on the situation with her parents. At least thinking about her parents prevented her from thinking about how frightened she was. She had seen a murder; a man stabbing a woman, and she had seen an angel, but now she was more terrified than anything. She sighed deeply, looked up through the window, and could see the stars still spotting the night sky. Next to her, she could see that Andrew was still sitting on the sofa, his eyes closed and he looked so serene, as though in prayer.

Sharon leaned over, turned off the lamp but after a few moments, she turned it back on. "I'm too afraid to sleep," she said softly as she stared down at her lap. "Oh God, I'm so scared."

Andrew's eyes opened, and he inched over to where she was lying. "It's OK, Sharon," he whispered. "You're not alone." That said, he took her trembling body in his arms and held her tightly, her head coming to rest against the soft sweater he wore.

Instead of drawing away, she held tightly to him until she eventually slept cradled in his arms.

About twenty minutes later, she woke again, a scream emerging and she began to cry hysterically. She looked up and could see Andrew was still there and she buried her face against his chest, the tears streaming from beneath her eyes. "I s-saw it again."

Andrew glanced skyward. Father, help us, please, he pleaded with the stillness his hand brushing against the head of the teenager. He could tell by looking at her that none of this made sense to her, but he could also tell that she did not want to talk about this, and he realized that the only thing that would help her would be to do so.

He rested his gentle hands against both sides of her face and drew her back so that she would be looking into his compassionate green eyes. "Sharon, you're going to have to tell your parents about what happened, you know you can't face this all alone. I know you want to, but you cannot block this from your memories as though it didn't happen."

"If I mention to my dad what happened, he'd tell me I was making it all up to make them stop the divorce or something. My dad may be a free spirit, Andrew, but he also a realist. Talking to my mother is out of the question. If I tell her about it, then she would probably find me one of her nutty therapist friends to talk to me about my inability to adjust to change."

"Sharon, listen to me," Andrew looked at her, his eyes intent. "You have to tell someone about what you saw, not just because they need to catch the man who did this, but also to help your spirit to heal from the trauma this has caused."

"Everything, even when I saw you?" She whispered. "I can't, they're going to think I'm nuts, Andrew."

"No, they won't, sweetheart," Andrew said softly. "Maybe you can try and talk to your father's friend about this," he suggested. "Just don't keep this inside, you may be in more danger if you do and it will tear you apart."

"Is that why you're here? Because that guy could come back and…" Her voice trailed off and she looked at him.

"I don't know the answer to that question," Andrew said softly.

Sharon sighed deeply and nodded, her tears washing down over her face, and within seconds, she could see through the window that Brad was staring through the window at her. He had found her, and she looked at Andrew. "What should I do?"

Andrew said nothing, he merely handed her the phone and she put it to her ear and called 911. Seconds later, the window shattered, and She stood up and ran towards her bedroom, the angel followed her and when they were inside the room, she closed and locked the door all the while praying that the police would show up. Seconds later, they could hear that Brad had gained access to the house, and was coming down the hall in order to bang on the door.

"I know you're in there, you little nosy…" His voice slurred from the other side of the door, and Sharon looked at Andrew.

"He won't see me," Andrew whispered to her. "Get under the bed, Sharon."

The teenager nodded and did what he said.

Just before Brad had gained access to the room, she could hear the sirens of the police cars pulling up to the house.

After a few moments of silence had passed and she could hear Brad being taken into custody, she crawled out from under the bed, her eyes filled with tears as she looked up at the angel. Without saying a word, she collapsed onto the floor in a faint.

*****

When she opened her eyes again, it was morning, she was on her bed, and she could see the sun shining in through the window. She glanced over to see that her bedroom door was opened and that her father rushing around the room getting the rest of her belongings together. When she looked around the room in search of her angel, she noticed that he was now gone.

"You'd better get up, Sharon, your mother's going to be here in an hour to pick you up," her father said, his voice indicative of business as usual, and she came to the conclusion that the events of the night before must have all been nothing but a dream. "She just called and said she was on her way."

The teenager nodded numbly and pushed the blanket, which covered her, away. Apparently, her father had covered her with it the night before when he had come home. "OK, Daddy." She stood up, and quietly walked over to her closet and grabbed something to wear for the trip to her mother's apartment. Most of her favorite clothes were left hanging in the closet because her mother had insisted that she would have no use for them in Franklin. She grabbed her favorite cotton beige dress out of the closet and walked into the bathroom to take a shower.

That done, she got dressed and grabbed the brush off the sink to run it through her sun-streaked blond hair. I hope living in Franklin won't fade my tan, she thought trying to block her mind of the disturbing thoughts that were cursing through her mind. It was only a dream, she thought to herself, Andrew as well as the murder were nothing but a dream. Now things would get back to normal and she could shove those disturbing thoughts aside.

Sighing sadly, she looked in the mirror and could see the freckles from the sun across the bridge of her nose. She smiled weakly remembering three weeks ago when school had started and she and her friends had started as freshmen at the high school. It had been so great, and now that she was used to being at the school, she would have to change schools. Now, she felt absolutely miserable.

She sighed deeply as she started reflecting on the summer that had passed. She had met a boy at the beach, who was a surfer, and he had been teaching her how to surf. That's why this summer had been the best summer she could remember. But, it had also given her the best tan she could remember ever having. She remembered having spent the entire vacation at the beach.

"Hey, are you swimming in there?" Sharon sighed deeply when she heard a knock on the door and her father's voice. He probably needed to get in here to shave she thought as she laid the brush on the sink.

"I'm almost done, Daddy." She called out as she grabbed the dress she had worn the night before and stuffed it in the hamper, which was situated next to the toilet.

Finally, she opened the door, came out, and her father went in. She walked out into the living room to see her suitcases packed, and sitting in the middle of the floor. The glass door leading out onto the beach was not broken, as depicted in her dream. She was left to conclude that everything that had happened that night had been a nightmare and nothing more.

Andrew was nothing but a dream, she thought, but how on earth did she even know his name much less how he looked. She could describe him to a 'T', tall, handsome, with collar length blonde hair, and green eyes. She shook her head and sighted deeply, the glass was not broken, so she must have dreamt the entire thing.

Sighing deeply once she came out into the room and spotted her father's girlfriend lounging comfortably on the sofa.

"Hey Sharon." The woman smiled warmly.

"Hi, Penny." Sharon said weakly.

"Are you excited about going to Franklin, today?" Penny asked softly.

"Not really." Was all she said. She began to fiddle with a small piece of paper, which she had grabbed up off the coffee table. She liked Penny; the woman was always so nice and easy going. Sharon knew that her father was probably much better off with Penny than with her uptight mother.

She sighed, maybe it had something to do with her mother's job that made her so uptight, but ever since Brenda Peters had become a Psychologist, she had suddenly taken everything that anyone said and tried to analyze it. Sharon hated this, and she knew that her mother would probably insist on treating her like an eight-year-old child, rather than a 14-year-old girl.

Maybe this was why Sharon hadn't mentioned anything about learning to surf to her mother, she probably would have yelled at her dad about his allowing her to do something so dangerous.

"Sharon?" Penny's voice broke into her thoughts. "A penny for your thoughts?"

Sharon laughed weakly, "You always say that to make me laugh, don't you?"

"Well, obviously because it works." Penny said, her green eyes twinkling. "Today, it didn't seem to though."

"I'm sorry…" her voice trailed off, but she finally found the courage to look up and make eye contact with the young woman. "Penny, can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah, sure you can," Penny looked at her.

"Do you believe in angels?" Sharon asked.

Penny shook her head, "No, sorry, I hate to admit it, I believe in God, but not in angels. I think it's just a bunch of hogwash. But where did all that come from? I've never head you mention anything about such things before."

"I used to read books about it and last night had a weird dream about an angel," Sharon whispered. This was the answer she expected from Penny, and she sighed deeply.

"Is there anything you want to talk about, Sharon?" Penny asked as a horn beeped from outside. Her warm smile disappeared when she looked out the window and could see Brenda's BMW parked in the driveway.

"No, but you're probably right, though, it's just stupid." Sharon stood up and walked towards the suitcases and picked up the smaller of the two.

Steven came out of the bathroom, "Your mother's here, Sharon."

"Yeah, I know." Sharon's eyes met those of her father. "Daddy, will you help me with my stuff?" She asked trying to keep the sadness out of her voice.

"Of course, honey." Steven picked up the second suitcase and followed her to the door. Once she opened the door and saw her mother, she swallowed the lump in her throat.

Her mother was, as usual, dressed impeccably. Today, she wore in an off white suit and a string of pearls that hung from around her neck. Suddenly, Sharon felt underdressed in her favorite dress while in the presence of her elegant mother. Her hands ran down the cotton dress she wore and she sighed deeply.

Once Steven had greeted his ex-wife, and had put the bags in the trunk of the car, Sharon spoke, "Mom, I have to go to the bathroom before we leave, OK?"

Brenda nodded, and both Steven and Sharon returned inside the house.

After using the bathroom, she rejoined Penny and Steven in the living room. "Daddy, I'm going to miss you," Her eyes brimmed with tears and Steven nodded.

"I know, Sweetheart. I'm going to miss you too." Steven wrapped his arms around his daughter, "But you're going to be OK. Besides that, I promise to write when I can and you'll also be here for Thanksgiving, that's only two months away."

"I know." She turned to Penny, "You'll write too?"

Penny nodded and hugged her boyfriend's daughter. "I'll send you something with your dad's letters every chance I get." She handed Sharon a cloth handkerchief and smiled reassuringly.

Sharon wiped her eyes with the cloth. But, as she did, a silver necklace fell to the ground. It had been carefully folded inside the cloth, and she bent down to pick it up. It was the silver starfish necklace that Penny bought when she and Steven had gone down to Mexico. "I remember how much you liked it," Penny offered, smiling.

"Thank you," Sharon put the necklace on and wiped her eyes as her mother began to honk the horn impatiently. "I have to go. I love you both."

Steven nodded as his only child walked to the front door, opened it, and stepped outside closing it behind her. Watching her leave, Steven felt the tears stinging under his eyes. Penny wrapped her arms around him comfortingly.

"What took you so long?" Brenda wanted to know once Sharon came outside and got in the car.

"I just wanted to say good-bye, that's all." Sharon whispered; her hand was holding onto the necklace that Penny had given to her. Sighing sadly, she could feel a trace of guilt as she remembered the words from her dream about talking about what she had seen. Sighing deeply, she dismissed it as being a dream and reached for the seatbelt.

Once Brenda's attention diverted back onto the road, she sighed deeply as the tears escaped from under her eyes. She grabbed the handkerchief from the pocket of her dress and wiped it over her eyes. The necklace she wore, reminded her not only of her father and Penny, but also of the dream she had had about the events at the beach.

As they drove away, Sharon felt a lump forming in her throat when she saw Brad Hawkins staring at her, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

*****

Detective Jonathan Mason was seated at his desk at that time, and he was looking down over case files and shaking his head. "Let's see, 18-year-old Tracy Lyndon, was stabbed to death last night." He sighed deeply as he looked around the room all the while wondering why it was that this had even happened. He shook his head sighing, simply because the precinct house had been literally flooded with calls over the course of the last week about domestic disputes.

"Another fatality?" His partner asked as he came into the office, this was a younger man named Chance Watson, who had just started working there, and he regarded the notes in front of the detective with scorn. "I hate domestic violence."

"Yeah, and we've got a few suspects to bring in," the detective said with a sigh, "but one of our witnesses fled the scene, and we haven't any idea who she is."

"You know it's a girl, then?" Chance asked as he sat down across from him and reached for a pastry that was on the desk.

"That's all we know," Jonathan said sadly. "I'm afraid for this kid though, the murderer slipped through our fingers last night and fled the scene."

"Who are the suspects?" Chance asked.

"One is the girl's boyfriend, and this is probably the most likely of them all," the detective said sighing. "The other is this guy that some of the witnesses saw there. Some blonde in a beige suit. We think he might be an accomplice, but without the girl's statement, we haven't any idea what to do next, except go after the blonde and talk to the crazy boyfriend."

"Maybe we should go and start interviewing people in the neighborhood, maybe they might be able to help us find the girl, specifically since she's the key to this being resolved," Chance said softly.

"True because if that murderer finds her first, she may be the next statistic around here," Jonathan said softly.

Seconds later, a knock brought the two men out of their reveries. "Hi, I'm Adam, I've been transferred to this department and was wondering where I could put my briefcase." The gray-eyed Angel of Death offered the two men a smile and Chance got up to help him.

"Hello, I'm Chance. How goes it?" He asked as they left the office.

"Good, I was called in this morning, something about a murder that took place last night. I heard about some of it from the chief, but I was told that you and Detective Mason would be taking this case." He rubbed his hand through his short salt and pepper hair and shrugged his shoulders.

"You know anything about the homicide division?" Chance asked.

"Well, you could say that working in this sort of department is kind of my specialty," Adam said, his expression unreadable.

"Well friend, I guess we'll get you initiated today then because as Detective Mason and I have to drive out to the coastal areas and start interviewing people about a case that broke last night. Something about domestic violence and a witness who seems to have vanished off the face of the earth."

"A witness who may have been too afraid to come forward," Adam mused.

"We don't think about whether people are scared or not," Jonathan said as he came out of his office. "All we care about is getting results, and as long as someone is holding back on the truth, then they're an accomplice in my book."

Adam sighed deeply, but he nodded, his thoughts going out to his friend and fellow Angel of Death, Andrew, who not only was a suspect, but the young girl he was helping was also considered by the sharp-tongued detective to be a suspect in this terrible crime. Sighing deeply he followed the two men outside to the car, his eyes filled with sadness as he crawled into the backseat of the car, and they sped off in the direction of the beach.

*****

Saturday morning brought Tess and Monica into the small town of Franklin, and they were able to find an apartment without too much difficulty. As Andrew returned to the apartment where they were living, Tess looked at him.

"Did you not forget that you're supposed to be with that little girl, Angel Boy?" Tess asked.

Andrew nodded, "yes, Tess, I know, but…"

"Let me guess, she thinks you're a dream, or a figment of her imagination," Monica said softly, her voice light, but Andrew could see that she was trying to give him all the understanding she could. "Yet, I know you, Andrew, you care for her."

"Andrew cares for everyone," Tess said smiling as she went to him and wrapped her strong arms around his slumped shoulders. "Now then, Angel Boy, you get back over there and, don't worry, everything will turn out OK."

Once Andrew was gone, Monica and Tess prepared lunch, ate and decided to go downtown and catch a presentation at the local planetarium. Although Monica knew that this had nothing to do with their current assignment, Tess was insisting on a little bit of fun before they really got serious about this particular case. Aside from that, they both knew that they probably wouldn't be meeting this girl until Monday morning when she would start school.

Twenty minutes after they had eaten lunch, they drove to the planetarium and Tess went to get the tickets while Monica waited near the bulletin board and spent a few minutes studying it. After waiting and watching the people around her for a few minutes, she turned around, and saw a girl in a beige sun-dress standing outside reading a similar schedule where the exhibitions had been posted.

Monica couldn't let go of the fact as to how Sharon looked, it seemed as though she was about to jump out of her skin, as she was looking around nervously, somehow her actions emanating a person who was perceiving danger around every corner. Finally, the Irish angel walked over to her and smiled weakly. "Hello," she offered approaching the teenager.

"Hi," came her soft answer.

"Are you here to see the exhibition too?" Monica asked.

"No, actually, I was just waiting for my mother to come back. She went over to that convenience store to pick up a pack of gum." The girl said softly, her sad eyes speaking much louder than her words ever could.

"Do you go to school here?" Monica asked.

"Actually, I'm supposed to start on Monday," she answered, getting her first look at the kind-hearted woman who was now standing next to her.

"At the high school?" Monica asked, and as Sharon nodded, she smiled. "Well, maybe I'll see you there, I will be teaching Freshman English, as a substitute while one of the teachers in on maternity leave." She smiled at the teenager. "My name is Monica, and you're?"

"Sharon Peters." She paused, "you're new here too?"

"Yes, I just got into town about an hour ago, my friends and I came here from San Diego this morning."

"That's weird, 'cause so did I. I actually lived there for the last 14 years," Sharon said sadly. "My mom was born here, and since my parents recently got divorced, I had to come here to live."

"You must have really loved it there, because you look a wee bit sad right now," Monica offered gently.

She nodded, "yeah, I loved it. I used to spend a lot of time at the beach. My dad and his girlfriend have a house up the coast, and I was always at the seaside."

Monica smiled, her eyes lighting up as she listened to the girl speak. "You must have been by the water everyday. You make me look rather like a sheet." She held up her arm and pulled the sleeve of her blazer up so Sharon could see that her arm was pale by comparison.

She laughed weakly, but suddenly stopped.

Monica looked up when Sharon's laughter had died and both could see that an elegantly dressed woman was now coming out of the store.

Sharon sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, I have to go, my mom's waiting. Maybe I'll see you in school Monday."

"Yes, maybe you will," Monica said softly as Sharon walked quickly towards a blue BMW and climbed into the front seat.

Monica was still standing there watching Sharon as she walked away. She looked positively miserable, the angel thought to herself, and behind Sharon a few steps, Andrew was following, but when the Angel of Death turned around and smiled slightly at her before he continued walking towards the car and away from the large marble building. Once he was gone, Monica sighed deeply and went back inside.

"Where were you?" Tess asked once she had come inside the large lobby.

"I saw Sharon outside, and went to talk to her," Monica said.

"Did you find out anything?" Tess wanted to know.

"No, nothing except that she's looking none too good right now, she's so afraid of people, she walks around looking over her shoulders," Monica said softly.

"Keep in mind that she's witnessed a murder." A familiar masculine voice emerged and Monica turned around.

"Adam, what on earth are you doing here?" Monica asked.

"Adam is here working with the police," Tess said. "How's it going, Angel Boy?"

"Well, Jonathan Mason is not the easiest nut to crack, he's convinced that if someone is not working with them, they are working against him. He is convinced that Sharon is keeping the information to herself, not because she's afraid, but because she is trying to protect Brad Hawkins. What he doesn't realize is that this is not the case," Adam said softly, somehow both of the other angels could see that he was holding something back.

"Adam, you might as well tell us," Tess said, her voice etched in annoyance.

"Andrew is one of the prime suspects," Adam said softly. "Jonathan and Chance both think that he murdered Tracy, but the worst thing is, we're supposed to go and interview Sharon's father today, and I'm almost afraid to do it, as she didn't mention any of this to them."

"You just do what you can, Adam, and we'll check in with you later," Tess said softly, and once the Angel of Death had returned to his part of the assignment, the two remaining angels walked down the hall and into the room where the exhibition was to take place, both of their minds too occupied to enjoy the presentation.

*****

Outside in the car, Sharon watched as her mother got in and turned on the ignition.

"Where did you go?" Brenda asked.

"I just went to see what they had showing at the planetarium." Sharon shrugged her shoulders. Her meeting Monica wasn't mentioned as her mother started the car.

"I didn't know you were interested in Astronomy," she said as she drove the car out of the area. After Sharon offered no answer, she continued speaking, "I hope you will like it here. I grew up in Franklin, and missed it dreadfully after your father and I got married."

Sharon shrugged her shoulders, she felt like she was being torn in two. Here was her mother who loved Franklin's mountains, and warm, dry climate, while her father and Penny loved the seaside almost as much as she did. She wondered if her mother was somehow ignoring her love of the ocean.

Sharon knew that she would never be able to tell her mother how much she really hated this town. It'd break her heart if she knew that I really wasn't happy here, she thought sadly as a tear slid down her cheek. I could never be so selfish, she thought to herself, her mind seemed to be centered on the night before, but rather than speak of it, she sighed sadly.

After a few minutes passed, her mother finally broke the silence. "You're being awfully quiet. Is there something you want to talk about?"

"No, not really." Sharon offered. Why had her life suddenly become so complicating? Her mind began to drift. If she was at home, then she could have gone to the beach and met Jerry and did some surfing. Suddenly, she felt like a fish out of water and worse still, she was wondering what she would be able to do to cope with all the feelings and emotions she carried since she had what she remembered as being only a dream.

As her mother pulled into the parking area for her apartment, Sharon got out of the car and followed Brenda inside. Upstairs in the apartment building, Sharon walked with her mother to a second door and waited for Brenda to fish her keys out of her purse.

As soon as her mother unlocked the door, Sharon sighed deeply when she walked into the apartment and saw that everything in the living room was white. She literally had to will herself to not turn around and walk back out. The carpet was white, as well as the other furniture surrounding the black leather sofa. On the front wall hung three art prints depicting abstracts. On the corner table was red, black, and white figures. Modern abstract art that was her mother's taste.

She wrinkled her nose; she didn't feel at home at all. The apartment had no seashells, or natural decorations. The floors were covered with this fluffy carpet and she was left feeling afraid of walking across it with her shoes still on for fear she might smudge something. Sighing deeply, she realized just how much she missed the warm comfortable atmosphere of her father's beach house. The wooden floors had taken tons of her abuse, whether or not she came home caked with sand, or if she had walked through the house slopping water everywhere from her swim in the ocean.

Here, the entire apartment was ultra modern, and everywhere she looked; the only colors she saw were white, black and small amounts of red. It looked like it was taken out of a magazine picture, all pristine and perfect, modern, and in Sharon's opinion, absolutely hideous. Would she ever get used to living here?

Finally when she couldn't take much more of this awful room, she looked up at her mother, trying to keep a cheerful face, "Mom, I need to put this stuff away, where's my room?"

"Down the hall, the last door on the right," Brenda said completely unaware of her daughter's discomfort.

Sharon walked carefully through the living room, down the hall, and when she entered the room, she sighed deeply. Apparently, her mother had the same designer in her room that she had for the rest of the apartment. Everything was pink, or white, and the bedspread was pink and covered with lace. The curtains, which hung in the window, were all frilly and little girlish, thus matching the bedspread. It looks like a wedding cake exploded in here, she thought with a frown.

She went over to the curtains and drew them aside. She could see outside into a park where people were walking and having picnics. The view she liked, but the room was awful. The wooden furniture was all painted white, and the carpet was also white and fuzzy, similar to that, which was in the living room.

This apartment looks like a waiting room for a doctor's office, Sharon thought sighing deeply as her mother entered the room. "Do you like it? I remembered that pink was always your favorite color."

Sharon sighed deeply, pink was her favorite color, but that was seven years ago. Now she preferred beige, earth tones, and dark blue. She despised this room, it wasn't her, and worse still, it made her feel really uncomfortable. "It's OK, Mom," she lied when she saw her mother's hopeful face. "Can I get some posters and decorate it like I want to?"

"Yes, I thought we could do that today. The art museum sells prints that we could buy to hang in here. There's a store not far from here that sells abstract art, and we could go by there as well."

"Mom, I don't really like abstract art. Couldn't I have something like a beach scene or something that better expresses me?" Sharon said softly, hoping that her honesty wouldn't upset her mother.

"You're not happy, are you?" Brenda asked.

"I just got here today, give me a little more time, OK?" Sharon answered diplomatically.

"OK," Brenda looked disappointed, but then after a few seconds passed, her frown broke into a broad smile. "I have an idea then, why don't we go to the mall later and see what we can find at the poster shop? They have a new store there that sells nothing but posters and decorations for walls. I'm sure we can find something there to your liking."

"That'd be great." Sharon's frown broke into a small smile. "I've been kind of curious about what this town has to offer as far as shopping and entertainment goes. I'd also like to go by the school and see what it looks like before I start there on Monday."

"OK, then afterwards, we can go out and have something for dinner." Brenda said.

Sharon nodded as her mother left her to unpack. She turned off the air conditioner in her room, opened the window, and closed the door. The breeze blew through the room leaving it fresh and more comfortable. She sat down at the desk and pulled out her diary. It had been a number of days since she had the chance to write her thoughts and feelings in the book, and she decided that since she couldn't stop thinking about the dream she had had last night about what she thought she had seen on the beach in San Diego, that she would write about this and what she remembered about Andrew.

Sighing sadly, she could not forget Andrew's gentle face, how unhappy he looked when she was standing on the beach the night before. But this was a dream, she rationalized with herself, and she looked around the room all the while, shaking her head. When she did not see him, she closed the diary and rested her head in her hands. It was just a dream, but God, it felt so real, like it really happened.

Sharon, it did happen. Yes, part of it was a dream you had. You dreamt that Brad had broken into your father's house, but the rest of it was real, sweetheart, Andrew's voice was soft, but he knew that she could not hear his words. Sighing deeply he watched as she gently closed the diary.

"Andrew," she whispered, her voice emerging like a sigh. "I wish I knew for sure if you were real, or if I am just loosing my mind." She remembered how over the course of the evening how she had been afraid that he was going to be angry with her, but when his hand had rested on her shoulder, she felt a sense of warmth that she couldn't describe, and the compassion that manifested in him had somehow become empowering.

If I could, she thought to herself, I'd go back in time, I'd have asked him all the questions that I carried in my heart, asked him to hold me again. As she contemplated this, she wiped the tears from her eyes and laid down her pen. This is totally ridiculous, she thought bitterly, there are no angels, it was all just a figment of my imagination, she thought, but the more she thought about it, the more confused she became.

After a few moments of staring at the plain white walls of her bedroom, she opened the diary, picked up her pen, and continued to write until her mother knocked on her door some fifteen minutes later.

Taking a small silver key from her pocket, she locked the diary up and put it inside the drawer of her nightstand. Next, she went to close the window and open the door.

"Whew, it's warm in here," Brenda exclaimed as she entered the room. "Does the air conditioner not work anymore?"

"No, it works fine, I just like fresh air better, so I turned it off, and opened the window." Sharon said softly. "Is that OK?"

Brenda nodded hesitantly, and they left together.

*****

That same afternoon, the police were interviewing the neighbors about what had happened at the beach the night before. Franklin had interviewed Jerry Theiss and they had finally managed to find out the name of the witness they were searching for. As they reached the home of Steven Peters', they rang the doorbell and waited until Penny had opened the door.

"Yes?"

"Good afternoon, Ma'am, I'm detective Jonathan Mason, this is my partner, Chance Watson and this is Adam, we're from the Homicide Division at the San Diego Police Department."

"Homicide?"

"Yes, and last night Tracy Lyndon was murdered on the beach just across the way from here," Jonathan said.

"Oh my God," Penny said. "I had no idea, that poor girl." After a second passed, she finally managed to regain her composure and continued. "Please, do come in."

"Do you know a girl by the name of Sharon Peters?" Chance asked.

Once they had entered the house and the door was closed, Penny nodded earnestly. "Yes, I know Sharon. She's the daughter of my boyfriend, Steven Peters."

"Do you know where Sharon is, it's very important that we speak to her, she may have seen something last night that could pose a threat to her," Adam began, all the while trying to keep his voice gentle.

"Why?" Penny's voice emerged, the fear taking over and she looked at them in profound disbelief. "Sharon's just a kid, she wouldn't murder anyone."

"Ms. Higgins, we know that," Jonathan began. "However, we have reason to believe that Sharon witnessed an incident that took place last night and we'd only like to ask her a few questions about it." Jonathan answered.

"Last night? Detective Mason, I'm afraid I have no idea what you are talking about." Penny answered. "Sharon went to the movies with two of her girlfriends and then came back here, I don't know if she spent any time on the beach, not since her father warned her about this guy named Brad Hawkins who moved into the neighborhood some time ago."

"You mean to tell us that she didn't mention anything out of the ordinary that might have happened last night?" Adam asked.

"No, and as far as I know she didn't mention anything to her father either." Penny said.

"You said she isn't here, when will she be back?" Chance asked.

"Not for a few months, she left San Diego yesterday. Her mother won custody of her in court last week. She won't be back here until Thanksgiving." Penny answered. "Is there anything else I can help you with, gentlemen?"

The detective shook his head, "Where is Mr. Peters?"

"He went get some cleaning supplies for the deck and probably won't be back for awhile. Do you want to wait? I could make some coffee or something. I also just picked up some chocolate cake at the deli?" Penny offered.

"That'd be very nice, thank you." Jonathan answered realizing that neither he nor his colleagues had eaten lunch, and he guessed that Penny had probably heard his stomach grumbling.

Penny stood up and went into the kitchen. For some reason, she didn't want to mention where exactly Sharon was, simply because she didn't know if she could trust them. There was something 'rough around the edges' about two of them, but the third, the one who introduced himself as Adam seemed to be more concerned with Sharon and her family than he was with catching a criminal. Sighing deeply, she closed her eyes for a moment. She realized that although, she wasn't married to Steven, she had no right to say anything about this to them. Besides that, even though they said they worked with the police, she didn't know them and felt that if they were going to contact anyone about this, they should talk to Brenda or Steven, and not just to their daughter.

She poured some coffee into the filter and set it inside the machine. Next, she poured some water into the machine and replaced the lid to the coffee can. She turned the machine on and returned to the living room.

"The coffee will be ready in a few minutes." She sat down across from them.

"Maybe you can help us," Jonathan said. "Do you know anything about a man with long blonde hair, and green eyes that's been hanging around here?"

As he asked her this question, Penny couldn't help but notice that a shadow seemed to cross Adam's handsome face. Ignoring this, she looked at them. "No, nothing, why? Is he dangerous?"

Jonathan nodded solemnly. "He could be; it's hard to tell for sure."

"And you think that Sharon is involved with or concealing information?" Penny stifled her laughter.

"Ms. Higgins, this is not a laughing matter, a witness said they saw a man who resembled this description talking to Sharon last night on the beach," Jonathan answered. "The neighbors called us after the young woman was slain, and we came out here to investigate. I assure you that this is a very serious matter, and not something to laugh about."

"I'm sorry, I just find it hard to believe that Sharon would be involved with 'wanted people'. She's a good kid, kind of introverted, but a nice girl." Penny offered, but after a few minutes, her gaze met the gray eyes of the Angel of Death. "She's not in any kind of trouble, is she?"

"Not that we know of, we'd just like to talk to her and find out what she saw, if she saw anything peculiar last night," Adam answered as a loud beeping sound could be heard from in the kitchen.

"Please excuse me, that's the timer, the coffee's ready," Penny walked into the kitchen and poured the coffee into four cups, grabbed a tray and returned to the living room. She handed each of them a cup and took a plate with some cake off the tray and sat it in front of them. "Is Sharon in any danger, Detective Mason?"

"I don't want to make you afraid or worried, Ms. Higgins, but there is something about this case that just doesn't add up, and if your friend's daughter did see something last night, she could be in grave danger. The murderer is still on the loose, we have two suspects in mind, one being the boyfriend, the other this man in beige," Jonathan answered taking a sip of his coffee. "We believe that we can capture Hawkins, but the other man remains at large, and we don't know who he is or where he comes from."

As Jonathan finished speaking, she could see another shadow cross Adam's face, and she looked at him. "Are you OK?"

"I'm fine," Adam said trying to smile, but instead, took a long sip of the coffee and returned the mug to the coffee table. The Angel of Death watched as Penny picked up a fork, took the plate with the cake on it, and stabbed at it.

"Is Sharon the type of person who would keep things to herself?" Chance asked.

"Well, she's very quiet, but she also knows when she should say something and when she shouldn't." Penny offered. "I guess you could say she's very tactful."

Jonathan nodded and sat his empty coffee cup on the tray. "Thank you for the coffee, Ms. Higgins, we won't take anymore of your time. Please give Mr. Peters this card, it has the number to the precinct house on it." He stood up and motioned to the other two men, who followed suit.

Outside they got into the car, "I want the telephone line tapped," Jonathan said and Chance nodded. "I need to find out where exactly Sharon Peters is. She's the only lead we have and without her words, we could be like a dog chasing its tail."

"OK," Chance started the car, and drove in the direction of the San Diego Police Department.

*****

Penny was left standing in the doorway of the beach house as the three men drove away. She held the card and a pad of paper in her hand. A six-digit number was scrawled on it depicting the license plate number of their car. She sighed deeply, "Steven, I'm so glad you bought a portable phone last weekend," she muttered under her breath as she went back inside the house and closed the door.

She grabbed a roll of quarters off the table, and went to retrieve her jacket. Sometimes she wondered if she was paranoid, but she didn't trust people, and she intended to make sure that the telephone at her boyfriend's house would not be used for at least a week.

Once outside, she locked the door, went down the street to the pay phone and called Steven's portable phone number. "Steven, something weird is going on," Penny said concern in her voice once he answered the phone.

"What?" Steven asked.

"These three guys came by the house this afternoon and asked me a bunch of questions about Sharon." Penny answered. "I think something very odd is going on, I don't trust them."

"Where are you, Penny?" Steven asked.

"I walked down the street to the pay phone," she answered. "I was afraid to call from the house. You know my brother works for the State Troopers and I guess I'm a little paranoid."

"Yeah, that's probably smart," Steven said and she could hear other people's voices coming through the line.

Penny relayed the information she had gotten from the three men to Steven and waited for him to say something else to her. When he didn't she finished by telling him that she had written down their license plate number, and also had the card Mason had given her.

"You're saying that they were asking questions about Sharon?" Steven's voice shadowed concern.

"Yes," Penny answered as she coiled the phone cord around her hand, and when she looked up, she could see that Brad Hawkins was coming in her direction from the other end of the street. Seeing him made a jolt of electricity curse through her, and she waited until he had walked past her. When he turned around and looked at her, she could feel her face loosing all its color. "Steven, I'm worried, I mean; don't think it's safe to go to Sharon right now. I know that she's having a difficult time dealing with moving and all, but if she saw something last night, then you'd think she'd have said something to us about it."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Steven said softly. "Look, if we hear from them again, I'll call Brenda and let her know what is going on, but until then, keep the card, and we'll go by the station and inquire about those guys. Try not to worry."

"What about the phone?" Penny asked.

"We just won't answer the phone there for about a week. Besides, most of our friends have my cell phone number anyway, so if they can't reach me at the house, they contact me that way." He paused, "don't worry about it. It's probably nothing."

"I hope you're right, but I'm a bit afraid for Sharon." Penny said.

"I am too," Steven answered honestly. "I hope she's handling everything OK." He said and after a pause, he continued, "Listen, the store's about to close, so I'll be home soon and we can discuss everything then."

"OK," Penny answered and hung up the phone. As she came out of the booth, she could see that Brad was now standing at the front door of their beach front home and she sighed deeply realizing that there was no way to get inside without having to go by him. She could see the sneer that covered the man's face, and she remembered what the detective had said earlier. Sighing deeply, she retraced her steps, and pulled the detective's card from her pocket.

When she reached the telephone once again, she dialed the emergency number and waited for an operator to pick up the line. Once she did, Penny spoke, her voice filled with nervousness.

"Yes, could you please send the police?" Penny asked as she once again glanced down the street and could see that Brad had left the house and was now coming down the street in her direction. "Please hurry," Penny managed to gasp, and left the phone hanging as she ran down the street away from Brad, and her face was filled with fear as she rounded a corner and ran straight into someone.

Looking up, she could see that Adam was standing there looking down at her.

"Oh thank God," she whispered. "You have to help me…"

"It's OK," Adam whispered as he wrapped her in his arms. "You're safe now."

"Brad Hawkins was after me," Penny gasped.

"He wants to know where Sharon is, doesn't he? I guess he thinks you know," Adam said gently. "Come with me."

As they made her way back towards the house, she sighed deeply. "I thought this was all a joke, Adam, but then I saw Brad standing in front of the house, he was looking in, and before he saw me, I went back down the street to make the phone call. I thought…" She took a deep breath.

"That we were joking with you?" Adam asked as he shook his head. "No, I wish we were, but everything that has happened did, and it's very serious Ms. Higgins."

"Call me Penny, that's what everyone calls me anyway," she said as she felt his hand on her shoulder and she felt a little calmer about it all. "Adam, Sharon really saw something last night, didn't she…I mean; that's why Brad Hawkins has been hanging around Steven's house."

"I'm afraid she did," Adam said gently as the two other men came running towards them.

"Good, you found her," Jonathan said. "Ms. Higgins, are you OK?"

"Yes, but what about Brad Hawkins, were you able to catch him?" She asked as an involuntary shudder crept up her spine.

"No, I'm sorry, he gave us the slip," Jonathan said softly.

Penny sighed deeply, now, after speaking with Adam, she had a nagging feeling inside her about the entire situation. Talking to Adam about this did little to reassure her. Her mind drifted back to the conversation that she and Sharon had that morning.

"Adam, we want you to stay with Ms. Higgins," Jonathan instructed, "and if anything happens, beep me, you have the number."

The Angel of Death nodded and watched as the two men went and got into their car and drove away. Sighing deeply, he looked at her. "The sooner I get you out of sight, the safer you're going to feel."

Penny nodded gratefully, but looked at Adam as though she had just jumped into the middle of a James Bond film. "Why do I get the strange feeling that I'm in a bad action movie?"

Adam shook his head sympathetically. "Perhaps because it does feel that way."

"I guess I owe you an apology," she said softly.

"No you don't, I knew that you didn't believe us when we told you, but sometimes things happen that seem more unbelievable than real."

Penny nodded acknowledging the truth in his words.

*****

"Sharon Peters," said the Assistant Principal on Monday morning when the teenager, "welcome to Franklin High School. Here is your schedule, and your other information."

"Thank you, Tess," she took the small piece of paper and put it in the folder that she had received when she entered the cramped office. Brenda sat beside her waiting for the meeting to end so she could head downtown to her office.

"Well, that's all, Dr. Peters, thank you for coming in with Sharon this morning." The woman stood up and shook Brenda's hand and then shook Sharon's.

Sighing deeply, Sharon left the cramped office, and made her way down the hallway. Her mother followed until she reached the door, which would lead outside. "See you later, Honey, have a good day. Do you want me to pick you up after school?"

"No, I'd rather walk, it's only a few blocks, right?" Sharon said.

"Yes." Brenda looked down at her watch. "Then, I'll see you tonight." She opened the door, which would lead outside and turned around to face Sharon one last time. "Bye, Honey."

"Bye, Mom." Sharon called out as her mother exited through the door and it was closing. She made her way back down the hallway, the map of the school held tightly in one hand, her schedule and locker number in the other. She sighed deeply, she truly felt as though she was on her own.

After about ten minutes of looking, she finally found her locker, and opened it. She put the map, her schedule and locker information in the small folder, and stuffed everything else inside the locker.

"Hey, I was hoping I'd run into you," a voice called out, and she looked up. Monica was standing in the hallway and she was looking at the teenager as she stood in front of the rows of lockers.

"Hi," she said shyly, glad that Monica had managed to find her in this large school.

"Did you get your schedule and everything?" Monica asked gently.

"Yes, I just came from the Assistant Principal's office." She looked down at her schedule, "right now I have English," she opened the folder and pulled out the schedule.

"Really? May I see? Perhaps you're in my class," Monica said as Sharon handed the schedule to her, and she looked down at it. Sure enough, Sharon was assigned in Monica's English class. "Sharon, is something wrong, you look as though you have a lot on your mind?"

"I guess I do," she answered honestly. "This is the first time I've ever been to a new school in a new town and I miss my friends." Sharon said softly.

"Don't worry, everything's going to be OK." Monica smiled gently. "Sometimes, change is a good thing."

"Perhaps, but I miss my friends, Monica, I miss the chance to walk on the beach and to see the sunlight reflecting on the water."

"It's hard to have two people fighting over you isn't it?" Monica asked.

"How do you know?"

"Well, you know when people get divorced, life changes not just for them, but also for their children," Monica said softly.

"I guess, but that's really not what I've been thinking about," she said softly.

"What is it?" The Irish angel asked gently.

"I don't know, I mean, sometimes I think I'm going out of my mind," Sharon said softly.

"Don't you have anyone to talk to about this stuff?" Monica asked gently. "Like one of your parents, or a close friend."

She sighed deeply. "You know, it's weird you would mention this, because I wish I could talk to my dad about it. I used to be able to, but now, things are so different that I really don't know what I could tell him. I mean the other night..." her voice trailed and she sighed deeply, "I mean, he's San Diego, and he's more like a friend than my dad. We used to have so much fun together. Then he and my mom were fighting each other for me in a messy custody battle." Sharon looked at Monica who nodded sympathetically.

"Go on," she said softly. "It sounds to me like you really need a friend."

"My parents both wanted me to live with them, but nobody bothered to ask me what I wanted. The lawyers, my parents, not even the judge asked, they all simply assumed what was best. But moving here wasn't the best, and I told my dad's girlfriend, Penny. She was the only person who could see what this was doing to me. She gave me this necklace before I left because she knew how much I love the seaside." Sharon brushed a tear away from her cheek but not before Monica had seen it.

Sighing deeply, the teenager continued. "My mom is OK, but she and I are like oil and water. I mean I got to the apartment on Saturday after we met at the planetarium, and she had an interior designer in there and my room looks awful. White carpet, and a baby pink bedspread with itchy lace. I sound ungrateful, but it's just not me."

"Your mom sounds like someone who still thinks they have a small child rather than a teenager." Monica offered honestly not adding that she could see Andrew standing some feet away and the Angel of Death was holding his neck and making gagging sounds and when Monica cracked a smile, Andrew gave her a sheepish grin and shrugged his shoulders. Seconds later, they reached the classroom and went inside.

Sharon nodded as Monica opened the door and they went inside, "Yeah, that's it exactly. I lived with my dad for about two years during their separation, and it was really great. I spent every evening at the seaside. I could sit for hours and watch the moon reflecting off the water. My father used to call me his little mermaid, because I was always sitting outside. When I got to the apartment, the first thing I did was open the window and turn off the air conditioner."

Monica smiled gently. "You and your mother seem to have your radios on, but tuned into different stations."

Sharon nodded, "no kidding."

*****

At the end of the school day, Sharon came outside to see Monica exiting the building at the other end of the courtyard. When Monica waved, Sharon returned the gesture and the teenager ran over to her English teacher.

"Hey," Sharon offered.

"Hi, how did it go?" Monica asked.

"OK, the classes are fine, but I miss my friends, and it's not so easy to be in this place and have everyone staring at 'the new kid'."

Monica smiled gently. "What are you going to do now?" She asked after a few moments had passed.

"I'm going home," Sharon said. "My mom said that it was OK for me to walk home, that it's not that far."

"Do you usually walk to school?" Monica asked.

"Yes, usually, just because I don't like the busses too much, they're really uncomfortable. When I was living in San Diego, I never took the bus, and the school was further away than it is here," Sharon said.

"Do you mind if I walk with you, I don't live too far from here either, a few blocks, actually," Monica offered.

"No, I don't mind, my mom's apartment is right across the street from the large park." Sharon answered as they walked through the courtyard of the school and made their way across the parking lot. As they walked, Monica took a deep breath and smiled.

"It's a beautiful day, don't you think?" Monica said softly.

"Yes, I guess so," Sharon said softly.

"Why don't we go to the park?" Monica suggested. "I have some essays to grade, and I thought maybe the sunshine and warm air will do us both some good."

Sharon nodded, she was very glad that the angel had made this suggestion because the thought of going back to her mother's empty apartment didn't appeal to her at all.

Towards the end of the street stood a small Chinese restaurant. They walked inside and each bought a can drink and left. "You know, it's kind of funny, but a lot of people get the idea that big cities are large and unfriendly, but you get used to living in a certain area, and then the rest of the city seems like a new and unfamiliar place, but that area becomes home."

Sharon nodded as Monica seemed to pick out the same thoughts going through her mind. "You know, I like having places to go and hang out. The last night that I was in San Diego, I met with some friends and we went to the movies. It's weird because I never had trouble making friends, and now I'm here, and it feels like that's what I have to do." She took a deep breath. "I mean; I lived my whole life in San Diego. I told you that my dad has this beach house. But, aside from the beach, it was great. The movie theater was about a mile away; I could walk there and meet my friends. There was also a small restaurant where we used to hang out, they had the best milkshakes in the world." As she spoke, Monica could see the traces of homesickness in the girl, but she also could tell that Sharon was avoiding speaking of that which was really important.

Sighing deeply, Monica pointed to a row of apartment buildings. "My friends and I live over there, apartment 24."

Sharon nodded, noting the number Monica had given to her. She liked her, and even if she was a teacher, she was definitely interesting. Sighing deeply, her mind drifted to the planetarium and the exhibition Monica had seen. Finally, Sharon glanced over at her as she opened her drink. "How was the exhibition at the planetarium?"

"It was really interesting," Monica offered smiling. "It was called 'Jupiter and the Comets'. I liked it a lot, but I think it has something to do with my interest in Astronomy and what's out there in God's great big universe."

"Do you believe in God, Monica?" Sharon asked as they reached the park and sat down in the warm grass. She tossed her notebook on the ground and reached over to take off her shoes. "I mean; most of the people I know don't really talk about God, or religion, all that much."

"I believe in God," Monica said smiling gently at the teen