Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

to Thornton,
    someone made a terrible mess of you.”
    “Harry fucking Denbigh and a few of his mates made me look like someone
    had taken a cricket bat to me, but it was mostly fists and feet.” Kael tapped his
    chin. “As you can see, I‟m back to my usual perfection.”
    “Vain as ever.” Conran gave a little laugh, which Kael had rarely seen, then
    added quietly, “I‟m very happy that you‟re better, Saunders. You look well. How are
    the ribs?”
    “Everything is good. I didn‟t want to, but I ended up going to the hospital for
    X-rays and treatment.”
    “Yes. I got the report.” All MI6 operatives attended a particular private
    hospital since a regular National Health Service hospital would have to report
    serious injuries or gunshot wounds to the police.
    “And now I‟m almost back to my old self. Come into the kitchen.”
    Angel was serving two helpings of blackberry and apple crumble with ice
    cream, but when he saw Conran, he put down the dishes and hurried toward him.
    “Mr. Conran!” Angel threw his arms around Conran‟s neck, hugging him tightly.
    Slightly pink in the cheeks, Conran hugged him back.
    Surprised, Kael watched. “What the hell did you do to make my boy like you so
    much?”

    156
    Fyn Alexander

    “Daddy, I told you how kind Mr. Conran was when you were missing. I was so
    worried about you, and he made me feel so much better.”
    Kael had been told the whole story by Mattie of Conran calling her in to search
    for him unofficially. “Right. Well, you‟d better give him some crumble then, hadn‟t
    you?”
    “I‟ve already had dinner,” Conran said as Angel went to the cupboard to fetch
    another bowl. The smile on Angel‟s face faltered slightly, and Conran amended,
    “But I‟d love to try it.” Kael poured him some coffee, and they sat around the
    kitchen table. Kael could hardly believe it: he and Conran doing something civilized
    together.
    “Goodness, Saunders, I had no idea you did ordinary things like eating
    dessert.”
    “You think I‟m some kind of robot? A Borg wandering through the universe
    assimilating everything in my path. I assure you I eat, sleep, and shit like you do.
    And as I found out recently, if „you prick me, do I not bleed?‟”
    “Oh don‟t be so dramatic.” Conran laughed. “Yes, I‟ve always seen you as some
    sort of superhuman. You did survive for ten days without eating and on only a
    cupful of water.”
    “Eleven,” Kael corrected. “But yes, you‟re right. I‟m superhuman.”
    “And he was naked lying on a freezing cold concrete floor.” Angel set the
    dessert in front of them and sat down.
    Kael spooned up a mouthful of crumble. Angel sat unmoving in his chair,
    watching, his face intent, expectant. He laid a hand on Conran‟s arm as if he needed
    support while the judgment came down. Kael knew all eyes were on him, and he
    made a great show of visually inspecting the offering before slowly putting it into
    his mouth. He paused and began to savor the tartness of the blackberries and the
    sweetness of the apples. He sank his teeth into the crunchy crumble topping. With
    his eyes closed, he sat back and finished the mouthful.
    At last he opened his eyes, looked at Angel, and said, “Superb.”
    Angel clapped his hands, his eyes sparkling. Even Conran was laughing at the
    spectacle. For several minutes, the only words spoken were excellent and delicious.
    “What‟s happening with Ekaterina?” Kael asked when they had finished. “I
    might have died without that kid. She was so good. I was lying in my own mess at
    one point, and she cleaned it up. The older girls wouldn‟t come near me, they were
    so afraid of the men.”
    “That‟s the other reason I dropped by, aside from wanting to see how you were
    recovering.” Conran put his spoon into his empty bowl. “I found Ekaterina‟s name
    and photograph on an international list of missing children. She was snatched right
    off the street in Moscow three years ago on her way to school. Broad daylight. There
    were several witnesses, but no one could do anything. She was dragged into a car
    and was gone in seconds. She was targeted because she‟s fair and so pretty. Within

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    weeks she was sold to Dudek and channeled into the sex trade in Europe.” He
    sighed. “Sadly her story is not rare.”
    “Right off the street? The traffickers are getting bold,” Kael said.
    “They are indeed,” Conran agreed. “Her mother