"By a conspirator involved with the abduction, that's my hypothesis." Richard agreed. "And...laying aside the validity of grand supernatural conspiracies for one moment, it's one of the reasons I want Brooklyn somewhere safe."

He hesitated, meeting Alex's gaze for only an instant before looking away again.

"Keeping my family at a distance to protect them...it didn't work before. Whatever this is, I'm involved in it--and anyone associated with me, including that child, could come under fire. I have--"

He cut himself off, biting his tongue physically to stop himself from saying more.

About the burning in his gut, pushing at his instincts over his rationale--making him certain, in ways that had visions of Bobby Maimes dancing through his head, that Brooklyn would be at risk if she wasn't by his side.