Rose was about to start questioning and from the way Simon and Monika looked, she knew they were too. Sam sat there still, looking at his brother, a lost look in his face. She realised he probably already knew all of this, having listened to all of it as he was in the room. Before anyone could do anything, Jia moved.

She knelt in front of Sebestian and squeezed his shoulder. For the first time he tore his eyes away from Allen and looked at her.

“Sebestian,” she said, “do you think this is the best option we have? Can you get him back?”

Rose was surprised at the softness...