Declan smiled. “Works for me.”
“Great. I’ll ask Shane to draw up the papers.”
Declan rose. “You do that. And while you’re at it, start thinking about how we’re going to bring Morgan on board.”
That got his attention. “What?”
“You heard me,” Declan said with a smirk as he headed toward the door.
Patrick sat with that for a minute, loving the idea. Having someone with Morgan’s skills on the team would instantlyelevate their new company to a new level. Having Morgan on the team would elevatehim.
He put the final touches on the file and called his father. Ian answered on the second ring.
“I need a federal contact,” Patrick said.
“What are we talking here?” Ian asked without hesitation, instantly connecting the right dots.
“Philadelphia ME’s office, supervisor level and above, financial ties to a Virginia law firm with federal contracting history. The documentation is solid.”
“How solid?”
“Riley built it.”
“Sosolid,” Ian said, pride warming his tone. “All right. Hayley Winston. She was a US Deputy Marshal before she moved to Sanctuary. She’s got the right connections, right discretion. I can reach out if you want.”
If his father vouched for her, she was the right person. “Yes, please.”
“Does Morgan know about this?”
“Not yet. I’m going to fill her in later.”
A beat of silence that felt like approval. “Understood. I’ll be in touch.”
“Thanks. Oh, and Dad—I’m asking Uncle Shane to file the papers for the new company today.”
“Yeah? What did you decide to call it?”
“C & C Security and Investigations.”
“Nice.” Then, with a teasing note to his tone, “Which comes first, Callaghan or Connelly?”
“That’s the beauty of it. Doesn’t matter.”
Ian laughed. “Smart. Later.”
“Later.”
Patrick set the phone down, surrounded by the sense of possibility.
The case was progressing nicely.
The new firm was about to become official.
And he’d found hiscroie.
Patrick left earlyfor his shift at the pub, wanting to talk to his grandfather. They’d made significant progress in the investigation, but there was still the question of who took Varro out. If anyone knew potential CIA-level operatives in Pine Ridge, it was his grandfather. Jack had been one of the very first Navy SEALs when the program started back in the 1960s. He’d raised seven sons who’d become SEALs themselves. And, Patrick knew, he’d been involved in covert activities long after leaving active service.
He probably still was, in one way or another. Sure, he’d passed the torch to his sons, but he was still the one they went to when they wanted to talk things through or needed advice.