Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

said.
    Kael answered him in Polish. “I speak many languages.” He barely recognized
    his own voice, his throat was so parched.
    “You came here asking for the child. Why?”
    Kael struggled to sit up. His abdominal muscles were extremely strong, and
    despite the pain of cracked ribs and general weakness, he pulled himself upright
    until he was sitting. “I like little girls.”
    Denbigh said in his coarse French, “He‟s a queer. He likes boys.”
    Dudek responded in French, which seemed to be the language they had in
    common. “Perhaps he likes both.”
    Kael spoke in Polish to exclude Denbigh. “He‟s an idiot. I hope you don‟t trust
    him with anything important.”
    “He says you work for MI6,” Dudek said.
    The way out of this might be to let Dudek think he was easily bought. “I did,”
    Kael said. “But no longer.”
    “What did you really come here for?” Before Kael could respond, Dudek nodded
    at Denbigh and another man, who between them dragged Kael to his feet. With his
    feet and knees secured with electrical tape, he had no balance even when pulled
    upright. The two men held him, and Dudek nodded at the third, who balled up his
    fist and plowed it into Kael‟s stomach. He knew the blow was coming and tensed his
    stomach muscles just enough to protect his internal organs but not so much that the
    bruise would be deep.

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    129

    “What did you come here for? Was it you who took Clement?”
    “Yes,” Kael said. “The British government wanted him back, and when I came
    for him, I saw the child.”
    “But little girls are not your pleasure.” Dudek smiled.
    “No, but the money I could get for her is.” He had to convince them he viewed
    Ekaterina as a commodity and not a child who needed to be rescued.
    “You came here to steal my property to sell?”
    “Yes,” Kael said. They must not think he had anything but a business interest
    in the girl, because a man like Dudek would respect that.
    “So you are still working for MI6.”
    “No. I‟m a bounty hunter now. But I want to do this.” He nodded at the wall
    behind which the slaves were sleeping. Denbigh was looking increasingly nervous at
    not understanding the conversation. The man‟s SIS file had indicated he spoke only
    English and minimal French.
    “Don‟t believe anything he says,” he said to Dudek.
    If Kael could get Dudek to see him as valuable and willing to work for him, it
    might be his chance at freedom. “Give me my clothes back. I‟m freezing.”
    Dudek laughed. He stepped forward and grabbed Kael‟s ball sac, squeezing
    hard. Pain shot through his groin. “If you lie to me, I‟ll cut your nuts off.”
    “I speak English, Polish, French, Russian, Spanish, Dutch, bits of Latvian, and
    I‟ve been picking up Czech. I could be very useful to you.” Being useful was his only
    chance at staying alive.
    “Let‟s see how useful you are after a couple of weeks down here.” He nodded at
    the men holding Kael and they let him go, laughing as he crashed to the filthy
    concrete floor. “He tried to steal from me. Teach him a lesson.” The last thing Kael
    saw of Dudek was his feet retreating through the door as the men, Denbigh primary
    among them, set upon him.

    130
    Fyn Alexander

    Chapter Fourteen

    The only time Angel had visited Mr. Conran‟s gracious Victorian town house in
    Holland Park was for the New Year‟s party he‟d attended with Daddy and Sharon a
    few months ago. And then he had entered through the front door. He stood now in
    the big rear garden beside the swings and seesaw, looking at the house. The lights
    were all on upstairs, and the noise coming from a half-open window indicated that
    the children were up there getting ready for bed. The only light downstairs came
    from a tall, narrow window to the left of the French windows. From clandestinely
    exploring the house at the party, Angel knew the window was in Conran‟s study.
    Standing on the patio, he pulled out a shiv and opened the French doors very
    carefully. Once they were open, he checked the paintwork. Not a scratch. Excellent !
    Daddy would be proud. Inside he closed the door with great care and locked it again
    before walking out into the hall and along to the study. Without a sound, he opened
    the door and stepped inside. At his desk across the room, Conran looked up,
    obviously expecting his wife or children. When he saw Angel, he looked quickly
    about him as if expecting God knew what to