by Debra Webb
Unless they both survived and could prove the truth...they were done.
As he pulled away from the gas pump he startled her by turning back toward the city. “What about being bait?”
“I’ve decided you’re right. Charging straight into Glenstone is exactly what they expect me to do. Besides, the wedding itself is most important and if we don’t finish this...” His voice trailed off, his eyes tracking the sky. “If I don’t show up for the ceremony tomorrow night, Casey will kill me herself.”
Jo tucked the tablet into her purse. “Head back to the airport. I have another car parked in the garage.”
“I think I’d rather get a cab.”
She laughed at his overdone expression of horror and she couldn’t resist the devious sparkle in his eyes. “That’s not a bad idea.”
“It would get us past the choke point.”
“And we’d be in Glenstone to keep an eye on Whelan,” she said. Along with whomever he’d sent the message to. Knowing he wasn’t ready to tell her, she didn’t waste her breath with more questions.
At this point, she was just along for the ride.
Right...if she told herself that enough times maybe she would believe it.
She was here for him....
Chapter Sixteen
Glenstone Lodge
From the shade of the wide porch on the south side of the lodge, Victoria watched the wedding party tumble around in the fresh snow. The sun was shining and the air had a fresh bite. If not for the foot of snow, it was the perfect fall weather Casey had anticipated when she’d booked the resort for the long weekend celebration.
“It’s so beautiful. Almost like the mountain wanted to dress for the occasion,” she said to Cecelia, the mother of the bride.
“Keep that lovely sentiment ready to apply to a panicked bride-to-be.”
The snowball fight might have been ruthless had the children not been there, but it was no less entertaining for the safety precautions. There had been the inevitable battle of the sexes, and even she and Cecelia had gotten swept into that frenzy for a short time. Now they were both content to sit with piping hot cocoa and supervise the construction of a carefully designed snow fort.
Cecelia checked her watch. “Casey is due to ask about her uncle in another two minutes.”
Victoria gaped. “You’ve set your watch by her?”
The mother of the bride smiled. “Pretty much. I know my brother will make it, but at the moment I’d like to wring his neck.”
“Understandable,” Victoria said with a soft chuckle. “You can take it out on him during the reception.”
“Mmm. Something to look forward to. I appreciate your optimism.”
“Optimism?”
“Thomas has always been dedicated to his career and I admire him for it.” The chair creaked as she shifted. “Please don’t misunderstand. I know he sees his work as an extension of his responsibility to the family, but there are times when nothing can excuse a personal absence.”
Victoria knew precisely what she meant and took no offense at Cecelia’s concerns. “Thomas has good people on his team. Lucas told me he—”
“Are we talking about Uncle Thomas?” Casey knocked the snow from her mittens.
“Yes,” Victoria answered with a smile. “I was just telling your mother that whatever is keeping him, he won’t miss your special day.”
Casey met Victoria’s gaze. “You’d tell me if there was something serious, right?”
“Absolutely.” Victoria waved at a giggling cherubic face peeping up out of a snow tower. Luke, her grandson, was so precious. Jim and Tasha were around here somewhere. Those kids kept them on their toes. “The weather presented an unexpected problem, but the staff assured Lucas earlier if he isn’t in a car that can make the drive up from Glenstone,” Victoria assured her, “they can provide transportation.”
“Good. I was going to ask if Levi should go into Denver and pick him up.”
“No one needs to go anywhere. Least of all the groom,” Cecelia said. “Go on and play.”
“Mom,” Casey said, affecting a perfect, childlike pout.
Victoria thought it must have been a challenge for her parents to resist that expression when she’d been a little girl. As a trained CIA agent herself, Cecelia likely would have better success going up against a staunch enemy.
“Go on,” Cecelia repeated. “You’ll know as soon as we do about your uncle’s arrival. Enjoy yourself before it’s time to get nervous for the rehearsal.”
“I’m not the least bit nervous. I’ve surrounded myself with bridal armor chi,” Casey said, beaming as only a happy bride-to-be can. “I’d even wish the ceremony was tonight if Uncle Thomas was here.”
“He won’t miss it.” Cecelia made a shooing motion. “Go on.”
“Fine.” Casey kissed her mother on the cheek then swiped a finger though the whipped cream topping her mug.
Cecelia laughed. “Levi has no idea what a menace you are.”
Casey grinned. “Of course he does.”
Victoria thought the same thing as Casey dashed off to find her fiancé. Levi was a fine young man from a good family. He would cherish that young lady.
“Whatever is keeping Thomas, he won’t let it ruin her big day,” Victoria said when Casey was out of earshot. “He has good people dealing with any serious business. I’m sure this is just a transportation problem.”
But she wasn’t thinking of Thomas’s Specialists, she was thinking of her husband’s efforts to protect the wedding party. Since the arrival of the note last night, they’d been meeting quietly with several of the investigators in attendance. They’d developed a watch schedule and were keeping a keen eye on the personnel and deliveries to and from their secluded retreat.
If this Whelan character planned to threaten them, he’d find them prepared. Once more she prayed Thomas was equally prepared. She couldn’t imagine her husband’s grief if something were to happen to his best friend. Having dealt with more than her fair share of loss, she didn’t want bleak memories to mar this special time for Cecelia or Casey.
The distinct sound of her husband’s cane on the wooden planks of the porch floor drew her attention away from the group romping in the snow. She turned, hoping to catch his unguarded expression. She should have known better. His smile was warm, but his eyes were shaded by sunglasses, an effective shield. He would know she wasn’t alone and wouldn’t risk creating more worry than already floated on the thin air.
“There’s a perfectly good fire going inside,” he said after greeting Cecelia. “If you’ve had enough fun out here.”
“I suppose sitting with you by the fire would be fair consolation after the girls trounced you boys in the snowball fight,” Victoria teased. It would be a long time before she let him forget that victory.
“Your pity is appreciated,” he replied with a deep bow.
She couldn’t help it; the man charmed her no matter the circumstances. “You’re welcome to join us,” she said to Cecelia.
“No, thank you. I’m perfectly content right here.” She patted the camera on the arm of the chair. “I want to get pictures of the finished fort.”
Victoria walked away on Lucas’s arm, wondering what news he didn’t want to share in front of the mother of the bride. “She knows something is wrong. So does Casey.”
“That’s no shock. They’re intelligent women and highly trained professionals,” Lucas said.
Victoria could feel the tension in his arm, knew he was starting to worry. She let him help her out of her coat when they reached the sitting room and settled in front of the fire. While several questions ran through her head, she knew he wouldn’t tell her anything until he was ready.
He removed his sunglasses, confirming her suspicions that his reasons for wearing them went beyond the bright sunshine glaring off the snow.
“He won’t make the rehearsal,” he stated without preamble.
Victoria glanced at her watch. “There are hours yet
.”
Lucas shook his head. “We have to make a plan in case he can’t shake this.”
She didn’t want to believe he was giving up, but the resignation was clear on his face. The sadness was already tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You’re talking about Thomas Casey. He’s second only to you in ability to get out of trouble.”
The tension eased as Lucas’s mouth tipped into a half smile. “We’ll have to wait and see. I know he’s determined and that’s a good thing. But I’d feel better if I could talk with him.”
“He’ll be here.” It was starting to feel like a mantra. “Does Holt have any relevant news?”
“No. But the Specialist who warned us about Whelan mentioned an Initiative investigation,” he said quietly. “They suspect Thomas of treason. I’ve sent the Drakes out to help.”
Victoria barely smothered her reaction. Treason and Thomas Casey were as opposite as the north and south poles. “Did he give you a name or anything we can work with?”
“Agent DeRossi is all I have.” Lucas leaned on his cane. “Whatever he’s dealing with, I fear it falls to us to keep the bride calm.”
Victoria smiled and reached over to catch his hand with hers. “I’ve talked with Levi and her maid of honor. She’s steady and confident her uncle will come through.”
“I know.”
Lucas had several reasons to know and appreciate Casey’s nerves. Not only was he the girl’s godfather, but also he’d trusted her with a task he’d kept secret from Victoria. She couldn’t throw stones, as she’d secretly sent Levi into the field for the same purpose.
That mission had resolved a security issue threatening Lucas and Victoria as well as the Colby Agency. It had also brought Casey and Levi together.
“Casey offered to make a call.”
“I can’t imagine the CIA’s involvement would be wise at this point,” Victoria said.
Lucas nodded slowly. “I talked her out of it.”
Knowing Casey, Victoria wasn’t so sure the girl had really given up the idea of sending someone to assist her uncle. Saying so wouldn’t ease her husband’s concern, however, so she kept it to herself. For now.
“Has she asked you to fill in for Thomas at the rehearsal?”
He shook his head. “I changed the subject before she could ask. He’ll be here.”
“Yes, he will.”
“Only one thing would keep him away.”
A heavy silence fell between them and the fire couldn’t touch the chill of potential disaster.
Victoria was relieved to hear the voices and booted feet when several of the wedding guests tromped in from outside.
They needed the happy distraction.
Chapter Seventeen
6:30 p.m.
From the wide glass windows of the suite, Lucas glowered down at the empty driveway as if he could make Thomas show up by sheer willpower alone.
He’d had far too much time to dwell on the parts of this nasty business to which he was privy.
“It’s a setup,” he grumbled. The idea that anyone could accuse Thomas of treason after all he’d given up in service for his country was laughable. But very few people had the clearance to read his file and understand the joke. Nine out of ten of Thomas’s efforts in the field would be locked down with a classified label until the end of time. And the tenth would forever be buried deep in the archives of “never happened.”
“Of course it is,” Victoria said, stepping up beside him.
The warmth of her arms sliding around his waist was a balm to his senses. They were a good team and he was more grateful every day that they had each other. Yet, having her near only emphasized just how alone Thomas was out there.
“If he could just get up here, we could help him.”
“Relax,” she said. “You’ve done all you can. They’ll find a way to clear his name.”
He turned within her embrace and cupped her chin. “You’re an optimist.”
“So I’ve been told. I always considered myself a pragmatist. Optimism must be a side effect of our consistent success rate.” She smiled, raising his hand to her lips and kissing his palm. “Doesn’t make me wrong.”
“No. It doesn’t,” he admitted. “Why are you so sure when I have so many doubts?”
“Intuition.”
“Hmph.” He struggled against the helpless feeling lodged in his chest.
“Aside from intuition, there is the cold hard truth that Thomas isn’t capable of treason. Which means, setup or not, he will find a way to prevail.”
“Before tomorrow’s ceremony.” Lucas hoped.
She reached out and smoothed his tie. “Nothing like a deadline to inspire some people.”
He felt himself smiling, despite his misgivings. “We have the most talented investigators in the world under this roof. There should be more we can do.”
“We’re as prepared as we can be.” She stepped back, adjusted the pendant at her throat. “We have to wait it out.”
He thought of the men and women, here with spouses and children to celebrate Casey and Levi, and he understood what she wasn’t saying. If a madman who liked to blow things up planned a strike against Thomas, the wedding was the perfect target to cause the most emotional damage and retire the most influential and revered man in the spy business.
As close as he and Thomas were, not even Lucas knew an enemy who would make such a bold and diabolical play.
His wife was right. They needed everyone on site alert and in protective mode to prevent a deadly assault on the wedding. As much as it grated against his instincts, he would have to trust Specialist Grant and the Drakes to help Thomas out without backup from him.
“I should have insisted he rent skis instead of staying in Denver last night.”
“That’s absurd.”
“Only if it had failed.” He smiled at her exasperated expression. Somehow it made him feel a little better. He offered her his arm, the cane in his other hand in case his leg grew weary. “Let’s go practice a wedding.”
Downstairs in the grand room designated for the ceremony, chairs were already arranged to create an aisle.
Lucas exchanged a glance with Jim Colby and knew the security measures they’d added were still functioning as they should. The minister had driven up from the village and claimed the roads were passable, if not exactly easy to navigate. He sounded grateful Casey had arranged for him to stay at the resort the next two nights.
Dressed in a sleek pink cocktail dress, Casey glowed with happiness. He could only imagine how much brighter she’d be tomorrow evening when the ceremony was official.
Her smile faded a fraction when Thomas wasn’t there to practice pacing or his one important line. Her gaze had locked with Lucas’s and he’d nodded toward her mother. He didn’t want to fill in unless he absolutely had to but he would do whatever was needed of him.
As she walked down the aisle, Casey only had eyes for Levi, and Lucas knew whatever happened with her uncle, her focus was rightly on the moment of greatest importance.
Thirty minutes later the entire assembly was enjoying another festive meal. The mood was light and the guests had fun toasting the bride and groom.
Levi’s mother joked about the weather and learning how to pack a snowball, but Lucas had experienced firsthand her good aim in the earlier snowball fight.
When dessert had come and gone, Casey invited the wedding party to open the small wrapped boxes at each place setting before the guests broke apart to the various entertainments.
Levi left his seat and brought a gift to Lucas. “Mr. Camp, Casey asked me to give you this.”
Lucas glanced down at the small box wrapped in the soft pink-and-mint-green wedding colors. He was surprised and a bit wary. Though he was Casey’s godfather, he wasn’t an official member of the wedding party. “Thank you.”
Exchanging a look with his wife, Lucas carefully unwrapped the small box and opened it to find a digital key chain. Around him, others were already chatting and
smiling at the images included in their similar gifts.
Lucas followed suit, but the images on his key chain weren’t of today’s outdoor fun, or a recollection of earlier times with Casey. He was looking at screenshots of DeRossi’s personnel jacket and her itinerary for the weekend. There was even a candid shot of her with Thomas near a car at the airport.
Victoria leaned closer as he showed her. “What a thoughtful gift.”
“Definitely.” Across the room, he met Casey’s curious gaze and saluted her resourcefulness with a quick nod. “She must have overheard me and made a call anyway.”
He dropped the key chain into his pocket until he and Victoria could make a reasonable departure from the party.
Thanks to Casey’s determination, maybe there was more he could do. He hoped there was something here that would prove helpful to freeing Thomas from DeRossi and the accusations she was investigating.
Chapter Eighteen
Glenstone Village, 9:38 p.m.
Jo stared out the window and up toward the snowy peak of the mountain. She could just picture the slopes dotted with skiers in a few months’ time. Provided Whelan didn’t blow it up in the next few hours.
The cab had been a brilliant idea and gotten them through the choke point without any problem, but now Jo had to wonder what came next. They’d spent the afternoon like a couple of tourists, walking about window shopping, holding hands and otherwise blending in.
They did make time to purchase new cell phones and clothes better suited for the weather. Even though it was a bold attempt to draw the enemy closer, nothing had happened. She hated the way their pretense made her want so badly for this to be real. Her frustration was only compounded when they’d not seen any sign of Whelan.
“We’ll start again in the morning,” Thomas said, coming up behind her and laying his hands gently on her shoulders. His thumbs rubbed slow circles at the base of her neck and she felt herself melting under his touch.
“It’s a small town. Where else can he be?” She immediately regretted the question. “He can’t be at the lodge already.”
