“You know he’s a mook, right?”

“What’s that?”

“He’s dead, but he still dresses and talks like he’s got Donald Trump jammed up his ass.”

Qaphsiel steepled his fingers together. “Interesting. I’ve never tried to track a revenant before. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?”

Coop poured black coffee into a cup and looked for the sugar. “I like the nothing ventured part. The other sounds like a lot of work.”

Qaphsiel came into the kitchen and put his hand out. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Coop. Good luck on whatever you choose. I hope we meet again someday.”

“Yeah. Me, too,” said Coop, shaking Qaphsiel’s hand. “But you’re still going to blow up the world if you find the box, aren’t you?”

Qaphsiel nodded. “I’m afraid so. I can’t take a chance on losing it again. All the more reason you and Ms. Giselle should be nice to each other. You never know when . . .” He made an explosion sound with his mouth.

“You angels really are cheery fuckers. See you around. This life or the next.”

Qaphsiel quietly let himself out of the apartment. He didn’t want to show how excited he was inside because it might hurt Coop’s feelings. Coming this close to the box and losing it had hurt. But having it on the loose again, it made him feel like it was out in the world just for him. All he had to do now was figure out how to track a dead man. He’d stake out a place in Griffith Park and get straight to work.

A ringing woke the Dark High Magister. He looked around, annoyed, wondering what the hell those Red Lobster bastards down the block were doing ringing bells this early in the morning.

Something rang again, and it wasn’t outside. It was in his pocket. He took out his phone and pushed the button to answer.

“Hello?” someone said.

“Hello?” said the Magister.

“It’s me. Coral Snake.”

“Carol? I don’t know any Carols. Are you sure you have the right number?”

“It’s me. Coral Snake. It’s my code name,” whispered the voice.

“That’s silly. What kind of code name is Carol?”

Louder, the voice said, “It’s me. Tommy from the Caleximus congregation.”

Idiot, thought the Magister. “Why didn’t you just say so? Why did you waste my time with that Carol nonsense?”

“Coral. C-O-R-A-L Snake. It’s the code name we talked about so no one would know I was talking to you.”

“I don’t remember that.”

There was a pause on the line. “Maybe this was a mistake.”

“No, Carol. Don’t go,” said the Magister quickly. “Do you have any information for us?”

“Well, we don’t know where the box is yet.”

Double idiot, he thought. Why did he ever make a deal with this kid? “What about this Craig you were looking for?”

“Coop.”