‘Pipe down, both of you,’ said Colby. He turned to Albert. ‘Look, let’s forget all this Shadow business for the moment. Here’s the bottom line. You’re right when you say we should tell Father or the Commander this, but they’re out of reach for the moment. And what’s more, as I was trying to tell you, the whole force will be on alert here in the valley tonight. Nothing’s going to happen till the Reckoning’s done, which means by the time they do get started looking, you’ve lost a day. Which is as good as saying you’ve lost her. Look Albert, I’m sorry, I really am, but I’m not going to lie to you. I promised to help you, and I will, as much as I can, but you need to realize that there’s not much hope.’

‘No! I won’t realize it. They have to find her.’

‘Well, they will try, but finding Cillian—or her—is a different matter. I told you, there’s nobody who knows those tunnels well enough.’

‘Nobody?’

‘Nobody who can say they “know the tunnels”. Nobody. Ask Joe here. He’ll tell you what an uphill task this is.’

‘Aye,’ agreed Kieran. ‘Best tracker in the force, he is. Ain’t nobody knows the tunnels like Joe.’

‘What about Marcus?’ asked Albert.

Even as he said it, he knew he had the answer. From the time he had first laid eyes on the man, all he had heard was Marcus-this and tunnels-that, and usually in the same breath. If anyone could help find Theo in the labyrinth outside, it was Marcus. He looked Colby squarely in the eye.

Colby looked back at him uneasily. ‘What about him? And why are you staring at me like that?’

‘Because I know what we need to do now, Colby. We need to talk to Marcus.’

26

Colby stared at him, open-mouthed. ‘Are you mad? We can’t talk to Marcus!’

‘But he’s the—’

‘Look, just take it easy, Albert. Slow down and listen to me. I know you’re upset. Believe me, I get it. But you’re not going to help Theo this way.’

‘And what’s your way?’

Colby frowned unhappily. ‘The only thing we can do is hope the kid comes back to us with something we can use. With luck, he might.’

‘And every second we wait the kidnappers get further away, as you pointed out.’

‘Yes, but there’s nothing else we can do, Albert.’

‘But—’

‘I’m sorry, but that’s that. Now let’s get out of here.’

Slowly, they walked. Nobody said anything till they were back at the stairs, where they sat in a huddle.

Albert looked at Colby. ‘Think he’ll do it?’

‘Who? What?’

‘The kid. Think he’ll actually find out something?’

‘I think he’ll try.’