I know,’ said Colby, ‘but there’s nothing we can do. We tried, and we failed.’

‘Is that all you’re going to say? That we tried?’

‘What else can I say? What do you think you’re going to do about it? I told you, there’s nothing we can do! It’s over. He’s probably gone already.’

‘But he’s our only hope of finding her! And besides, he’s innocent!’

‘You think I don’t know that? Or care about it? But there’s nothing we can—’

‘Nothing we can do, nothing we can do! Sit here then, and wring your hands like an old woman! I’m going to do something about it!’

‘Oh, really? And what do you think you’re going to do, mister?’

‘Something! Anything! At least I’m not going to give up!’

‘All right! You go do anything, then!’

‘All right, I will!’

‘All right, why don’t you?’

‘I will!’

‘You should!’

‘Fine!’

‘Fine!’

Albert opened his mouth to reply angrily again, and stopped himself. From the corner of his eye he saw Kieran and Joe, looking on at the two of them in turn as they argued.

‘This is pointless.’

Colby ran a hand through his hair and gave him a rueful grin. ‘You’re right. But don’t lose heart, yet. Maybe Rat—’

‘I’m not waiting around for Rat.’

‘I thought you just agreed that it was pointless!’

‘I meant us arguing was pointless. But I don’t agree that there’s nothing we can do.’

‘You do know, harsh as it sounds, at the moment you really should be more concerned with Theo than all this.’

‘I am concerned with Theo. She’s my only concern.’ And as he said it, he knew it was true—that whatever happened, he wouldn’t sit by any longer, he was going to do something about it, he was going to save her, no matter what it took. He looked resolutely at Colby and repeated the sentence. ‘I’m going to save her.’

Colby’s face was sympathetic. And it was something else. Faintly uneasy. ‘I get what you’re saying Albert, but—’

‘I don’t know if you do, Colby. I’m going to save her, and that’s all there is to it. And I know what I need to do now.’

‘What is it, Albert. What are you going to do?’

‘I’m going to talk to Marcus.’

They stared at him incredulously for a moment, then they all exploded together, three minds with a single thought.

‘Are you crazy?’

‘Don’t be crazy!’

‘’E’s crazy!’

‘No,’ he said, looking steadily at them. ‘I’m not. This makes perfect sense.’

Colby held up his hand for the other two to keep quiet. Whether out of deference to his rank or because they had run out of expostulations, they complied. He looked at Albert. ‘Just how does getting yourself killed make perfect sense?’