Page 72 of The Thief
"He's the mole."
The words hit Henry like a slap. All the color drains from his face, and for a moment he looks every one of his seventy-odd years.
"That's impossible."
"Is it? Sullivan confirmed it last night. Someone in your inner circle has been feeding information to Trace for months. Someone with access to family schedules, security protocols, personal details about our operations."
"It could be anyone?—"
"It's Marcus." I sit across from him and lean forward. "Think about it. Who else knew about Alastríona before I brought her home? Who else has been questioning her place in the family? Who else would have access to the kind of detailed information Trace has been getting?"
Henry's shaking his head, but I can see doubt creeping into his eyes. "Forty years, Freddie. Forty years of loyalty."
"And what's he got to show for it? He’s still playing second fiddle to the man who built everything while he did the grunt work. Maybe he got tired of being in your shadow."
"He's like a brother to me."
"And sometimes family betray one another."
Silence stretches between us. Henry stares at his coffee like it holds answers to questions he doesn't want to ask.
"What proof do you have?" he asks finally.
"Sullivan told us Trace knows about tonight. He knows the whole family will be here for dinner. Knows exactly when and where to hit us."
"That could be a coincidence?—"
"Twenty minutes ago, Marcus was talking about tonight's dinner like it was already planned. How did he know about it? Did you tell him?"
"No. I was going to announce it this morning, after I spoke with Denis."
"Then how did he know?"
The question hangs in the air like smoke. Henry's face crumbles as the implications sink in.
"Christ," he whispers. "If you're right, if Marcus has been..."
"He has been. And tonight, when Trace comes for us, Marcus will make sure we're sitting ducks."
Henry's hands shake as he reaches for his phone. "I need to call Denis. Cancel the dinner, change the plans."
"No. We use it. Let Trace think he's walking into an easy target while we prepare a welcome he'll never forget."
"Are you insane? If Marcus is feeding him information?—"
"Then we feed Marcus false information. Make him think we're unprepared, unaware. Let Trace commit all his resources to an attack that's doomed from the start."
Henry considers this, weighing options. "It's risky."
"Everything's risky. But this way, we control the battlefield. We know when he's coming, how many men he's bringing, what his objectives are. We turn his trap into our ambush."
"And Alastríona?"
"Will be somewhere safe. Far from here when the shooting starts."
"Where?"
"Stephen's house. Jessica will look after her; keep her occupied while we handle business."
