“They wouldn’t know if you and Nana hadn’t called them,” Jasmine reminded her. “Anyway, it’s not really about how we have or haven’t managed to pull off a disappearance, it’s about that briefcase. So what I propose is that we give Eugena the documents and keep the cash.”

Claudia covered her face with her hands. “I want to agree,” she replied wretchedly, “I really do, but now I’m afraid that whatever we do we’ll end up making things worse for ourselves.”

“Then what do you suggest?” Jasmine pressed.

“I don’t know. I just wish we’d never taken it, but even if we hadn’t he’d still have come after us, and by now he must be going out of his mind trying to find a way to punish me for escaping him.”

Aware of how true that was, Marcy got up from the table to go and put on the kettle. Her weekend bag was still on the floor where she’d left it when she’d come in to find Claudia sitting at the table waiting for her. Jasmine had been holding the letter so Marcy had known right away what it was about, she just hadn’t been ready at the time to deal with the fallout.

“There is something we could consider,” she said, turning back to face them. “I’ve been going over it in my mind for a while, but it’s a decision we need to make together.”

Claudia and Jasmine regarded her with anxious and hopeful eyes.

“We could talk to Andee about it and ask her advice. We know she’s someone we can trust and . . . what? Why are you shaking your head?” she asked Claudia.

“We’re not her responsibility,” Claudia cried, “and she’s already been so good to us. I can’t burden her with this.”

Marcy looked at Jasmine, hoping for some support, but Jasmine merely shrugged.

Marcy continued to make the tea. She was too tired to deal with this now, or at least to deal with it well, so it was best to let it go until she could think more clearly.

Going to embrace her mother, Claudia said softly, “We don’t have to do anything right away, after all it’s just a letter, sent over four months ago, and he still hasn’t found out where we are. So why don’t we just carry on as we are for now, and as soon as any of us wants to discuss it again we will. Does that sound OK?”

Marcy nodded and attempted a smile. “That sounds fine,” she agreed, and put aside her other suggestion, which had been to tell Henry, since that wasn’t likely to be met with any more enthusiasm than telling Andee.