Dead in a Week (Forensic Instincts 7)

Aidan waved away the offer. “Not necessary. Watching your family reunion is all the gratitude I need.”

Vance looked startled. “Is it the anonymity? I can pay you in cash.”

“We’re more than solvent. No financial payment is needed.” Aidan changed the subject to one that was in the forefront of his mind. “Lauren is a lovely young woman, strong and courageous. And, yes, physically, she’s fine. Still, there’s bound to be some degree of post-traumatic stress following an ordeal like the one she suffered. I’d suggest you get her into counseling right away. You and Susan would benefit from some, too.”

Vance nodded. “Susan suggested family counseling. She already got recommendations for a few highly rated therapists.” He swallowed hard. “I couldn’t bring myself to help her. I was afraid to think that far ahead.”

“Completely understandable. But now you can.” A contemplative pause. “The FBI is already starting to conduct a full investigation. Given the size of the two companies involved, plus the inevitable leak of Lauren’s kidnapping, there’s no way you’ll escape an onslaught of media coverage. All the more reason Lauren will need counseling. This is going to be tough on her, even if she refuses to comment.”

“I know. I’ve already contacted our attorney. We’ll protect her any way we can. But you’re right. Every news station will be running with this. Social media will be flooded. Lauren’s friends, professors, everyone will want to know what happened. She’s going to need a lot of support. And she’ll have it.” Vance locked gazes with Aidan. “What about you and your team? How will you retain your anonymity?”

A corner of Aidan’s mouth lifted. “I’ll hand that problem over to Marc. He’s former FBI. He’ll know what to do. Not to worry. What about you? Have you decided whether or not you’ll speak with Robert Maxwell? As I understand it, he’s frantic to talk to you.”

Vance stared at the ground. “I’m not ready to make that decision. I’m not even ready to think about whether or not I want to stay on at Nano. Industrial espionage, a link to organized crime, and a corrupt CEO will result in irrevocable damage—the kind I’m not at all sure I want to ride out. As for Robert, on some rational level, I realize he didn’t have a hand in Lauren’s kidnapping. But his actions and decisions precipitated it.” Vance raised his gaze to meet Aidan’s. “He was my mentor and my friend, one of the most honorable people I’ve ever met. Or so I thought. Now…” Vance gave a baffled shake of his head. “I don’t even know the man. Maybe I never did. Seeing or even talking to him right now would be a bad idea. He’s trying to purge, but I’m trying to recover. I’m going to need time.”

“That’s very decent of you,” Aidan replied. “Not many people would even consider speaking to him. From what I’m hearing, he’s a broken man. Everything he cares about is gone—his job, his reputation, his freedom. And, if rumor has it correctly, his wife. Looking away from indiscretions is a far cry from having them splashed all over the Internet. That, together with having her husband facing federal charges and an almost certain lengthy prison term, is more than she’s willing to endure.”

“His poor children and grandchildren,” Vance murmured. “The impact on them is going to be very hard. For that reason alone I might agree to speak with Robert. I know his family. Maybe I can help in some way.” Once again, tears glistened in Vance’s eyes. “I have my daughter back, alive and well. I feel very blessed—blessed enough to be compassionate about Robert’s kids and grandkids, if not Robert himself.”

“I understand.” And he did, more than Vance could ever know. Even as they stood there, finishing up, all Aidan could think about was Abby. He couldn’t wait to get to Disneyland and hold his little girl.

He extended his hand, clasping Vance’s in a firm handshake. “Go inside and enjoy your family.”

“I will.” With a grateful glance over his shoulder, Vance nodded. He turned back to Aidan a different man than he’d been a week ago—one who’d come close to enduring an unthinkable loss and whose priorities would be forever changed. “Again, you have my eternal gratitude.”

“Semper Fi,” Aidan replied, repeating the same Marine motto he’d uttered in Vance’s office a week ago.

“Semper Fi.”

Marc scrutinized Aidan once he was back in the town car and their driver had started on the return trip to San Jose International Airport. “That looked intense.”

“Yup.” Aidan rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. “No surprise there.”

“You okay?”

“Just wiped. The adrenaline rush is giving way to major exhaustion.”

“You’re full of it. You’re thinking about Abby. So am I.” Marc blew out a breath, leaning his head back against the headrest. “I can’t wait to see the little tyrant. Even if it is only long enough for us all to catch a few hours of sleep, after which she and I will share a quick carousel ride and a ginormous breakfast before I pack Emma and Joyce up and the three of us fly back to New York.”

“I hope you understand,” Aidan said. “I just want a few fun days alone with her—just to be Daddy. I need that after this one.”

“I know you do.” Marc needed no explanation. “Besides, I have my work cut out for me—dealing with the Bureau and keeping Zermatt a secret.” He grinned. “Hey, if push comes to shove, I’ll credit Forensic Instincts with Lauren’s rescue.”

Aidan grinned back. “Feel free.”

“I appreciate the use of your plane. But how’s Simone getting home?”

“She’s flying commercial, and she’s already airborne. But she’s not going straight home. She’s going to spend a week of vacation time in Manhattan.”

“Ah, so the two of you kissed and made up via phone.”

“If that’s what you want to call it.” Aidan rolled his eyes. “I reamed her out for breaking protocol and putting herself in danger. She reamed me out for being too rigid and for letting my personal feelings cloud my vision. Robert’s appearance at Jia li’s apartment, and his guilt, came out of the blue and we’d had no plan in place for dealing with that. She went on to remind me that I would have done just what she did under the circumstances. And she’s right; I would have.”

Marc nodded, hiding his smile. “You can’t argue with success.”

“Yeah, I get it. Don’t sound so smug.” Aidan shot his brother a sideways look. “So to answer your question, yes, she and I are good.”

“And you’ll get to explore just how good since she’ll be waiting in New York when you and Abby return.”