Restoring Time

by Jenn Lees

  Chapter 42

  Scottish Government Bunker, Edinburgh

  Siobhan glanced at her watch. It was 7 p.m. Wherever Rory, Kendra and Xian were on their journey to Lloyd’s in Fife, they would be camped for the night. The hall in the communications area was quiet; the personnel monitoring the radios would be at their evening meal.

  Who could she trust? Who else was involved in this treachery?

  Siobhan halted at the doorway of the room next to the short-wave radios. A technician turned from the screen where tech staff viewed drone footage, and removed the sound excluding headphones from his ears. “Mrs Campbell?”

  Alec MacAllister was one of the younger members of the Bunker’s population. An honest young lad.

  Please don’t destroy my trust in the goodness of human nature.

  Tightness pressed inside her pelvis. She bent forward and rested her hands on the back of the nearest chair.

  “Are you okay, Mrs Campbell?” Alec asked and stood to face her.

  Siobhan breathed through the tightness. “I need to contact my husband.”

  “The CB room’s next door but can I get you some help?”

  “No, I’m fine.” The tightness receded, and she straightened. “Do you love your country?”

  “Pardon?” The young man’s stare intensified.

  “Do you love Scotland and believe in the New Scottish Government?”

  “Aye, ma’am.” Alec blinked and stood to attention.

  “Then you can help me. You’re viewing drone footage?”

  “Today’s views of Kirkcaldy, ma’am.”

  “Show me.”

  “I should get clearance for you—”

  “Alec, this is of national importance and I know what to look for!”

  “...We only have daylight footage. None of our drones have a functioning night vision camera anymore.” Alec brought up a view of a substantial, well-established stately home in the middle of fields with early crops, long sheds, and storage vats. He zoomed the vision in. From a distance, there were dark dots by the solid stone fence that surrounded the house. Close up, these dots were armed men, wearing the familiar garb of Lloyd’s personnel.

  His army.

  “This is Mr Lloyd’s property where the PM is attending the fuel summit. He has quite a lot of security,” Alec noted. “The issue at present, ma’am, is that the talks have taken longer than expected and the PM’s convoy will have to return to the Bunker in the dark. And they haven’t yet contacted us by CB.”

  “That’s the thing, Alec. I don’t think she’ll be travelling home tonight.”

  “No? They were planning to. Mr Lloyd’s hospitality—”

  Siobhan shook her head. “Please show me the most recent footage you have.”

  “Aye, ma’am. I haven’t yet examined it myself.” Alec went to the appropriate section. The sunset footage showed dim figures collecting near one of the larger sheds, they stood in guard formation.

  “Was that shed guarded previously?” Siobhan pulled up a chair and sat next to Alec, ignoring the tension starting in her abdomen.

  “No, ma’am. I’ll rewind.” Alec rewound and played the scene.

  Lloyd’s dark uniformed men held Scottish Government personnel at gunpoint and herded them into the large shed where they now stood guard.

  “Oh, no.” Alec’s voice held his disbelief and shock.

  “I didn’t see the PM. Where’s Bethany?” Her question came out choked as it mixed with the last of the tightening in her abdomen, bordering on pain.

  Alec adjusted the view and zoomed in close on the people being forced into the shed. No Bethany but Alistair was there, and Micah.

  But Micah was pointing a gun at government personnel.

  A cold chill ran down her spine, kicking off another tightening which increased in pressure, and her back ached.

  “I must CB Rory,” she said through an expelled breath.

  “Mrs Campbell, ma’am, if you don’t mind me saying so, you’re all sweaty and I think what you really need to do is go the medical centre, ma’am.”

  “Get me to a CB,” she ordered.

  Alec hurried to the next room and turned on the nearest CB. Siobhan followed and sat beside him. She turned the dial to the frequency Rory used.

  Alec hovered. “Mrs Campbell, ma’am. I’m going tae alert my superior. We’ll need to send support for our detained security but with our low supply of petrol...Ah, and I’ll get Dr Longford, okay?”

  Siobhan nodded as another contraction started.

  Oh, slow down, please.

  Rory should go and help. It made sense. He was closer and could muster aid. He’d stayed at the Tummel House Community on his way down and they had an army.

  But I need you, Rory.

  Another contraction started, forcing a cry between her lips. She breathed through it.

  The pain tailed off and annoyance took over. Rory would choose to help. He’d go to Lloyd’s first. He’d not make her a priority.

  She blew out a long sigh. “Breaker. Breaker. Rory,” she said into the handset.

  Her man was needed elsewhere. For important things in a crucial time. He was a leader, she reminded herself.

  Siobhan repeated her mantra.

  “I married a man who leads a people and I must share him with them.”

  And determine to love him, no matter what decision he makes.

  “Mrs Campbell, ma’am?” Alec’s strangled voice filtered through her determination. She ignored him.

  “Rory. Come in. Over.” Desperation echoed through her words.

  Siobhan! What’s wrong? Rory’s voice came loudly through the handset.

  Chapter 43

  Perth

  Rory removed Boy’s saddle and brushed him down. His horse gave gentle nickers, showing his appreciation for his master’s care.

  “Aye, pal,” Rory whispered into the dark horse’s ear. “You deserve it,” he said in the language of the Highlands.

  It had been a long day of solid riding. They’d be in Edinburgh soon and he’d be with Siobhan and Jake, but only after the diversion of this summit. Rory grimaced at the thought of another meeting with Lloyd.

  “Hot tea in a wee bit, boss,” Kendra spoke from the campfire while Xian arrived with an armful of wood. They’d set up camp, stringing tarps among the trees on the lower reaches of Kinnoull Hill.

  Beside Rory’s saddle, which was placed ready to be his pillow for the night, the CB sputtered into life.

  Rory. Come in. Over. It was Siobhan, and his heart jolted at her tone.

  He grabbed the handset. “Siobhan! What’s wrong? Over.”

  Where are you? Over.

  “Just outside o’ Perth. Why? Over.”

  You must hurry to Kirkcaldy. Lloyd has detained our soldiers and we can’t see Bethany. Over.

  “How do you ken this?”

  Drone footage from late this afternoon. Rory, Micah is there. Over.

  “Aye, I ken he’s waiting for us and spending some time with his family. He took Cèilidh and the kids down early to see their grandfather. Over.”

  Siobhan spoke, but a wave of static passed through her words, obliterating them. Then it cleared.

  ...said something’s up. A coup. I fear for Bethany’s life. Over. Siobhan’s voice was breathy through the handset.

  “Surely they’d no’ assassinate a Prime Minister? Over.” But it was Lloyd they were dealing with. The man had time travelled and probably seen the future. Cold clenched Rory’s guts. Siobhan hadn’t responded.

  “Siobhan?”

  Static, then Ahh. The line was still open. Siobhan must be clasping the handset tight, for in the background, voices raised, and their tones held alarm.

  “What’s going on?” Rory said, but he wouldn’t be heard.

  Damn.

  “What’s happening, boss?”

  Rory glanced at Kendra.

  “Turn it up, Rory.” Xian touched the volume dial. “We might catch something.”

&nb
sp; Mrs Campbell, we’ll take you to the medical centre now. Alec, notify Dr Longford.

  Orders continued in the background and Siobhan’s gasp was loud, her mouth close to the handset. Then it went silent.

  “Will somebody tell me what’s happening! Over,” Rory yelled into the handset now free to receive.

  Ah, Mr Campbell, sir, this is Alec MacAllister. Um, your wife is in labour and they’re taking her to Dr Longford. Over.

  “But it’s too soon to be in labour. Och, she’s there to have a caesarean, is she no’? Not to do the usual, aye?”

  Mr Campbell? It was a different voice. We’ll inform you of any updates after Dr Longford examines your wife. Over.

  “Is she okay? Over.”

  We’re still assessing that, sir. Over.

  “But tell me—Och!” Rory shoved the handset back in the CB’s bag and stood. “I’m going now.” He picked up his saddle and threw it over Boy’s back.

  Kendra poured the boiled water for the tea over the fire and started packing while Xian loaded the horses.

  “You’re fortunate that it’s a full moon tonight, Rory.” Xian saddled his own horse. “We still won’t reach there until nearly morning.”

  “Aye.” He rolled up his bedroll and tied it to the saddle. “I’ll carry the CB. They’ll need tae let me know.” He jumped onto Boy, jerking the reins. His tired stallion flicked his head in protest. “You dinnae have tae come.”

  “Aye, we do, Rory.” Kendra pulled herself up into the saddle.

  They rode for two hours; the moon lighting their path.

  “We’ll cut through between Loch Leven and the Lomond Hills—” The CB sitting in the bag over Rory’s shoulder jumped to life.

  Rory.

  “Siobhan, you okay? Baby okay? Over.” The handset shook in his grasp.

  They’ve put me on a drip to stop the contractions. They’re holding it off for as long as possible. We’re both okay. Where are you?

  “On my way to you. Over.”

  Rory, I’ll be fine. Help the PM.... Static overtook the rest of her sentence.

  “What?” Rory clasped the handset closer to his face.

  Alistair is there. Defence guys are coming but... White noise whooshed through Siobhan’s words. Little fuel...not make it... You know Lloyd. It may end up a blood bath. Over.

  Rory rubbed his thumb between his brows, still holding the CB handset. Rory’s insides tore. He should be with Siobhan, his woman, the mother of his children. But Scotland needed him. Realisation blew its calming breeze over him.

  Siobhan was giving him permission.

  “I’ll ask Mrs Donaldson to send her army. We’ll need her back up. Siobhan, I’ll come to you as fast as I can. Hold out till I’m there, please. Over.”

  Yes. Good luck. Do your thing, Rory. I love you... Static resumed and blocked her sentence.

  “Siobhan?”

  The CB was silent.

  Rory moved the Hz to the Tummel House Community’s dial.

  Chapter 44

  Perth to Fife

  “It’ll take them a day, boss.” Kendra’s horse tossed its head, chewing its bit. “For the Tummel army to arrive.”

  “We can check things out before they do,” Xian answered for Rory.

  Rory nudged Boy to a canter, his stallion snorting his displeasure. They’d walked their horses all day and now forced a hard overnight ride. But they had to do it.

  They passed through a wide valley, the silent Lomond hills to their left and the still, quiet waters of Loch Leven on their right. The night’s orb continually dimmed with an ashen haze, reflected on the glassy surface of the loch. Farmhouses lay dotted ahead. Fields sown with crops were the landscape here, every inch planted and utilised.

  Aye, Lloyd’s lands.

  Far ahead lay the Firth of Forth, with a glistening sheen on its rippling surface in the early predawn.

  “We must push harder. Get there before daylight. We need some cover.” He kicked Boy, urging his tired horse harder, pushing himself with the pounding urgency from within. The sooner he dealt with whatever he found at Lloyd’s, the sooner he could get to Edinburgh and Siobhan.

  It wasn’t long before the large mansion belonging to the lands they’d crossed came into view. Rory pulled Boy up, the horse panting hard, foaming at the bit. Xian and Kendra’s horses fared no better.

  “We’re exposed here. We must hide the horses somewhere and creep closer.” Rory pointed to the copse nearby. “There.”

  They walked their panting horses to the shelter of the small wood. A burn ran through it and they let the horses drink. They did the same and refilled their water bottles from the burn, then Rory led them further into the wood where they tied their mounts.

  “Load up with your gear.”

  “Aye, boss.”

  “There’s no cover in those fields.” Xian peered through the foliage.

  “Take everything.” Rory shoved his ammunition clips from his saddlebags into his jacket pockets.

  Kendra had her bow and arrows, and the rifle she was growing attached to. Xian had his Katana and he also emptied his bags of bullets for his handpiece.

  Rory checked he had a full magazine in his Glock and gave himself a mental pat on the back for always keeping his long-range rifle clean and ready. He looped the strap of the portable CB over his shoulder, volume turned low. They crept along the old road that led up to the outbuildings, keeping to the cover of the low drystone walls and natural dips in the land.

  “The sheds are the obvious place to hold a number of hostages,” Rory whispered once they drew nearer.

  They lay on the ground and crawled into an overgrown hedgerow, which provided excellent cover. Rory looked through the sight of his rifle while Kendra used the high-powered lenses.

  “Not many guards back here,” Kendra commented.

  “I’ll get a little closer,” Xian said, “and see what’s around the side.”

  “I could pick them off from here.” Rory held a guard in his crosshairs.

  “No, Rory.” Xian was firm. “We have no idea. Let me look first.”

  Rory lifted his eyes from his telescopic sight and turned to Xian. A stern expression greeted him.

  “Aye,” he said with reluctance. “Okay.”

  Xian crept away and Rory resumed his observations through his rifle’s sight. “I wish I’d got more from Siobhan before...”

  “Well, she was pre-occupied.” Kendra’s hand tightened on his shoulder. “She’ll be okay, Rory,” she said in a quiet voice.

  Rory’s heart softened. It was unusual for Kendra to be so...demonstrative. Her concern touched him for only a moment. They had work to do, and he needed to focus. A guard wandered behind the shed and urinated against the rear wall. Another followed and joined his companion.

  “I’m surprised,” Kendra said. “I thought his men would be more disciplined.”

  “Maybe they’re stretched with the visitors becoming detainees.” Rory continued looking through his sight. “All that’s required is to let whoever’s in there know we’re here.”

  “We should wait for Tummel House Army,” Kendra said in his ear. “We can’t do this with only us three.”

  “Lloyd will have confiscated the Government Defence guys’ weapons. We just need to provide them with some so they can join in when we make a move on their guards.”

  The branches of the wild rose and privet jolted. Kendra went for her firearm.

  “You’re almost invisible!” she said to Xian as he returned, relaxing her grip on her rifle.

  “There’s only a handful out front.” Xian ignored Kendra’s comment. “That will change once it’s daylight. I heard people inside. I think one of them was that Henderson guy who stalked me when we stayed the night in the Bunker.”

  None spoke for a moment. In the trees and along the hedgerows, birds stirred, their early morning calls breaking the silence.

  “Where would you keep your armoury in a place like this?” Rory asked them both.


  “Locked away.” Kendra answered.

  “Inside the house?” Rory wondered.

  “No. Not all of it.” Xian’s mouth pulled to the side. “But in a close, lockable outbuilding.”

  Rory nodded. “Find it. Raid it. Arm the Government guys.”

  “How?” Kendra asked.

  “Look closely at that shed they’re guardin’.” Rory indicated with a tilt of his head.

  Kendra put the high-powered binoculars to her eyes. “Oh, I get it. Although the spaces between the slats of those windows are a wee bitty small.”

  “A handgun isn’t a large item. Even a bigger piece could be pushed through.” Rory turned to Xian. “You lead the way. We’ll cover you while you find where they store the guns. I’ll come over while Kendra covers us, and we’ll get the weapons to the Government guys.”

  “We’re not waiting for Tummel House?” Kendra asked.

  “No time.”

  Chapter 45

  Lloyd’s Mansion

  The Kingdom of Fife

  Beams of daylight poked through the heavy curtain and landed on the Persian rug. The four-poster bed and antique furniture would have impressed Bethany if she wasn’t being held against her will. She perched on the edge of the bed and wrapped the cashmere throw rug tighter around herself. Sleep had eluded her, and cold shakiness had settled in her middle. Even the dawn chorus outside, evidence that the world would go on without her, couldn’t melt the ice collecting inside.

  As civilised as Lloyd appeared, the glimpse into his soul last evening had convinced her that her life’s value held little meaning for him.

  This was a takeover. A polite one so far, apart from when they roughed her up leading her to this room—but a takeover no less.

  The door opened and Maxwell stood there.

  “You’re expected at breakfast,” he said and strode away, leaving the door open.

  Bethany slid off the bed and walked to the door, then peered to her left. Maxwell strutted along the hallway. The aroma of fried bacon and coffee wafted through the corridor and hit her nose, so she followed. At the far end of this corridor, Maxwell stood at a door to the left and directed her in.