“And took it back. I checked the records. You left him with a penny.”

Vox spread his hands. “He in custody?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Let him go, Deke,” murmured Vox. “The kid. Toys. Let him go.”

Church said nothing.

“Whatever he was when he was with Gault, that’s over. He wanted out when Gault joined the Kings. He tried to stop Gault. He even called your boy Ledger to warn him.”

Church said nothing.

“This stuff—Kings and intrigues and all that shit—it broke him. Or … or maybe it healed him. I don’t know. I’m not a philosopher and I’m not a priest. All I know is that he’s done. He’s really going to do as much good as he can with that money.”

Church said nothing.

Vox licked his lips. “You know the story about the guy who wrote ‘Amazing Grace.’ John Newton. Started out as a slaver then one night, right off the coast of Donegal, a storm whipped up and was going to sink the ship. Newton prayed to God to save the ship and everyone aboard. They weathered the storm and by the time the ship docked, Newton had gone through a spiritual conversion. Worked the rest of his life to abolish slavery. Became a minister. That’s Toys, Deke. He’s hit that same moment … and after he left me, I think I did too. Big perspective check when your own son leaves you.”

Mr. Church traced a small circle on the arm of the chair. “As usual, Hugo, you twist the truth to get what you want. John Newton didn’t renounce the slave trade for four more years, and he captained slave ships until 1754. It was only when he had a stroke and feared that he was going to die that he underwent that conversion. Even then … he continued to invest in the slave trade.”

Vox smiled. “My version’s better.”

“Your version is a lie.”

“Toys, though.”

“You took all his money and threw him to the wolves. If that’s your attempt at tough love, you should reconsider your strategies.”

“Hugo … when I look at this whole thing, all the players, all the factions, all of the secret agendas, it doesn’t add up to anything. It’s chaotic. But as I sat here I believe I figured it out.”

“Think so, huh?”