“Archie,” Andee interrupted, “you need to get your head around the fact that the people you’re afraid of are no longer a threat. They’re not interested in you anymore. You’ve served your purpose, and as long as you don’t drag any of them into this they won’t care if you take down Huxley-Browne.”

He didn’t look convinced.

“You know how these people work,” Andee reminded him, “so you’ve got to know that whatever knowledge Huxley-Browne has, he can never use it, not if he wants to stay alive.”

Taking some time to digest this, Archie said, “Why should I believe you about my ma?”

“Because,” Andee replied, “your uncle’s the only one who ever posed a threat to her. No one else has ever come after her, have they?”

Archie’s wide eyes confirmed this was true.

“So as soon as we get him off the streets she’ll be safe. Now we need to do the same for Claudia and her family and make them safe too.”

Archie clasped his head in his hands and Dan said, “Can we give him a few minutes? There’s a lot to take in and . . .”

“Sure,” Andee said at once. “We’ll wait outside. Just let us know when you’re ready.”

AS THEY WAITED, Marcy sensed so much stress and frustration building up in Claudia that she was afraid of what might be said when they went back into the room. She wished she could soothe it, that she could sort herself out too, but time out for Archie wasn’t proving to be a good time out for them.

As though sensing Marcy’s agitation, Andee said, “I understand how difficult this is, but please try to remember the kind of life he’s led. Just about every minute of it has been spent living in fear of one sort or another, and it won’t be any different for him where he is now. It’s probably worse. He has trust issues the like of which we can’t begin to imagine, hang-ups, anxieties, complexes, but I think you’ll agree that he seems to want to do the right thing. He just has to find his own way there.”

To Marcy’s relief Claudia nodded, and closed her eyes as Jasmine put an arm around her.

Marcy said to Andee, “If you hadn’t found out about his uncle . . .” She shuddered. “What he’s done to his own sister and nephew . . . If ever anyone deserved to be taken off the streets . . .”

“Mum, you’re making this about Archie,” Claudia protested, “when it’s about us, and what’s been done to us. He’s the offender, remember, we’re the victims. OK, I understand he wants to protect his mother, but after what happened to you, don’t you think we should be making ourselves a priority, not him?”