Page 89 of Operation Protector
“Less drag,” Colby said. “Never would have thought of that, but it makes sense. I helped build a place over in Steamboat Springs once, and I remember having to catch my breath a lot.”
The were offloading before Ali got the chance to say, “I didn’t know you’d worked nonlocal.”
He shrugged. “It was one of the things that made Liz think I’d go along with her plan. Because I was known enough to get called in on jobs in various places, so obviously I must be ready to go higher.”
“And here I’m thinking it’s way more than enough that your reputation precedes you that much.”
At that he leaned over and kissed her.
Chapter 40
The place was even more pretentious than Colby would have guessed. It was nestled on a hill above the golf course—at least as much as a house that size could nestle. Three stories tall, the bottom level of custom-hewn rock, and the upper two of wood pretending to be cabin-like, with views to forever, he was sure. Ironic, for a family who looked only inward.
If he had to guess—and given his occupation he was pretty good at it—Colby would put it at 10,000 square feet or better. He didn’t know what prices were running around here these days, but he’d bet this one was into the eight-digit range. Liz would have seen to it. After all, a Hollen couldn’t have an address less distinguished than that.
They drove around and parked out of sight from the driveway at the back of the house. It was situated so nothing faced the neighbors or the street. All the views were out toward the open side, so it probably seemed as if they owned the mountains around them. Liam had already had an aerial view ready, and from that Colby could see that it wasn’t quite as isolated as it seemed. Good planning on somebody’s part. He doubted very much it had been a Hollen.
But most importantly, the garage door was open. Colby didn’t know if that meant they were already here, or if the house was just being prepared for their arrival.
“You three stay here,” Quinn said, “until we get this scoped out.”
The three Foxworth operatives—because that’s what they were at the moment, geared up and ready to skulk through the woods—headed out and split up to circle the house. Liam, because he’d been seen by Liz before, took the most hidden path, through a thick stand of evergreens. Ali watched them go, looking a little anxious.
“They’re really good at this,” de Marco assured her.
Colby didn’t doubt it. With both Quinn and Teague being ex-military, and Liam having learned from them both, he was sure they’d get this initial recon done without being noticed. And they did it much more quickly than he expected.
“Movement, lights on, but we can’t see who,” Teague reported when they got back to the car.
“I’m going to take Cutter for a little walk,” Quinn said.
Colby blinked, but wasn’t about to question the man. So he just watched as he and the eager dog took off, looking for all the world like just a guy and his dog out for a stroll.
Until they got to the driveway and Cutter alerted. Quinn edged a bit closer to the house, as if letting the dog pick the path. Then Colby saw that dark head go down to the concrete, nose twitching. He couldn’t see from here, but he recognized the motion. The dog had started toward the front door of the house when Quinn pulled him back and walked quickly back to the road. Colby frowned, not sure why he hadn’t let the dog continue. But then he saw someone jogging down the roadway, a woman who paused when Quinn said something to her. She answered him. He smiled, she laughed, and then continued on her way.
The pair were back to the car in moments.
“They’re here.”
Colby blinked. “How do you know?”
“First, the way Cutter alerted up near the door. He scented Grace, and you said she’d never been here before. And second, that lady saw the limo arrive about twenty minutes ago.”
It still amazed Colby how the dog could apparently focus, ignoring what had to be a lot of other new and interesting scents, to home in on the one he was here to protect.
“Liam, you have the comms set up?”
“Will have in less than a minute.” Colby didn’t doubt it. He’d started messing with the gear the moment Quinn had said Cutter had scented Grace.
“You gonna take the bodyguard, or should I?” Teague asked Quinn, as casually as if he were asking about the weather.
Quinn looked at Colby, as if asking his opinion. He had no idea why, until it hit him that whoever didn’t take the bodyguard would probably be the one to confront Liz. And Teague was slightly less intimidating at first sight. Was that what they wanted? He had to assess, quickly. But it wasn’t that hard. Dressed in his rugged gear, Quinn looked like what he was, a man able to take on anything. He had no doubt Teague was also, but he didn’t look the part in the towering, fierce way Quinn did.
“We want her off guard until we move, right? Then it should be Teague.”
Quinn smiled. “Points for figuring out what I was really asking.”
Teague didn’t take offense at all. In fact, he ran to the back of the rented SUV, pulled his duffel open and yanked something out. Then he shed his tactical jacket and pulled on the item of clothing that, to Colby’s surprise, was nothing less than a well-tailored, expensive-looking suit jacket. He’d apparently had it rolled rather than folded, so it looked no worse than if he’d worn it on the plane. And when he put it on over the sweater he was wearing, he looked downright a successful businessman.
