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“I’d expect no less from a security system Marston designed.”
“We knew this was a possibility and we wanted Leary to focus on Sloan but I still don’t like it.”
“Neither do I,” Blink said heavily. “I haven’t intervened for obvious reasons and I don’t want to step on Speed’s or the FBI’s toes but I won’t risk losing Marston. He must be protected.”
“No harm will come to Marston,” Lavender stated with complete confidence. “Unless he inflicts it upon himself. I trust Sloan to keep him safe, and as you know, we’ve arranged for them to remain at Blackhurst when they return. Getting them in and out of Illinois isn’t a concern because there’s a tiny private runway not far from Denver and Ezra’s cabin. But I’ll travel with you all when it’s time to attend Speed and Blake’s wedding. If Leary is still a concern,” he added. He stretched his neck as his shoulders tightened.
Blink tugged at his ear and grimaced. “I am questioning the wisdom of allowing Leary to remain alive.”
“I certainly did,” Lavender said quickly. “I was wholeheartedly against it from the beginning but Speed wouldn’t listen.”
“And I appreciate the position you were in but Leary has the potential to become a serious problem and he’s awfully close to threatening someone I consider vital to my own security.”
“What would you have me do?” Lavender wouldhaveto act if Blink believed Leary was a credible threat and Speed would have no choice but to accept it.
“Does anyone know where Leary is or do we have a way of tracking him?”
“No.” Lavender was loath to admit it. “Frank Leary has managed to slip off the radar. We haven’t even been able to track him without Speed’s phone and the only time he’s shown himself was on the security footage from the house in Georgetown. He was obviously taunting Sloan and the FBI.”
“Let’s see if we can find him,” Blink decided. “I’ll send Lazarus Chance and he’ll tell us where Leary has been and where he’s headed.”
“I don’t know…” Lavender’s blood pressure jumped at the thought of Chance. “Speed’s bad enough but now you want to add that glorified bounty hunter to this mess.”
“Give him a million dollars and he can find anyone. Even you can’t deny he’s uncanny.”
“He’s a menace, Cyril.”
“But everyone knows that no one’s faster than the Gambler if you want someone found. You’ll have Leary by the end of business tomorrow.”
Chance was called “the Gambler” because he’d made a name for himself by cleaning up at poker tournaments and blackjack tables until he was barred from just about every casino on the planet. He couldn’t sit down at a table in Las Vegas, Macau, or Monte Carlo. He wasn’t even welcomed in Reno or Shreveport, he was so notoriously gifted at any game involving a deck of cards. Thankfully—for Lazarus Chance—he was just as good at finding people who didn’t want to be found as he was at poker. So he turned to high-dollar bounty hunting but he was also notoriously capricious and a narcissist.
“But is that worth the trouble? You should have said something when I had the chance to take out Leary,” Lavender complained.
“We had no way of knowing what Speed was hiding and it wasn’t my problem, then,” Blink said nonchalantly. “Let’s find Leary and determine if he’s going to be a problem for me in the future.”
“Speed won’t be happy if Leary ends up dead. Not after everything he’s done to protect him,” Lavender warned but Blink’s eyes slid upwards.
“Do you believe that Speed’s feelings would matter more to me than Blackhurst’s security? I will do anything I can to ensure Speed’s happiness right up until the point that it conflicts with my own.”
“How foolish of me to forget.”
“A momentary lapse. Leary doesn’t get close to Marston again and I’ll have him vaporized if he steps foot in Rhode Island.”
“Understood,” Lavender said. He was glad to see Blink imposing limits on Speed. Blink might not have Speed’s best interests at heart in this instance but that cold objectivity was still what was best for Speed in the long run, Lavender suspected.
“Good. But while we’re discussing Speed, what concerns do you have for the wedding in Sparks?”
“None. I’ll fly to Rhode Island and travel with you, Reginald, and the rest of your party, then fly back with you after the reception. No one’s trying anything at that wedding with me, Alon, Denver, Wilder, Lane, and Sloan there.”
“All of the guests on West’s side are being vetted by Alon and so far he sees no reason to be concerned.”
“Nate West is concerned about you but he’s savvy enough to keep his mouth shut.”
“That was my assessment as well,” Alon murmured as he made a note. For his part, Blink didn’t appear bothered.
“He can glare and hiss at me, if that’s how he wants to entertain himself at his brother’s wedding.”
“The rest of the Wests appear to have better manners and will keep him in check,” Lavender said but Alon raised a brow at him.
