Investigating 101. Debra Webb
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worn her hair the same way for half a lifetime, never bothering with touching up the multiplying silver strands that gave away her true age.
Was it time for a personal change?
Lucas appeared more than happy with her hair just as it was. She traced the tiny lines accentuating her eyes and wondered why she’d never worried about those, either. Most women her age and of her social standing had undergone at least one facelift by now.
No, she decided, that wasn’t the problem.
As simple as it would be to pretend a new wardrobe and a visit to a salon would cure her restless feelings, she knew deep down that it wouldn’t help.
Her working life lacked the edge and excitement of the past. Though it was certainly true that the Colby Agency worked many, many intriguing and exciting cases, that wasn’t what she meant.
When she and James had first started the agency, everything had been new, including the investigators they hired. One or two had had previous experience in the field, but most learned from the master, James Colby himself. Time and experience had honed this agency to a gleaming, precious jewel among its competition.
No more rough edges, no more raw exhilaration.
Affection tugged at her lips when she thought of Trevor Sloan and his untamed surliness. He’d been a man with more rough edges than most, and yet the best damned investigator any agency could hope to retain. He’d been young and so had Victoria.
On the heels of that thought came an epiphany.
That was the missing ingredient that had her out of sorts.
Youth.
It wasn’t that she resented growing older. On the contrary—her life was everything she wanted it to be and more. This was strictly business.
And no one knew better about the business of private investigations than she.
Victoria stepped over to the phone on her desk and pressed the intercom button.
“Mildred, find the date and location of that job fair we talked about last week. I’m considering participating.” Anticipation surged in Victoria’s veins. She was on to something here. She could feel it all the way to the pads of her feet.
“I have it right here, Victoria,” Mildred said as she shuffled through her calendar. “Embassy Suites downtown, this weekend.”
Perfect. “Sign the agency up ASAP. I don’t want just a booth, I want a conference room. Get it in tomorrow’s edition of the Tribune.”
“It may be too late to sign up,” Mildred warned.
Victoria grinned. “Talk to Lyle Vandiver at the Chamber of Commerce. He’ll get us in. Pull out all the stops, Mildred. I want to make a big splash.”
“The usual employment requirements?” her secretary asked.
There was no need to mull over the question; Victoria knew what she wanted. “No. This is going to be different. No experience necessary. Drop the age requirement to twenty.”
“Pardon? Did you say twenty?”
“Twenty,” Victoria repeated. That was a far cry from the twenty-five guideline the agency generally used. It had been a very long time since she had considered an applicant too young to have any real job experience. And there was no time like the present to see what she’d been missing.
Still sounding befuddled, Mildred assured, “I’ll get right on it.”
Victoria sat at her desk and began to review the case files with a new sense of purpose.
That was what she’d been missing—just exactly what this agency needed—new blood. Young blood. Raw talent.
The unexpected.
AT 10:00 A.M. on the dot that morning Victoria moved to the conference room where all not on assignment waited.
Ian Michaels and Simon Ruhl sat on either side of her vacant chair at the head of the long polished mahogany table. Ian’s wife, Nicole, as well as Ric Martinez, Ryan Braxton, Pierce Maxwell, Ethan Delaney, Doug Cooper-Smith, Daniel Marks and A. J. Braddock, one of the agency’s newest investigators, were present. Patrick O’Brien, the other new member on Victoria’s staff, was currently on assignment, as were three other investigators.
As Victoria took her place at the table, Elaine Younger, the agency receptionist, poked her head through the door.
“Victoria, the gentlemen are here to install the carpet.”
A litany of groans and sighs went around the room. Elaine looked worried, as if she feared she’d somehow done the wrong thing by making the announcement no one in the room—other than Victoria—wanted to hear.
“Excellent,” Victoria said with a nod of approval in Elaine’s direction. “Let them know they can start in my office.”
Elaine nodded eagerly and quickly closed the door to carry out her orders.
“Victoria.”
Victoria turned to Simon and waited for him to proceed.
“Mildred mentioned that you had decided to join in this weekend’s job fair.”
He didn’t have to say the rest; Victoria read the question in his eyes. Why on earth had she lowered the usual standards for hopeful applicants?
“That’s correct.” She surveyed the table. Judging by the expression on each face, all present had heard the news. “I felt the need to venture into new territory.” She clasped her hands and placed them on the table in front of her. “I’d like to sample the raw talent out there,” she added bluntly. “Any questions?”
Victoria didn’t miss the smile that flirted with Ian’s lips. “You have someone in mind for heading up the event?”
Leave it to Ian to cut to the chase. “Actually,” Victoria said, “I do.” She turned her attention to the right. “I hoped Nicole would be free to handle the job fair.”
Nicole Reed-Michaels was former FBI. She had the incredible beauty of the women gracing the covers of fashion magazines. Sleek blond hair and breathtaking blue eyes. But anyone who let her appearance fool them was in for a big surprise. Nicole was not only highly intelligent, she was downright lethal. No one got in her way.
“I’d be happy to, Victoria,” Nicole volunteered without hesitation. She shifted those assessing blue eyes to her husband. “You won’t mind watching the kids, will you, Ian?”
A moment of loaded silence passed as every man in the room struggled to restrain a grin or a chuckle. Victoria didn’t bother holding back. Her lips spread wide with amusement. She loved the power Nicole had over the enigmatic Ian.
“Of course not,” he said to his wife before turning back to Victoria. “Shall we move on?”
The status of each ongoing case was reported and new ones assigned. Victoria observed the well-educated, refined members of her outstanding staff. Only the best. The Colby Agency employed the most outstanding in their respective fields…the cream of the crop from many walks of life, including the military as well as other government agencies and law enforcement. Victoria had always prided herself on ferreting out those who had excelled in their former careers. Men and women who were highly trained and well experienced.
But that was about to change.
She needed an infusion of the unknown…of raw, edgy talent.
Excitement. That was what the Colby Agency needed.
Pure T-type adrenaline. Young blood, ready to do anything to prove him or herself.
Just like in the old days.
Chapter Two
It wasn’t every day a guy got the goods on a cheating, backstabbing employee. Especially one who