By the end of the following morning both sides had delivered their closing statements, with the Crown reminding the jury that the defendant had committed a very serious offense that they’d seen for themselves had had a devastating—and lifetime—effect on one of his victims. There could be no doubt of a reckless disregard for life: the emergency services, paramedics, and Ms. Kavanagh’s surgeon had all agreed that it was a miracle she hadn’t died that night. And in spite of Archie Colbrook’s remorse and engagement with Ms. Kavanagh being admirable, wouldn’t it be a very wrong and even dangerous message to send to anyone considering a similar offense if the proper verdict of guilty was not returned?
Gordon Lock’s summation was shorter and focused almost entirely on Marcy’s statement to the jury, using it to remind them that even she, the most gravely injured of the victims, believed that Archie would not have set fire to the house if he’d known she’d gone back inside. Therefore, it surely wasn’t possible to find him guilty of having no regard for life if the victim herself didn’t believe it to be the case. He went on to paraphrase Marcy’s comments about the importance of forgiveness, and to emphasize that the kind of remorse demonstrated by the defendant had so impressed her that it must surely count for something with them.
Before sending the jury to begin their deliberations the judge reminded them that they did not have to reach a verdict on the first count, only the second, that of being reckless so as to endanger life. She then took some time talking through several points of law before asking them to select a foreman to speak on their behalf.
Moments later she was gone and everyone was leaving the court.
“I can’ ea’,” Maria wailed as Andee suggested they get some lunch.
“I’m not sure any of us can,” Claudia murmured, taking her mother’s trembling hand.
“Is that it?” Marcy asked. “We don’t come back again until the jury returns?”
“That’s right,” Andee confirmed, glancing up as Dan came to join them.
“’ave you see ma boy?” Maria asked him.
“No, I can’t go down to the cells,” he replied gently, “but Helen and Gordon will go to talk to him. Please try not to worry too much. I know it’s hard, but . . .”
“’ee migh’ get fifteen,” she reminded him desperately. “Can we ’peal if he does?”
“Let’s cross that bridge when—if—we get to it. I think for now we need to get some air.”
THE JURY RETURNED just after three o’clock, having taken only an hour to come to a decision, which no one could decide was good or bad news.
Maria was seated between Claudia and Marcy in the front row of the public gallery and as Archie was asked to rise for the verdict they each took hold of one of her hands. Her tiny frame was shaking so hard that Claudia wanted to put her arms around her. In the row behind, Dan and Andee both placed hands on Maria’s shoulders, while Jasmine buried her face in Marcy’s arm.
The room was so tense as the foreman of the jury was asked if the decision was unanimous that his voice as he said “Yes” was almost startling.
“On the charge of aggravated arson and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered how do you find the defendant?”
Maria whined under her breath.
“Not guilty,” the foreman announced, and Maria shot to her feet, punching the air. Before she could cry out Andee gently gagged her and the others tugged her back into her seat.
Whatever happened now Archie wasn’t going to prison for life, but as the jury was thanked and dismissed, tension gripped them again. The judge was ready to pass sentence for the first count, arson with the intent to destroy property.
She spoke first about the consequences of committing crimes ordered by others. “It is you who are here in the dock today,” she told Archie sternly, “not those who paid you to commit the offense, and it was always going to be you, because you did not have the good sense to report to the authorities what you were being required to do. I understand the threat to your mother and the need to protect her, but you did not give the police or anyone else the opportunity to assist her safety. As a result, Ms. Kavanagh’s home was severely damaged by the fire you set. I don’t mention Ms. Kavanagh’s injuries here as they were the subject of the second count.
“There is no doubt in my mind, or in law, that there must be a custodial sentence for the crime you have committed. After studying my options and taking into consideration the restorative justice process that was undertaken—and the eight months you have already spent in custody—my judgment is that you shall receive a two-year prison term . . .”
“No!” Maria cried. “Don’ sen’ him away.”
The judge eyed her meaningfully, but waved down an attempt to eject her. “A two-year prison term,” she repeated, “to be suspended for two years and carry with it a community order . . .”
“What?” Maria said, turning to Dan in confusion. “I don’ . . .”
“He’s coming home,” Dan whispered.
Maria stared at him, wide-eyed with shock, and was suddenly back on her feet. “Ochie!” she shouted at the top of her voice. “Ma boy is comin’ ’ome.”
“Mrs. Colbrook,” the judge warned.
Marcy and Claudia pulled her back into her seat, and with tears in their eyes they hugged her hard enough to break her birdlike limbs.
“He comin’ ’ome,” Maria sobbed. “Ma boy is comin’ ’ome.”
“NOT WHAT WE expected,” Gordon Lock admitted when Marcy and the others found him and Helen in the lobby, “but of course we hoped for it. A wise decision on the part of the judge. It would appear that she believes, as you clearly do, that the lad has potential and it won’t be realized in prison. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a train to catch.”
“Than’ you,” Maria called after him.
He turned, smiled, and waved, before disappearing through the revolving doors into a future that didn’t include any of them.
“What do we do now?” Marcy asked.
“We go to get Archie,” Helen declared, and holding out an arm for Maria to hook on to she led the way back into court.
Marcy said to Dan, “It feels wrong to walk away as if we’re strangers now. What usually happens in these situations?”
“This isn’t like any other,” he told her wryly, “but we don’t have to walk away, we can at least wait to wish him well.”
“Should we celebrate?” she said, turning to her daughter, who was already looking hostile to the idea. “Do you think they’ll want to come to ours?” She grimaced slightly at the bizarreness of inviting the arsonist back into their home.
“No,” Claudia said shortly. “It’s out of the question, Mum.”
Marcy shrugged, not arguing.
“There you all are,” Richie declared, coming to join them with his voice recorder in hand. “What a story, huh? Didn’t see the suspended sentence coming, I guess none of us did. So now I’m going to need some quotes to get up on the website. Who’s up for it?”
Henry quickly said, “Speaking on behalf of the family, the judge is to be commended for her understanding of how important it is to give second chances to those who deserve them.”
Apparently satisfied with that, Richie turned to Dan. “A great triumph for restorative justice today?”
Dan’s expression was sardonic as he said, “I’m happy to give you an in-depth at some point to make sure we’ve got everything straight, but for now: I’m extremely pleased by this outcome.”
“And what next for Archie, do you think?” Richie prompted.
“Why don’t you ask him?” Marcy replied, and Richie turned to find Archie himself, with his mother clinging to one arm and Helen on the other side of him, coming toward them.
He seemed taller, Marcy thought, and perhaps less gaunt, smarter too thanks to his suit, although his eyes remained wary and hesitant, as though he wasn’t quite able to believe this was happening.
Going to him, Dan wrapped him in an embrace. “Well done,” he said warmly. “We’re all pleased with the verdict.” Standing back to look at him, he added, “I trust you are too?”
Archie broke into an unsteady laugh and Marcy realized this was the first time she’d seen him smile. He was a very handsome young lad.
His eyes finally came to hers, and not hesitating for a moment she walked toward him, arms open to embrace him.
“I have to be honest,” she said, through the lump in her throat, “never in my life would I have imagined a day like this, much less actually feeling happy about it.”
“Yeah, it’s definitely a strange one,” he agreed, sounding emotional and self-conscious. “Like I said in my note, I owe you big-time . . .”
She waved it away as Jasmine and Claudia came to shake his hand.
“I ought to be hating your guts,” Jasmine informed him frankly, “we all should, and yet here we are feeling glad about your freedom.”
He looked unsure of himself, and suddenly seemed so out of his depth that Dan put a steadying hand on his shoulder.
“You probably want to get home with your mum,” he said, clearly reading the situation correctly given the relief that came into Archie’s eyes. “There’s a lot for you to take in, and there’ll be plenty of time for us two to talk in the coming days. I’ll call you in the morning, OK? I guess you don’t have a mobile, so . . .”
“You can call me,” Maria told him. “You ’ave my numbuh.”
“Of course. Are you OK to get home? Do you need a lift?”
“’Ave mah cah,” Maria told him proudly.
Surprising them all, Archie muttered under his breath, “So a death sentence then,” and everyone, including his mother, had to laugh.
As they watched them walk away, Dan took Claudia’s hand and said quietly to Andee, “We need to get them out of that estate or the next thing we know he’ll be back dealing drugs and carrying knives.”
“You’re right,” Andee agreed. “I’ll make some calls,” and wasting no time she began scrolling through her contacts.
Claudia said, “I’ve just had a text from Leanne. She and Tom have invited us to their place for a drink and food if we’re up for it.”
Marcy turned to Henry. “Are you?” she asked.
“If you are.”
“Then count us in,” Marcy said. She’d have time enough later to get over the loss she was already starting to feel of no more letters from Archie, in fact no more Archie at all. How very strange life was.