Disclaimer: I don't own Human Target and intend no copyright infringement.
~ tyrannosaurus rex ~
Aside from the rather disturbing fact that yet another dragon had shown up, this time painted on the back of a rare white rhinoceros in London Zoo, the newspaper also contained one more pretty unsettling article.
LEADING SHAREHOLDER OF MAJOR CHEMICAL COMPANY DIES OF HEART ATTACK AT 42
Liam Kenworthy, active public figure, rising politician and successful businessman unexpectedly passed away after suffering a sudden heart attack during a charity event in Boston last Friday. Despite immediate attempts at resuscitation Kenworthy was pronounced dead upon arrival at Boston Central Hospital. Kenworthy significantly contributed to the development and promotion of US-American chemistry science. His visionary style of leadership made Attenborough Chemical one of the leading chemical companies in the country. Only half an hour prior to his untimely death Kenworthy had delivered a speech announcing significant changes in the company's business philosophy towards a "more ethical" direction. Unfortunately he did not give any details on said change in philosophy, but his son and successor, Edward Kenworthy, stressed that to honor his father's last will they would finance two more scholarships for underprivileged children.
Chance lowered his newspaper and looked at Guerrero, refilling his bowl with another load of Winston's cereals.
"…which definitely comes them cheaper than properly recycling all that toxic waste that they're shipping off to some third world country where it can rot in peace and poison the groundwater, which is what old man Kenworthy probably had in mind", Guerrero commented.
"Sudden heart attack … Boston… Joubert said he'd be on a business trip this week… the MO would match…" Chance frowned. This wasn't the first time he was suspecting the Old Man was fully back in business. He just wasn't sure what to do… dig around, find out if it was true? With what consequences? Ash was very attached to his "grandfather"…
Speaking of…. Barely audible footsteps on the stairs leading down to the lobby…
"Ash? You going somewhere?", Chance called his son.
"Just to the presidio...couple of hours... left you a note", came the rather hasty reply from the lobby. "Mom will pick me up downstairs… she'll drive me."
"Come in here, will you?" His son not entering the kitchen to scavenge something to eat – highly suspicious.
"Thought you were still sleeping… you came home late last night…" Ash hovered on the doorstep, hesitated, finally stepped in but remained near the entrance.
Chance and Guerrero exchanged quick glances, grinning. Yeah, sure…
"Who is she?", Chance asked.
Ash was shocked. "How…?" He scrambled to appear totally clueless at what the two men were talking about.
At that very moment, Ames walked in, grabbed an apple from the fruit basket on the counter and flopped down on a chair next to Chance: "Hey, going on a date?"
"I don't know what in the world…" The poor boy was gasping from indignation like a fish out of water.
"Going out today?" Carrying a stack of paperwork upon entering, Ilsa made a beeline for the coffee machine.
Ash could only stare at her, open-mouthed.
Just then Winston arrived, making the team complete and of course, putting his two pence in, too. "Looks like someone's going on a date."
Speechless, Ash made a flabbergasted questioning gesture with his hands.
"You've used aftershave", Guerrero said.
"You're wearing your brand new jeans", Chance told him.
"You're up early on a Sunday", Ames pointed out.
"Your shirt" – Ilsa. "You've done something with your hair" – Winston.
Ash sighed in utter despair. Seriously, you just couldn't win against this family.
"It's not a date. It's just a falconry demonstration I'm going to with a friend… acquaintance… buddy… she's really not…"
"Yeah", came the unison reply in various shades of sarcasm. "Doesn't sound like a date at all. You're totally right…"
"You're unbelievable! All of you!" Fuming, Ash stomped out the kitchen door. Thank God the alert system just then signaled the arrival of his mother.
"Don't you wanna bring her flowers?", Chance called after his son.
"She's not the flower type!", Ash yelled back.
"Dude, all chicks are the flower type!"
"AND IT'S NOT A DATE ANYWAY!" Ash fled into the elevator.
… … …
Down in the street Philippa smiled proudly as her son came into view, all dressed up and, she could tell from the way he walked and held his head, slightly nervous. He was going to be a very handsome man one day. Hard to believe he was already fifteen. Jeez, in a few months he'd drive himself…
"Shall I stop at a florist's on the way?", she asked him as he flopped down in the passenger's seat.
"Mom! Not you, too! It's NOT a date!"
"Your aftershave, your jeans, your shirt, your hair…", Philippa listed.
Ash groaned. "I don't know how Helen sees our… meeting… if I treat it as a date and she just sees it as hanging out together…"
Philippa couldn't help but smile again, a little more sentimental this time – oh the pains of growing up…
Helen was already waiting for him when Ash arrived at the meeting point. Philippa just dropped him off, nodded at the girl and then quickly left again, knowing well that nothing disturbed a date more than the presence of a mum.
"What, no flowers?", Helen greeted him. "What kind of a date is that?"
The look on Ash's face was completely crestfallen. Helen started laughing. "Hey, I was just pulling your leg, I…" She frowned.
"What?" Ash was really on edge by now. This, yeah, well, date, had cost him more sleepless nights than back when he hadn't been able to remember whether he had invited Sally or Kelly to the dance at the ice-rink… "What have I done now?"
"It's nothing…" Helen turned her gaze back to him. "For a short moment… it felt like somebody was watching us. But I'm just paranoid. It was a passing shadow, nothing more. Come on, I want to see the falcons!" She took his hand and dragged him away.
Ash felt his hand in her hand and finally relaxed a little. The sun was shining brightly, a fresh breeze was coming in from the sea… it looked like it was going to be a wonderful day.
In the shadow of a huge tree the young man Innokentij had assigned to keep an eye on Ash relaxed, too. Almost spotted by a fifteen year old… Damn that girl had good instincts! He better not tell his boss about this incident…
Innokentij, however, who liked to keep an eye on his employees and had access to the video feed of all surveillance cams in San Francisco, already knew.