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When I'd discussed Lucas with Jaz and Sonny, I'd called him a geek. To be brutally honest, that had been my impression when we first met. He was Karl's height, but maybe half his build. I knew he was more wiry than skinny, but with his usual three-piece suits, he looked scrawny and introspective. He had short black hair, dark eyes and a face that was, well, plain. The glasses didn't help. Nor did the perpetually somber expression. The only time I ever saw him smile was when Paige was around.
The room was modest and comfortable, which I expected from them. A bed, a city view and a small desk, with Paige's laptop and stacks of papers, as if they'd been working here for days instead of hours. Taped to the wall was what looked like a list of investigative steps, written in Lucas's precise hand. Paige had added a few: eat, sleep, compensate for this morning's untimely awakening by--
Paige untaped the sheet. "Sorry, I was goofing around. You know Lucas and lists."
Lucas hung up and greeted us with firm handshakes and quiet hellos. His tie was slung over the chair back, and he quickly pulled it off before waving us to the seats and perching on the edge of the bed.
As I sat, I caught Paige's frown of concern. When she asked whether I'd eaten, I insisted I was fine.
"I could use something," Karl said. "Let me call down--"
"You two talk to Lucas," Paige said. "I'll call room service and get sandwich platters and appetizer trays for all of us."
A deft way of making sure I ate, and I didn't miss Karl's discreet nod of thanks.
Karl mapped out sketches of the blueprints he'd seen, blank in some spots and uncertain in others. He finished as room service arrived.
"This is an office floor at Cortez headquarters," Lucas said, pointing to one of the drawings as we ate. He picked up another. "And this looks like the executive level. Not to slight the gang's abilities, but breaking in there would be extremely difficult."
"He means impossible," Paige said. "He's just leaving himself some wiggle room, should the unthinkable happen and he's wrong. You were on that floor yesterday, Karl. What did you think of the security?"
Most people on the council were wary of Karl, but Paige saw no need to be cagey about his occupation. He seemed to appreciate the candor, and gave a complete evaluation, admitting that he doubted even he could break in without inside help.
"Which you wouldn't get," Paige said. "That's considered treason, punishable by the highest penalty."
"Execution?" I said.
"Too lenient."
"With a breach that severe, an example must be made," Lucas said. "Which isn't to say that the gang wouldn't be able to find someone willing to risk it for a high enough reward. We're already searching for Juan Ortega, who may have committed treason, acting under someone else's authority and killing Bianca. But no single person outside the family would have enough clearance to bypass all the security required to access the executive level after hours. Finding enough people willing to take that risk?" He shook his head. "That, even I would admit, does approach impossible. Still, I'll notify my father."
He picked up the other two sketches. "As for these, they appear to be house plans, though I don't recognize either. This one could be a high-ranking Cabal employee, given the size. The other looks like an apartment. I should fax them to my father." He glanced at Paige. "Is there a fax in the building?"
"I didn't see one. The front desk would probably do it. Or if you want privacy, there should be a twenty-four-hour print shop somewhere nearby."
She was reaching for the phone book when he said, "It would be easier to drop them off," and picked up his cell phone again.
I anticipated a strained conversation--business-like at best--but it sounded like any son talking to his father. Lucas explained what we had, asked about dropping by and Benicio seemed to readily agree. Then Lucas glanced at Karl, who didn't pretend he couldn't hear the other side of the discussion, and shook his head.
"They've had a very taxing day, Papa," Lucas said. "They want to get back--"
Pause.
"Yes, perhaps it would but--"
Another pause, then he covered the receiver. "My father would like you and Hope to accompany us. He wants to ask you about the plans directly."
Karl hesitated.
"Once that's done, your part will be over," Lucas said. "You can head to the airport from there if you like."
Karl nodded.
WE TOOK SEPARATE cars. Karl had no intention of hanging around any longer than he had to. The moment we were done, we'd be heading to the airport.
Benicio lived on Key Biscayne, a secluded island south of Miami Beach, accessible only by a long toll causeway that had Karl muttering, looking in his rearview mirror as if trying to judge how far we were from the airport. It wouldn't be more than a thirty-minute drive, but the closer we drew to the island, the more distant Miami seemed. The island was gorgeous, heavily wooded with white-sand beaches glittering under the remains of a perfect sunset.
If I worked in Miami, I'd want to live on Key Biscayne, though as we started passing houses, I knew I could never afford it. There were probably less expensive areas, but I didn't see a house that would sell for under a million. Even the hotels looked out of my price range.
