style="font-size:15px;"> Patience nodded. Who else would Val call? Simon McKinzie, commander of The Black Watch and the most powerful man in covert operations, could unearth the problem. “When will you know?”
“He promised by two.”
Patience glanced at a clock. “Less than five minutes.”
Valentina caught an uneven breath. “Was I wrong? None of us has ever intruded so blatantly before.”
“You weren’t wrong. Even though he needs someone, Devlin’s shut us out. No,” Patience repeated firmly. “You weren’t wrong.”
“He might hate me.”
Stretching out her hand, Patience waited until Valentina clasped it in her own. “Devlin could never hate you. He may not be happy with this at first, but in the end, he’ll thank you for having the wisdom to know when a rule should be broken. As I do.”
In concert, the clock boomed the hour, and within a cabinet housing instruments of modern technology, a fax machine chattered. Both women froze, hands clenched. It was only when the machine fell silent that their fingers drifted apart.
Valentina moved to the cabinet to take out the printed sheet. Turning, she came to Patience and, in deference to the concern she saw on her sister’s face, laid the document before her.
Patience read slowly, carefully, with the gleam of tears in her eyes before she was half through. When she finished, wordlessly, she returned the single sheet to Valentina.
Valentina absorbed each word. Contained here were the facts that had changed her brother into a man she didn’t know. As Patience had, she read slowly, carefully. Finally, with a heavy heart, she tucked away the report that changed all the rules. “I’m not sorry anymore. Now I know what to do.”
“How can I help?”
Valentina’s lips lifted in a smile. “You’ve done enough by listening and supporting my choice. But there is one more favor.”
“Anything.”
“If you would make my excuses, for the rest of the day.”
Patience nodded shrewdly. “You’re leaving the island.”
“As soon as possible.”
“Where will you go?”
With an elegant lift of her shoulders, Valentina asked, “Where would I go with a problem of this sort?”
“To Simon,” Patience supplied softly.
“Good afternoon, Simon.”
When the door to his private office opened unannounced, Simon McKinzie knew who his intruder would be. No one else among The Black Watch would dare such a bold act.
“Ahh. Mrs. Courtenay, I thought you had retired.” Leaning back in his chair, he glared at her. “What happened to knocking?”
“I have. And what happened to ‘Good afternoon’?”
“Perhaps it went the way of knocking before entering.”
Valentina had the grace to be truly contrite. “I’m sorry, but there’s a problem only you can help resolve.”
Simon took stock. Who among his agents was facing personal problems? Before retiring from The Watch, Valentina had possessed a magical radar when it came to sensing troubles within the organization. “What is it now?” he asked. “Or should I say who?”
“My brother.”
“By my count, you have three, missy.”
“It’s Devlin.”
“Devlin isn’t one of mine.” Though not from lack of trying, Simon admitted. Devlin O’Hara was perfect for The Watch. But beyond the rare assignment, he eluded its persuasive leader.
“He has been, on occasion.”
Simon had leaned back until his chair teetered on two legs. Now it banged down. “How the devil could you know that?”
Despite her worry, Val laughed. “Lucky guess.”
“Remind me not to play poker with you,” he grumbled.
“Consider yourself reminded.” Advancing to the desk, she leaned closer. “Will you help?”
“Sorry, missy, that’s impossible. In the first place…”
Valentina caught his hand in hers. Folding each finger to form the fist he would have made with each of five points, she held it tightly. Every agent knew the gesture. “Simon, there is no first place, or fifth. This is Devlin, the strongest and best of us.”
Simon nodded as she released his fist. “Denali.”
Of course he knew. He would have gathered the information himself. “Then you understand the problem.”
“I know the facts and ramifications,” he corrected. “I’m sure no one understands the problem, or the solution as you do.”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Ahh, in case it isn’t, why don’t you explain.”
“Who is Devlin?” She asked. “What is he to us?”
“Your brother, your hero and knight gallant.” Simon knew the direction she was taking this. But it would be interesting to see how far she would go.
“For as long as we can remember, there’s always been someone he could rescue, or care for, or protect. Now he believes he failed on Denali. As long as he does, he’ll never forgive himself.”
“So you would offer him a chance to redeem himself,” Simon suggested. “Hoping in redemption, he finds forgiveness.”
“That’s where you come in. He needs a damsel in distress.”
“One of my damsels.” Simon didn’t wait for an answer. “And no doubt you know exactly who.”
“Exactly. With your permission, of course.”
“Of course.” He watched her for a considering moment. “Does this damsel have a name?”
“Kate Gallagher.”
“What do you know about Kate, missy?”
“I met her once, outside your office.”
“Once?” Simon lifted a shaggy brow. “From that, you deduce she’s what your brother needs?”
Valentina didn’t hesitate. “I liked what I saw. Later, I heard she lost her partner. Now she’s troubled and nothing The Watch offered has helped. Devlin seems the logical solution.”
“For both of them?”
Valentina
