Page 5 of Out Of A Fix

I took a breath. “It’s very unlikely anyone from the cartel will come after your sister’s family.”

He was quiet on the other end.

“My understanding is that your sister’s divorce was finalized quite quickly after she left.”

“Yes. Apparently, when you’re in WITSEC, uncontested divorces move lightning fast.”

“Uncontested divorces do that generally. I doubt it has anything to do with WITSEC, Mr. Roarke.”

“Regardless, the divorce was finalized almost a year ago now.”

I cleared my throat. “I suspect your sister had been unhappy in her marriage for a while, and when she was given the gift to start over, she took it.”

“Yes. That’s what Luke said as well.”

I was confused. “So what is it you want us to do here, Mr. Roarke?”

He took a breath. “I don’t want my sister’s kids and her ex-husband to be in harm’s way simply because she didn’t think to safeguard them. I’ve paid the retainer, so I would like Torus to send a fixer to Eena, Washington, and watch over my niece, two nephews, and ex-brother-in-law.”

A brief search showed Eena, Washington, to be somewhere between the Seattle Tacoma International Airport and Newcastle. It was not a big place, with only about five thousand people, on the edge of Lake Washington. It would be the smallest place I’d ever been to. And of course it would be me—there was no one else available.

Rais had recently gotten back from a month-long job in Dallas, Texas, so he couldn’t go. We never sent a fixer on back-to-back long-term contracts. Shaw didn’t take out-of-town jobs anymore, not since marrying Benji. Cooper went out of town, but not for more than two nights in a row, so he was out. Ella had been in Hartford, Connecticut, for the last month, so she wasn’t going, and our two new fixers, Danesha Browne and Evangeline Andrade, had just returned from a protection job in Little Rock, Arkansas, with a state health inspector turned whistleblower. They had both arrived a bit ago, with dates, for the wedding reception. I liked them both a lot, and since burning them out was not a good idea, this horror show was on me.

“Question, Mr. Roarke.”

“Of course.”

“Does Mr. Duchesne want protection for himself and his family?”

No answer.

“Mr. Roarke?” I prodded.

Still nothing.

“Have you even discussed this with him?”

“No. Not at all.”

Of course he hadn’t. “What do you want done if he refuses to have a fixer in his home?”

“My understanding from the report my private investigator gave me is that Luke is drowning at the moment, so it’s possible he will appreciate the help.”

“You sent a private investigator to spy on your ex-brother-in-law?” This was new.

“Well, I didn’t want to be intrusive, you understand.”

“Of course not.”

“As you said, Nash, it’s possible my concern is misguided and Luke and my nephews and niece are not in any danger, but what if I’m wrong? Just because my sister abandoned her family doesn’t mean I will. I’m counting on Torus to take care of this for me.”

“Absolutely, Mr. Roarke. We will have a fixer in Eena on Monday.”

Deep sigh. “Thank you, Nash. I’m so relieved. Your firm’s reputation is stellar, and everyone I asked—people I trust and do business with—suggested Torus Intercession first.”

“Thank you, Mr. Roarke. We will make certain the family is protected and will send you a report once the job is completed.”

“You don’t know what a weight off my shoulders this is.”