to the worst that man was capable of. The highly trained Specialists in Mission Recovery were only called in when all else failed.
Ian acknowledged Lucas with a mere nod while Simon commented, “Nice place for a meeting.”
This wouldn’t be the first time Lucas had used a physician’s office for a clandestine meeting, but it had been a long time. Not since his surgery after bringing down the traitor who’d almost destroyed Mission Recovery before Casey came on the scene as director. Had it been four years already? At any rate, this physician was an old friend from his military days. His Chicago clinic, situated mere blocks from the Colby Agency’s location just off the Magnificent Mile, was a perfect front for conducting covert ops.
“You have any trouble with the transportation?” His lips twitched when he noted the slightest flinch in Ian’s carefully controlled exterior.
“Not if you discount the siren,” Ian commented dryly.
Though Lucas had walked into the office like any paying patient, Ian and Simon had arrived by ambulance and were hustled in through the rear emergency entrance. Anyone watching Lucas enter the clinic would never know that two Colby agents had arrived via the back door.
“So, what’s going on, Lucas?” Simon was the first to call the meeting to order. Ian remained occupied with sizing up Lucas and his intentions. The man was good at that. Could tell more by watching his prey for mere minutes than from listening to hours of interrogation. Victoria had bragged to Lucas long ago about Ian. He was good at the business of peeling away the outer layers and getting to the bottom of things.
“I told you two weeks ago that I suspected Victoria was being watched.” He spread his hands in a speculative gesture. “I couldn’t be sure of the source of the problem—still can’t be absolutely certain. But we now have reason to believe that this man may be connected to Leberman. He may be on the verge of making a move.”
Silence reigned briefly while the two men absorbed the ramifications of that bit of information. Anyone who had been with the Colby Agency for any length of time knew about Leberman. The bastard had made it his life’s mission to destroy Victoria Colby and all that she stood for. Lucas was certain he’d killed James Colby as well as the boy, Victoria’s only child. But even that wasn’t enough for the devil. He just kept coming back for more. Playing his sick games and then going back into hiding. He hybernated for years...until it was safe to surface again. Then he’d strike.
But this time was going to be different. This time Leberman was going to die.
“We don’t have any real evidence to support our assessment, of course,” Lucas went on pushing the disturbing memories away, “but I’m certain enough to take the appropriate action. I’ve put a security detail in place.”
“We’ve reviewed every case that might carry enough significance to warrant this sort of vengeance,” Simon informed him, bringing him up to speed on their end and lending even more credence to Lucas’s conclusion. “There simply isn’t anyone out there related to a Colby Agency case who we have reason to suspect at this time.”
Lucas stroked his chin as he considered how to broach the next step. Neither of these gentlemen was going to like his strategy, and their cooperation was essential.
“What is it you’re not telling us?” Ian cut to the chase.
Lucas almost smiled. Two minutes and the guy had nailed him to the floor. Judging by the fierce glare he had trained on Lucas at that moment there was no way around giving him a straight answer.
“The man watching Victoria may be a professional assassin hired by Leberman. I believe his mission is to complete what Leberman started on that island.”
The air thickened with a new level of tension. All three were well aware of the events that had unfolded on St. Gabriel Island in a matter of hours. Events that had been years in the planning. The tiny island off the coast of Georgia had proven the perfect stage for his devious plans.
“Then she is no longer safe in any public setting,” Ian suggested.
“I would have to agree with you.” Evading the issue would be pointless. “To be frank, he’s had ample opportunity already, but has chosen not to take the shot. My conclusion would be that he’s keeping surveillance and waiting for final authorization from Leberman.”
“But you can’t be certain that Leberman is the one behind this,” Simon countered. “You don’t have any actual proof. No factual intelligence.”
“No.” Lucas looked from one to the other, reading the skepticism they wanted to cling to. No one wanted to believe Leberman was back, least of all Lucas. “Everything I have is speculation. But we all know he’s the most logical candidate.”
“Why haven’t you taken out the assassin already?” Ian pressed as his own sense of anticipation obviously moved to the next level. To his way of thinking that would have been the most strategic move. Hell, it made perfect sense, but Lucas had his reasons.
This would be the tricky part. “We all know that Victoria will not hide from this once she’s briefed on the situation. Nothing any of us could say would change her mind. And we also know that she will never be safe as long as Leberman is alive—”
“We’ve had this conversation already,” Simon noted matter-of-factly. His agitation was somewhat more evident than Ian’s. Tension radiated in every aspect of his posture.
“We have,” Lucas agreed. “My stand on the matter has not changed. We need to get Leberman. If this assassin can lead us to him, we have to take the risk.”
“The risk you speak of,” Ian interjected calmly, his subdued tone more lethal than if he’d shouted the words, “involves Victoria’s life, correct?”
Their gazes locked for two beats. “Correct.”
“And you are willing to take this risk?” Ian pushed for finite clarification.
“It’s our only option.”
The two Colby agents exchanged a look.
Simon spoke up first. “Lucas, I’m confident that Victoria’s best interests are your primary concern. I know you’ll do whatever is necessary to protect her, but you must know that we can’t simply pretend this isn’t happening. We have to take some sort of action.”
“The only action that will make a difference requires Victoria’s cooperation, which will compromise our efforts.” He divided his attention between the two somber-faced men. “I have an alternate approach in mind. First I have to persuade her to take a vacation with me. I’ve plotted a destination. She’ll be completely cocooned by my team of Specialists until we can reel this guy in. I won’t allow anything to happen to her, you can rest assured of that.”
“You’ll keep us informed of every step,” Simon persisted.
“I’ll keep the two of you informed.” Lucas gestured from one to the other. “I don’t want anyone else to know the plan. No one, is that understood?”
“Are you implying there might be a traitor inside the Colby Agency?” Ian inquired, one brow raised slightly higher than the other his only outward indication of surprise.
“I’m not implying anything,” Lucas asserted. “I’m
