Colby Vs. Colby

by Debra Webb

• ISBN13: 9780373887699
• ISBN10: 0373887698
• Edition: Large
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-06-12
• Publisher: Harlequin
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Summary

With their reputations and Sunday dinner in jeopardy, Victoria Colby-Camp and her son Jim were not about to give in when it came to Sam Johnson. He was Jim Colby's newest Equalizer but a mystery to everyone else. Until the past caught up to him when Officer Lisa Smith was called in to drag him back to the City of Angels to clear his name. Hired by the Colby Agency, Lisa was by the book in every way, except when it came to Sam. After all this time, she couldn't forget him and she had tried. With Sam framed for three gangland killings, Lisa found herself unraveling a man who trusted no one. But Sam would have to let Lisa in if they were ever going to expose a brutal killer before it was too late for the next victim... and the Colbys.

Excerpts

Chicago's South side Tuesday, June 4, 9:48 p.m."And there she goes," Jim Colby murmured as he watched the young woman dart across the dark, deserted street. "Victim number three is in position." Sam Johnson moved his head from side to side. "How can these kids be so gullible?" He just didn't get it. With the news reporting way too often on the dirty business of runaways being sold into slavery, he just didn't see how anyone could be so oblivious to the dangers. And yet it was happening right in front of his eyes, as he sat watching from a beatup Chevy Impala. "Time to shut these scumbags down." Following Jim's cue, Sam exited the passenger side. The vehicle's interior light had been disabled to ensure they weren't spotted by anyone watching the street. Using the vehicles parked along the block as cover, Sam stole halfway up the block before pausing to survey the situation once more. Jim had taken the direct route to the office building abandoned by day and used for criminal rendezvous by night. Jim would put in a call to Chicago PD for backup as soon as he verified that all known players were in position. The Equalizers could tag and move in on this group, but the final arrests had to be made by official law enforcement personnel. Sam hustled across the street and crouched at the rear of an SUV. If these scumbags had any spotters keeping watch, they were either asleep or blind. He steeled himself for possible confrontation and ran the last twenty yards to the northeast corner of the building inside which the despicable transaction would go down. According to Jim, the location had once been an adoption agency. Sam found that ironic since the business taking place here most recently involved another sort of adoption: the selling of young women to the highest bidders. Three females, ranging in age from seventeen to twentysix, were inside. Two of those three didn't realize just yet that this was going to be one of the luckiest days of their lives. The third victim was a plant. Connie Gardner, the receptionist from the Equalizers, had agreed to step into that role. At twentysix, Connie didn't look a day over twentyone. Having a great body and the right look ensured she fit the profile. Top priority was neutralizing the bad guys while maintaining the safety and wellbeing of the three women about to be auctioned via a private chat room on the Internet. If those scumbags inside knew what was good for them they would keep their hands off Connie. She knew how to make life miserable in a New York minute. From his position at the main entrance, Colby tapped the mike to indicate all players were now present and visually accounted for. Sam eased around the corner of the building, surveyed the back parking area and then hustled over to the groundfloor rear entrance. He tapped his collar mike, giving Colby the signal that he was in position. Colby would call his contact at Chicago PD and four minutes from now the world as these jerks knew it would change forever. Unfortunately, another group would take their place far too quickly. As if to warn that the night was about to take a turn for the worst, another kind of change came earlier than Sam had anticipated. One of the hoodlums barreled out the rear entrance and ran square into him. Sam and his startled attacker tumbled to the ground and rolled as each attempted to gain control of the other. Sam resisted the urge to use his weapon. His enemy had dropped his weapon when they hit the ground. No need to use excessive force. His assailant went for Sam's throat. Weapon or no, the guy was determined to win this battle. At least until Sam applied just enough pressure to the carotid artery. The man slumped, unconscious. Sam shoved him off and clambered to his feet. After tucking the lout's weapon into his waistband, Sam m