Death Pact by Matt Hilton

Author:Matt Hilton [Hilton, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-NINE

‘It’s the seal of Samyaza,’ Nate confirms with barely a glance at Kylie’s phone screen. He obviously recalls the seal their father branded on his brother’s back. ‘He’s sometimes referred to as Azza or Ouza, if you want a name that’s a bit easier to remember.’

Nate halts in thought. He turns to Emily for confirmation, to ensure she still feels included. ‘Samyaza was purportedly the leader of the band of fallen angels known as the Grigori, or Watchers. You know their story, right?’

‘Yeah,’ Emily says. ‘I certainly do. But you go ahead and explain for the others’ sake.’

Nate ponders how much he should admit to the detectives, and can’t see how he can clam up without it growing apparent he’s hiding something important. Before he can come to a conclusion, Emily steps in and takes the reins. ‘It’s said that the Grigori became consumed with lust for mortal women, and they rebelled against heaven in order to have sex. It was through this consummation of their sinful desires that half-breed children were born, giants called the Nephilim.’

‘Aah, the codename used by one of the suspects we’re monitoring on the dark web,’ Grant clarifies.

‘I’m glad you’re able to keep up,’ says Nate.

‘I must admit, with all these outlandish names, it can get a bit confusing: why didn’t those angels take simpler names like Bill or Ben?’ Grant’s double meaning isn’t lost on any of the others. Nate shakes his head: DCI Openshaw obviously meant Will or Ben?

‘It doesn’t mean that my brother and Nephilim on the web are the same person.’

Grant doesn’t reply; he has made his point already.

‘Let’s wait and see what your Cyber Crime Unit finds out before making further judgement, eh?’ suggests Emily.

Nate glances at her, surprised by her directness. It shouldn’t surprise him, really; she is a civilian and not under similar constraints as Nate. He too is a civilian these days, but Grant Openshaw was once his boss and the dynamic between them is proving difficult to shake. In some respects, the institutionalizing he’d undergone in the police force wasn’t far removed from when he was a member of the Berith cult: he could argue that mainly it was a difference in terminology, but the hierarchy was pretty much the same, and you didn’t argue with your superiors.

Kylie produces a second mobile phone.

‘That’s Will’s?’ Grant asks.

Kylie nods. ‘I loaned it from the custody sergeant.’

This is not proper procedure, and they all know it. Any property seized from a detainee brought into a police station must be recorded, bagged and tagged, and any movement of the property logged and signed for. The phone isn’t in an evidence bag, so in effect they could be accused of breaking the chain of evidence; sure as hell, if there is anything pertinent to their case in the phone’s memory, Kylie and Grant will ensure that the paper trail reflects that everything had been above-board while handling it.

‘I haven’t gone through it yet, but I don’t think we’ll find anything obvious

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