He caught the subtle flare of her nostrils, a tell-tale sign of her mounting frustration, and met her gaze again, a hint of curiosity flickering in his eyes. “You’re really invested in this case, aren’t you?” he remarked, raising an eyebrow.

“Absolutely,” she said, her gaze intense. “Lives are on the line here. We can’t just sit back and let things happen.”

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Passion is a valuable asset in our line of work.”

She felt a warmth spread through her at his subtle acknowledgment. “It drives me,” she admitted. “Doesn’t it drive you?”

He smiled then… a real smile that reached his eyes. “More than you kno…”

For a moment, the guard dropped completely, and she saw him: not Daniel the attorney, but Daniel the man. Then just as quickly, his expression shuttered again.