After breakfast, Joe and Kaden took Elsie for a walk. They set off down the road and as Joe moved closer to him, Kaden slid his hand into Joe’s and squeezed his fingers.
“Is it okay to hold hands?” Joe whispered.
“Sometimes, yes.” Kaden had never done it before in public. Harris had never wanted to and nor had Kaden’s previous boyfriends. It gave him a warm feeling in his chest. “We’ll look online for a place to rent when we get back.”
“Not buy?”
“Not yet. It takes too long. We can find a rental more quickly. I’d like to stay in the north of London.”
“Near your friends and your dad.”
“And work. I like London. There’s plenty to do and see here. Lots I want to show you.”
“Okay. That sounds great.”
“I wonder whether to call Harris. I don’t want him to think I care whether he’s better or not, but I’m worried about what he has inside him.”
When they got back and Alistair asked to speak to Kaden on his own, Kaden automatically assumed the worst, that despite what Alistair had said, they were going to be asked to leave. Joe took a book into the living room while Alistair and Kaden stayed in the kitchen.
“We’re going to look for a place this afternoon,” Kaden said quickly. “If you could just give us a couple of days—”
“I’m not asking you to leave.” Alistair gestured towards a chair. “Sit down.”
Kaden sat at the table. Elsie nuzzled up against his knee and Kaden pushed his fingers into her fur.
“I have a favour to ask,” Alistair said. “A day-in-the-life article.”
Kaden’s tense shoulders eased slightly, though why did Alistair not want Joe to hear? “A day-in-the-life of an ex-spy?”
Alistair chuckled. “Not a day inmylife. Someone else. Someone who needs… flattering. The newspaper will make the approach.”
“I…I don’t write puff pieces. Sorry if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“Not quite.” Alistair regarded him carefully. “We need access to this person. The article gives you that. What you do with that access depends on whether you’re willing to help further.”
Something cold slid into Kaden’s chest and coiled like a snake. The tension came back. “Doing what?”
“You talk to him, make notes for your article and leave a small device. Placed, not planted.”
Oh my God.Kaden stared at him. “What’s the difference between placed and planted?”
Alistair raised his eyebrows. “That’swhat you ask?”
Kaden sagged. “Yes.”
“Placed means that although the device needs to be hidden, it’s not a long-term thing where it would be deeply embedded and difficult to find. That would be planted.”
“A camera?”
“Not a camera.”
“A listening device.”
Alistair nodded.
For a second, Kaden thought he might be sick. “Is this to do with the job you did? I thought you’d retired.”
“Well…” Alistair leaned back a fraction and his mouth curved briefly in a smile. “I have but I occasionally dip my toes back into the water when required.”
