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Three

“I don’t like it any better than you do, Minister, but I can’t think of any other way to accomplish what we need to.” Lord Daniel Stroud stood glaring across the desk at his superior. “And I’m open to any suggestions you might have.”

Lord Humphrey McCutcheon lowered his considerable bulk into his well-used chair. “You know I’ve none, Daniel, or I’d never consider letting you take this kind of risk.” He picked up a worn pipe from his desk and tapped it against his hand.

Daniel knew the Minister had long ago given up smoking, but retained the pipe because handling the thing still gave him a sense of calm.

They both needed some calm at the moment.

“You’re confident the information from your source is correct?” Daniel continued to stand, looking down at the older man, who nodded affirmatively.

“You’ve questioned him since he returned?”

The Minister blinked rapidly, a sure sign of his frustration to any who knew him well. “I would have, had he returned.” He placed the pipe carefully in its holder. “We’ve lost contact with him completely at this point. Nothing after the first message.”

“Damn. That makes it trickier.”

“The organization has impeccable credentials, tremendous political and financial backing worldwide. I’d even heard rumors that the head of their board has been considered for the Nobel.” The Minister shook his head. “We can’t take any chances on this one, Daniel. We have to find proof—absolute, irrefutable proof—before we can make a move of any sort. And don’t forget the subtleties we discussed. It’s our goal to preserve the integrity of the charity, if possible. Bringing down EHN would be a tremendous blow to countries all around the world that depend on the organization.”

“I understand the need for discretion, Minister. And we’ve no clue who in the inner circle is funneling the money? No idea who the terrorists’ contact is?”

“No. Assuming the intelligence is accurate.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow in question.

“Yes, yes. I’ve no doubt it’s accurate. Kensington was good at what he did.”

The Minister’s reference to the missing agent in the past tense didn’t escape Daniel.

“If he says it’s one of their officers, that he found a link, then I’m confident it’s there. Now we need to find it.”

“And break it.”

“There’s not much we can do through this office to assist—officially, at least.” The Minister’s hand snaked out, stroking the pipe where it lay. “We need to move quickly. The cash flow must be stopped, of course, but this latest…this weapon. We cannot allow it to reach the terrorists. We have to identify the persons behind this network and neutralize them.”

“I’ll put my office to work on it immediately. For a large enough donation, I’m sure the entire board of EHN International will be cooperative. It then will be simply a matter of picking out the one we seek.”

Daniel left, taking the elevator up from the secure administrative offices of the little-known governmental agency for which he worked. Reaching ground level, he used his cell phone to call his driver. He had to reach his London offices right away, set things in motion and then get back to Glaston House. There was a tremendous amount of preparation he’d need to put into place before these people invaded his home.

It was almost beyond comprehension. An officer at one of the most prestigious humanitarian organizations on the face of the planet channeling funds to one of the deadliest terrorist groups?

So it would seem. And him thinking to expose his own family to these people. But he was in the best position to do it. With his reputation and social status, no one would question it as they would if a normal operative were used.

Fortunately for him, he had resources and contacts the normal operatives didn’t. He was going to need them, because he also had the distinct advantage of knowing what enemy they were really up against.

While the Minister had his operatives investigating all avenues of information for clues to the identity of the people involved, Daniel knew they were actually searching for someone whose power came from outside the Mortal world. Which meant that person could only be identified—and dealt with—by someone whose power also came from outside the Mortal world.

As he stepped off the curb and into the waiting car, Daniel flipped open his cell phone again and hit the speed dial.

If Ian left right away, he could be at Glaston House before Daniel had time to regret his decision to act as bait.