Page 26 of Knight Watch

The frightened young woman looked at her with a flare of hope in her watery eyes. “Do you think so?”

“Yes, I do. And there are good people out there that can protect you.” She was looking at him with a small smile.

“Here, use my phone and see. I think you’ll be surprised.”

Kingsley handed her his phone. The woman took it tentatively, looking at it then her son before dialing the number. Kingsley took a step back, as did Sydney, to give her privacy. Debbie stood as the woman began to speak. “Mom,” she said, then burst into tears.

Debbie smiled as she took the little boy to the counter and found him some pencils and paper. Kingsley followed, his eyes now looking out for Chuck-the-wife-beater as well as Raymond and his men.

He took his wallet back out to settle the bill, and Debbie put her hand over his. “No, you did a good thing. Most men would walk past and ignore it. I got you wrong. Doesn’t happen very often, but I did. This is on me as a thank you for helping out a woman in need.”

“It was nothing; anyone would have done the same.”

“No, they wouldn’t, and I insist.” She patted his hand a gave him a smile that transformed her face from drab to beautiful.

“Fine, Debbie, on one condition.”

“What’s that?” she asked with a tilt to her head.

“You smile more. You’re beautiful when you smile.”

He watched as the blush crept across her face. “You Brits are all charmers, aren’t you?” she said with bluster as they walked back to the young mom who gave him back his phone.

“Well?”

“My brother is coming to collect me.” Tears pricked her eyes but not with tears of terror or sadness but with relief and the first smile she had given in what was probably months.

“Good.” He smiled. “And if you ever need anything just give me a call, my number is on the back of that card,” he said, sliding the card forward.

He turned to Sydney who was watching him. “We need to get going.”

“Thank you again for your help,” the woman said as she watched her son draw.

“My pleasure.”

He walked with Sydney to the door, held it while she exited ahead of him and helped her into the car. Settling himself in the driver’s seat, he turned to her. “So when do I get to collect on my bet?

“Whenever you want,” she answered, and Kingsley smiled looking forward to that more than he probably should be.