chapter 3

"Little girl, I found your Angie. I'm bringing her to you." Roderick laid Angie's unconscious body at Michelle's feet. "I'll be right back, there's someone else laying on the ground."

"That's Papa. they killed him, is Angie dead too?" Came the child's anxious and sad reply.

"How old are you?" Roderick asked in a gruff voice.

"Six, please help my sister. Why isn't she moving?" She was crying in ernst now.

"She's asleep. I'll be right back, I'm going to get the watch over here. Stay right here with your Angie."

"Oh please come back. my name is Michelle McAllister, my papa, he worked for the war department. His name was Roger McAllister. Please go to 43 Shea Street and ask for Mr Simcoe. Tell him that my papa is dead and that Angie is hurt, he'll take care of it all." She begged.

"How do you know this?" He was perplexed.

"Papa made us remember what to say in case he's killed." She replied in a soft voice. She looked at her sister then at Roderick was such old eyes that Roderick was shocked at the sight of them.

"I'll be back, I swear." Roderick stood up and handed the Michelle his knife. "Use this on anyone that tries to hurt either you or your sister." he turned on his heel and walked briskly away.

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"Mr. Simcoe, I have in my care a Miss Angie McAllister and her little sister, Michelle. Miss Angie was seriously injured and is at my country estate in my mother's care recovering. Their father, Roger, was murdered last night in front of the young ladies. What am I to do with them?" Roderick as wryly of his boss.

"Since you're not currently on assignment, I'm putting you in charge of the care of Roger's daughters. They are very valuable to the war office, especially the oldest girl. She knows how to decode like her father before her. The one that killed Roger will come for her and I want you to protect her by any means. Do I make myself clear?" Mr. Simcoe said as an order that Roderick couldn't disobey. Roderick snapped to attention and saluted his boss.

"Yes sir. I'll protect her anyway humanly possible." He couldn't fathom why when he reiterated those words that he felt a dead weight of dread settle into the pit of his stomach.

After he concluded his business with Mr. Simcoe he went to Whites. While he was sprawled comfortably in a winged back chair nursing a cognac his brother, Darren, stopped in front of him and hovered until Roderick gave him his full attention. "What do you want, Darren?" Roderick growled in mock anger.

"You no old chap even though you're a few years my senior doesn't mean I couldn't put you on the ground at Gentleman Jack's." Darren said with a winning smile.