“The dead is a Virtue,” Ybarra said into the sudden quiet, his voice carrying. “That’s why they’ve come. And the accused is a Fallen.” He meant Mariel, and Celeste wanted to shout that her sister had a name, and someone who loved her, but what would Ybarra care? He spread his hands, as if the crowd had to understand his dilemma. As if there could be no other way.

“Will she hang?”

Celeste glared at the woman who’d asked it, an older Elect lady wearing costume devil wings.

Ybarra shook his head. “The Order of Chamuel will decide that, not me. Now, go on home and get some sleep. Leave justice to God.”

He mounted his own horse, a modest bay, and gestured to the Virtues. As one, they turned their horses and cantered down Perdition, fading into the night, with the sheriff following. The last thing Celeste saw of them was the light of the Azrael’s fiery sword.

“I’m going after them,” she said, but even as she said it, she had no idea where they’d gone and no horse to get her there. The Virtues didn’t loiter on Main Street or advertise a secret lair up in the mountains. Their comings and goings were mysterious, and since they kept their identities secret, it was hard to track them down.

Hypatia was thinking more clearly. “Go home, Celeste. I’ve got some favors I can call in. I’ll find out where they’ve taken her and what comes next.”

“What comes next?” she shouted. Her outburst drew eyes, but she didn’t care. “You know better than anyone that if a Virtue has been murdered, they’ll make someone pay, and that someone is going to be Mariel. That’s what’s next!”

Hypatia folded her arms over her chest, unmoved, but Celeste could tell by the way Hypatia chewed at her lip that she was worried.

“I’ve got to do something!” she pleaded. “Please!”

“I know you do.” Hypatia’s voice was calm, but there was a thread of fear there.

“Can’t leave justice up to God,” Zeke added morosely.

He and Hypatia exchanged a look. They knew as well as Celeste did.

God’s justice always ended in blood.

CHAPTER 4

At Hypatia’s request, Zeke walked Celeste back to the ladies’ boardinghouse where she and Mariel rented a room. He offered to sit with her in the parlor until they heard word from Hypatia, but Celeste was worried that Zeke’s presence would only lead to questions from her landlady, so she declined. No doubt, Mrs. Ruth would find out about Mariel’s arrest soon enough, but Celeste was hopeful she could find a few hours of sleep before facing her landlady’s outrage over the scandal.

“Promise me you won’t go rushing off to find Mariel on your own?” Zeke said.