at him, compelled by the confidence in his voice. “I know we will,” she said, ready to give everything to this new mission.
“Should I tell Fast Lane about all this?”
“Of course, you should. We might need their help. This is pretty big. We have to get more concrete information. It’s really going to be up to who we can convince there is a threat to move the internal British intelligence machine. Also, I don’t think we should tell the British government there’s more plots in the making. Again, too risky of something leaking. We’ll only deal with the specific authorities in the matter, The Vatican police force and Italian Intelligence.”
Dodger grabbed his cell, setting it to speaker and filled Fast Lane in on what they were up against. He was as concerned as Anna had been about the scope of the plot. He suggested bringing Kat into the picture. They agreed it might be needed. Fast Lane told Dodger in a terse voice what had happened when they’d gone for the HVT. Dodger was understandably distressed.
“Are you all right,” Anna asked.
“To be honest, I’m torn. I want to be here for you, but…that’s my team.”
“Saint’s going to be all right, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, from what LT said, but bollocks, I should have been there.”
She soothed him. “It’s a terrible situation, but they can handle it. I know they can. I have to admit, I’m glad you stayed.”
She hugged him close as the night settled around them.
Morning came quickly. Anna hadn’t slept as well as she usually did, even with Dodger cuddled up to her. There was a lot riding on their ability to not only get the authorities involved but try to keep everything under the radar so Angar Said and Stjepanić were left in the dark.
They had breakfast and packed their bags, then Mouse made their flight arrangements, using an alias that Mouse cooked up for her. Dodger could travel on his own passport. They were booked on the same flight, but in different seats to keep anyone from looking at Dodger’s companion too closely. That’s if whoever was hunting her was even aware she was with Dodger. She trusted his team to keep it secret that they were working together.
She decided the old lady disguise would work wonderfully. She was listed as an English citizen so it would be easy for her to get through customs.
Dodger went over to Mouse and said, “We need you on this, mate. You have the intel and the access to systems that will help us track Minar. Could you work it so you could meet us in London, say by tomorrow?”
“Do I get to meet your family, too?” he asked with a hopeful expression.
Dodger shook his head and grinned. “Yeah, all right.”
“Then consider it done. I’ll put in for leave and they can replace me for a few weeks.”
“Brilliant,” Dodger said.
Anna stopped next to him after Dodger headed for the door. “We couldn’t do this without you. Thank you again.”
He flushed and ducked his head. “Yeah, get going or you’ll miss your flight. You look amazing, by the way.”
She laughed a soft, wheezy laugh, dropping into character. “I’m the sweetest old lady you could imagine. People will be falling over themselves to help me cross the street.”
“I have no doubt.”
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, and he waved her off. She joined Dodger on the stairs.
The flight was uneventful and both of them breezed through security and customs. Anna’s alias worked like a charm. She had men helping her, women giving her breaks, and she played her role to the max with plenty of dearies and loves to keep them all clueless that she was a young CIA operative on the lam with her Navy SEAL partner and they were on the second leg of saving the world.
When they landed at Heathrow, Anna quickly removed her disguise outside in secret while Dodger rented a car and picked her up. “I’ll need to go shopping,” she said. “We need evening clothes, and you need a tux.”
“No, I’m okay with evening wear.”
Her brows rose. “Is that so?”
After she got what she needed at the nearest mall, she saw why he didn’t need a tux. They rolled up to a well-maintained stone road to what she could only call an estate. “You’re filthy rich?”
“My parents are. I’ve got some money in a trust, but I prefer being a SEAL to sitting on my butt in Parliament talking. I’m more of an action man.”