Carter had roughed out their initial itinerary and targets as per the National Security Council. He had a professional screenwriter working on a play that accommodated the number of characters he needed. It was to be a comedy. He surmised they would have enough drama in their day job and would welcome the “comic relief.” He smiled at his own wit. Yes, he was going to thoroughly enjoy this. He had tasked Andrew with solidifying the overseas contacts they would need to complete their cover story. If all went as planned, he should have them all in D.C. by early to mid-December, learning their lines and honing their performances. And again, with any luck, they would be off to their first destination following the Christmas season.
A thought struck him. William and Kate were to be in town late December. Yes, this would be absolutely perfect. He turned from looking over the D.C. skyline and reached for his phone.
It was answered on the second ring. “Yes, sir?”
“Get over here.”
* * * *
Andy knocked on the doorframe, waiting for Carter to wave him in.
“Who is that guy you know in MI6?”
“Hawthorne?” Andy sat in the leather chair in front of Carter’s desk, stretching his long legs in front of him.
“Yeah, that’s the one. Think he will do you some favors?”
“After Marrakesh, he’d better. Why?”
“I need William and Kate to join our Merry Band of Misfits.”
Andy raised an eyebrow. “I think you had better talk to Her Majesty.”
“She hates my guts.”
Andy suppressed a grin.
“Stupid dogs anyway. Always underfoot. Didn’t mean to step on the little beast. Besides, we won’t be putting them in any danger.”
“The corgis?”
“No, you idiot, the duke and duchess. We just need them to play along on our scheme.”
“In what way?”
“I want to put on a command performance of our play when they are here in December and then ask them to give it rave reviews and help us open doors to the right people on the Continent.”“Okay, let me get to work on that and I’ll see what I can do.”
“And on your way out, ask Jane to send another box of those ridiculously expensive biscuits those dogs like. I’ve got to get back in her good graces.”
Andy didn’t even try to hide the grin on his way out.
* * * *
Judy laughed at Andy’s account of the international incident in which Carter broke the leg of one of the corgis in full view of the queen. Judy lay curled against Andy’s long, lanky frame and giggled at the thought of Carter being dressed down by the queen of England.
“Give me all the glorious details.”
“Judy, you are enjoying this way too much.”
“Oh, let me have my little fun. Did Carter get in big trouble?”
“Officially, no, but it was highly embarrassing to him, I can tell you that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, no one, and I mean no one, upsets the queen. She actually cried.”
“Aww.”
“Exactly. So for the remainder of our stay, Carter couldn’t get a fresh towel or a kind word. He was persona non grata to the entire royal staff. They stuck their nose in the air anytime he came near and he was totally ignored.”
“Did the queen forgive him?”
“She is too fine a lady to show otherwise. And I think she regretted such a public display of emotion. She probably hated that as much as the injury to the dog.”
Judy sat up. “Suddenly, it does not seem so funny anymore.”
“It is when you see how much he spends on dog biscuits.”
Judy fell back on the bed in laughter.
* * * *
Angelo lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. How had he come to this place in his life? But even as the question entered his mind, he knew the answer. Danny Mac. He had admired him from the minute he met him all those years ago. The admiration had turned to jealousy and almost ruined him. But observing him in his unguarded moments with Kenann during their captivity had softened him. But what now? Is he supposed to just follow Danny Mac around? Doing his bidding? Wait. Where did that come from? Danny was his friend. He had taken a bullet for him for goodness sake. Where was this restlessness coming from? He was a part of this group. He did not need to feel so alienated—so alone. He continued to stare at the ceiling and was not aware of the darkness filling the room.
* * * *
Hawthorne wasted no time coming to see Carter after he received the message from Andrew. He owed that boy for saving his keister in Marrakesh. And since he was in New York, he took the train down to D.C. rather than call.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Carter?”
“Well, son, how much influence do you have with the duke and duchess?”
“I know them and have limited access to the royal family, if needed.”
“Good. I need you to get word to the duke of Cambridge and ask him to call me.”
“Are they in danger?” He was immediately on the alert.
“Stand down, son. I just need to ask him a favor.”
“With all due respect, sir, you are on thin ice. I wouldn’t push my luck.”
“Oh for heaven’s sake, does everyone know about that cussed dog!?”
“She cried, sir.”
Carter had the good grace to look abashed. “Can you just have him call me?” He gave him his private number.
“Will do, sir.” Hawthorne stood to leave and, turning back to face Carter, said, “She did not cry once during the whole of the war.”
“All right already.” Carter ran his hand over his closely cropped head. “That’s going to be on my bloody tombstone.”
“Possibly, sir.”
* * * *
A few days later, Kenann decided she had had her fill of sadness and darkness. She wanted something lighthearted. Never one to sit and wait for things to just come along, she set about creating it. She vowed Rough to silence as her partner in crime as she dragged the wooden double lounger to the back of their property underneath the trees. She pulled the pins to enable both sides to lay flat. Rough bounced around her as she ran back to gather the other necessary items. She ruffled his fur and buried her face in his neck.
“Oh, you are my good, sweet little man, aren’t you, Roughie Rough?”
He licked her face in reply.
She added the last few items to her garden wagon then began pulling it back to create her oasis. It was top-heavy and almost tipped over when Rough came to the rescue, pushing back against the load with his nose. They made quite the pair as they pushed and pulled their way across the yard. Kenan fell on the ground in laughter when they finally arrived at the tree line. Rough lay beside her and licked her face again and began nibbling on her hair.
“Hey, quit! That tickles.” She laughed.
Rough lay his head on her chest and blew out his breath. They stared at each other for several seconds.
“Who are you, little man? Are you my guardian angel?”
Rough continued to look at her without blinking.
“I’m going to take that as a yes.” She rose, taking his large face in her hands and kissed him on his cold nose.
* * * *
Danny Mac came through the door and was met with a grinning Kenann and the thumping tail of a wagging dog. He raised one eyebrow and felt his heart rate shoot up. It did not take a rocket scientist to figure out what a woman in a trench coat and ridiculously high heels meant.
“What’s up, MacKenzie?”
“Oh, a little fun adventure.”
“Haven’t we had enough adventure to last a lifetime?”
“Yes, but not near enough fun.” She grabbed his hand to lead him out the back door when he tugged on her hard enough to twirl her back into his arms. She saw that dark, predatory look in his eye. She shivered slightly, not admitting that sometimes it scared her a little.
“Kenann, you stir me.” His voice was low. Before she could breathe, he captured her mouth and possessed her. She reached up and encircled his neck with her arms, surrendering to his strength. When he released her she clung to his arms to steady herself. He watched her. Eyes closed and breathing slowly, he couldn’t help but smile.
Without opening her eyes, she said, “That makes what I have planned rather anticlimactic.”
“Interesting choice of words.”
She snorted and opened her eyes. “Come on.” She led him out the back door and pulled him across the yard like an excited child with a secret. He stopped when he saw the tableau. She held her breath as he took it in. Rough appeared to be holding his breath, too. When the smile of pleasure spread across his face, Rough barked and jumped around the two.
Danny Mac saw the white lights twinkling in the trees and a fire burning in the metal fire ring. Is that the one from the patio? A tent had been hung from the branches. As they drew closer he could see that the tent draped and enfolded a wooden platform (their double lounger?). Inside the opening he could see blankets and colorful pillows filling the interior of the tent, evoking the stories of Scheherazade.
He turned to Kenann and grinned. “What have you done here, MacKenzie?”
“Our own romantic getaway.”
“Yes, our own Easter Island.”
“Well, I can think of much more romantic places than Easter Island.”
“You are all the romance I need. I was thinking isolation.”
“Oh, good answer.” She reached up and kissed his cheek.
He reached for her. “Now, let’s see what is under that coat.”
She evaded his arms. “Down, tiger. First we eat.”
She pulled a basket from the tent enclosure and took it to the small table setting beside the fire. She took out some candlesticks and lit them before she brought out the rest of the basket’s contents. As he watched, she produced his favorite cheeses, salami, grapes, and flavored crackers. She opened a bottle of wine and filled two flutes.
“Have a seat, Mr. MacKenzie.”
“After you, Mrs. MacKenzie.” She complied and grinned up at him as he held out her chair.
“You have put a lot of effort into this, Kenann. Thank you.”
“I just needed a little light to break up all the dark, you know?”
“Yes, I do. We certainly have had our share. I guess I needed it, too…without even knowing it.” He ate some grapes absently.
“I feel like all you have done since we met is rescue or take care of me.” Kenann reached over and took Danny Mac’s hand in hers.
“But isn’t that what people in love do? Take care of each other? Protect each other?” Danny squeezed her hand.
“I suppose that is true. It just seems that’s all we’ve done.”
Danny took a deep breath. “Yes. I have been talking to Mrs. Gage about this just this afternoon. She is concerned that we have experienced too much too soon and are weary with the struggle. Not all of us are trained to this.”
Kenann’s spine stiffened a bit. “Just because we are not soldiers does not mean we are not up to the task.”
Danny Mac grinned. “That is exactly what I told Mrs. Gage. We are a team. Our weaknesses are our strengths. We complement each other and are better together than apart. And she knows that. I think she just needed to hear it from someone else. Sometimes we just need to be reminded that we have been brought to this and He will give us what we need to accomplish it.”
“I hope so. I need to know I am in the Lord’s will.”
“Are you okay, Kenann? Are you still troubled by dreams?”
“No, not since I shared honestly with everyone. I think that is one of the keys. I don’t need to keep any secrets. I need to be truthful and open so the darkness does not take over.”
“Yes. I love you, baby girl.”
This warmed Kenann’s heart. She finished the last of the wine in her glass. She stood and began to clear the table. Danny Mac watched her for a few moments. He finished his wine and stood to help her put things away. She took his hand, leading him to the opening of the tent. She guided him to sit. She pulled on the belt holding the trench coat in place. She was pleased to see Danny’s eyes grow dark with his passion. As she let the coat slip from her shoulders, she followed him into their haven, closing out the world behind them. Rough picked up her coat in his mouth and placed it on the chair. He lay in front of the opening to the tent. No one—man or demon—would bother his masters this night.