Mother Mercy had brought the suspects into the Madonna's main room and asked the other women to leave. She had not known who "the boy with the spirit weapon was", but knew that Dave would be able to identify him. As for the earth user and the healer, that was a matter on record, and there were very few candidates anyway for this last person involved to complete the trio.
It was for this reason that Lenny, Rose, Michael and Harry were gathered and brought into a room. When they spotted the boy known as Dave, the others had not reacted, but Lenny recognised him instantly. "You never forget your first stabbing," he thought to himself.
"Do you know why you're here?" Mother Mercy asked.
Everyone simply looked around at one another, but Lenny nodded.
"You're the boy the with the spirit weapon, then?" she asked.
"I was," he replied.
Dave had seen him take the hammer, so knew he should have had one still, but decided to keep this fact to himself, if he was to make these people his peers. Mother Mercy had offered him protection after all, and though it was unlikely that was a promise she could keep, he didn't have any better options.
"Could you tell me what happened?"
The three of them went on to tell their story, with Dave chipping in also at various points. When they were done, Mother Mercy was silent for a few moments. They all felt nervous, even Dave, whose sordid past had just been revealed.
"Quite a pickle you've got yourselves in," she finally said. "Still, it sounds like you were just defending yourselves. Problem is, the House of Cards is involved now, and if they turn up again, I cannot stop them."
"How could that little parasite be protected by such a prominent gang?" Lenny thought to himself.
"That doesn't mean I won't try," Mother Mercy carried on. She looked at Rose as she said that, who was wondering what would motivate the older woman to fight a battle she thought she couldn't win.
Lenny thought maybe he had misjudged the Madonnas, or at least their leader. He still didn't like the others.
"I suggest we prepare," said Mother Mercy. She walked over to a large cupboard at the back of the room and unlocked it. When it opened, they could see weapons of various types. It was an arsenal. She began to take them out, passing a sword to Harry, a spear to Michael, some gauntlets to Dave and, finally, a kind of dagger to Lenny.
As she handed it over, she said without irony: "I believe you're already proficient with this."
Lenny's face turned red.
*
Meanwhile, in a large room in the basement of the House of Cards, Sol and Jack were having a tense conversation.
"He should be back by now," said Jack.
"Maybe you have too much faith in your minion?"
Jack looked at his father, biting his tongue. "Sharky's reliable. Hasn't caused us any problems in the past."
"There's a first for everything," said Sol.
"Do you have any suggestions, then?"
"I'm the leader," said Sol. "I shouldn't have to get my hands dirty with this. You take the men you need, get the job done. Prove you're capable of leading the faction one day."