London Spy – Page 3 – A Piece, of the Sky

Cai took Dan to a tailor, and that evening they appeared at The Alley Cat – a premier entertainment venue, featuring on its stage, every night, diverse acts, from contortionists and disappearing magicians, to traveling troupes of escape artists.

Circular tables, covered with black tablecloths, were each lit with one red candle, in a circular glass. A cigar bar, The Alley Cat was one of the few establishments Downtown where you could still smoke indoors.

Through the haze, Dan glimpsed the two men from Cai’s cell phone picture: the tan, bearded Sebastian in a dark suit and a navy dress shirt, and the pale, smooth-faced Hod, in a suit and tie.

The clean-shaven FBI agent looked up at Dan and caught his eye. Dan felt a hook twist in his stomach, despite himself. Behind the profound gaze, he sensed a hot-blooded man, compelled by an all-consuming fire. The bearded man – although also broad-shouldered and endowed with an immense soul – was the more relaxed one, of the two.

Dan exhaled into the darkness of the motel room. He sat, relaxed, reclining flat-out on the beige sofa. The light of the crescent moon filtered through the blinds.

The cat-like figure of Cai stole through the apartment. Dan could just make out his outline in the hallway. He could tell that Cai, was nervous, shooting him furtive glances in the gloom, thinking that he couldn’t see.

Cai stood in front of Dan, inviting him forward. Dan stood up and faced Cai. “I normally don’t kiss on the first date,” Cai laughed. His innocence was endearing, in a counter-intuitive kind of way.

Dan took his hands and pulled him closer. Cai put his long arms around Dan’s neck. He could feel the promise of Cai’s security in the strong hands on his shoulders. He wanted to understand the mystery.