NINE
It was another two weeks before Angelique came to see Cole. She walked up to the house instead of using magic. Cole introduced her as his cousin who had come for a visit. Then they went up to his room above the garage.
"Here you go," said Angelique, handing Cole a potion vial. "It was expensive extracting the poison from the bolts. I've never done anything like this before so I really didn't know how much it was going to be."
"That's okay," said Cole, "it's worth whatever it cost. Believe it or not this is going to gain me all the respect I need in the underworld."
"By killing a White Lighter?" Angelique asked.
"Who said I wanted to kill a White Lighter?" Cole asked, smiling coyly.
"What else?" Angelique asked. "The poison isn't good for anything else. It's only toxic to White Lighters. So if you want the poison you must need it for a White Lighter."
"Not exactly," said Cole. "But it will come in handy. Now, for the more immediate problem. You're clear on what I want done?"
"Completely," said Angelique. "I'm still not clear on why you don't do this yourself? Why have me do it?"
"Because," said Cole, "there's bound to be an investigation. Just in case there's any question about whether it was an accident or not I need an ironclad alibi. I need there to be no indication that I was involved."
"Clever," said Angelique. "You think of everything."
"Almost," said Cole. "Once I save Wilhelm and Gretchen I still haven't figured out a way to get him to give me what I need. I can't just come out and ask for it. That would be too obvious. In fact, I need to figure out a way for him to offer it to me."
"Maybe I can help," said Angelique. "I'm sure I can come up with something."
"Thanks," said Cole. "I could use your help on this. It's the only part of my plan I haven't been able to work out."
"I'll think of something," said Angelique, smiling seductively at Cole. "In the mean time what about a down payment on what you owe me?"
"Really," said Cole, smiling back, "you're supposed to be my cousin."
"What? You've never heard of kissing cousins? Besides, I won't tell if you don't"
Cole just laughed and then kissed Angelique passionately. Her teasing was quickly lost in their kiss.
It was another week before Cole put his plan into action. The timing had to be impeccable. Cole would be at the college taking a test when Angelique did her part. It was very simple. She would sneak into the cellar of the house and cause the furnace to malfunction. While Wilhelm and Gretchen were in the house alone the gas from the furnace should overcome them rendering them unconscious.
Cole would come home from his test just in time to "discover" the gas leak and pull Wilhelm and Gretchen out of the house. Cole will have effectively saved both of their lives. In gratitude he was hoping to figure out some way to get Wilhelm to give him the book.
The timing was the important part. If he arrived too early they wouldn't be in danger of dying. If he arrived too late they might actually die and ruin his chances of getting the book. He had timed it carefully. If he was right he should arrive just in time to pull them from the house just in time to save their lives.
His choice of the method had been very carefully plotted. There were reports coming in from soldiers and survivors of the war about huge concentration camps where enemies of the Third Reich had been murdered. And there were reports that the Nazi's has gassed thousands of Jews to death in those camps.
By saving Wilhelm and Gretchen from death by gas asphyxiation it would strike very close to home. Undoubtedly many of Wilhelm's family had died in some of those very same gas chambers. It would just reinforce his gratitude that Cole had saved them.
The test went pretty much as Cole had expected. Actually, he was enjoying the classes very much. He was learning a great deal and he seemed to do well in them. Some of his professors had told him that his choice to become a lawyer had been the right one.
As Cole walked home he was wondering about the Strauss'. He genuinely liked them. For humans, they weren't too bad. Of course, they were simply a means to an end. Fodder for his plan to become a member of the Brotherhood. Once in the Brotherhood he would be respected. And he could rise even further in the demonic hierarchy. As he walked past an empty house, Angelique stepped out from behind the house.
"What are you doing here?" Cole asked. "Was there a problem with the plan?"
"Not exactly," said Angelique. "I think you miscalculated the amount of gas escaping from the furnace. I think you need to get home right away. Before too much gas escapes from the furnace."
Cole looked around. It was getting dark out. And no one seemed to be around. He decided that he could risk shimmering back to the house. If he were too late his plans to get the book would be ruined. Together he and Angelique returned immediately to the Strauss' home.
Cole immediately smelled the gas as he shimmered into the house. He coughed a couple of times. The gas couldn't really hurt him. His demonic constitution would protect him to a degree. But his human half would still cause him some problems.
He saw Wilhelm and Gretchen sitting in their usual places. Wilhelm was sitting in his chair with a book and Gretchen was on the sofa with her knitting. Except that both appeared to be asleep. Cole knew better. The gas had overcome them. He had to get them out of the house immediately.
He picked up Gretchen and carried her out and laid her on the lawn outside. As he did he noticed one of the neighbors walking their dog. The man normally walked his dog at this time of night.
"Call the police," Cole called out. "There's a gas leak in the house."
Not waiting for a response Cole turned and hurried back into the house. He scooped Wilhelm up into his arms and headed for the front door. He was curious where Angelique was. She hadn't appeared with him in the house. He couldn't figure out where she was. He couldn't worry about that now. He had to get Wilhelm out of the house.
He carried Wilhelm out and laid him on the ground next to Gretchen. Several of the neighbors were beginning to come over to the house. In the distance Cole could hear sirens. Apparently the neighbor had called the police just as he had asked.
One of the Strauss' neighbors was a doctor at the local hospital. He began to check Wilhelm and Gretchen over carefully. Cole stood watching the man. He was getting worried. In the fresh air they should have started to come around. But neither was moving. Cole watched as he thought all of his carefully laid plans had all gone to waste.