Lucky. Don’t act like a fan-girl. She cleared her throat. “I’m happy to be of service.” Better.
“Let’s go to my office.”
Lucas Camp’s office sat directly across the hall from Victoria’s intimate waiting room. Mildred had told Lucky that the office Lucas now used had been an additional supply room, but one would never know it. Sophisticated was the first word to come to mind as Lucky entered the spacious office. A massive mahogany desk dominated the space. One wall was lined with distinguished-looking books, while another showcased numerous accolades, some of which were signed by the president himself. Like Victoria’s office, his desk sat before an enormous window with an inspiring view. Two upholstered chairs waited in grand style before his desk.
Mr. Camp unlocked his desk and retrieved a small package. About the size of a jeweler’s box, one made for a necklace or bracelet, the package was wrapped in brown paper. He passed it across his desk. Lucky shifted her coffee to her left hand and accepted the package.
She smiled. “A special occasion coming up?”
“You could say that,” he answered without the slightest hint of discernible sentiment in his voice.
Lucky didn’t make too much of his noncommittal tone or his unreadable expression. A man like Lucas Camp didn’t give away what was on his mind unless he wanted to. A lifetime of working under deep cover with the CIA had made him an expert in covert operations and interrogations and a lot of other stuff Lucky couldn’t begin to name, much less understand.
“I’d like you to take the package to an old friend of mine,” he explained.
Lucky’s pulse started that erratic race again. “An old friend?”
He scribbled something onto a notepad then tore off the page. “Here’s the address. My friend is expecting the package this morning.”
“I understand, sir.” She glanced at the address. It was not one she recognized.
“I’m sure the area is unfamiliar to you so take a taxi,” Mr. Camp suggested. “Have the driver wait. You’ll only be a moment.”
“Do I need a receipt as proof of delivery?” She wanted to do this right. Keeping Lucas Camp happy would be an important step up the ladder at the agency.
“There will be a verbal message,” Mr. Camp explained. “The message is the only receipt I need.”
“Yes, sir.” Lucky turned to go but then hesitated. “Your friend’s name is…?” She certainly didn’t want to make the mistake of leaving the package with the wrong person. Honestly, she didn’t want to make any kind of mistake at all.
“Jennifer.”
“Okay.” Lucky had just assumed the friend was another man. Good thing she asked. “I’ll be on my way, then.”
“Report back to me as soon as you’ve made the drop,” Mr. Camp said as she exited his office.
Lucky nodded. “Yes, sir.”
She crossed the hall to inform Mildred that she had an errand, but Victoria’s waiting room was empty, as was her office.
Lucky headed for the lounge to see if Mildred might be whipping up another pot of her amazing coffee. No Mildred in the lounge. Confused, she turned back toward Mildred’s office.
“Lucky, there you are.”
She kicked aside her confusion and posted a smile for Simon Ruhl, one of the agency’s top investigators. He and Ian Michaels served as seconds-in-command to Victoria and her son, Jim. “Good morning, Mr. Ruhl.” Wow, she was popular this morning.
Simon offered his usual friendly smile. “I just wanted to let you know that Mildred won’t be back in the office until later this afternoon. She dropped by to make coffee, but then rushed away more giddy than I’ve seen her in ages.” He smiled. “She’s having a makeover, compliments of Victoria.”
“Nice.” Lucky hoped that wasn’t something she was supposed to know already. Mildred hadn’t mentioned the appointment. “Is it Mildred’s birthday?”
Simon shook his head. “Her wedding anniversary is this week. Victoria wanted her to take the whole day off but Mildred insisted on stopping by and tying up any loose ends before leaving on her long weekend.”
Tying up loose ends was just another way of saying she wanted to make sure Lucky was prepared for her short absence.
“That’s really nice,” she said to Mr. Ruhl. All the more reason she felt immensely fortunate for having landed this position. The Colby Agency was like one big family. “I have an errand to run for Mr. Camp. Will my being out for an hour or so be a problem?” Victoria might not like having her assistant and her new assistant-in-training out of the office at the same time. The point of having a backup was to ensure Victoria always had an assistant on duty.
“We’ve got it covered,” Mr. Ruhl assured her. “Take care of Lucas’s errand. Let me know when you’re back in the office.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lucky started for the elevator again.
“One more thing, Lucky.”
She turned back to him once more. “Sir?”
He gifted her with another of those warm smiles. “The sir isn’t necessary. Nor is the mister. We’re very informal around here. Call me Simon.”
She nodded. That would take some getting used to. Where she was from, one always addressed their superiors and seniors in such a way.
Simon Ruhl chuckled as he walked away.
Lucky relaxed a little. She would be okay. Everyone seemed to like her so far. Then reality dropped down on her like a rock slide. She wouldn’t have Mildred to keep her straight when Victoria arrived. A lump settled in Lucky’s stomach.
Don’t borrow trouble, she told herself. She would be fine. Her boss would surely understand the need for guidance with someone so new.
This time she actually reached her destination without being waylaid. She pressed the elevator’s call button and took a couple of deep breaths in an effort to relax. They didn’t really help.
In the lobby she waved at the two security guards as she strode toward the front entrance. The weather was beautiful. If she knew her way around a little better she would walk to the drop point. But getting lost was not a risk she wanted to take. And she wasn’t actually sure of the distance.
She’d no more passed through the towering plate-glass doors when a big black car with the darkly tinted windows of a limo pulled to a stop in front of her. The parking area at the front of the building was rather small, mostly for short-term parking and drop-offs. Lucky made a sharp left to go around the car.
The rear window powered down. Lucky hesitated. Maybe someone needed directions. She, unfortunately, wasn’t the person to ask. Three months in the city and she still got lost all too frequently. Chicago was very different from Houston in climate and in the way the city was laid out.
“Good morning, Lucky.”
