Gavin looked broken.
He sat heavily in his chair.
“I didn’t steal anything.”
Daniel placed the drive on the desk.
“Then explain that.”
Gavin covered his face.
For ten long seconds, he said nothing.
Then he whispered, “Field.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“My partner.”
The agency had originally been called Mercer & Field.
But I had never met Field.
Most employees hadn’t.
According to office legend, Gavin’s former partner, Richard Field, had retired years earlier and retained a minority stake.
Gavin looked at Eleanor.
“Richard wanted information about your acquisition offer.”
“Why?”
“Because he thought the valuation was too low.”
“So you gave him confidential documents?”
“I gave him access.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“That is corporate espionage.”
Gavin slammed his fist against the desk.
“I was trying to protect my company!”
“Our company,” another voice said from the doorway.
We turned.
A man in his early sixties stood there.
