“So, ’e watched and waited, and gradually wormed ’is way into your dad’s life, without your grandad knowing. I dunno ’ow they met, but over the years, ’e showed your dad things, an’ promised to show ’im more. Secrets . . . y’know. Things that would make life easier. A little more every time, drawin’ ’im in.

“But listen, Alex,” Harry continued urgently. “’E never told your dad about the people dying, or who ’e really was. Your dad didn’t know any of that, son. What ’appened in the end was, your grandad found out about these secret meetings. ’E confronted your dad about it. They ’ad an argument and, during it, your grandad told your dad everything: about the deaths, ’ow that was what was fueling it all.

“Well. Your dad was sent into shock. The ’orror of it, the guilt. ’Ow close ’e’d come to joining up with your great-grandad. ’E just ran. Drove off without looking to see what was comin’. And, yeah. That was that. Closest I’ve ever seen your grandad comin’ to, y’know. Givin’ up. But then ’e found out you were on the way.”

“Why didn’t he ever tell me?” Alex said.

Harry shrugged. “Your grandad didn’t want to risk it ’appening again with you. All your grandad ever wanted was to keep you out of all this, Alex. But when ’e was up against it, you were the first person ’e turned to for ’elp.”

“Second person, Harry,” Alex said, putting a hand on the big man’s shoulder.

“Yeah.” Harry sniffed. “Well.”

Alex watched the rain. After a while, Kingdom returned. She considered the strange tableau and pulled up her hood. The long raincoat shrouded her like a monk’s habit.

“The Rolls is gone,” she said with a sigh. “I thought I heard the engine and went to look. No sign of Philippe. And the car we came in has been wrecked. Tires slashed, windshield smashed, steering wheel ripped out—”

She was interrupted by a strange snuffling, tearing sound. They all turned to see Maia enthusiastically eating the ancient flower, straight from the pot.

The last of its roots seemed to wriggle on the wind as they disappeared. Maia snapped her mucky jaws with great satisfaction, yawned, then padded over to lie by Alex’s grandfather’s head.

“Good girl,” said Alex.

•  •  •

THEY KEPT WATCH over the old man until the night began to fade. Shortly before sunrise, Kingdom left in search of a fresh vehicle.

Using pieces of old picture frames as shovels, Alex and Harry dug a grave for the tall man. Harry asked Alex if he wanted to say anything, but Alex had nothing to say. They went back to sit by Alex’s grandfather.