“I’ve decided it’s the only way and not for him, for me.”

Going to sit beside her, Claudia took her damaged hand between both of hers and raised it to her lips.

“It was Dan who first told us,” Marcy went on, “that it’s often harder for the families of victims to forgive than it is the victim themselves, and it seems he’s right.”

Claudia gazed into her mother’s eyes seeing past the injuries to the beauty inside her. “I don’t deserve two such wonderful people in my life,” she said softly, “but I’m very glad I have you both.”

“And we’re very glad, and very lucky, to have you. Now what we still have to decide is, what should we do about Maria? Should we take Maria on, or shouldn’t we? Would it be a step forward, or will it keep us rooted to where we are?”

Chapter Forty-Seven

“I don’t understand it,” Marcy cried, looking from Helen to Andee and back again. “Can they do this? We’re due in court next week. Why have they waited until now to change the indictment?”

“It’s almost certainly because they’re no longer confident of getting a conviction for attempted murder,” Helen replied. “In my opinion that was a wrong call from the start, but now their barrister’s got hold of it they’ve apparently woken up to what they’re much more likely to be able to make stick.”

As Marcy fell silent, Claudia said, “So tell us again what he’s being charged with.”

Consulting her tablet, Helen read aloud, “‘Count one: aggravated arson with intention to destroy property.’ He’s already pleaded guilty to that so no issue there. It’s count two that’s the problem: ‘Aggravated arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.’”

Marcy said, “Is that as bad as it sounds?”

Helen’s expression was far from encouraging. “Attempted murder speaks to intent, and presenting a defense to demonstrate that there was no intention to take a life, which is what we were planning, is quite different from trying to convince a jury that there was no recklessness involved in the arson. Arson by its very nature is reckless.”

Marcy and Claudia looked at each other as they digested this new turn of events. “Have you told him?” Claudia asked turning back to Helen.

Helen nodded. “I spoke to him earlier. He’s still taking it in. We’re due to speak again later to discuss his plea.”

“What will you advise him to do?” Marcy wanted to know.

Helen shook her head and sighed. “If he pleads guilty to the second count as well as the first, the judge could be inclined to impose a lesser sentence.”

“So how long could it be?” Marcy asked.

“Worst-case scenario? Fifteen years.”