Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

things, there‟s going to be a party or something
    going on this evening.”
    “Will that make it harder to get him out?”
    “It should make it easier. If there‟s a crowd of men, I‟ll blend in. I‟ll speak
    whatever language they are all speaking. We‟ll go back at around ten this evening.
    Until then, do you want to look at the sights in Provins?”
    “Can we?” She was surprised.
    “We‟d be much more conspicuous sitting in a car for hours. Hiding in plain
    sight is far more effective than sneaking into shadowy doorways. We‟re an ordinary
    couple out to have fun.”
    “Just don‟t get too friendly, right?” She threw him a mischievous smile.
    Kael laughed. “I‟d hate to have to restrain you.”
    They spent the remainder of the day wandering around Provins, which even in
    March was busy with tourists. They wandered among foreign and French visitors,
    blending in with the crowd. Kael used the trick he had learned early in his career
    when he needed to go unnoticed. He smiled apologetically and slouched ever so
    slightly, ducking his head and avoiding eye contact. “Don‟t make conversation with
    anyone, even casually,” he told Mattie.
    “I wish I could buy some souvenirs,” Mattie said.
    Kael felt the same. He kept seeing things Angel would like and wanted to buy
    presents for him. “No,” he said without margin. “Partly because we may have to
    abandon the car and partly because you keep your hands free at all times to reach

    Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

    93

    for your weapon. Aside from that, how would you pay? Credit card? Great evidence
    left behind.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    The sky was darkening, and the town was still busy. People wandered the
    streets and sat in bright cafés and bistros. Mattie had not suggested getting food
    again and had not purchased any as they walked. In the main square, Kael walked
    into a bakery and bought a meat pie, a café au lait, and a bottle of water. Outside he
    walked to the market cross and sat down on the stone step. He handed the pie and
    the coffee to Mattie. “That will be your last food until we get home. Enjoy it.”
    “Thank you, sir. Aren‟t you having anything?” she asked.
    He held up the bottle of water and then drained it.
    “You‟re an amazing teacher,” she said quietly. “I have learned so much from
    you in the last eighteen hours.”
    “Don‟t get sentimental about me. I‟m short-tempered and dangerous.”
    “I know that, sir.” She bit into the pie. “This is good. Do you want a bite?”
    “No.” But he was curious about what she had learned. He liked to teach, to
    pass on his skills. He loved the idea of being a mentor to a clever, younger operative,
    as Misha had been to him. It just couldn‟t be Angel. “Tell me what you‟ve learned.”
    Mattie sipped her coffee. “I‟ve watched the way you walked around the town
    this afternoon. You‟re a big, handsome man. You walked around the woods in
    Herstmonceux like you owned them, upright, large and in charge. No one could
    have missed you.” She laughed. “You looked like you could take on the world. But
    today you did subtle things that made you blend in. Holding back instead of walking
    ahead, holding doors for people.”
    “I always hold doors for ladies,” he pointed out.
    “Yes, sir, I‟ve noticed that. But you looked apologetic and a bit shy, which is
    totally not who you are. You kept your chin tucked into your chest. Your hands were
    clasped behind your back, which is a very submissive pose. As handsome as you are,
    you were ignored most of the time. You have a loud, commanding voice, but today
    you spoke in this quiet, perfect French, like a scholar or something. It was amazing.
    The whole picture came together to make you self-effacing.”
    Kael acknowledged the compliments with pleasure. “You‟re good,” he said. “To
    notice such small changes. You see, you don‟t have to do big things to change your
    persona. It‟s all about the details. The small details of a job are what make the
    whole a success. Often all I have to do is make the big move and others take care of
    the details, but on a job like this, you have to create a new gestalt. And you have to
    be unflinching and ruthless, not take the job personally. You can‟t let your personal
    prejudices affect your work. What you feel doesn‟t matter on a job.”
    For a moment, Mattie looked at him the way Angel did: awestruck. “Yes, sir.”
    “Are you finished?” He glanced at his