The doorbell rang at that moment and Irina rushed away to answer it, but paused in the doorway to give Mercy a thumbs-up. “Brave,” she said.

I hope so. I sure hope so.

A minute later, during which Rafe and Gideon continued to glare at her, Irina returned, followed by a very tall man with bright blond hair. He looked familiar, somehow.

Mercy recalled his face seconds before he introduced himself. He was the FBI agent who’d helped Gideon find the killer the night she’d been abducted. She wasn’t sure what exactly the man had done to help, but Gideon said they owed him a great deal.

“I’m Special Agent Hunter,” the man said. “I’m here to take your official statement, Detective.”

“Mine?” Erin asked, confused.

“No,” Rafe said. “Mine. Hi, Tom.”

Tom looked around the table, clearly sensing the tension. “Is this a bad time?”

“No, it’s fine,” Rafe told him. “We can use my father’s study.”

But Karl had risen to his feet, still looking confused. “Wait. You’re Tom Hunter?”

Tom’s lips quirked up in an almost-smile. “Yes, sir.”

“The Tom Hunter?” Karl pressed.

“Well, it’s a fairly common name,” Tom said, amusement in his eyes. “I can’t be the only one.”

Karl shook his head. “The Tom Hunter who led Boston to the finals three years running?”

Tom looked a bit bashful now. “Yes, sir. But that was a lifetime ago.”

“It was a year ago,” Karl protested. “I was sorry when I heard you’d left the game. You were a pleasure to watch on the court.”

Mercy was now confused. “Court?”

“He’s an NBA player,” Karl explained.

“Was,” Tom corrected. “Now I’m with the Bureau.”

Rafe’s mouth had fallen open. “Holy shit. I didn’t make the connection before. Holy fucking shit.” He darted an apologetic glance at Irina. “Sorry, Mom.”

“Is okay,” she said, chuckling. “Raphael, take the nice agent to your father’s office. I will bring tea.”

“That’s not necessary, Mrs. Sokolov,” Tom protested.

“Nonsense. You go. Now.” She shooed both Rafe and Tom with a flick of her hands.

“That was . . . weird,” Mercy said, when the two were gone.

“The last twenty-four hours have been weird,” Farrah agreed.

Daisy turned on Gideon with an indignant frown. “Did you know who he was?”

Gideon shook his head. “I don’t follow basketball. I thought he was a rookie agent with impressive computer skills.”

“Well, we’ll have to get him on my radio show,” Daisy declared.

Gideon looked displeased. “You’ll do no such thing. He has a different job now and he might not want to receive that kind of attention. It could negatively affect his work.”

Daisy pouted. “Dammit. But I know you’re right.” She jabbed his arm with her finger when he smiled, a little smugly. “This time, you’re right. This one time. Don’t go getting a fat head.”

“Too late for that,” Mercy muttered, and Sasha choked out a laugh.

“He’s your brother. I got five of them, so I feel your pain. They treat us like we’re useless.”