Page 27 of Forgotten

Jared’s eyebrows shot up. “I’m sorry, what?”

“We’re going to pretend to be spies and tail someone.” He put his hands on Jared’s shoulders and turned him around so they were facing the same direction. “The aim of the game is to choose a mark and follow them without being spotted.”

“That sounds crazy.”

“It’ll be fun,” Kyrone promised him. “You’ll see the city in a whole new light after.”

“And if we get spotted?” Jared asked.

“Then the game ends. We’ll find the closest restaurant, and I will treat you to a meal.” He ran his fingers lightly down the length of Jared’s neck. “Are you game?”

“Sure.” Jared laughed. “Why not?” He turned and took hold of Kyrone’s hand. “The idea of a date is to get to know each other, and so far, I’ve discovered that you’re completely insane.”

“Is that good?” Kyrone asked.

“Very good. Who’s our target?”

Kyrone pursed his lips as he scanned the people walking past. Eventually, he nodded his head to the right and rubbed the side of his nose nonchalantly. “Do you see the guy wearing the Paddington Bear coat and Doctor Who scarf?”

Jared nodded.

“HQ have intelligence that he’s a superspy for the Russians.”

“The Russians?” Jared tilted his head. “Don’t you think they’d have chosen someone a bit more subtle?”

“That’s what theywantus to think. Our brief is to follow him and see if he does anything suspicious. We need to pay close attention to anyone he talks to as well.”

“I can do that.”

Kyrone squeezed Jared’s hand. “He’s on the move. Let’s go.”

They followed the ‘spy’ at a distance as he strode with purpose down the high street. His distinctive coat and scarf made him easy to see and keep track of, which was why Kyrone had chosen him. If he’d picked someone who didn’t stand out from the crowd, they would have had to follow more closely, which might have got a bit creepy. The idea was to have a bit of fun and to go to unexpected places, not annoy or worry someone.

Not that the ‘spy’ went anywhere too exciting, mostly popping in and out of stores, browsing, but not buying anything.

“Do you think he’s actively gathering intelligence?” Jared mused. “Or is he a sleeper spy who hasn’t been activated yet?”

“Oh! I like that!” Kyrone grinned. “Maybe he’s waiting for someone to say a specific word or phrase to him, and he’ll snap out of the daze of the mundane life he’s been leading and become a lethal assassin.”

“He doesn’t look very lethal.”

“I don’t know. You could do a lot of damage with that scarf.”

Jared laughed. “I suppose so. But it would be better if he was hiding a garrotte in his coat pocket.”

“Maybe he is.”

The first thing the ‘spy’—or ‘sleeper assassin’ as they’d seemed to settle on—bought was a newspaper, which he carried rolled up under his arm to the closest coffee shop. He ordered a coffee and a sticky Danish pastry and sat at a table outside, even though it was cold, reading the newspaper.

“I bet he does that every day,” Kyrone decided.

He and Jared had found a nearby bench to sit on. He smiled as Jared cuddled up close to him. The tip of Jared’s nose was red from the cold, and he had tucked his hands firmly into his pockets. Kyrone put an arm around his thin shoulders and held him tight to stave off the cold.

“Read the paper?” Jared asked.

“At a coffee shop. And he’ll always sit outside, whatever the weather.”

“Why?”