Hidden Motive - A Hamilton Kane Mystery

Chapter 13

You'd think that a meeting with Death would be nerve-wrecking and anyone in this position would be sweating balls. Not my father though. Cool and calm as a cucumber, he quietly worked on a laptop throughout our flight to Rome as if it was just another day of business.

He barely touched the food served and only asked the bare minimum about the deaths of my fellow officers that had started all this cat-and-mouse game. Aside from that, we did not speak much and I spent my time looking through my case notes to get a semblance of something familiar to balance off the insanity that had been unfolding in the last twenty-four hours.

While trying to squeeze out some sort of connection between the cases and Reggie's team, a soft ping alerted me that I had received a text message which was the last thing I was expecting since I had completely forgotten about my phone.

Whipping it out of my pocket, I noted that I had about three dozen missed calls from various people from work. Most of it from the captain.

Damn it. I forgot to let him know I'm alive and kicking. He's going to give me an earful if I call him back now. I'll drop him a text once we land.

Sighing inwardly, I felt a pang in my chest that not a single one was from someone non-work related. Guess I really am married to my job.

After scrolling through the messages, my eye caught one from an unknown number and instinctively clicked it open.

"See you in Rome, Little Lamb..."

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There was no one else in the colosseum aside from my father and I. According to him, the rules of engagement is that there be no bodyguards nor weapons allowed. Devices of any kind are also not permitted. Timing was purposely vague as well to ensure no prior set-up could be made to cause any inconvenience.

"So how long do you normally have to wait for him to make an appearance?" I asked casually as I sat on the ground and stretched my legs out on in front of me.

"The last time I'd come here, he made me wait a week," my father answered as he sat across from me looking out at the stands for any movement.

"That's rude! Aren't you king or something?" I asked, surprised that the corners of my father's mouth actually curved upwards in the slightest.

"I met him before I took on the mantel. Hence why no one, including Death, knew I am the King until recently. Demetri wanted to teach me that Death bows down to no one and comes when it is his time," he replied simply.

"Demetri? That's the person who dare make Hamilton Kane wait?" I asked unable to stop myself from snickering at the thought of my father being put in his place.

"It is the name he gave me to address him by. Whether it is his actual name no one knows," a glint of warmth in my father's eyes showed me that he found the memory quite fond.

We sat there for a little while as I soaked in the atmosphere and the companionable silence that fell between us.

I must be dreaming because I have never felt this comfortable and relaxed being in my father's presence before.

I watched him tilt his head back and close his eyes as if he, too, was savouring the moment. After what felt like a good amount of time, I took in a deep breath before asking him the one question that I was most afraid to ask.