Archie shrugged. “I tried not to think about what I’d done, but it never went out of my head, and we kept hearing about it on the news. My ma fixated on it, got herself into a terrible state, even threatening to kill herself and me.” He broke off, took a breath, and started again. “I kind of knew she’d end up reporting it. In a way it was a relief when she did. Not that I want to be stuck in here, don’t get me wrong, but it’s where I belong so . . .” He shrugged again and began jigging a knee up and down so fast it was as though he had no control over it.

Dan put out a hand to stop him. “Before we take a break,” he said, “is there anything else you’d like to say to Marcy and her family?”

Archie nodded, and swept a tumble of hair from his forehead as he forced himself to meet Marcy’s eyes. “I want to tell you again,” he said, “that I’m truly sorry for what I did. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have gone through what you did, but if I could make it like I went through it instead and you were OK, I promise I would.”

Marcy held his eyes, watched him swallow more emotion, and continued to watch him as he finally looked away. Words were so easy; anything could be said or promised when there was no possible way of following through. And emotions could be feigned, as could tears. It was true he looked and sounded genuine. She couldn’t imagine Dan bringing them this far if he didn’t believe in him.

For the moment she seemed to have lost touch with her own emotions, but she realized that what she needed more than anything, for Claudia’s sake and her own, was for Archie to confirm that Marcus had been behind it. It was the only way for real justice to be done—and for them to ever have a chance of moving on.

Chapter Forty-Two

Fifteen minutes later Marcy and the others returned to the meeting room, passing the guard outside who nodded stiffly as they went in. Dan and Archie were already seated at the table, as though they’d not left it. They had probably spent the entire time discussing what the next hour or more might bring.

Although Dan’s expression was relaxed as he looked up, Marcy noticed that Archie’s remained tense; he seemed paler now, and even edgier than before.