“I mean, about the team.” Walter had always been so proud of him team. They’d let him down horribly. Or rather, some members did.
Not the ones who mattered.
“My wife loves her flower garden. Sometimes when a plant withers she digs up the roots and plants a new bulb to keep her garden healthy.” Walter shrugged. “While I regret losing any member of the team, they made their own choices.”
Lucky bolted upright in the chair. “How can you be so casual? Phillip nearly killed you!” Five minutes. Lucky’s fist. Phillip’s face.
“He didn’t succeed, thankfully, and worrying over what might have been is a waste of valuable time.”
And one of the things Lucky did best. He’d never be so calm about someone who’d tried to poison him.
“I’m not sure he actually meant to kill me,” Walter continued. “Merely get me out of the way temporarily.”
Regardless of what the shithead had planned, Walter nearly made the SNB memorial page. Someone had to pay for that. “What about O’Donoghue?”
“He’ll stay on, assisting me until such a time as I’m ready to turn over control and finally retire. Then he’ll support my replacement until his own retirement.”
Unlike the last time they’d discussed retirement, this time Walter didn’t flinch when discussing handing over the reins he’d held for the better part of the organization’s life. His eyes twinkled. “Don’t worry. I’ll always be around if you need me. Lucy and I are becoming quite attached to your nephews.”
He engaged business mode again. “We’ve had several good candidates from other divisions offer to transfer, and when we return to work, I’m afraid you’ll be extremely busy with a new crop of recruits.”
Somebody kill Lucky now. “What’ll I do during those two weeks? Need me to come in?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Walter’s lips quivered before he lost the battle not to snicker. “I do believe there are some family matters that could use your attention, such as the sister I’ve heard rumors of relocating here, and the nephews you’re caring for.” He folded his hands together on the desk. “Take the time off. You deserve it.”
“What about…” Lucky hated to invoke the name, like the devil himself might suddenly appear. “Victor.”
“Senior Special Agent Mangiardi had nothing but praise for you in his reports, and he’s returning to Nice, I’m told, where his team will compile the evidence to make their case against Forsyth, Landry, and Eustace. I’m sorry about what happened to Rogers. He’d shown a lot of promise in surveillance work.”
“How do you suppose Landry got them to follow him?”
Walter winced. “By convincing them Jameson O’Donoghue gave the orders, according to Eustace.”
“Any more word on Owen Landry?”
“He’s made the DEA’s most wanted list. I’ve no doubt he’ll soon be brought to justice. Keith’s tracker led to a car parked in an airport parking lot.”
Good work, Keith! Not that Lucky would utter those words aloud.
Lucky let out a yawn. “I guess my work here is done.” Not really, but the sooner he got out of here, the sooner he could start hunting Landry.
“For now.” Walter gave Lucky a nod. “Go. I’m sure you have lots to do.”
***
Jameson O’Donoghue disengaged from the wall when Lucky exited Walter’s office.
What now?
“Harrison, can I talk to you for a moment?” He didn’t wait for an answer and trudged down the hall to his borrowed office.
Might as well get this over with. Lucky followed and dropped down into a chair in front of the desk without being invited. “What?”
O’Donoghue sighed and sat on the edge of the desk. “I never much liked the taste of crow.”
“Huh?”Chew and swallow, and don’t even think about spitting out the feathers, asshat. You earned portions several times over. Let’s see how well you recognize it.
“I’m not good at apologizing. Instead, I try to live my life so I don’t do things I need to apologize for.” O’Donoghue swung his legs, shoe heels tapping against the desk. “I let my personal beliefs color my opinion, with disastrous results.”
