Expect Betrayal (Operation Delphi, #3)

Der Mumm, Hitler’s circle of occult practitioners, had discovered that the WAVE was a clairvoyant with precognition and that her family maintained a manuscript containing powerful spells and talismans. Brick’s orders were to kidnap Livvy and the manuscript and spirit them away to Germany. Since Trey couldn’t be left behind to tell the story, he would have an unfortunate accident resulting in death.

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BRICK PULLED OPEN THE front door to the darkened officers’ club and ushered Trey in. They made their way around well-made wooden tables and chairs in the candle-lit room and toward the highly polished oak bar that Brick had heard had been salvaged from a local pub after its destruction during an air raid. They each sat at the bar on one of the high bar stools with red leather seats. With their drinks before them, Brick said, “I tell you what, Trey. I should loan you my lucky penny while you’re over here. It’s kept me safe.”

Trey, palms up, backed away from the idea. “I don’t believe in lucky charms.”

“It’s not as if you’ll have it forever.” Brick’s voice was low and reassuring, the tone he used for hypnosis. “You’ll give it back to me in a day or two when you finish up over here.”

“Still...”

“I insist, Old Buddy,” Brick said. “You’ll hurt my feelings if you don’t take it.” He held out a polished penny. “Here. Put it in your wallet in a safe place.”

Trey took the shiny penny and held it up to examine it under the light of a stubby green candle stuck in a Chianti bottle. “Hey, this penny has heads on both sides!”

“That’s why it’s lucky for me.” Brick laughed.

“I’d have punched you out at Dartmouth if I’d have spotted this trickery.”

Trey put the penny into a small envelope used for business and personal cards. He closed the flap and tucked the envelope into his wallet. “Thanks.”

Actually, I owe you. You just accepted my enchanted tracking tool.