“Dorian, this is a gift, an opportunity I hope you’ll be smart enough to embrace. I’ve been to this school.” He flicked a glance at Eve. “I was curious. It’s not just safe, and that’s incredibly important right now. It’s everything you could ask for. A superior education, and you’ll be taught by people who care. Practical education as well, the arts, everything. Nothing, I think, can truly make up for everything that’s happened to you, but this is your crossroads. Do you understand? It’s your chance to try a new, exciting path. I believe, absolutely, you’d be very happy there.”
“I’d rather be with you.”
“Mavis, I think you might have said the same at one time. But—”
“But.” Mavis nodded. “Sebastian gave me something I’d never had before. Somewhere no one wanted to hurt me. He gave me fun, and a freedom I needed so much. But it’s only a kind of springboard. I never had the chance to choose something like this. I might’ve been too scared to take it. I hope you’re tougher than I was.”
“She said maybe Mouser could go with me, but only maybe.”
“You would take him?” Sebastian said quietly. “Knowing nothing of him?”
“I said I’d see what I could do,” Eve began.
“Consider it done,” Roarke said. “But there are rules, and you’d both have to obey them. What you’re doing here is for all of them.” Roarke gestured to the screen. “What you do at An Didean is for all who go there. You and your friend have to agree to that.”
“We’ll need to put a couple cops in there,” Eve added. “For protection.”
“I’ll contact Rochelle. We’ll work it out.”
“Can you come see me?” Dorian asked Sebastian. “She says I can’t leave until they get Auntie and all of them. It could be forever.”
“I’ll check in on you, but it won’t be forever. You’re helping make sure of that. I’m very proud of you. I’m going to go talk to Mouser now. If he agrees, and I think he will, I can bring him to the school. Is that acceptable?”
“I need a name—a legit name,” Eve insisted. “If he has family—”
“I believe he does, but not the sort you, being who you are, would subject him to. He’s only eleven, and though he’s pushed his way through most of the emotional scars, he still has physical ones. I expect that’s something you’ll want to deal with at some point.”
“At some point,” Eve agreed. If the kid made the difference for Dorian right now, she’d take the kid. “If he was abused or endangered, we’ll deal with whoever’s responsible. I need his legal name to do that. Tell him no bullshit.”
“So I will.” Sebastian rose, held out a hand to Eve. “I know our methods are dramatically different, but we have considerable common ground on the ultimate goal. Thank you for your … creativity and flexibility in this.”
“It only goes so far.” But she took his hand.
“Understood. Mavis can contact me when you’re ready for Mouser. Thank you all.” He opened his arms for Dorian. “You’re strong and brave, and you have such a bright future ahead of you. I’ll see you soon.”
She clung to him another moment, and whispered in his ear, “I’ll never tell them where you are.”
“I know. Strong, brave, and true.”
He left quickly. Dorian shoved tears away with the heels of her hands as she looked at Roarke. “She says you can get me a lawyer to sue the shit out of Ms. Truman. Can you really?”
Roarke lifted his eyebrows. “First, she has a name, and it’s polite to use it. Second, I can arrange for that, yes. We’ll get you settled in the school first.”
“I guess you’ve got lots of money.”
“It happens I do. It also happens I spent the first years of my life very much like you. On the streets, and getting the boot or fist at home. I decided I wanted a different kind of life, so I made one. You have a chance to do the same.”
He rose. “I’ll contact Rochelle and she’ll take care of what needs doing.”
When he walked outside, Dorian turned to Eve. “I can do more, I guess.”
“Peabody, arrange for a detail at the school. We’ll take one more group,” she told Dorian. “And that’s enough for tonight. Detective Yancy—that’s the police artist—will come to you tomorrow. One more group, then Roarke and I will take you to the school.”