MacTierney blushed and looked away, but kept holding the door open wide.
Since the look hadn’t said enough, Kat barked it out as an order. “Don’t wait for me. Sergeant.” At least it was almost a bark. “Get a move on.”
He saluted sharp, let go of the door and ran the short distance across the grass to the barracks. Kat watched him as the door swung shut ahead of her. She knew he couldn’t be one of the conspirators, or he wouldn’t have been eating while everything was going down. But it gratified her to see him hop to it at her command.
By the time she had half-jogged across to the barracks, the sergeant was standing in the entryway calling the men to attention—only five guards, but they would be enough. They’d have to be. Though they looked as if they’d been relaxing after a filling meal. At least, they were awful slow responding to MacTierney’s orders.
Kat wasn’t having any of that. She was going to bark, and loud, if it took all the breath she had left. “This—is—NOT—a—drill.” That almost felt good. “I need you to hustle. So move.”
She had to set a good example, so she turned to start jogging back across the grass toward the main gate, even if it hurt so much she wanted to cry. Soon the sergeant had come running after and caught up, though. Then she noticed he wasn’t armed.
Kat slowed and stared over at the man. “Your rifle?”
MacTierney blushed again. “We were off duty, Mam. And Colonel Gray stopped us keeping weapons in the barracks.”
Of course he did. “You have a key to the armory, Sergeant?” At his nod, Kat continued, “then hurry up and get rifles for yourself and those guards, and double-time it over to the main gate.”
She was definitely breathing better now, even if her side still hurt like blue blazes. She noticed the sergeant out of the corner of her eye as he took off running, but she was focused on getting to the gate. At least the floodlights there were on and shining.
Kat could make out only one guard standing by the gate at the perimeter wall. The open gate. She slowed to a trot as she passed the small guard hut, looking in through the open door to see the light was on with no one home.
She kept on toward the gate at the fastest speed she could manage. She hadn’t seen another guard, but at least the one there was standing in the breach and peering out into the night. Except the man had his rifle resting with its butt on the ground.
The guard was so focused in the other direction that Kat managed to get up close behind him before he noticed, even though she was hardly being quiet. When he did hear her, he turned slow and easy.
Kat was about to bark out a question, demanding to know where the other guards were. She cut herself off when she saw it was Robinson. The fool tried to bring up his rifle. She helped him, grabbing the stock of the gun as he lifted it, and punching the rifle into his face. The man went down in a spray of blood.
Then she heard MacTierney running up behind her and glanced back over her shoulder to see the sergeant gaping. At least he had his rifle. And now Kat had a weapon as well—she brought Robinson’s rifle up to her shoulder as she caught the movement of a shadow in the corner of her eye. Someone scurried farther off into the darkness of the buffer zone. The floodlights shining onto the road didn’t illuminate much more than the area right between the two gates.
Kat glanced back at MacTierney. The rest of the guards hadn’t arrived yet. “Stay here. Hold the line. When the others come, have four of them cover this gate, two on either side. Make sure they’re ready for trouble. Take the other one with you and follow me out into the buffer zone.”
Without waiting for him to acknowledge the order, she stepped past the perimeter wall, into that darkness beyond the aura of light around the road. She wasn’t going to make herself a target for whoever was out there. She was the hunter.
At least the security fence was closed and padlocked. For now. Maybe they were waiting on Henson to show up and take charge.
Kat circled silently around toward the floodlight on the western side of the road, and almost stepped on someone else. One of the student workers, without a weapon. Still he swung a fist at her as soon as he saw her, and Kat cracked the butt of her rifle to the side of his head, dropping him to the ground.
She heard someone shifting in the darkness, not far from her. But she couldn’t see anyone. Further away she heard the sound of running feet, and she looked to see two figures stumbling up to the fence. One of them started banging his rifle into the padlock. Soon he might figure out a better way.
She raised her rifle to her shoulder and aimed, then she heard the slight step behind her.
“Don’t, my dear.” She’d heard that patronizing tone before—couldn’t fail to recognize Gray’s voice.
Kat turned her head just enough to see the man was standing behind her with his sidearm aimed at her head. He’d probably miss. She was more irked that the oaf had managed to sneak up on her.
She was considering her options when the shot rang out and she turned to see Gray crumpled down on the ground with a hole in his head. Kat scanned the darkness and finally saw Ken Cameron walking into the light from the other side of the road.
Kat saw the handgun he was holding and almost spat. “Flying haddock, that was an incredible shot.”
Her gaze flew back to the fence. Those two had ignored everything to keep working on the lock, and now one of them stuck the barrel of his rifle into it. Kat took aim again and took her shot as he did.
The padlock flew loose, and the guy who’d broken it fell in a heap. The other one pulled the chain out with a quick yank and hunkered down, pushing the gate open as he ran down the road and into the darkness. She had switched her aim to the fleeing figure, but hesitated to shoot a man in the back.
She lowered her weapon as he escaped into the night. She’d recognized him. Mathers.
Ken Cameron had come up to her now, his own gun held at his side. “It’s okay. It’s over now.”
Kat turned to look him in the eye. She really did need to get some marksmanship lessons out of this man somehow. “Over?” Rossiter and Henson and Gray. Mathers and Robinson and one of the student workers. There were more than that. “What about the governor’s forces waiting out there?”
Cameron gazed out into the darkness with her. “Out there, somewhere, sure. But they’re not prepared to take advantage of the gate being opened.”
Kat half-raised her rifle. “What do you mean?”
He kept his own weapon lowered, but she noticed his eyes were vigilant. “They didn’t know.”
Kat thought this man might be as infuriating as Tony. “Know what? And where’d you come from?”
“I came around from the east gate. Element of surprise. Nelson called and said you’d need help.” Cameron looked at her. “I’ll send some guys with a new padlock, though it’s not much of a deterrence. Keep things secure until it’s sealed up again. Better make sure there’s a proper guard posted, too.”
Kat nodded. She’d do what needed to be done until someone else could take over. With Gray and Henson out of the picture, she wondered who was in charge now. “What about the rest of them? There are others.” At least two more, by her count.
“There may be a few more out here, yes. Stay alert. But Sgt. Carruthers and a couple other guards are going through the buffer zone, searching.” He turned to look at two men as they came running up—Sgt. MacTierney and another guard. He nodded to the men and turned back to Kat. “By the way, your father made me the new chief of External Security.”
Kat shifted her rifle to rest on the ground and snapped a quick salute.
“Stop that.” Cameron looked behind her to the shadowy heap lying on the grass and sighed. “Didn’t think I’d have to shoot my predecessor.”
She took a deep breath. Definite improvement. “You saved my life.” Though she’d likely have managed on her own. “Thank you.”
Cameron grunted. “Keep a guard here until we get that padlocked. Make sure Sgt. Carruthers and his men get back in alri
ght. Then get that main gate closed, Lieutenant Miles.”
“Yes, sir.” Kat started to snap another salute, but faltered. “‘Lieutenant’?”
“Well, someone’s got to replace Henson. I want you.”
“But I don’t want—”
“I don’t give a bag of peanuts what you want, Lieutenant. I gave you an order.”
“Yes, sir.” And Kat saluted.
“Stop that. And call me ‘Chief’.” Cameron nodded at the saluting MacTierney and stalked through the open gate into the compound.
As Kat watched him leave, she saw Tony stride past the guardhouse in her direction. He stopped to exchange a word with his new counterpart and then came to her, grinning. “You look better.”
She grinned back. “Still got a bit of a cold, boss.” Though he wasn’t her boss anymore. She turned to the sergeant. “You two. Slip those chains through and hang the padlock back on. It may not be secure, but at least they won’t know from looking.”
MacTierney saluted. “Yes, mam.”
“Stop that. And you heard the chief. It’s ‘Lieutenant’ now.” She gestured at the fence. “After you take care of those chains, I want you both to take up position about thirty yards or so down from the gate, inside the buffer zone, one on either side. And keep a watch, just in case. Until we get everything nailed down, we’re not going to take any chances.”
Kat looked hard at MacTierney. “Once the new locks are in place and Carruthers has returned, get that main gate closed. Then make sure there’s a full four-man guard detail on this gate, and someone on the others. I’m leaving you in charge, Sergeant.”
The men hustled off. Kat turned to find Tony grinning at her like a baboon.
“You were born to command,” he commented.
She snorted. “I suppose you heard?”
“Straight from the man himself. I’ll hate to lose you.” Tony’s face went blank as he stared at her for a long moment. “But I’ve already got a replacement.”
Kat slugged him in the shoulder. “Liar.”
“Not at all. I informed young David just a little bit ago that if he wanted to become an officer trainee, I’d be glad to have him.”
Kat snorted again. “It’ll take a long time for that kid to be ready to replace me. But he’ll do.”
Tony smiled. “He could never replace you. But he’ll do fine.”
“Once you teach him to stop thinking too much. And how to fight.” Kat looked around again. Everything seemed quiet. “So, care to fill me in on the details?” Like what you left out this afternoon.
Tony shrugged. “It seems a couple of the student workers stayed behind in the zone at the end of the day, while another told David they’d left early. I understand Henson used that as an excuse to get the main gate opened without the usual precautions. I imagine they thought Mathers and Robinson there would be enough to keep things looking normal, at least until the tanks rolled in.”
“Tanks?” Kat looked around, but what she saw was a couple of Ken’s crew showing up with chains in their arms and a couple of giant padlocks. Better than nothing. She watched them get started before turning back to Tony. “I don’t get it.”
Tony grinned. “Apparently Henson was under the delusion that a ‘go signal’ had been sent to Governor Roberts, who would have his reinforcements waiting just down the road—waiting for everything to be opened up for them.”
“A signal Ms. Belue didn’t send, of course.”
“And reinforcements that no longer exist. But that’s a longer story.”
So Kat would have to wait even longer for the missing details. She turned to watch Ken’s crew as they finished their work at the fence and hustled on back into the compound. She started limping in the same direction, and Tony followed her.
She sighed. I’m hungry. “I guess I have to get to the clinic now and let them check me out before we can get a bite to eat.” Kat stopped inside the main gate and told the guards there that MacTierney was in charge and would let them know what to do, and asked one of them to make sure there were a couple guards each at the other three gates.
Tony waited for her, and then walked alongside as she limped on. “I could carry you. And if you’re not headed to the clinic, I will carry you.”
Kat looked at Tony and considered what might have been. “I could’ve been your deputy.”
“No, I don’t think—” She interrupted him with an elbow, jabbing him in the ribs. “Sure you could have, but I think this job will suit you better.”
Kat wasn’t sure what he meant by that and preferred not to think about it right now. “The Belue kid okay?”
Tony nodded. “He’ll probably be out of the clinic by the time you get there.” He grinned. “Can’t you move a little faster?”
“You’ll pay for that.”
“The sisters will feed us for free.”
Kat grinned at him. “Have I ever thanked you?”
“I don’t think so. What for?”
“For teaching me how to fight in tight corners.”
Epilogue
Battening the Hatches
10:45 p.m. Sunday, December 22nd
CAROLINE watched the Belue woman taking her seat at the side of Miles’ desk and noticed Tony appreciating the woman’s legs. While those two might make a nice couple, she hadn’t detected any chemistry between them.
Still, Verity was too young to remain a widow. Perhaps Caroline could find someone for her—the woman’s adoration of Miles would never get her anywhere. Caroline was confident of that, and that Ms. Belue would need help to catch a good man.
Caroline smiled at her husband. Naturally it fell to her to get things going with an opening remark. “This is the first time we’ve all managed to meet, at least since that night. Exactly one month ago.” She swept her gaze around Miles’ office, until it landed on Ken. “Excuse me, Mr. Cameron.” She knew the man didn’t want to be addressed by his title, even if he was the new chief of the Guards. “You were unable to be here for that.”
Ken grunted. “Almost didn’t make it here at all. But Nelson sent me an early warning.”
Miles looked pained. “I sent you a message as soon as I made the decision.”
“By which time I’d already made arrangements with Fiona and the girls, packed all my things, and driven halfway here.” Ken scowled at her husband. The man really was a great scowler.
Tony glanced between the two men. “I suspected what Jon would do, and didn’t think a heads-up would hurt anything.”
Miles sighed. “David’s working out alright?”
Tony grinned. “He’s been learning the ropes.”
Caroline noticed Verity beaming. Of course, the woman had reason to be proud of her son, but Caroline had more reason to be proud of Katherine, who had, after all, gotten hurt saving young David’s life for the second time. She frowned over at Tony. “I’m just glad neither of them suffered any permanent injuries.”
Ken growled. “I just hope both of them learned a good lesson from all this—though I doubt it.”
Caroline smiled sweetly at him. “And what do you mean by that?”
Tony grinned even wider. “Care, your daughter is more stubborn, self-willed, and pure bull-headed than both you and Jon put together.” He looked to Miles and then back to her. “It may take more than a near-death experience to get through to her.”
Caroline didn’t appreciate Tony’s amusement at her daughter’s expense. “And yet, things would’ve been a great deal messier if not for her.” She added, “And David, I suppose.”
Tony made a feeble effort to wipe the grin off his face. “They could also have made a terrible mess of everything.” He looked like he might say more, but whatever it had been, he refrained.
Miles coughed softly, peering at Tony. “I’d like to know the status of the conspirators.”
“The guard Mathers escaped into the forest, and the student Eric’s whereabouts remain unknown. We’ve got Henson and Robinson and the kid named Jake, but the
rest of them are dead.”
Caroline looked at him. “What about Crystal?”
Tony shook his head. “We don’t know whether she was really with them or not. She admitted that Henson had asked her to keep an eye on you and Ms. Belue, but she says she thought she was doing it for the good of the community. And Henson’s not talking.”
Caroline glared at him. “That’s not satisfactory, Tony. Am I supposed to keep her on as an intern?”
Verity interjected. “We were playing the roles of potential traitors. Should we blame her for believing? I’ve let her continue on at my house.”
Caroline snorted. “I hope you don’t make a habit of leaving confidential information lying around.”
Ms. Belue narrowed her eyes at her. “That was to a purpose.”
Tony cleared his throat, rather loudly, and continued, “Henson has recovered, by the way. He’d a severe concussion, and lost a lot of blood. But he’s well enough to be released now.”
Ken grunted. “I still don’t like it.” He spread his glare between Miles and Tony. “Find someplace to hold them all here, and make sure they can’t cause any trouble. That’s what we should do.”
Miles shook his head. “We’re not set up for any kind of long-term custody, and we don’t have a system of due process yet. Those changes can be made, but they shouldn’t be made in a rush. Right now, we only have the legal authority to hold people prior to turning them over to outside law enforcement.”
Ken scoffed, “You think our local sheriff wants them? He’s got more than he can deal with now.”
Miles nodded. “But we can expel them, making them his problem instead of ours. Unfortunate, but I still think that’s the only real option.”
Ken growled again. “Lawyers.”
Miles looked around the room. “I think it’s best we get rid of the malefactors and start clean.”
“And the ones we haven’t found?” Ken again. “The ones we don’t know about?”
Miles looked to Tony, who fielded that question. “There’s only one, Eric, that’s still unaccounted for, and he could be on the outside for all we know. But if he’s here, my officers will find him. Then we can put him out.”
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