She nodded, although she could feel herself shaking again, and didn’t object when Henry encouraged her to sit down. “I can’t believe he had the nerve to come here . . . What am I saying, of course he did, it’s completely typical of him to think he can go anywhere at any time and intimidate people into doing exactly as he wants.”

“Well, it didn’t happen this time,” Dan pointed out, “and it never will. Not here.”

“What are you doing?” Claudia asked as he took out his phone.

Marcy said, “I hope he’s about to inform DCI Gould of what’s just happened?”

Dan nodded. “Most particularly about the admission, in front of witnesses, two of whom happen to be lawyers, to knowing Archie. I can just imagine how he’s feeling about that now. It still doesn’t tie him to the arson, but we’ll let the police worry about that. All we need to concern ourselves with is making sure that an investigation gets underway—and that he doesn’t come here again. Unless,” he said before pressing dial, “we want to let him sweat it out, not knowing what we’ll do, or when, which could end up saving you, Marcy, actually all of you, any more time in court.”

Marcy didn’t hesitate. “Let him suffer,” she declared, “but if he does come near us, even with an email, you need to make that call and then let him know that you’ve made it.”

Dan looked at Claudia. “Are you OK with that?” he asked.

“I think so,” she replied. “Actually, yes I am.” She looked at Archie, and felt a wavering sort of beat in her heart.

As he met her eyes he said, “I’m cool to play it however you want,” and she realized from those few words that he knew exactly how she felt, understood her misgivings and was willing to do whatever it might take to win her trust.

Chapter Fifty-Four

“I have a proposal to put to you,” Marcy said, coming into Claudia’s craft room and perching on one of the high stools next to the table.

Intrigued, Claudia abandoned the sketch she was halfway through and went to turn off her audiobook.

“First of all,” Marcy said, “have you heard anything back from Marcus’s lawyer since you filed for divorce?”

“No, I’d have told you if I had, but I’m not worried, honestly. It’s still early days and it’ll happen.”

“Of course it will, I’m just asking. Anyway, it doesn’t really affect what I’m about to suggest, and it’s just some thoughts I’ve been having. I haven’t even mentioned anything to Henry yet, and a lot of it will depend on him.”

Trying to imagine what was coming, Claudia settled herself on another stool and waited for her mother to continue.