that she knew he was going back, she could afford to push the boundaries a little. The glare he pointed in her direction told her what he thought of that idea.
“I would much prefer,” Victoria interrupted, maneuvering easily through the thick tension radiating between Lisa and Johnson, “sending one of my investigators at least in a support capacity.”
“Support would be helpful, as long as there’s no question who’s in charge.” Lisa looked from Victoria to her son, Jim Colby. Both were determined to help, but she needed him to be onboard with her. Jim Colby kept whatever he was thinking to himself.
Johnson, however, did not. He moved his head firmly from side to side. “No one else gets involved. The only way to do this is by slipping into that world, the less fanfare the better. It’s too risky to drag anyone else into the situation.”
Lisa couldn’t argue the validity of that particular point, but backup could make the difference between success and failure. She couldn’t call on anyone in Homicide for support of any nature. If they figured out what she was up to, the chief would have her shield. Not to mention that Chuck would probably request a new partner.
“We’ll need logistical support,” Lisa argued, infusing as much logic into her tone as possible. “We can’t go under deep cover and handle any necessary logistics at the same time.”
Johnson appeared to consider her assertion. Good. She’d made him think. The operation they were talking about was extremely dicey at best. Any and all help behind the scenes that didn’t come from LAPD would be beneficial.
“All right. Logistical support and that’s it. No one goes in except me.”
There he went again. “And me,” she reminded, setting him straight.
He looked away, gave his attention to his boss. “I need to make arrangements for my family.” His sister was ten years his junior. She still lived with his parents while she completed her doctorate at UCLA.
“I’ll send two of my investigators to serve as security,” Victoria offered. “I have several who are the absolute best to be found.”
“Anders will provide logistical support,” Jim Colby said to Sam, choosing not to comment on his mother’s offer. “Anything you need, you let him know. He’s been in far worse places than L.A.’s gang world.”
Johnson said to Lisa, “Spencer Anders is former Special Forces. He spent most of his time in the Middle East. He could handle this with his eyes closed.”
“Good.” She didn’t mention that she already knew Anders was former military. She’d run a complete background check on the Equalizers the day Johnson went to work there. “There’s a flight that leaves at three this afternoon. We could be on it,” Lisa suggested. The sooner they were on their way the better, in fact. She didn’t want him having any extra time to reconsider.
“That’ll work,” he agreed, though it didn’t sound as if his heart was in the decision.
“Let’s use the agency jet,” Victoria offered as she pushed out of her chair. “That way the two of you can brief the others en route, and equipment transport won’t be a problem. Airport security makes getting across country with the necessities for an assignment like this nearly impossible.”
Victoria was right. A private aircraft would make travel considerably less complicated for all involved. Excellent idea or not, Lisa couldn’t help noticing the increasing tension in Jim Colby. His posture grew even more rigid and his jaw tightened to the point that a muscle repeatedly contracted there. Apparently, he was not pleased with what he presumed to be Victoria’s interference. When running that background check, Lisa had learned that Jim Colby was Victoria’s son. Evidently, Victoria had remarried since her surname was now Colby-Camp. Maybe that was part of the problem. Whatever. Lisa was no shrink, but her gut instinct told her that there was an explosion coming between these two.
Or maybe Victoria was unhappy that her son had started his own firm rather going into the family business. Lisa had wondered at that. Evidently Jim had drawn a line in the sand, professionally speaking, and Victoria just kept crossing it. A standoff, Colby versus Colby. Lisa would just as soon not be around when those two reached their breaking points. And it was coming, fast, that much was as plain as day.
Jim turned to Johnson. “We should get the communications equipment together. I don’t want you out of touch with Anders.”
“And fire power,” Johnson added.
“I’ll instruct the pilot to prepare,” Victoria said to no one in particular, though Lisa suspected what she wanted was for her son to acknowledge her act of support.
“Can we be ready to go by three?” Lisa looked from one man to the other. She recognized that Victoria needed certain information, starting with takeoff time.
Johnson shifted his attention to her, though reluctantly so. “Three will give us plenty of time.”
Jim Colby nodded. “We’ll rendezvous at the airfield at two-thirty,” he said to Victoria.
His comment felt like a dismissal to both her and Victoria, but Lisa wasn’t going anywhere without Sam Johnson. No way was she going to risk him taking off on her and doing this on his own.
“I don’t see any reason to hang around here,” she said with a glance in Victoria’s direction. “I can drop my rental off and join the two of you for preparations,” she said to Jim Colby. “If—” this was the tricky part “—Johnson doesn’t mind giving me a ride from the rental car agency.”
Johnson stared straight at her. For three beats she was certain he was going to say no.
“I can do that.”
He didn’t want to, his body language shouted that message loud and clear, but for some reason he didn’t turn her down.
Lisa offered her hand across Victoria’s desk. “Thank you for your help, Mrs. Colby-Camp.”
Victoria shook her hand. “I’ll see you this afternoon, Detective Smith. I’m certain that we can find the truth you’re looking for and neutralize this volatile situation for Mr. Johnson.”
Hoping like hell she was right, Lisa turned to Sam Johnson. “Are you ready?”
To Jim Colby, Johnson said, “I’ll see you back at the office.”
Colby confirmed with a nod. “I’ll just finish up here.”
With Johnson right behind her, Lisa left Victoria’s office without a backward glance. She could feel the tension mounting once more, pushing the air out of the room. Mother and son weren’t finished by any means.
The trip down the two flights of stairs was made without conversation this time and with every bit as much tension as before. They’d reached the parking lot before Johnson said a word to her.
“Which rental agency?” he asked without so much as a glance at her.
“Budget.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
She wanted to say no. To tell him that she’d rather stay close behind him or have him follow her.
“Okay.”
