Chasing the White Lion James Hannibal (essential reading TXT) 📖

hard evidence—but we’re a long way from cracking the whole thing.” He gave Eddie a look that said, Correct?

“Exactly. I’ve got bits and pieces, rumors. To get more, we’ll have to kick it old school.”

“You mean infiltrate,” Finn said. “That’ll be dangerous, and time consuming. A lot of rungs on this particular ladder, by the look of Eddie’s brief.”

Tyler nodded. “I agree. So, we send in Val—go right after a top-tier mark and con him out of an invitation code. That way, Val enters as a jackrabbit or hawk with a high-level sponsor. She’ll make a big splash at the Jungle watering hole, big enough to merit a face-to-face with Boyd.”

The Aussie glanced from Eddie to Tyler and back again. “You said Boyd operates in the shadows as the White Lion. How is Val supposed to get a meeting?”

“Thanks. I almost forgot.” Eddie snapped his fingers in the field. The image changed to a pair of twisted skyscrapers joined by five aerial walkways. “Remember, Boyd is a big gamer, and every game must have a boss level. The Jungle is no different.” He paused, as if this was explanation enough.

“So . . . ,” Tyler said, inclining his head toward the others, and prompted Eddie for more.

“So . . . each year, the Jungle’s top players take their shot at the big boss, the White Lion. Dark Web rumors call it the Frenzy. Eight players, including the White Lion, make as many high-profit deals as they can in twenty-four hours, competing for the top five slots.”

A time-lapse advanced the hologram from day to night. Thousands of windows within the twin towers glowed fluorescent blue. “Enter Bangkok’s ultra-high Twin Tigers—Boyd’s latest real-estate investment. My indicators predict the Frenzy will go down here, next week.”

Mac snorted, waving his pastry. “Next week? Lots ta do. Little time. When do we leave? Tonight?”

“Monday.” Tyler glanced Talia’s way. “Our Sunday is spoken for.”

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

THE MISSION CHURCH

THE HEIGHTS, OXON HILL, MARYLAND

“YOU’REENDANGERING THE MISSION. You shouldn’t have come.” Eddie maintained his poker face from the back seat of Tyler’s Jag, and Talia could tell it took all his control.

She blinked. “How long have you been waiting to use that one?”

“Ever since you started coming here.” He grinned. “The Mission. Great name for a church.”

She climbed out and pulled the seat forward for him. “Don’t joke. A top CIA spy is trying to kill me. I really am endangering this church with my presence.”

“You’re really not. The cell I cloned for you constantly spoofs all trace attempts. Digital Talia is halfway down the Virginia coast, heading to Newport News.”

“Why Newport News?”

“Unlike the Real Talia, Digital Talia knows how to relax.” He set off across the parking lot. “I’m going in to find Darcy. She came early for recon.”

Tyler stood from the driver’s seat and leaned his elbows on the roof. “We’re going to keep you safe, and your church family. But you can still wave off, do this another day.”

“Not on your life.”

“I thought you’d say that.” She caught a hint of a smile in his eyes. Tyler closed the driver’s door and the locks automatically clicked. “Think of it this way. The desire to protect you has brought a band of thieves into a church to meet Jesus. God is at work.”

“I’m also bringing them in to meet my poor foster mother.” Talia shot him a frown. “That’s on you.”

Finn and Mac arrived in a rumbling Audi R8, drawing the wary eyes of parishioners arriving at the little satellite church in the Heights, an industrial district across the river from the wealthy suburbs of Arlington. Finn was dressed for the occasion in a blazer and jeans. Mac had done his best. Over his usual black muscle shirt, he wore a black leather jacket that might have used up the whole cow.

Talia smacked Finn in the arm as the two men caught up to her and Tyler on the way to the front doors. “Did you leave Matilda at home like I asked?”

“Against my better judgment, yes.”

“Good. Nice car. Very low profile. Right now, half the church is wondering if you’re a pair of drug dealers.”

“What happened to ‘Judge not’?”

Tyler chuckled at them both. “Easy to preach. Harder to execute.”

Those three laughed. Mac didn’t. The big Scotsman looked like an elephant about to enter a den of mice. “I’ll watch the outside if ya don’ mind. Churches make me nervous. I feel as if I’ll be struck by lightnin’ the moment I walk through the door.”

“Interesting.” Tyler checked the sky.

Mac looked up as well. “What? What is it?”

“I guess you didn’t know. All God’s creation is his church. Indoors, outdoors—doesn’t matter. To be frank, I’m surprised you haven’t been struck already.”

The others walked on, leaving Mac standing in place and squinting at the gathering clouds.

Talia elbowed Tyler in the ribs. “That wasn’t funny.”

“Oh yes it was.”

In the foyer, Finn jogged ahead to Eddie and Darcy, who were studying a bulletin board filled with pictures of the church’s families. He tapped one of the photos. “Check out the earrings on this lady. Think those are real diamonds?”

“Hey.” Tyler snapped his fingers.

The cat burglar withdrew the hand and shoved it in his pocket. “Sorry.”

Before Tyler could say anything else, Talia pulled him aside and nodded at Mac, out in the parking lot. “You left our Scottish friend outside in Volgograd as well. I’m sensing a trend.”

“His bulk and quickness makes him a good goal keep.” Tyler cracked a smile. “What? Were you thinking I separated him from the team because of his history . . . because he almost sold us out to Ivanov a few months ago?”

“Why not? His loyalty was questionable then. Can we be certain of him now?”

“Absolutely.”

“How?”

“Faith.” Tyler guided Talia over to the coatracks. “The day will come,” he said, helping her with her coat, “when that great big Highlander will no longer fear the front doors of a church—or the side doors, or the back entrance, or the cellar window. On that day, it will be all you can