Bayliss sipped her margarita. “I told him that it broke when Salzman was killed. I got a few pieces of the fake box that broke when the angels were fighting.”

“And Woolrich brought that story?”

“I think he was just happy to have the box gone and not his responsibility anymore,” she said. “On the other hand, he hated paying for all the damages at Jinx Town.”

“Boo-hoo,” said Coop. “If they want the story covered up, they get to pay for it.”

Giselle sipped her beer and said, “What no one can figure out is what happened to the big fish thing and the boar.”

“That’s easy,” said Coop. “Go back and check out that dark-floor butcher shop. I guarantee you they’re still having specials on sushi and ribs.”

“That’s a pretty picture. Thanks for putting that in my head,” said Phil.

“You don’t have a head, Phil,” said Bayliss.

“And thank you, boss, for that pep talk. I’m going now.”

One of the DOPS tentacle twins waddled over and said, “Someone’s at the door for you, Coop.”

“Thanks, Jimmy,” Coop said. He and Giselle went to see who it was. They left Bayliss chatting with a scientist whose head was a large ladybug in a bell jar.

Coop wasn’t exactly shocked by what was waiting for him at the door. He was momentarily terrified of divine retribution, but then resigned himself to whatever fate waited for him.

At the door was Qaphsiel, smiling, dressed in a tailored gray suit.

“Look at you,” said Coop. “You look like you’re doing all right for yourself.”

“It’s better than a green Windbreaker,” Qaphsiel said.

“Are you here for any, uh, particular reason?” said Coop a little nervously. “I mean if you want to come in, there’s beer out back and the manta bats are mixing margaritas.”

Qaphsiel shook his head. “No, thanks. I just thought that you might like to know that a certain box is back in Heaven, safe and sound.”

“Really?” said Coop. “And what if someone gets a bug up their ass about destroying the world again?”

“I said it was safe and sound,” said Qaphsiel. “I didn’t say where it was. In fact, no one knows where it is.” He shrugged. “Somehow it got misplaced.”

“And it’s going to stay lost?”

“We, that is Heaven, don’t own the world anymore. Which brings me to the other reason I came by. You don’t know where the deed went, do you? It wasn’t in Raphael’s pocket when we were called home.”

Coop looked at Giselle and back at Qaphsiel. “I guess it got misplaced.”

“Oh, well. These things happen,” said the angel. “Well, I’ll leave you to your friends. Have a nice party.”

“Thanks,” said Coop.

“Have a good trip home,” said Giselle. She closed the door. “And stay there. Please. No more angels.”