Avery Snowden had been in counterintelligence for decades. He had met Charles and Fergus several years ago, when MI6 was tracking suspected terrorists in London, assisted by Scotland Yard. It had been a bit tense among the men in the beginning—each trying to be top dog. But after a few clandestine meetings, they had developed the trust of a band of brothers. They’d been able to uncover a plot to strike several soft targets. Thanks to their intel, the raid they devised had gone off without a hitch and resulted in the arrest of half a dozen terrorists. The official record showed the suspects had been convicted and sentenced during a trial that was off-limits to the press and public. They had been transported to an “unknown location” and had never been heard from again. Justice could be sweet.

Avery had got his orders from Charles and had put two of his best shadows on Dr. Corbett and Dr. Marcus. He would handle Dr. Steinwood personally. Eileen was a supersleuth and could plant a bug in the most highly guarded offices and homes. With occasional help from Alexis, master of disguise, Eileen could be anything from a Pakistani cabdriver to a school librarian. She would handle Marcus in London.

Sasha, another longtime operative of Avery’s, would handle Corbett. She knew the streets of New York better than most cops in the NYPD. Getting out to Long Island was a piece of cake. She would employ the services of Wings Air, an outfit whose helicopter pilot she knew, intimately. He never questioned Sasha about her work. It was his understanding that she was a photographer for a very high-end private detective agency, the identity of whose clients was confidential. Which, for the most part, had the virtue of being true. Of course, Sasha never mentioned the parts of her activity that would be considered illegal.

Avery would take Steinwood on himself. He tapped out the information and instructions he had on the three men, or “subjects.” Each operative would tail her subject for a week and would report to Avery every day. Avery would send their reports, as well as his own, to Charles, who would then share them with the sisters.