“The longer we sit and do nothing but defend, the longer he has to plan. He has a right to visitors under the law. We know that whoever comes to Deboque is tied to Deboque.” Each time he said the name it left a bitter taste on his tongue. “I’m sure Reeve can give us a report on each and every visitor in the past seven years.” He glanced at his brother-in-law and received a nod. “We know who they are, what they are and where they are. Isn’t it time we used that knowledge more forcibly?”

“They are under surveillance,” Armand reminded him.

“Surveillance on known members of Deboque’s organization did nothing for Seward.” The pain was still raw and still meticulously controlled by both father and son. Silence hung a moment, broken only by the click and flare of Reeve’s lighter. “We need someone on the inside.”

“Alexander is right.” Reeve blew out a stream of smoke. “It’s something I’ve been giving a lot of thought to. The problem would be finding the right operative, then getting him in. Infiltrating Deboque’s organization could take months.”

“It took him little time to plant his woman as Gabriella’s secretary.” Alexander’s resentment hadn’t faded after seven years, only evolved into a simmering need for retribution.

Reeve understood, acknowledged, then shook his head. “It’s easier to fake a security clearance, a background, records, than it is to gain a position of trust with a man like Deboque. He’s in jail now only through five years of Interpol’s concentrated effort.”

“And still he pulls strings,” Armand murmured.

“And still he pulls strings.” Reeve picked up his cooling coffee only to wash the taste of frustration from his mouth. “Even after we’ve succeeded in putting a man on the inside, it’ll take more time for him to establish himself in a position of trust. We need someone who can testify that Deboque himself gave an order.”

Alexander rose, needing to pace off the excess energy that came from swallowing his thirst for action instead of talk. Intellectually he knew Reeve was right. To successfully destroy Deboque would take time and patience. But emotionally … He wanted revenge, the grimly sweet satisfaction of it. Now, as always, he had no choice but to put his wants second to necessity.

“You have someone in mind?”

Reeve tapped out his cigarette. “I will have within a week.”

“In the meantime?”

“In the meantime I suggest we continue to upgrade our security, keep Deboque’s people under surveillance and prepare for his next move. It will come.” He spoke first to Alexander, then shifted his gaze, cool and calm, to Armand. “And it will come soon.”

Armand nodded. “I will leave it to you to contact Jermaine at the Paris embassy. Perhaps tomorrow you will have a report on your conversation with Linnot on palace security.”

“Tomorrow.”