‘Told you he’d get us killed,’ said Joe.

‘We ain’t dead yet.’

‘No, not yet.’

‘You stayin’, then?’

‘Did I say that?’

‘Then shaddup already. We got plenty ter do.’

June looked from them to Colby, then back at them. ‘What is it you plan to do?’

It was Colby who replied. ‘Clear our names.’

She stared at him, and he looked coolly back at her. ‘The reason we’re in this situation—at least the three of us—is because they think we helped Marcus escape. So that’s where we’re going.’ She kept looking at him and he went on. ‘We’re going to find him, and we’re going to bring him back.’

He swung around, looking at Albert. ‘And you, mister, you’re coming with us, too!’

‘Me?’

‘Yes, you. It’s your fault we’re in this mess. You talked us into getting you in there. So now you’re going to help us get him back.’

‘But we have to find Theo—’

‘No, that’s enough about the girl! It’s because of helping you find her that we’re in this fix! So now it’s your turn, see?’

‘No,’ said Father suddenly.

Colby looked at him. ‘No?’

‘It is not Marcus you must find, but Theo.’

‘Look, Father—’

‘No, Colby, listen to me. You now know how important Theo is. Finding her must be our top priority, above everything else, from now, until she is found.’

‘We will find her,’ said June. ‘We will.’

Colby shook his head. ‘Look, politics is fine, but the three of us, we’re not statesmen, we’re soldiers. And these are our homes we’re leaving!’

June looked scornfully at him. ‘And what do you think will happen to your homes when Bosquanet finds out she isn’t here any longer, Colby? Think she won’t find out? Remember, we all know there’s a traitor in here somewhere. Or what if Cillian gives her up to Bosquanet? What’ll happen to your homes and families then?’

Colby stared at him, shaking his head, undecided.

‘Anyway, it’s the same thing,’ said Albert. ‘We can be pretty sure Marcus is hightailing it towards Theo. We all know how he is about her, and you saw how he reacted when I told him she was missing. Look, Colby, you know I’m right. Even to get what you want, to get Marcus, you know this is the best way. If we want to find Marcus, we need to find Theo.’

Colby looked at him—screwing up his nose, mouth pursed, trying to decide—and then he nodded. ‘All right. Makes sense. We follow the bait.’

‘Aye,’ said Kieran. ‘So we’re going for the girl?’

‘We’re going for the girl.’