“It better be important.”
It was Lily. “This better be important,” he said to her.
“It is,” the redhead announced. “Scott has it. He found the origin of the card!”
Shepard alerted Bloch, joined her and Karen in the War Room, and threw Lily’s image up on the big screen as if by digital magic.
“The card comes from an exclusive nightclub and casino in Seoul, South Korea,” Lily reported. “Probably VIP access. It’s for a specific date, too—tomorrow night.”
“Lukacs isn’t exactly the club type,” Shepard surmised. “He’s probably going for a meet.”
“And this kind of access is expensive,” Lily added. “Whoever it is, if this is worth the cost, he’s meeting a big fish—a very big fish.”
“But wouldn’t he change the date and place of the meet if he suspects we have the card?” Shepard wondered.
“Maybe not,” Lily answered. “Scott...Mr. Renard says that no one would have been able to decipher the card except him.”
“Not even Zeta?” Shepard retorted doubtfully.
“Not even Zeta,” Lily maintained. “Sorry, Linc.”
“If there’s a prize bigger than Lukacs,” Bloch interrupted, “it’s worth the risk. Lily, you take this one.”
Lily’s words caught in her throat, just before she said, “I was afraid you’d say that.” She had been truly enjoying her vacation.
“We’ll have a flight arranged by morning,” Bloch briskly continued. “We’ll send details shortly.”
She cut off the call and stood up, mind already on the next piece of business. “O’Neal, I want to go over your models of world arms sales in my office.”
Shepard grimaced, but Karen just shrugged and made the I’ll-call-you gesture behind Bloch’s back
Lincoln Shepard collected his things and sulked his way out of Zeta headquarters—driving home along the empty night streets. He arrived at his apartment and turned on the lights to find someone sitting in his living room.
“Sweet mother of Sam, Morgan, don’t do that!”
“Sorry. I need your help.”
“Those are, literally, my least favorite words.” Shepard threw his coat on the couch. “You couldn’t have called?”
“I didn’t want anyone to know I was here.”
“Oh, that makes me feel better.” He pulled a bowl from a cupboard. “Lucky Charms?”
“No thanks,” Morgan said. “Shepard, listen—”
“Should I bother to tell you to find me during office hours? That whatever I can do for you should be done through official Zeta channels rather than—”
“This can’t go through Zeta,” he said.
Shepard poured the milk into the cereal. “Of course it can’t.”
“I’m serious, Shepard. Can you keep this quiet?”
“I can’t promise without knowing what it is.”
“I can’t tell you what it is until you promise.”
“Well, that’s a real conundrum, isn’t it?” He spoke through a mouthful of sickly sweet cereal.
“It’s not a big deal. I promise. It won’t take long.”
Shepard looked at his associate with an expression that said “Does it look like I was born yesterday?” “Yes,” he clucked. “I’m sure that any favor that’s no big deal requires breaking and entering.”
Shepard put down his spoon. He couldn’t say no to Morgan. He had never been able to in all the time they worked together. He felt sure that if it was important enough for Morgan to ambush him this way, it was important enough for him to try accomplishing. It wasn’t as fun as Karen’s ambush, but still...
“What’s the nature of this favor?” he asked.
“I need to find someone,” Morgan said.
“Who?”
“I’ll tell you when you promise.”
“Damn it, Morgan, I don’t know. This is going to get me in deep shit with Bloch.”
“Nobody should know. Least of all Bloch.”
“Would she agree with that assessment, you think?”
“No, because she wouldn’t find out about it.”
The computer whiz couldn’t argue with that, and his quizzical expression encouraged Morgan to press his advantage.
“Shepard. This is important. You know I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t.”
“Yeah. That’s what I’m afraid of.” Shepard put the now-empty bowl in the sink. He wouldn’t even consider the request were it coming from anyone else. But Morgan was not just anyone. Shepard didn’t know anyone whose loyalties had been tested more harshly and had maintained his principles throughout. “Fine. I promise I won’t tell anyone, and if I can help you, I will.” He crossed the small living room to pick up one of his many laptops. “So who is it that I am looking for?”
“Alicia Schmitt. She’s a navy commander. Number and address are unlisted. I need to find her.”
“Is this about Collins?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“Good point.”
“I promise, this will all be explained eventually. Even to Bloch. And you’ll understand why I had to keep it a secret. But right now, I just need you to trust me.”
“Already do,” Shepard reported absently since his fingers were already flying over the keyboard and track pad. The search was a little more difficult than Shepard had anticipated, which is to say that it took longer than a minute. “Here. Is this her?”
“You got it?”
Shepard scoffed. “Do I got it? Who do you think you’re talking to here?” Shepard had something to prove. Lily’s comment that her boy toy was better than him still smarted. He sent the document to the printer. “This is her home address in D.C. Family connections, known friends and associates, stats, and details on her training.” He picked up the packet from the tray and held it out for Morgan. “Will that do?” he inquired innocently.
“That will be just fine.” Morgan stuffed the documents into his messenger bag. “And remember—”
“Not a word. Don’t worry. It’s my ass as much as yours now.”
Chapter Ten
Alex pulled her black Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle into her parents’ driveway. It was little wonder she had been so good on the Honda back in Prague. She had taken to motorcycles ever since the seat of her jeans had touched the leather of motorbikes’ seats years ago. It was early morning, so birds were singing, and the suburban cul-de-sac was all but deserted. Everyone was either at work or indoors, hiding away from the slowly intensifying cold.
She was hoping to catch her father still at home. Something was up. She
