Chicago
Inside the Colby Agency
"She's the perfect choice."
Victoria Colby-Camp reclined in her leather executive chair
and considered the man who had spoken. Simon Ruhl was one of
her most committed colleagues. He and Ian Michaels were her
seconds in command. She trusted both implicitly. If Simon
had concluded that Merrilee Walters was the perfect choice,
then she was without doubt the ideal choice.
"Excellent." Victoria nodded, punctuating the announcement.
"Ian, you'll follow up with Spence as to any possible legal
ramifications in hiring an investigator who is hearing
impaired?"
"I will." Ian had left the final decision up to Simon.
Still, he had reservations about Merrilee's ability to
fulfill the requirements of the position, but nothing
conclusive to veto bringing her on board. More a feeling, he
insisted in previous discussions.
"If Spence finds no legal precedent of concern, then we'll
move forward," Victoria offered.
Simon and Ian exchanged a look. One that said the decision
wasn't nearly as cut-and-dried as Victoria suggested.
"What am I missing?" They had been over all the issues more
than once. No one assigned to the agency's Elite
Reconnaissance Division had voiced a problem with this
potential staff addition. The final approval was Victoria's,
but Simon's and Ian's agreement was paramount to her
decision. If there was still a problem beyond the one Ian
had mentioned, she needed to know.
Ian clasped his hands in front of him, an uncharacteristic
move for a man whose absolute stillness even in moments of
extreme tension proved intimidating to most. "My gut
instinct hasn't changed," he finally said. "The Colby Agency
has made its reputation on employing only the best. The most
highly trained, the most honorable as well as the most
physically able. Rarely have we stepped outside those
parameters. Miss Walters is deafโa challenge that puts her
at a considerable disadvantage in normal situations."
Ian held up a hand when Victoria would have interrupted. "I
am fully aware that she reads lips with inordinate skill.
The hearing impairment is not my actual concern, though
there will be clients who won't understand that Miss Walters
is fully capable. My concern," he added with a pointed look
at Victoria, "is the seemingly relentless need to prove
herself that she appears to possess. Her record at Nashville
Metro is solid evidence of a potential problem. She may very
well take risks that put both her and the client in danger."
True. However, Victoria never allowed the evaluations of
others to wholly guide her. Not that she doubted Metro's
assessment, but that was only one side of the story.
Nonetheless, Ian's point regarding Merrilee's penchant for
diving headlong into a situation without regard to caution
held merit. Victoria was surprised that Ian felt so strongly
about this particular characteristic. More often than not,
he was an avid proponent of those who took the initiative to
set themselves apart from the rest.
"Are you recommending we don't move forward?" Victoria
really hoped that wasn't the case. Since she'd conceived the
idea of an agency reconnaissance division, her primary goal
had been to ensure the team was made up of members from
every walk of life. After all, those who went missing came
from all backgrounds. She wanted her team to be able to fit
in anywhere. No one understood the needs of those physically
challenged better than one who carried that burden.
The Colby Agency's Elite Reconnaissance Division had one
mission: find the missing. Victoria, with Ian's and Simon's
help, had organized an elite team thus far. Like William
Spencer, a former child advocacy attorney. And though, as
Ian pointed out, Merrilee Walters was considered a bit of a
rogue by her peers and superiors back in Nashville, she had
definitely proven what she was made of over and over again.
Bottom line, Victoria wanted Merrilee on their team. But all
seated in Victoria's office at the moment needed to be on
the same page.
"I'm recommending," Ian explained, "that we hire Miss
Walters on a conditional basis with an extended probationary
period. We'll see how it goes for a time before putting her
in the field."
"Fair enough," Simon agreed. "I'm convinced you'll grow to
respect her ability to assess a situation before plunging in
as well as her skills."
"Time will tell."
Obviously Ian was far from convinced. A good deal more than
Victoria had realized. And she was relatively certain his
reservations had more to do with the woman than the opinions
of others. But, as he said, time would tell. "Very well.
We're all agreed then."
With a nod from each man, both of whom Victoria respected
tremendously, the meeting was adjourned. Simon would move
into negotiations with Merrilee and Ian would follow up with
Spence.
Before the door could close behind Ian and Simon, Mildred
Ballard, Victoria's personal assistant, stepped into the
office. "Victoria, you received a call from Dave Glenn."
Victoria smiled. She hadn't spoken to Dave in ages. "Put him
through."
"Unfortunately he was on his way to a meeting." Mildred
glanced at the note in her hand. "He wanted to know if you
could have lunch with him at Tony's Pub around one."
Victoria checked her wristwatch. It was eleven now. She had
to pick up her granddaughter from preschool at
twelve-thirty. With Jim and Tasha out of the country,
Victoria generally brought Jamie back to the office with her
for the afternoon.
"Don't worry," Mildred said, reading her mind, "I'll pick up
Jamie and keep her out of trouble. Go to lunch," she urged.
"You've been spending too many lunches in the office lately."
That was all too true. Victoria would very much like to
catch up with Dave. "You're absolutely right. Do I need to
leave him a message to say I'm coming?"
Mildred shook her head. "All you have to do is show up. He's
already made the reservation for the two of you."
That was Dave all right. Always completely sure of himself.
But then, he'd trained with the best: Lucas Camp. Victoria's
husband was a man who never took no for an answer. Lucas and
Dave had been friends since childhood. Lucas's unwavering
determination had long ago rubbed off on the other man.
"You don't have another appointment until three-thirty," her
loyal assistant added. "Take your time. Enjoy catching up."
"Thank you, Mildred."
As the door closed, Victoria found herself sighing. She'd
suffered so much loss and pain in the past. Taking for
granted a moment of her wonderful life now was out of the
question. She had the most amazing husband whom she loved
more deeply every day. She had her son and he was well and
happy. And she had a beautiful granddaughter. Not to mention
the agency continued to thrive.
Basically, Victoria had it all.
She deserved this happiness. She intended to enjoy it to the
fullest.
At one when Victoria entered Tony's Pub, Dave Glenn waited
at the bar. As she approached, Victoria took a moment to
consider the man. The same age as Lucas, his hair had long
ago paled from blond to a lustrous white. Age had not
diminished his intimidating stature or his proud military
bearing. He was still a force with which to be reckoned.
As if he'd sensed her presence, he turned on the bar stool
to face her. Sharp blue eyes lit with the smile that
broadened his lips in welcome.
"Victoria, I'm glad you could come." He set his glass aside,
slid off the stool and reached for a hug. "It's been too long."
Victoria relished the embrace of a dear friend. It really
had been too long. Drawing back, she assessed the rugged
face that spoke of decades of too many secrets and too
little R&R. He needed to slow down and enjoy life. Lucas
had told him so many times. She wished Lucas were here now.
"Dave, it's so good to see you."
He reclaimed his glass and ushered her toward the dining
room. "Our table is waiting."
When Victoria had settled into a chair and Dave had done the
same, she sent a pointed look at his drink of choice. "It's
a little early for scotch, isn't it?" She'd never known Dave
to indulge in the middle of the day. "Are we celebrating
something?"
Dave peered into his glass a moment before meeting her gaze.
This time there was a bleakness about his expression. "I'm
old, Victoria." He gave his head a little shake. "The job is
finally beginning to get to me."
A frown tugged at her brow. Though both she and Lucas had
seen this coming, the statement was uncharacteristic of the
man who never failed to present himself a pillar of strength
and determination.
"Our chosen fields can become burdensome at times." She knew
this all too well. But to her knowledge Dave had not
suffered the personal loss Victoria had experienced. Perhaps
this was nothing more than the long overdue realization that
his work could not continue to have priority over his
personal life. "Is Catherine doing well?"
Dave managed another smile, but this time it didn't reach
his eyes. "She's tired of spending so much time alone." A
halfhearted shrug lifted his shoulders. "She's found other
ways to occupy her time."
Victoria ached for the man. A breakup was never easy, but he
and Catherine had been married for twenty-five years.
Clearly he was devastated. "I'm sorry to hear that." What
else was there to say? Sorry, however, seemed a pathetic
offering.
Dave pointed to his glass as the waiter paused at their
table. "And a white wine for the lady." When he'd returned
his full attention to Victoria, he said, "It happens. I
suppose I should have been paying better attention."
A gentleman to the end. It would have been so easy to blame
everything on his wife's inability to appreciate his
commitment to his country. "Perhaps you'll find a way to
work things out."
"Perhaps." He finished the last of his drink. "How's Lucas?"
Victoria's lips slid into an automatic smile at the mention
of her husband's name. "He's well. He's away on business for
a few days. Thankfully he's home more often than not, but he
continues to work in an advisory capacity when he's needed."
Dave gave her one of those looks that said he knew exactly
what she meant despite her understanding words. "You remind
him that retired means precisely that. I knew he wouldn't
take himself completely out of the game."
"Now that's the pot calling the kettle black," she teased,
opting to lighten the moment.
He laughed, but the sound was dry. The waiter arrived with
their drinks, and they placed their meal orders.
"And Jim?" Dave asked. "He's still doing well with his shop?"
"Yes." Victoria's chest tightened with pride. "The
Equalizers are doing exceptionally well. Jim is happy
helping those who don't seem to fit in anywhere else. He has
a knack for resolving the unsolvable."
"Like father, like son," Dave offered, his gaze distant as
if he were remembering his days with Lucas and Jim's father,
James Colby.
Victoria sipped her white wine, mainly to restrain herself
from asking the question pressing against her sternum. This
small talk was nice, but it failed to camouflage a glaring
ulterior motive for today's impromptu invitation. Victoria's
instincts were on point. Something was very wrong. Something
more than her old friend's personal problems. Dave was not
himself by any means.
He lifted his glass, apparently thought better of it and
lowered it back to the table. He exhaled a heavy breath.
"There's something I need to tell you, Victoria, and I'm not
sure how to go about it."
"Don't mince words with me, Dave. We've known each other far
too long for that. Say what's on your mind." Lucas was deep
in negotiations related to national security. Jim and Tasha
were on safari in Africa. She'd heard from them only two
days ago, just before they left for an extended excursion
into a remote jungle location. Whatever Dave's news, it
couldn't be related to her family.
Dave propped his forearms on the table and rested his gaze
heavily on hers.
© 2003-2026