by Debra Webb
She rolled her eyes. “Which is why I wanted to meet somewhere other than a secure conference room.”
And yet this was the first she’d mentioned her doubts about her own department. “Then the outbreak changed your mind about me?”
“Don’t be absurd. You’re no more capable of betraying this country than I am. It just changed the timeline.”
He thought about the evidence she’d shown him, and more specifically about the copy of an email in her file that someone had forwarded to her about the outbreak. “Have you traced the email back to the source?”
“No. Which is part of my problem. We might take a closer look at something based solely on a vague informant, but we’ve never launched a full investigation without some sort of corroborating evidence. And the investigator typically has full access and authority.”
Considering where they were and how they’d gotten here, it felt like she had the authority aspect firmly under control.
“What did they give you the authority to do with me?”
Her laughter was as brittle as the air outside. “The most I can do is arrest you. Any idea that I would take a more permanent action against you is simply being melodramatic or paranoid.”
Stunned, Thomas gaped at her. Drama wasn’t something he or anyone on his team indulged in. Paranoia, on the other hand, wasn’t as bad as she made it sound.
“Let’s go back a few months,” he said. “The supply audits. Do you think someone was looking for the virus?”
“I only knew about one audit, but in light of everything between then and now, I’d say it’s likely.”
“I wouldn’t store anything incriminating at Mission Recovery. Not if I intended to sell it off.”
“Which is why I searched your house.”
He was sure he’d misunderstood her. “Care to repeat that?”
Exasperated, she rolled her eyes. “Would you have preferred someone else go through your things?”
He could rail about legalities, but the truth was in their line of work, that line was often blurred in the quest for immediate justice. Technically, his career and his entire team of Specialists didn’t legally exist. While he often exploited that to the benefit of the mission it was a double-edged sword that sliced against him now.
“How do we get in front of this?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Honestly, I thought I was in front of it when I met you at the airport. Obviously I wasn’t there alone.”
“Did you see someone other than Jason?”
Her mouth twitched again and she was suddenly absorbed by the pattern in the quilt.
Thinking back to her face when she met him at the rental car line he said, “Let me rephrase. Who else did you see at the airport?”
“Only Grant.” She peered up, and he knew she was trying to read his reaction. “I thought maybe there was someone else, but it was only him. At first I thought maybe he was here for the wedding, but he tailed me for days before you arrived.”
“So he knew about the rental car—”
“Cars,” she clarified.
“And the cabin, too?”
“No. He knows about a hotel suite I booked for us.”
“Us?” To his dismay, memories of the hotel suite in Austria filled his mind. Where was his objectivity? His career, even his life, depended on figuring this out. It was hardly the time for his more basic urges to dominate his thinking.
“I told you he didn’t rig that bomb or even push the trigger,” Thomas said, scrubbing at the stubble on his chin.
“Who are you trying to convince?”
“I don’t need to convince anyone. I know my agents.” Pieces of his well-ordered world were all too ready to fracture and splinter. He knew Jason was clean. In this business gut instinct counted for so much. When he’d had the chance at the convenience store to call any number of people for help, he had called Jason.
“So you knew he was assigned to tail me.”
He shook his head, refusing to lie to her, even though it made him look bad. “No.”
“Then Holt must have sent him out. Unless your agents have the authority to go off on their own assignments.”
“If that were true—” and he wasn’t about to admit she wasn’t far off the mark “—why would Grant follow you? Most likely Holt caught wind of your investigation.”
She yawned and he automatically mimicked her. The events of the day were catching up to both of them. She might have been ready to intercept him, but the explosion and chase had been a shock to her.
It sure as hell had been a shock to him.
“That’s what I thought, too, when I first spotted Grant. Your team is so dedicated to you.” Her eyelids were drooping. “I had fun leading him around on a couple of shopping sprees.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” She gave him a sleepy grin. “I visited some exclusive girl-power boutiques.”
“What’d you buy?” His imagination was filling in blanks that he had no business thinking about. Shoes. Maybe those heels she’d worn today were new. Did she have a weakness for shoes? “Jo?”
This time she really was asleep. “Guess I’ve got first watch,” he whispered. It didn’t bother him as he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep with so much on his mind and her so close. Still, he seemed content just to take in the view of her beautiful face while she wouldn’t know he was watching. Her features were exotic and slender, dark and alluring. She had mesmerized him the first time he’d laid eyes on her. And if that weren’t enough she was endlessly fascinating. Intelligent and determined.
One of her bare feet peeked out from the blanket. He got up and adjusted the blanket to cover it, then changed his mind. Gently scooping her into his arms, he shifted her to the couch, where she could be more comfortable. The feel of her soft, small body almost undid him. He wanted her with a ferocity that caught him off guard.
Somehow he had to protect her from whatever the hell this was.
With nothing else to do but listen to the fire and watch the snow pile higher, he settled into the chair and deconstructed everything he’d learned from her preliminary file and current events.
Sometimes it was impossible to nail down trouble unless you went backward...beyond the beginning and retraced the steps required to get to a certain place.
He watched the sleeping woman who had haunted his dreams for five years.
If they survived, he needed to retrace their steps...to that place that only this woman had ever taken him.
Chapter Twelve
Glenstone Lodge, Friday, October 17, 8:00 a.m.
With a kiss, Lucas left Victoria with tea in their suite and went down to the dining room for breakfast. She preferred her quiet time in the mornings.
Some days he couldn’t believe he was lucky enough to be with her. Maybe it was being surrounded by the happiness of the bride and groom and an entire resort full of contented people, but he couldn’t stop smiling. After all the years of dedication and sacrifice for the job, being here right now with Victoria and so many friends made it all worthwhile.
The resort had a full breakfast buffet going and he smiled to himself as agents he’d known through both the Colby Agency and his own time with Mission Recovery came and went, alone or with families in tow.
Outside the big bank of windows, the mountains glistened with more than a foot of fresh snow. Most of the children and several adults were chatting about what snowy adventure to tackle first.
He walked down to the front desk and asked for the manager.
“Good morning, Mr. Camp.” The lady flashed a bright smile.
“Good morning.” Lucas was quite impressed with the service here. “Have you heard anything about the condition of the roads in Denver? More specifically between Denver and Glenstone? Our final guest was delayed by yesterday’s storm.”
He’d expected Thomas to call first thing this morning, but so far, he hadn’t heard a word. The cell towers were back up and working now. If the roads wer
e clear he should be on his way. As excited as he knew Thomas was about this, and after the cryptic message, he’d been looking forward to that phone call. It seemed they had much to discuss.
“Denver got buried in fifteen inches,” she explained. “A storm this early plays havoc with plows but the thoroughfares should be clear by midday at the latest.”
“Do you think it will take a ski lift to get him up here?”
The manager gave a nod. “If he shows up in Glenstone and his car can’t handle the climb up to us, we’ll send a driver or even a snowmobile. Everyone who was on the schedule this morning had no trouble with the roads, but they’re locals and used to winter driving.”
“Good.” Lucas was pleased the manager had inadvertently given him another important detail: everyone who was supposed to be at the lodge was here. “He’s giving the bride away and I have a feeling she’s not going down that aisle without him.”
“Whatever it takes to make her day all she’s dreamed it would be, that’s what we’ll do.”
“Thank you.”
Lucas pulled out his cell phone and put a call through to Thomas’s cell number one more time as he moved on to the dining room and the scents of breakfast. Once more, the call went immediately to voice mail. Having left two messages already, he didn’t bother to leave a third.
Spotting Blue at the coffee service table, he joined her. They exchanged a quick greeting before she got straight to the point. “Have you heard from the director?”
“Not so far.” He pocketed the phone and produced a smile. “I was just trying to get through. Any update on the explosion?” He’d purposely left the television off in hopes that Victoria wouldn’t hear anything more disturbing than what she suspected already.
Thomas Casey might very well be in trouble.
Blue stirred cream into her coffee. “Nothing other than one car obliterated and several others with varying degrees of damage. If they have leads, they aren’t saying so.”
Lucas debated making another call to local law enforcement and decided against it.
“Maybe he overslept,” Blue said. “The altitude can do that.”
He gave her a skeptical look. They were talking about Thomas Casey here.
“Fair enough.” She relented with a nod. “Oversleeping isn’t something Director Casey would do. Is there anything you need from Noah or me? I’ve alerted my colleagues. Whatever trouble might be brewing, we’re braced for it.”
He patted her shoulder. She was one of his favorite people, brave and dedicated to both her career and her husband. “For now, just enjoy yourself. I’m sure there’s a simple explanation for his delay. But being prepared is an excellent idea.”
It was Blue’s turn to give him a look loaded with skepticism. “But you’re worried.”
He smiled. “At the moment my biggest concern is upsetting Casey. I want this entire weekend to be one she will treasure for the rest of her life.”
“We’ll help keep her distracted. I’m sure he’ll be here in time for the rehearsal. Several of us are planning to take advantage of the fresh snow. Though no one is skiing until after the ceremony. Don’t want any injuries getting in the way of the festivities. Want to join in?”
It sounded like just the kind of fun they could all use but he needed to stay on top of this situation with Thomas. Lucas spotted his wife at the doorway. He excused himself and pushed his concerns for Thomas aside and walked over to greet her.
“I thought you were enjoying some quiet time,” he said. “I was going to surprise you with fruit and cream. The strawberries look delicious.”
She looped her arm through his. “The room was just too lonely without you.”
Lucas brushed a kiss across her cheek. He was indeed a lucky man.
When they were seated, with a pot of coffee and a plate of fruit between them, he filled her in on some of the plans to enjoy the snow.
“I’d love to join in, but I’ll settle for supervising the snowmen building. Jamie and Luke will be in the middle of it and you know I can’t resist anything when it comes to our grandchildren.”
“Afraid you’ll lose the war-of-the-sexes snowball fight?”
She searched his face for a moment. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really on your mind this morning, Lucas?”
He paused, the coffee mug halfway to his lips. Carefully he returned it to the table. “What are you implying, my dear?”
“You haven’t heard from Thomas.”
He wasn’t sure how she did that and some days he wished she didn’t possess such perceptive powers. It would make for protecting her far easier. “He’s not answering his cell.”
“Maybe he’s with his plus one.”
“I beg your pardon?” Thomas would have told him if he’d planned to bring a guest to the wedding.
“I was chatting with the bride and her mother last night. Thomas returned the RSVP card with a ‘plus one.’” She put it in air quotes as if that would help him make sense of it.
“And you’re just now telling me?” That was certainly an interesting development. Thomas Casey had enjoyed his share of romantic interludes, Lucas felt confident, but he never indulged in a personal relationship. He was too focused on the job. Lucas had warned him that he was going to wake up alone one morning and wish he’d taken the time to have a home life.
“You’ve been distracted,” Victoria pointed out.
“He must have been making room on the guest list for a new Specialist.” Which begged the question: Why would the director of Mission Recovery feel the need to do that?
Victoria shook her head, a small pitying smile on her lips. “I doubt it.”
“Well, I know he’s not dating anyone. Thomas Casey doesn’t date.”
“Are you sure?” Her smug grin faded. “I hoped to get all the details out of you.”
“The high altitude and all these happy wedding vibes have skewed your thinking,” he teased.
“Oh, I resent that.” She chose a slice of melon and ignored him for a moment. “Levi and Casey are so in love, it is easy to see hearts and flowers everywhere,” she finally allowed. “That doesn’t change his RSVP card.”
“Those had to be turned in two or three weeks ago.”
“His continued absence is beginning to make you wonder if something is awry at Mission Recovery.”
He nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
“I could blame your concerns on a lack of oxygen, too. Paranoia is known to be a symptom.”
“Only extreme cases,” Lucas said with a wry smile. He topped off his coffee, his mind flipping through the various scenarios that could delay Thomas. They both knew neither paranoia nor altitude had his instincts prickling like this.
“Cecelia says he cleared his calendar for this weekend.”
“That’s what worries me most.” Cecelia was Thomas’s sister and the mother of the bride.
“You know him best, but I don’t believe he would willingly combine any sort of business with Casey’s wedding unless he had no other choice.”
“You’re absolute correct, my dear, not willingly,” he said with a meaningful look. “But the man has enemies who would gladly take a shot at him if the opportunity arose.”
His wife laid her hand over his. “Unfortunately, we all do, Lucas.”
“I know.” He drummed up a smile, to forget the more dire scenarios nagging at him.
“But you want to do something.”
“He hasn’t called. Considering the explosion last night, and the tip about Whelan, he would have called if he was in the position to. But there isn’t even a message.”
“So call Holt. I’ll go to the buffet and give you some privacy.”
Lucas stood as his wife left the table, then resumed his seat and pulled up the number on his cell phone. He’d been in Holt’s shoes, serving as Deputy Director to Thomas Casey. It wasn’t an easy job and in Holt’s shoes, he wouldn’t appreciate a surprise inquiry from a predecessor. Yet, under the circumstances, it was t
he logical move. Holt, provided he had the right information, could quickly put Lucas’s worries to rest.
He waited through three frustrating rings for an answer. “Good morning, Lucas.”
Lucas wasn’t surprised by the informal greeting; Mission Recovery had all the tech toys and, being retired, Lucas didn’t try to hide his trail so much anymore.
“Have you heard from Director Casey this morning?”
“I thought he was with you.”
“An early blizzard hit Denver yesterday. He agreed to wait it out in the city.”
Hearing Holt’s note of surprise, Lucas made a conscious effort not to read too much into the sound.
“I assumed he made it to the lodge and couldn’t call because the networks were down,” Holt said at last.
“When was he supposed to check in?” Cleared schedule or not, Lucas knew his friend. Thomas would want to be kept up to date while he was out of the office.
Again, Holt hesitated, but this time Lucas understood it was about security protocols. “You know my clearance is still valid,” he growled into the phone.
“That isn’t the issue, Lucas. He missed last night’s call and I’d hoped he missed this morning’s check-in because he was distracted with the wedding.”
But Lucas and Holt both knew there was zero chance of the director missing two check-in calls unless he was physically incapacitated. Thinking of Whelan, he didn’t want to discuss it on an open line in a busy dining room. “Are there any open cases?”
“Always.”
“In this area,” Lucas clarified.
“Of course not.”
Lucas interpreted that too-quick reply as a yes. “Well, that’s something. The bride needs him. Call me when you hear something. I’ll do the same. At what point are you engaging a team?”
“A wedding doesn’t warrant a recovery op,” Holt snapped.
His flare of temper seemed unwarranted in Lucas’s opinion. “No. But a missing director sure as hell does. I can put an asset on the task if I need to. I have the personnel right here.”
“Is that a threat?”
Lucas hoped that was the man’s insecurities showing and nothing more. “Not a threat, Holt. It’s a promise.”
