He looked startled at first, but after a silent moment he drew in a deep breath and nodded. “It still may not be normal,” he said cautiously.

“But we’ll know we did all we could. Which is what all of this has been about, isn’t it?” Another deep breath, and she realized that while she was feeling lighter than she had in five years, he was feeling decidedly off balance. “Amazing how much guilt weighs, isn’t it?”

When he laughed at that she felt a renewed burst of pleasure, and vowed she would see to that as well, that Adam Kirk did a lot of laughing from here on out.

Adam could hear Gavin clearly, and realized the man had intentionally left the door to the office open a fraction.

“It’s a great pleasure to meet someone of your standing, Mr. de Marco,” came the unctuous voice of Councilwoman Harris.

“I’m sure,” Gavin said, his tone so dry Harris had to have realized it.

“I must admit I’m curious why you wanted to see me,” she said, clearly having decided to ignore the way he’d said it.

“I’ve heard that you make things happen in this city.”

Adam could practically see the woman preening. “Why, yes. I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished.”

“Are you?”

“Of course.”

“Nothing you’re not proud of?”

There was a moment’s pause, as if she were hesitating to answer. As well you should.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” she finally said, and there was an undertone in her voice that Adam knew was wariness. “Just why are you here, Mr. de Marco?”

“I’m here about something you made happen, Ms. Harris,” he said, and this time his voice had the snap of a whip. It was also their cue.

Quinn stepped in first. Adam was right behind him, so he saw the woman’s brow furrow. Then her gaze shifted to him, and her eyes widened slightly. As planned, he and Quinn moved shoulder to shoulder, masking Mandy until they were in front of the woman, who had clearly stepped around her desk to greet her famous guest.

And then they each stepped sideways, revealing Mandy, who stared at the woman coldly. Katrina Harris went pale.

“What is this?” she asked, a tremor in her voice.

“You know what it is,” Gavin said coldly. “It’s over, Madam Councilwoman. Kiss your office and your reputation goodbye, because your goose, as they say, is cooked.”

“I don’t know what you think—”

“What I think,” Mandy said, her voice even icier than her expression, “is that you are finally going to pay for what you did. My father was a brave, honorable man, and you aren’t fit to even speak his name.”