“But right now we need to plan our next steps,” Quinn said, “so if you plan on heading home—”

“Not until we’re sure she’s safe.”

Quinn nodded as if he’d expected no other answer. “All right. Come on in, then. Cutter!”

The dog had been investigating something at the edge of the backyard. Adam smiled when he saw a small black cat shoot out of the bushes and leap to the top of the fence between them and the house next door. Cutter looked torn for a moment but answered the call.

“Somehow it’s reassuring to see him doing something so normal,” Adam said wryly.

Quinn grinned. “It is, isn’t it? Makes it easier to believe he’s just a dog.”

When they went back inside Hayley and Amanda were already back sitting at the table. Adam took the chance to study her for a moment, as if some unruly part of his mind wanted to know if this was the explanation for the sudden vanishing of that hatred he’d always sensed from her, that she hadn’t known before how badly his arm had been hurt, but knew now. Knew that he hadn’t quit, he’d been forced out by the injury. It seemed...too much to hope. He told himself sternly it didn’t matter, but he couldn’t seem to look away.

He could see the man he’d admired so much in the tilt of her nose and the dark auburn of her hair. And he knew if she looked up, it would be like seeing Greg’s eyes again, those vivid green eyes that saw so much. And yet they were different, because of the person behind them.

Her head moved and Adam quickly looked away, although she looked up at Quinn, not him.

“I’ve been telling Hayley I really don’t think this is necessary,” she said. “Nothing more has happened, and maybe it really was just an accident. Maybe he was just driving recklessly, trying to get away with that stolen car.”

“That’s possible,” Quinn said mildly as he sat down.

“Then you can all go back to doing your good work,” she said, sounding relieved.

“This is our good work,” Hayley said quietly.

“But—”

“She’s right, Amanda,” Quinn said. “Why take the chance when you don’t have to?”

To Adam’s surprise, Amanda looked at him then. As if she were waiting for him to say something. For his input. Now, after all the years of hating him, his opinion mattered?

“Adam?” she said, clearly wanting exactly that. When he didn’t answer right away, because he couldn’t think of what to say, she prompted, “Don’t you need to get home?”