Graeme arched an eyebrow. “So, someone vandalizes my car, is charged with the crime, then I get to meet him so he can say he’s sorry? Do I get to thump him?”

Dan laughed. “Yes, apart from the thumping bit, but it can be about much more serious offenses.”

Graeme waved for everyone to help themselves to soup, and began refreshing the wine.

Turning back to Andee, Dan warmed to his theme as he said, “I’m sure you’d agree that this community is crying out for an RJ service, but in order to get funding we have to impress the Ministry of Justice with a cracking business plan and a board of experts. These need to be police and probation officers, local authority officials, magistrates, councillors . . . we can draw up a list of who we think would be interested and influential, and as you’re so well connected in the area I’m hoping you’ll come on board to approach them with me.”

Andee was so taken aback that she wasn’t sure what to say.

“You’d also make a brilliant practitioner,” Dan continued, “someone who deals with victims—or offenders—on a personal level.”

Andee blinked.

“You’d be perfect for it,” Graeme chipped in. “Whatever the qualifications are for practitioners, people skills have to come into it and I don’t know anyone who’s better at people than you.”

“Exactly,” Dan agreed. “Empathy is what’s needed for the task, patience as well, obviously, in fact a whole slew of good qualities, but empathy is the most important. You have that; you also have a good knowledge of the community and unless you tell me differently you have a stronger belief in rehabilitation than you do in punishment.”

Andee couldn’t deny it, although she did say, “Some crimes have to be punished. Murder, rape, assault . . .”

Dan’s hand went up. “No one will argue with that, although there are cases where even murderers and rapists have met their victims or the victim’s family and, believe it or not, there have been some positive results.”

Graeme regarded him skeptically. “Why the heck would anyone want to meet their rapist?”

“Or their son’s or daughter’s killer?” Dan added. “Most certainly don’t—and don’t have to. But there are some victims who find themselves wanting to ask why. Why me? Why my mother, son, grandfather? If it’s a burglary, they ask, What did you do with the photos or the jewelry? Are you coming back to take more of what’s mine? And sometimes it helps to have answers.”

“But the perpetrators still go to prison?” Graeme prompted.