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“I didn’t mean to, I just . . . I just missed her.”
“Well, perhaps it is for the best,” Iris said, her shoulders relaxing. “But you, young lady”—she pointed at Maisie—“you are not to lift a finger against Josef, you hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Maisie replied, her tone reminding me of when Iris used to make us promise to come home before curfew.
Iris pointed at a chair and it slid out from beneath the table. “Sit,” she commanded, and Maisie did as she was told without protest. “Good.” Iris took a moment to look each of us over. I surmised she was trying to find the best way to make her case for a more rational course toward justice. “Listen, y’all. We are too close to this. We cannot be both victim and judge. I acknowledge our ordinary legal system is not capable of dealing with a creature like Josef. Still, I think we have to find a civilized way of dealing with him.” A wrinkle formed between her eyes. “Perhaps we should turn him over to the anchors. Let them judge his actions.”
“Iris,” Adam said, causing his chair to squeak as he shifted in it, “I don’t mean any disrespect, but I think you’re only shifting the responsibility.”
Iris’s lips pursed, but she held her tongue.
“Besides,” Oliver said, “we all know what will happen if they get their hands on him. They will execute him, and, I am sure, in a much less humane way than we might employ.”
Iris licked her lips and nodded. “Perhaps if we could convince them to hold him as a prisoner of war.”
“Yeah, right, sis. And if they do agree to that? You know they will end up trading him as soon as it is convenient for them to do so. Three weeks from now, you will probably wake to find Josef has been watching over you as you sleep.”
I shuddered. That was not a pleasant thought.
“I’ll take him,” Maisie said, striking the rest of us dumb. It struck me as a mad idea, but her lovely face was calm and her blue eyes full of a clarity like I’d never before seen in them. “I’ll take him to the dimension where they kept Gudrun. I know the way there.”
“That isn’t a bad idea,” Oliver said.
“Of course, I’ll stay there with him. Perhaps in time I can reach him—”
“Don’t be absurd.” Iris cut her off. “That is plain foolish talk. We are not going to allow you to sacrifice your life to that boy’s rehabilitation.”
Maisie folded her hands on the table. “He’s been damaged by those who would end the line.” Maisie’s eyes moved from one of us to another. “I have been damaged by those who would preserve it.”
“No, honey,” Ellen said, leaning in toward Maisie. “You are nothing like Josef. Nothing at all.”
“Nothing?” Maisie asked, but it was to me she addressed the question. “It’s true Josef takes pleasure in killing, but I could end Josef right now and not lose a moment’s peace.” She turned to Iris. “Am I really to live the rest of my life being locked in my room to prevent me from doing harm?” Then to Ellen. “I know you don’t want to see me as being like Josef, but honestly, Aunt Ellen, to me he is the truest of mirrors. Perhaps I can help him. Perhaps I can help myself.” She looked to Oliver. “Uncle Oliver, you understand, I know you do.” Her comment struck me as being a shade cryptic, but I’d process that one later. “Josef may be my only true shot at redemption.”
Hot tears burst from Oliver’s eyes. “I understand, sweetie. I do.”
“How could you agree to this?” Iris turned on her brother.
“Because I don’t really care what we do with the boy. Kill him. Keep him. I do not care. But I do care about our Maisie here, and I just realized how inhumanely we have been treating her. She isn’t a little girl we can warn not to run with scissors. She’s a grown woman. A grown woman who has done horrible things. Things, thank God almighty, it is in her soul to regret.” He paused and looked at Maisie. “That, my girl, is how you differ from Josef.”
“He’s right, Iris,” Ellen said calmly. “We have been unable fully to embrace Maisie. We may not have served her with the death sentence, but we have locked her up without hope for parole.” Ellen turned to Maisie. “I’m sorry. I do love you so very much. If you think doing this might bring you peace, help you find some form of resolution, then I too support you . . .” Her voice broke, and she choked back a sob. “Just promise me you won’t stay away forever.”
Maisie reached across the table to take Ellen’s hand. “I’ll try.”
“What is happening here?” Iris said, fear and anger taking her over.
Oliver stood and circled behind Maisie. He placed his hand on her shoulders. “What’s happening here is our little girl has grown up, and we’ve got to let her go.”
> “No,” Iris said, her tone firm, resolute, unyielding. She blinked. “She may be grown, but she is still my baby.” Iris looked to me for support. “You both are. I raised you. You’re mine.”
I drew a breath, fighting the emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. “And we always will be, but Maisie is right. We owe Maisie her freedom. She deserves a chance to become the person she would have been if the dispute over the line hadn’t robbed her of the life she could have had.” I turned to Maisie, and lost all control. “I know I’ve got to let you go, but I don’t think my heart can take another loss right now. If you really need to do this, I won’t stand in your way, but don’t you dare say good-bye.” I forced my chair back from the table and stood. I walked to the door, and put my hand on the handle. I couldn’t look back or I would capture her, bind her to this house forever so she could never leave me. “And by God, you’d better come back to us or I will find you and drag you back . . . again.”
“I’m counting on that,” Maisie said.
“I love you,” I said and yanked the door open.
“I love you too.” Her words found me as I shut the door behind me.
TWENTY-SIX
