“You’d see it different if it was your den destroyed,” Maxine snarled.

“Not how it is,” Jake chided.

“Maybe I would,” Rousseau allowed. “But first we’re going to figure how to protect ourselves without turning into madmen. Otherwise we become our enemy. I know there’s a better way, and as long as you’re under our roof, we’ll work on finding it together. Is that agreed?”

Maxine glanced away, thin-lipped and fuming, but she nodded.

“A noble goal, brother,” said Bright. “But don’t look to it happening anytime soon.”

Rousseau’s big shoulders sagged. He took a breath, then rounded on the man. “You. Walk your evil out of here now. Don’t make me say it twice.”

Bright dipped his head toward Maxine, like he couldn’t look her in the eye. “Madame, I . . . your loss is tragic. It is . . . the world we live in. But I am not the enemy. I believe . . .” He turned back to Rousseau. “. . . that the problem is bigger than you imagine. And I hope to be part of the solution.” He eased two fingers into his breast pocket, cautious in a room full of hair triggers and ready blades, and slid out a thin black rectangle. He thrust it at Rousseau like a gift. “If you decide to reconsider my offer, activate this. I’ll get the signal.”

“You need help leaving?” Rousseau crossed his arms so tight, his leather vest creaked. “We’ll be happy to provide it.”

Bright shrugged, like he’d done the best he could, and pocketed his device. “We’ll be on our way, then.”

The crowd jeered as he walked to the mudroom door. I thought he looked relieved to be getting out of Unca Joe with a whole skin. His posse fell eagerly in around him, and soon we heard the thunder-rumble of their motors firing up and veering off.

As the engine racket faded up the flooded avenue and the crowd fell into heated declaration and debate, Maxine stalked up to Rousseau and slapped him hard across the jaw.

He hardly budged. “Do it again, if it’ll make you feel any better.”

“You fucking do-gooder!” she seethed. “Always turning the other cheek! Letting him just walk out of here! Don’t you know he’ll be back? Or he’ll send BlackAdder in for the kill!”

“We’re not going to let that happen.”

“How the hell are you going to stop it?”

Rousseau’s mouth worked, like he was keeping back a yell. “By calm thinking and planning ahead.”

“Fuck that shit,” she spat, and stalked toward the stair hall.

Jake looked tempted to follow, but a glance at Rousseau stayed him. The crowd drew away to regroup in murmuring clumps, leaving the two of them worn and conflicted.

Jake said, “She’ll cool down. Too rough, having that guy show up again.”

“We need her for the caucus.”

“She’ll be there.”