Page 26 of The Spy

When Barlow told him he was still locked up, and that they had captured his accomplice, Lucan felt worse. He hung up and ran for his old offices. As soon as the door opened, everyone looked up.

“What happened?” He tried to keep the sharpness out of his voice but he couldn’t imagine how a gunman could be anywhere near the palace.

“We are trying to figure that out right now.”

“And we haven’t caught him?”

“Not yet.”

Lucan took over. He began barking out orders, commanding teams and getting things moving. Twenty minutes later, when everyone was working as much as was humanly possible, he began to feel better and he remembered Anna. “Send word if anything changes.”

He ran from the room, took the back stairs three at a time and headed for the suite on the west side of the palace.

As expected, he found her there, with his mother and Dahlia and their giggles could be heard down the hall.

He stopped, shocked. Now didn’t seem the time for giggles. He didn’t think ever, in his life, he had heard Dahlia giggle, or his mother, or Anna. And now here they were.

“He was so cute!”

He stepped in the doorway. His mother had brought his baby pictures.

“Mother.”

“Oh son. Good. Come in. We were just talking about you.” The last part of her sentence was lost in a laugh she couldn’t smother.

Dahlia smirked. “Just showing her some old photos. You don’t mind.”

He grunted but couldn’t be happier to see Dahlia seem so light, so carefree. “Good to see you sister.”

“And you.” She held her fist up to bump his. But when he got close, she dodged and he almost teetered over onto the bed. “Gets him every time.”

Anna laughed. “I’ll have to remember that.”

Lucan sat next to Anna on the bed. His mother stood. “We’ll continue this tomorrow then.”

Dahlia laughed. “Or later tonight. I’ll humiliate Lucan any time.”

“Humiliate, nothing. I’m proud of those awkward photos.”

“You shouldn’t be.” She left the room, arm linked with his mother’s. He watched them leave then dragged a couple photo albums closer. “Just what are they showing you?”

“Nothing, only every 13 year old picture they could find.”

“They would.” He closed the nearest books. “Revenge will be most sweet.”

“Oh, leave Dahlia be.”

He stood again. “The shooter is still at large.”

“I heard.”

“We should move you to an inner room.”

“What? Why? I already looked, there’s no good shot from here.”

“Unless you go standing out on the balcony.”

“Which I won’t do.” She fiddled with her shirt, a frown growing on her face. “But Lucan. What is this? I thought we could get past this if we both retired. Our enemies would start to shrink in number, their hatred watered down through the years. I figured our identities were safe. But it’s worse. Never have either you or I been threatened in our own homes.”

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