By the end of his week in London, Cerdic had narrowed down his plans to the point that he only had to make the decision on which person he would manipulate into augmenting them. To that end, his next instructions to Hamlin were to continue what he had been doing, using all of his contacts in the city to his best advantage, but concentrating only on the two people in question.
Now, as he finished packing for his return flight back to New York, he watched Hamlin who was sitting at the table going over the notes he’d given him. Eventually the young man looked up with a taut smile on his face.
“It won’t be easy, but I’ll get what you need.”
“Of course you will. I wouldn’t have chosen you for the job if I didn’t have implicit faith in your abilities. I shall expect daily reports from you, whether you find anything or not. I want to be kept appraised.” Cerdic handed Hamlin a cell phone. “Keep this in a very safe place, but not on your person, perhaps somewhere here in the hotel.”
“I know just the place. I’m assuming this is a safe phone?”
“Extremely.” Cerdic spent a few minutes showing him exactly how to use it and then Hamlin stood, gathering up the papers he’d been studying. Cerdic stopped him, putting one hand on his shoulder. “Be safe, stay safe. There are few in this world I care about, you are one of them.”
Hamlin nodded, surprised that Cerdic had let down his walls enough to say that. “I’ll be careful. I’d really like to be around to see you accomplish your agenda.”
Cerdic smiled in reply, for a brief second wishing he could explain everything to Hamlin. That however was not an option; it never had been in all his long life, it never would be. Scriostóir were by the very description of their responsibilities, loners. The fact that Hamlin had even figured out as much as he had was somewhat worrying, but Cerdic hadn’t lied when he said he trusted him. If ever the young man betrayed him, Cerdic would personally put the knife to his heart and plunge it in.
Reverting now to his duties as an employee of the hotel, Hamlin picked up Cerdic’s bags, standing by the door as his mentor made one final check of the room to be certain he’d forgotten nothing. Then the two men left, walking down the hall to the elevator. When they reached the lobby, Cerdic stopped at the front desk to sign out while Hamlin went to get him a cab.
“Sir,” the desk clerk said, “this message came for you just moments ago.” The desk clerk handed Cerdic a slip of paper.
After reading it, a frown creasing his forehead, Cerdic thanked her. Taking a deep breath to regain his composure, Cerdic went to join Hamlin. “I shall expect to hear from you tomorrow,” he told the young man quietly.
“And every day thereafter, I won’t forget.” Hamlin held the cab door open for Cerdic. “Have a safe trip home, sir”
“Thank you, I shall,” Cerdic replied, not telling him that his plans had suddenly changed. After Hamlin closed the cab door, Cerdic gave the driver the address of his new destination.
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