Kate was on her way to the conference room to meet with Azazel and Superintendent Ramsey when she was intercepted by Monica.

“Hey, do you have a second?”

“Monica, hi. Yes, what is it?”

“I just wanted to get your input on the reward I am supposed to ask for. What do you think about a home for me… and maybe… Laura… uhm… you do know that we… you can read minds, why am I even asking.”

“I know about your mutual feelings for each other, yes. And I do think asking us to ensure you both have a place to call home is a good idea. But you have to know what you want, if you ask us for an apartment, that’s what you will get.”

“I have some vague ideas but I need to talk to Laura again. I wanted to surprise her with your answer if you said yes.”

“And I do say yes. Azazel already said that you can ask for pretty much anything. The favour you are doing us is immense. I would even say that we would agree to basically sponsor the rest of your life just for helping us free Lilith.”

“That might be a bit much.”

“I don’t think so. Best to talk to Azazel though, she might have some good input. But I can at least agree to getting you both a home.”

“That is super awesome already, thank you so much.”

“It is what you deserve.”

“If you excuse me, I have news to tell Laura.”

“And I have a meeting to attend. If you are still here afterwards, Azazel is here today as well. Might be a good time to talk to her.”

“Right. See you after the meeting then.”

“See you later.”

With that, the two women parted ways again.

 

Inside the conference room, Azazel and Ramsey had been waiting.

“Ah, miss Crowley, we can finally begin then.” Ramsey sounded a bit impatient.

“Apologies for the delay, I had some actually important things to deal with. Now, why are you here again?” Kate sat down. While she didn’t plan to go into this conversation with open hostility, the human's opening remark had begged for a less than nice response.

“The Null Dagger. It is RICA property and I would like it to be returned to us.”

“Then I must inform you that the dagger is currently in Hell and has been secured by Pandemonium personnel until it is properly and safely stored in the vaults of Naraka. It was decided that we will not return it.”

“Excuse me?”

Azazel answered this time. “We deemed it best to keep an item that evades our detection and can cause magical issues in our possession. You are aware that the Treaty of Celestis does not grant you the right to own any magical objects and that what you currently have in your possession is merely tolerated by us?”

“Much to my chagrin, I am well aware. I hope that you both are aware that shows of good faith, like handing us the dagger, would improve our cooperation in the future.”

“Do you really not understand that you are negotiating with two mind readers, Ramsey? You want the dagger to have something to show to your boss and eventually get his position. Besides, the fact that you are cozying up with angels makes us weary of cooperating with you in the first place.”

Kate hadn’t known that last part, it wasn’t really surprising though. Someone like Ramsey just felt like the type of suck up to anyone who could get him into positions of importance.

He scoffed. “We are a neutral party in your cold war and will deal with anyone we see fit. Our loyalty is with this country and not some outside power.” He was actually sincere with that statement.

“Admirable, but you also understand that the same fact stands for us. It is in our best interest to keep the dagger out of human hands.”

“Do you at least have something to report on how Patrick Vandermeer got it in the first place? The least you can do is offer us something to improve our security.”

“I’m afraid there is nothing to improve.” Azazel shook her head. “We have previously notified you about an entity calling herself Jolene. She retrieved the dagger from your people and handed it to Vandermeer.”

Ramsey rubbed his hands up and down his face. “Just to fuck with us or what?”

“She had a reason that we are not at liberty to disclose. I can only tell you that it is Inquisitorium business and of utmost importance.”

“How frustrating. Looks like I have to return to my bosses empty handed.”

“Not entirely. Previously we forbade the permanent posting of a RICA agent in this city. As our new head librarian can attest, agent Clementine Muller proved to be rather beneficial to our cause and will be allowed as a permanent observe and liaison in this city.”

“Not who I would have picked for that position, but it is something I can present back at the office. Even without giving us the dagger, this is an appreciated gesture. Thank you.”

“We will draft up an amendment to our treaty with you to formalize this gesture. Unless you have anything else to discuss, we are done here.”

“No. I will be going now. Have a pleasant day.” Ramsey got up, nodded politely and left the room.

Azazel sighed and turned to Kate. “I am not happy about his involvement with the angels.”

“Did you catch which one he has contact with?”

“One of Gabriel’s court, Matriel. I don’t know him personally, but during the first two wars he was leader of the guard of Celestis. Athena told me that is a rather reserved person and a skilled negotiator.”

“That last part sounds like trouble.”

“It sure does. We need to keep an eye on them. Anyway, Clementine and Monica are waiting for you in the library, you should go talk to them. I have to start drafting up some paperwork.”

Kate got up. “Good luck. I’ll see you later for dinner?”

“Definitely. Wouldn’t want to miss our library chef’s curry.”

 

Kate ran into Clementine first. The RICA agent was browsing some newspapers on a shelf near the backroom door.

“Clementine, hey.”

“Ah, I was hoping to catch you.”

“Same. I have some good news for you.”

“Let’s start with those then.”

“We agreed to offer you a permanent posting as our liaison here in the city. Ramsey agreed.”

“Oh, I’ll gladly accept. That makes what I wanted to say a moot point, actually. I just wanted to tell you how nice it was to work with you, even if I didn’t end up that useful, and that I hoped to maybe work with you again in the future, but that seems to be a sure thing now.”

“It is. And I look forward to working with you more as well. Especially now that I am head librarian.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Got a little promotion.”

“Congratulations! You deserve it.”

“Well, thank you. You deserve the indirect promotion to liaison too.”

“It’s very sweet of you to offer that, thank you.”

“We aren’t here to make enemies. A lot of people sadly don’t understand that. You’re going to make a great contact and hopefully a good friend.”

“That would be the best outcome. I, for one, am certainly optimistic.”

“I am too. Now, I need to tend to another human friend. If you need anything you know where to find me.”

“Of course. Have a lovely day.”

“Thanks, you too!”

 

“So, Monica, any ideas about your home?”

“I thought that maybe you have specialists who know a lot about homes and I could ask to see one of those.”

Kate nodded. “The one I tasked with the design for my home will be busy in the near future, but she isn’t the only architect we have. But yea, it’s a good idea and I can send one in your direction.”

“That would be lovely, thank you.”

“Besides that, I would like you to get a more immediate reward too.”

“I don’t know if it’ll be possible, but I want you to show Laura that pretty place we went with those red trees. She only knows your world as something scary and intimidating and I know that that’s not true. I want her to know that and maybe have a small souvenir to remind us both of that.”

“I will have to clear with the High Inquisitor, but I should be able to get you both a tour of Hell’s nicest places. As for the souvenir, I am sure I can come up with something lovely.”

“That would be incredible of you, thank you so much.”

“My pleasure. And once again: thank you. I cannot overstate how much your upcoming work means to us.”

“No pressure then.” Monica chuckled.

“Just the hopes of an entire civilisation on your shoulders, nothing much at all.” Kate grinned.