Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

standing behind her.
    A small click made him hurry to the bedroom door. The front door was
    opening.
    Fuck!
    He froze. She was back. His options were to hide until she was occupied in
    another room and then sneak out the front door, or go boldly out to confront her.
    Not wanting to waste time, he decided on the latter. Just by listening, he knew
    where she was—in the living room by the coffee table. He called out as he walked,
    though, “Mrs. Chalmers, don‟t be alarmed. It‟s just me.”
    “Oh,” she cried, staring at him, confused, as he strode into her living room.
    “You left your front door open. I was concerned in case you had fallen, had a
    heart attack or a stroke or something.”

    Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

    113

    Vanity immediately replaced fear and surprise. “I‟m hardly in the age group
    for those sorts of calamities. I‟m far too young.” She looked down the hall to the
    front door. “You say I left the door open? I distinctly remember locking it.”
    “No, it was open. I spotted it as soon as I came up a little while ago. I called out
    but got no answer, so I came in. I‟m sorry to startle you, but I was trying to be a
    good neighbor.”
    She smiled. “You‟re very kind, Mr. Saunders. Won‟t you have a drink?” Before
    he could protest, she had poured them both a glass of sherry from the tray on the
    sideboard. He hated sherry but took it anyway. “Come and sit down.” She sat on the
    couch, patting the cushion next to her.
    Kael remained where he was. “I have to go. Angel will be home in a moment.
    I‟m very glad you are well. I feared I might find you on the floor.”
    “Would you have performed mouth-to-mouth?” She gave a little laugh.
    No, I’d have left you there to die before I’d get that close to you.
    Kael placed the untouched sherry on the coffee table. “I‟m rather clumsy at
    that sort of thing. I would have called an ambulance.” He smiled. “I couldn‟t help
    but notice a photograph of you in the bedroom with three young men. Are they your
    sons?”
    A tight smile gripped her face. The sons were clearly in their late twenties.
    “Yes. You must understand that I married very young.”
    “Yes, I see that. Well, if you‟ll excuse me.” He headed for the door.
    She hurried after him. “Will you have dinner with me this evening? I‟ll cook.”
    “You‟re very kind, but I wouldn‟t dream of troubling you,” he said.
    “It‟s no trouble. I think we may have a lot in common. I‟d love to get to know
    you better.”
    His patience gone, Kael said, “I don‟t think we do have anything in common,
    and I‟m very busy.” He opened the door. “I don‟t want to seem impolite, but I would
    prefer it if you didn‟t keep asking me because refusing is becoming tiresome.” He
    stepped into the corridor.
    “You just need a little persuasion, Mr. Saunders. I am not the type to give up
    easily.” She followed him out. “I can‟t think of any reason why we wouldn‟t make a
    perfect match.”
    It was time to be honest. “I can. You‟re far too old for me.”
    Angel got out of the lift at that moment, and when he saw Kael, he ran at him,
    throwing himself into his arms. “How‟s my sexy daddy?” He planted a kiss on Kael‟s
    lips.
    Pushing Angel in front of him, Kael hurried to the flat and closed the door
    quickly.
    “Daddy, I won my chess match.”

    * * *

    114
    Fyn Alexander

    It was a little after ten, and they were both tired. Angel had gone to get his
    shower, and when the doorbell buzzed, Kael half wondered if it was Conran. But it
    was far more likely to be that bloody woman again.
    At the door he looked at the CCTV fixed to the wall. A man, a woman, and a
    uniformed police constable were standing down in the lobby with the evening
    doorman. He pushed the intercom. “Who is it?”
    “Can I have a word with you, sir,” the constable said.
    “About what?”
    “Perhaps it‟s best not to talk in the lobby, sir. May we come up?”
    A horrible tight feeling suddenly gripped his gut. Had something happened to
    his mum? Had she been in an accident? “Let them in,” he said to the doorman.
    Kael met them at the lift. “What‟s the matter?” he asked as soon as the door
    opened.
    The click of a latch along the corridor caught their attention. It was Mrs.
    Chalmers. She closed the door again quickly. “Do you have a boy living with you?”
    the man asked.
    “What‟s this about?” It was not about his mum, and he was beginning