“That’s just a temporary solution, until he gets out the next time. Locking him up on a petty crime isn’t going to keep him in there for long. A guy like this has waited seventeen years. Who’s to say he won’t wait another five years until he is released next time and then strike again, when none of us will know it’s coming. We got lucky this time.” Taking a breath, I say something I didn’t ever imagine I would. “What if we pay him the money his family lost?”

“No fucking chance! That will just put Harper in more danger.” I know Rem’s right, but it doesn’t stop me from wishing it were that easy. I have the money and would do anything to make this all go away.

“Plus, you know it would just make him come looking for more. Giving him money is like you are acknowledging you owe him something. The guy’s unstable, who knows what he thinks his seventeen years in jail are worth. Don’t be crazy, just let us do our job.” Rem’s voice is now just as agitated as mine.

“Your job! Yeah, a job which seems to be just sitting around and waiting for something to happen. And that’s bullshit. I’m sick of being on the back foot. It’s time we take the solution to this lunatic and sort him out.” My hands clench into tight fists while I try to contain my anger. “Because now it’s not just Harper that is in danger, and the longer we wait, the worse this is going to get. We need to fix this shit now.”

“What the fuck do you want me to do, fly to the US and take this guy out? Is that your magical solution? Because you are as fucking crazy as he is. We don’t do shit like that, and I’m not asking Ashton to do it either.” Rem steps closer to me, standing with his arms now crossed and like we are in a standoff, even though we are on the same team.

“Christ, I’m not asking you to commit murder, but we need to do something. I can’t just sit here and wait.” Turning and walking toward the bedroom windows, I look out at Harper and all our friends laughing together, enjoying breakfast. My heart’s beating so hard.