Aeneas was a remarkable little dog, Anatoly thought as the two of them embarked on their afternoon walk. He spent as much time staying with Cassie as he did with him and Lex but it hardly seemed to bother him. He seemed happy as long as he had food and someone to pay attention to him and Anatoly wished he could find some measure of that kind of serenity for himself.

He let his mind wander as they walked along the beach and it wasn't until he heard a voice that he realized Aeneas had run far ahead of him. The voice was horribly familiar and he could feel his stomach twist up at the very sound of those drawn out vowel sounds. He had not been prepared for Florence's arrival and he was even less prepared for Walter de Courcey.

He rounded the corner and was both shocked and relieved to see a strange man being greeted enthusiastically rather than the CIA agent he was dreading.

"I am so sorry," he called out, his voice a little shaky despite himself. "I was not paying attention. Aeneas, come back here!"