Page 20 of Agent vs. Assassin
There’s a fifty-something man sitting across from him, his hands in front of him—hisropedhands in front of him. And I know who this is. I met him at one of my father’s events. He’s Pocher’s head of security, who was somehow dumb enough to get captured by my dumbass drunk cousin.
“What is this, Lucas?”
“If anyone knows the details of our parents dying in that plane that night, this bastard does.”
Chapter Twelve
The definition of stupid used to be Andrew. Now it’s Lucas. He officially won the top spot. If I opened the now long-obsolete dictionary, I bet there’s a picture of him in a diaper subtitled “stupid was born.” I holster my weapon, walk over to Lucas, and take his gun from him. He gives a blustery objection while the head of security, whom I’ll call dumbass number two, as Lucas gets the dumbass number one spot, laughs.
“Really?” I challenge incredulously. “You’re laughing at him? The drunk guy who just let me take his gun?”
“He wasn’t drunk when he kidnapped me.”
I snort. “You did see how easily I took his gun, right?”
“He’s drunk.”
“If you doubt me, I can leave you tied up until he’s sober and give him the gun back. I’m confident I can save you again.”
He’s a big, fit guy with red hair, and when he grits his teeth, the red blush of anger overtakes his plentiful freckles. “If I cared what happened to Pocher, I’d tell him to fire you.” He opens his mouth to speak, and I point the gun at him. “Silence.”
He draws in a breath, his chin bobbing with agreement. My attention returns to Lucas, who’s presently tipping back a bottle. I set the gun in my hand on a counter and knock the booze from his hand. “Stop it. Stop drinking. You’re going to rehab, you fool.”
“I don’t want to go to rehab. I want answers.”
“Then try being sober enough to be smart about getting them.”
He pushes to his feet and turns to face me. “I’m not that drunk,” he says as he sways slightly.
“I got up too fast,” he groans.
“I got up too fast,” I mock. “Of course, you did. And that ruddy tone to your skin is just a sunburn. If you’re not drunk, you can do your job.” His computer is sitting at the end of the table, and I open it. “Sit and find Elsa Walker. Her phone is in Maryland, but I know she is not. And if you can’t find her, I need to make a good guess on her next victim based on the target list.”
“He knows, Lilah. He knows about our parents.”
I glance over at the man. “What’s your name?”
“Paul.”
“Okay,Paul.When did you go to work for Pocher?”
“Three years ago this Christmas.”
I eye Lucas. “Okay, my dumbass cousin. He wasn’t with Pocher when it happened.”
“Heknows.”
“Even if he does, he wouldn’t tell you. He’d end up dead.”
“I’ll kill him if he doesn’t,” he bites out, his fingers curled into his palms. “I will.”
He’s lost it, and I’m starting to think there’s more than booze involved. “Sit down and hack.”
“I thought I was your dumbass cousin?”
“What’s so sad, Lucas, is you’re the smartest dumbass I’ve ever known. Stop being a girl. You don’t get a period. You don’t have the excuse of raging hormones, but I do. And my hormones are powerful bitches. They want me to hurt you right now.Sit downand hack. It’s yourjob.”
“I’m beginning to think you don’t have ovaries. You’re such a bitch.”