Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

whispered, “Shut up for God‟s sake.” He
    handed Kael a mobile phone.
    “A present?” Kael grinned and took the phone. He knew at once what it was.

    Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

    45

    “A secure line. I assume you threw your other phone out. The line was
    disconnected anyway.”
    “I don‟t need a secure line.” But he held on to the phone. “I‟m not an operative
    anymore.”
    “Saunders, you are bored stiff all day. Even teaching your afternoon classes
    does nothing special for you, though I admit you are very good at those. I‟ll bet you
    spend your time waiting for the moment you can be with your young man.”
    “Is that what you bet, Stephen?” It was true. The highlight of his day was
    coming home to Angel and spending the evening with him. He looked forward to
    their weekends. Spending time at the gym together. Going for long runs or taking
    him to the shooting range to teach him how to use different weapons. The rest of his
    time was filled with a hostile energy that always returned quickly even after he had
    exhausted himself with physical exercise or sex.
    “I need you to go to Argentina in the morning. You‟ll be gone thirty-six hours
    at the outside. You‟ll meet your contact at the airport in Buenos Aires. Everything
    is in place. It should go very smoothly.”
    “I‟m not going, and you can give me my fucking language classes back.”
    “You have been replaced. You will not be teaching languages again. Now don‟t
    be an idiot.”
    Kael grabbed him by the elbow and squeezed hard. “Don‟t call me an idiot,
    Stephen.”
    “I apologize,” he said at once. “Those classes were a disaster. Your students
    were terrified of you, and each time I saw you in the cafeteria or the lift, you were so
    tightly wound up you looked ready to kill anyone who stepped in your path. Killing
    calms you down; you know it does. It‟s not just a job to you. It‟s recreation.”
    “Really?” Kael said.
    “Look, Saunders, I know you were supremely well prepared and capable of
    teaching your languages classes. The courses you designed should have gone
    flawlessly. The problem is, you do not like people and they don‟t like you. Had you
    been teaching robots, you would have had them perfectly trained in very short
    order, but you‟re not meant to be around ordinary human beings. You have no
    patience and you have no manners.” He moved a couple of feet to the side, nervously
    watching where Kael‟s hands were, afraid of another smack. But it was all true.
    “Stick to what you do best. You belong in the field. You‟ll be happier, and when
    you‟re happy, your young man will be happy too.”
    “He‟s happy now.”
    “I‟m glad to hear it, but you‟re not.” From his pocket he pulled an envelope.
    “Your airline ticket and visitor‟s visa. Do you still have your passports?”
    “Yes.” Kael walked so fast that Conran had to jog to keep up with him. The
    discrepancy in their heights was at least seven inches, but aside from that, Kael‟s
    fitness level was that of an elite athlete and Conran worked in an office with only
    the occasional game of golf or tennis to keep fit. Kael eyed the envelope. He had

    46
    Fyn Alexander

    been determined last Christmas not to go back into the field. What if he died like
    Misha had? What would happen to Angel then?
    I’m indestructible.
    “Just this one job.” He snatched the envelope from Conran‟s hand and walked
    away, crossing the grass into Pall Mall. The changing of the guard was just
    beginning. Angel loved to walk to the palace to watch them. Kael walked home
    grinning from ear to ear. He felt like doing what Angel did when he was happy—
    jumping up and punching the air.
    I’m an assassin, and I miss my work.

    * * *
    By the time Kael walked into the flat after his afternoon class, he could hardly

    wait to leave for the hit. Angel skipped into the hallways as he always did when
    Kael arrived home, and threw himself at Kael. Kael grabbed him in a tight hug.
    “How‟s my boy?”
    Angel kissed him and took his coat. “I‟m good, Daddy. Dinner‟s in the oven.
    Lasagna, yum!” He licked his lips. “And I have my essay almost done, but it‟s not
    due until Friday. I‟m starving. Are you?”
    “The dinner can wait,” Kael said.
    “Yes, Sir.” Kael admired Angel for always trying to be stoic. Though sometimes
    his boyish needs got the better of him. “Is there something you want to do, Daddy?”
    “Yes, I want you in the