“It’s buried under some shell corporations and other masks, but the bottom line is that Malachi’s family is living in a fancy house in an expensive neighborhood—for Walla Walla anyway—and the rent is paid by a supposed charity group, founded and funded mostly by one of those shells within shells that tracks back to Katrina Harris. His mother also has a well-paying—too well-paying, when compared to the standard rate—job with that ‘charity,’ on paper at least. No indication she actually does anything there, since she’s over there and it’s in the city. And the topper is that they moved in during the trial.”

“Proof to Malachi of Harris holding up her end of the deal,” Gavin said softly.

“Exactly. And,” Liam added, “the charity itself was funded the day after the shoot-out at the convenience store.”

“Once the job was done,” Adam said, his voice harsh even to his own ears.

“Exactly,” Quinn agreed. He looked at Gavin. “Is it enough?”

“With you three coming at them? The orphaned child of a dead hero, and two more heroes? Enough to trigger a full investigation,” Gavin said with stark satisfaction. “Because they’ll know the alternative.”

Which would likely be Gavin de Marco using the full power of his name and reputation to blast this to the world.

Quinn directed Liam to continue, and suggested they find out who had paid Malachi’s lawyer, but that had been countered by Gavin, who said it would be better to leave the official investigation a few things to find, to make sure they were fully invested.

Mandy had lapsed into silence as they talked, but now she said in a voice that made Adam ache inside, “He never had a chance.”

“No,” Adam said grimly, “he didn’t.”

And then she turned, to look at him head-on. In a movement that startled him, she reached out to cup his cheek.

“And neither did you ever have a chance at stopping it.”

It hit him like a pile driver to the gut. He hadn’t taken that last step, seen that last bit of it, until she handed it to him.

He’d never had a chance to save him. Greg had been a target, and if he’d been right beside him it would have changed nothing. Even if he hadn’t been shot, it would have made no difference. Even if they had changed roles, as he’d so often imagined, if Greg had been the one to head into the store, he still would have been the target and cut down before he ever got there.

For a minute he thought he was dizzy, because it felt as if his head was about to start spinning. Or the room. Which would make it vertigo. Which was a ridiculous thing to be thinking about...now. Now, when the last domino had finally fallen, and the truth was there in front of him.