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Aidan waved away the offer “Not necessary Watching your faratitude I need”
Vance looked startled “Is it the anonymity? I can pay you in cash”
“We’re more than solvent No financial payed the subject to one that was in the forefront of his eous And, yes, physically, she’s fine Still, there’s bound to be so 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 fahly rated therapists” He sed hard “I couldn’t bring myself to help her I was afraid to think that far ahead”
“Completely understandable But now you can” A conte 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 e All theto be tough on her, even if she refuses to comment”
“I know I’ve already contacted our attorney We’ll protect her any e can But you’re right Every news station will be running with this Social media will be flooded Lauren’s friends, professors, everyone ant to knohat 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? Hoill 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 knohat 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 crie—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 ht Now…” Vance gave a baffled shake of his head “I don’t even know the ht noould be a bad idea He’s trying to purge, but I’ to need time”
“That’s very decent of you,” Aidan replied “Notto hi he cares about is gone—his job, his reputation, his freedo away fro the her husband facing federal charges and an al to endure”
“His poor children and grandchildren,” Vanceto be very hard For that reason alone I ree to speak with Robert I know his falistened in Vance’s eyes “I have hter back, alive and well I feel very blessed—blessed enough to be corandkids, 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 differentan unthinkable loss and whose priorities would be forever changed “Again, you have ratitude”
“Se the sao
“Semper Fi”