Angel and the Assassin 3: Sins of the Father

the next few days. I’m
    not saying act like we don’t know each other, but it must be a professional relationship,
    especially when others are about.”
    “Yes, Sir.”
    Kael put on his own holster and gun and then his jacket. “Shadow me everywhere
    I go without hanging on my heels, unless I tell you to do something else. Watch me and
    do what I do. We won’t get much sleep, but I’ve got a team, so we can take naps.”
    “Yes, Sir.” Angel donned his jacket and looked at himself again, patting his chest
    where the gun was concealed. Kael attached the PTT to Angel’s shirt collar. “This is a
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    push-to-talk otherwise known as a beam-me-up. You will keep in contact with me at all
    times.”
    “Yes, Sir.”
    “Where’s your iPhone?”
    “In my jeans.”
    “Leave it. You can’t take it on the job. It would not look very professional if you
    were texting friends. And I have my secure line.” He patted the phone at his belt.
    “Now give me a kiss.”
    Angel did not obey at once but looked at him, smiling, for a long moment. Then,
    on tiptoes he kissed Kael tenderly on the lips. “I love you, Daddy.”
    “And I love you. Make me proud. But do not do anything risky. Understood?”
    Angel saluted, making Kael laugh.

    * * * *
    It took about two and a half hours to get from London to Dorneywood in

    Buckinghamshire. The Russian would not be arriving until eight p.m., so Kael had told
    his team to assemble outside the house at three o’clock. They were ready and waiting
    when he got there. With Angel standing unobtrusively beside him, he addressed them.
    “The bobbies are in charge of the grounds, two hundred acres in all. All we really
    need to worry about is the garden immediately around the house and the house itself,
    just like at Downing Street. The house and immediate area are under CCTV outside but
    not inside, but I still want a walkabout once every hour. Check your maps and follow
    exactly the route I marked. You three,” he said, pointing at Mackie, Crosswell, and Ellis,
    “will take turns walking the perimeter of the house. When one is outside, the other two
    will be inside. Talk to each other regularly.” To Thornton he said, “I will be no more
    than a few feet from Romodanovsky except when he’s in private meetings, and then I’ll
    be outside the door. You will shadow the son, Dmitri, and he will probably be with his
    father most of the time so I’ll be seeing a lot of you.”
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    “I see you’ve got the young lady at your side again,” Mackie said with a wink.
    Kael looked at him, his expression hard. “I thought I spoke to you about that last
    time.”
    “Oh yeah, you did. Sorry, sir.” The man shrugged. “It was just a joke. Who’s
    blondie with the fancy specs?”
    “This is Button.” He looked at Angel, who maintained an excellent poker face
    behind his Irlen lenses, giving no betrayal of their intimacy. The sky was clear and there
    was a lot of glare, making it difficult for his boy to see well. “He’s in training. He’ll be
    shadowing me.”
    “Button?” Crosswell, a big man about Kael’s age, chuckled, slapping Angel on the
    back. “Funny name.”
    Angel smiled at him. “It does sound funny on its own. My first name’s Angel.”
    “That’s even worse. And he’s American,” Ellis said. It sounded like an accusation.
    “He’s a British citizen,” Kael told them.
    “He looks too young to be in training with SIS,” Mackie pointed out.
    “Angel’s a child prodigy.” Mattie punched him gently in the shoulder. “Aren’t
    you, mate?” She smiled at Angel and then up at Kael, who returned her smile.
    Mackie raised an eyebrow, glancing at the others.
    Seeing the exchange, Kael said, “These two saved my life last year. So if I’m a bit
    partial to them, that’s the reason.” At his words, Mattie’s small chest puffed out.
    “Oh right,” Mackie said.
    “Should I speak in an English accent to be less obvious, Sir?” Angel sounded very
    serious.
    “I’m not sure it matters,” Kael said.
    In a perfect rendition of Received Pronunciation, Angel said, “I could talk like this
    if you think it would help. I’m really awfully good at it.” Kael burst out laughing while
    the men stared at him in shock.
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    “Bloody hell, sir, I’ve never seen you laugh before,” Mackie said.
    “I don’t think I have either,” Mattie said.