“This is going to be big news,” Gavin said, as if stating a given. But then, as the man at the top of more nationally and even internationally known cases not so long ago, he would know.

“Yes,” Quinn agreed.

Gavin’s gaze went from...his boss? Adam guessed so, although the idea of this man even having a boss seemed absurd. Then again, it was Quinn Foxworth, who had led men into combat. But he looked from Quinn to them, and said quietly, “You three are going to be the centerpieces when this breaks.”

Adam could tell he was assessing them. The man clearly knew Quinn could handle whatever came his way, but he and Mandy were unknowns to him beyond the basics of the situation.

“I’ll shield you as best I can,” he went on, “if that’s your wish. But it’s going to be a bit rough.”

Mandy’s head came up. And she met and held the man’s gaze. “You don’t need to shield me. I’ve been through the worst, and now I know it wasn’t just a by-product of a robbery gone bad. It was intentional. My father was murdered, and I’ll do whatever it takes to see that...vermin taken down.”

Adam looked at her as she spoke, saw the straightness of her spine, the set of her delicate jaw. And a warm feeling billowed through him: pride. Pride in her, for she was indeed her father’s daughter.

“He would be proud,” he said softly.

Mandy’s head turned sharply and she met his look. For an instant, a small smile curved her mouth.

“Yes,” she said, then adding very pointedly as she held his gaze, “he would be proud.”

He knew what she meant. That Greg would be proud of him, too. He let himself bask in the thought, but even more that it was coming from her.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed—he was so busy processing all that had changed in the last few hours he’d lost track—but suddenly there was a triumphant shout from upstairs, followed closely by the clatter of Liam on the stairs.

“We got it!” He skipped the last four steps and jumped to the floor, his industrial-looking laptop in one hand. He handed it off to Quinn and gave an exultant look to Adam and Mandy. “This’ll do it,” he assured them.

“Digest version?” Gavin asked.