Days later...
A knock sounded through my flat, and I hastily wiped my dirty hands on my apron. "Coming!" I announced as I rounded the corner into the hallway and approached the door. "About time you showed up, Julianna- Harry!" I quickly edified, and threw my arms around Sir Harry Pearce, Head of Section D. "It's so good to see you," I chirped, and scolded him after I had taken a good look at him, "You look terrible."
"Yes- well, believe it or not- but when being kidnapped, it isn't a gentle process," Harry explained in his curt, wry manner. "I was informed by my section chief that you decided to assist in MI-5 affairs the other day," he added in cool remark.
"I figured Ros would tell you- given after I had disappeared from the operation...she strikes me as one to hold back and slit the throat- if you know what I mean," I divulged.
"Kiley, don't try to make light of the situation," Harry grumbled, "You could have been killed- and for what? So that you wouldn't miss out the thrill of being nearly killed by FSB officers?"
"Harry," I warned, all gaiety gone, "Do not make light of my decision. Above all else, I saw that Lucas was hurt when we bumped into one another on the street.
"And how is it you came to make Lucas' acquaintance?"
"On a plane back from Moscow, if you must know- but I am sure you could find that out without me telling you," I concluded, "Please stop with the interrogation, Harry- I promise not to interfere with an operation again."
"See that you do," Harry advised, "For the sake of what remains of my sanity." He cleared his throat and gave me a small, genial smile. "Kiley, the reason for my visit is to inform you that we have received intel that the FSB have expressed interest in you once more."
"Why?" I demanded coolly.
"Because of your recent escapade with one of my senior officers and section chief- they think that is just cause to believe that you are MI-5 or an asset," Harry informed me, "And so I am going to request that you allow us to take you on holiday."
"Meaning you are going to babysit me," I retorted testily, "Harry, I do not need to be mollycoddled."
"This isn't about the personal background we share, Kiley," Harry sighed, "This is to fulfill my responsibility I have as Head of Section D and..."
"As a responsibility as my godfather," I finished faintly. I walked up to him and gently took hold of his arm. "Harry, I appreciate all that you have done for me, but you can't make me run away and hide the moment the threat of danger rears," I entreated.
"What will it take for you to leave London?" Harry sighed in exasperation, and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Someplace warm, not overly crowded, preferably on the coast- at least near a natural body of water- and..." I trailed off as I thought of the final detail that would have to be done in order for me to leave, "The file on my father's murder- and any information Connie James might have disclosed about it in the recent past," I concluded smoothly.
"Kiley, I do not think it would be in your best interest-" Harry began to protest.
"-Harry, I need that file. I promise you I will see it returned safely to Thames House, but that is the only thing that will get me to leave London."
"Very well," Harry assented, "Be ready to leave tonight."
Between...
The scintillating waters of Lake Como lapped happily at my feet as I sat at the bottom of the flight of stairs whilst reading A Year in Provence. The Italian sun bore down upon me, and I revelled in the blazing heat. A shadow fell over me, darkening the pages of my book. "How long did it take for you to find my location?" I asked, not looking up from my reading.
"Seconds."
"Did Harry send you to check up on me?"
"That was my justification," he answered, "To see you."
"And why would want to see boring, little me?" I mused wryly, finally closing my book and looking up at Lucas.
"Well, I thought I should let you know that I did get that gunshot wound properly patched up."
At that, I laughed and added, "Well then, you can totter on back to London then, eh?" I gazed out at the lake, and smiled at the surrealism of it all. I begrudgingly withdrew my feet from the calming balm of Como's waters, and ascended the stairs. "Come on," I sighed, and waved idly for him to follow me.
"Where are your shoes?"
"I'm against them- absolutely hate the things," I answered, enjoying the feel of the smooth, well-trodden soil beneath the soles of my feet as I strolled down the lane. Lucas easily fell into step with me, and I had to take effort to control my fluttering heart. He hadn't lost a single sliver of that addicting enigmatic pull that seemed crafted for me solely; I guided Lucas through the crowded street that led up to Bellagio Point, where my temporary flat was. "Do you want to get a drink?"
"No thanks."
The tourists and local girls tittered with one another when they got an eyeful of Lucas, and I saw one bold as brass chit approach Lucas as he followed me up the stairs.
"Would you like to get a drink?" she purred with a quirked brow.
"No thank you, I am actually going up with the Mrs. right there."
Oh, how my words ached at the lie he so carefully crafted for the benefit of me. I smiled impishly back at him, and then ascended the narrow flight of stairs. I slipped into my flat after taking note of the state of the lock to make it was not picked. I slowly began gathering up the papers of my father's file, and I paused momentarily to read the latest addition to the overfilled file. It was one they found on Connie James' insurance gathering over the years.
My father was murdered by Connie James because he was in the process of discovering where her true loyalties lay. She was the one who leaked my whereabout to the FSB that resulted in me being sent to Russia for five years.
"What have you got there?"
"My asking price for being sent away like a troublesome wife," I snorted, and handed him the file, "I am sure Harry will be glad to have this back sooner than the expected arrival date." I went into the bedroom to peel of the waterlogged shirt I was wearing.
"You have tattoos," Lucas noted.
"You are lucky I am wearing a swimsuit," I added, and gave him a chiding glare over my shoulder. However, I still blushed profusely at the implication of him being in the doorway as I disrobed. I ran a quick comb through my hair before I threw on another shirt. I dropped unceremoniously onto my bed and looked at him expectantly. "So what really brings you here, Lucas?"
"Well," Lucas began, "I did actually want to come see you, but Harry actually wanted to send someone out to check up on you."
"Figures," I huffed, and angrily looked away.
"Kiley, don't be angry with Harry. The FSB take great interest in people when they show up out of nowhere and are part of a task force that opposes their ideals. I also wanted to talk to you about someone."
My heart was laid bare at his oblivious feet, and he so easily stepped on it as he walked by. I had grown attached to him- I cared deeply for him, and yet he knew nothing...nothing at all. "A woman," I predicted.
"Her name is Sarah- from the CIA," Lucas confided, "We ran into one another during a couple operations, and the other night we had dinner."
I raised my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them in an attempt to hold the quickly falling pieces of myself back together. Lucas had a woman, who could proudly call him hers. I rested my head in the dip between my knees as I looked up at him from beneath my lashes. "Tell me about her," I exhorted, hiding behind a broken smile.