Halos & Horns

What Happens In Vegas...

It was only a small office in downtown Las Vegas, but the rent was cheap and the landlord didn't ask any questions, as long as it was paid on time. The frosted glass pane in the office door bore the words "Horn & Cypher, Private Investigators." Lucifer had wanted top billing but Gabriel had argued if anyone should get "top" billing it should be an angel, especially since demons are naturally bottom-dwellers. Lucifer relented, rationalizing he was the only one with real horns anyway, so in effect he still got top billing. Vegas was a good place for an angel and a demon on the run to hide out. Even the flashiest attention seekers blended into the background in a city filled with tourists and bright lights but never a "closed" sign to be seen.

"We only have two light bulbs in this entire office. How can our electric bill be this high with all the lights in this city?" Gabriel asked.

"If you didn't run the air conditioning day and night..." Lucifer began.

"I have to. It's hot as hell in here."

"Not really. It was only 104 degrees today. We call that 'winter' back in Hell."

Gabriel sneered.

"You take these mortal ... 'bills' ... too seriously, Gabriel."

"I can't expect a demon to understand the concept of personal responsibility," Gabriel replied. "But what do you intend to do when the electric company shuts off our lights?"

Lucifer flicked his fingers and hundreds of tiny incandescent flames illuminated the small room. "Your point?"

"Lucifer! Are you trying to get us caught? You know the minute we use our powers either your people or mine can hone in on us."

"Relax, do you think we're a top priority back home? Sooner or later, the powers that be will look for us in earnest, and no amount of subterfuge will fool them. But in the meantime ..."

"In the meantime, we agreed to keep a low profile. That means ditch the mini flames."

Lucifer snapped his fingers again and the flames vanished. "You're only cranky because we haven't had a paying client in three months."

"You're right," Gabriel admitted. "It's hard to keep up this mortal facade when you and I are the only ones in this office day after day."

"When you first suggested the idea of posing as private eyes, I imagined there would be a knock at our office door and a beautiful brunette would walk in, wearing a mink stole and smoking a cigarette in a long cigarette holder and..." Lucifer's reverie was interrupted by a knock on the office door. He bolted out of his chair and straightened his jacket. "Is my glamour all right?"

"You look as human as I do," Gabriel replied. "But not even a glamour will make you attractive to a female mortal; better let me do the talking."

"Go play with your halo," Lucifer replied. "Come in," he shouted.

The office door creaked open, and a hooded figure hesitantly entered the room. Gabriel found himself wishing he had not forced Lucifer to get rid of his mini flames, as in the dim light it was hard to make out more detail than the visitor's hooded windbreaker. The figure stepped closer and removed the hood, revealing a balding, and unattractive, middle-aged man.

"Fine, you do the talking," Lucifer whispered to Gabriel.

"Are you gentlemen Horn & Cypher?" The man's face was covered in sweat, which Gabriel attributed to wearing a windbreaker in the desert heat.

Gabriel stepped forward and offered his hand. "I'm Gabe Horn and this is my partner, Lou Cypher, at your service."

"It's a good thing your office is so close to Fremont Street. I don't think I could have walked much further."