When I reached the window I used to look out, I realized I might have a problem. I hadn't considered the fact that the window might be locked from the inside.
I let out a small squeak when a face suddenly appeared in the window and then quickly slapped a hand over my mouth.
The window opened and the man on the other side held out his hand. I swallowed tightly and took then hand Lu offered me, climbing into the attic. Lu shut the window behind me as soon as I was in.
"You scared me to death," I whispered.
Lu grinned as if he found that funny.
"Rad and Val are—" I frowned. "Do you know Val?"
Lu nodded.
"Okay, Rad and Val are getting ready to come inside. They've already eliminated all the guards outside. I guess Ze'ev alreadyknows they are here and he's waiting for them. Do you know about the people downstairs?"
Lu nodded again before holding his hand close to his thigh and raising an eyebrow.
"Sy is hiding in the greenhouse." I think that was what he was asking.
When Lu nodded for a third time, I knew I was right. I guess all that time he had spent in the attic with me and Sy had panned out for me.
Lu pulled a small matte black pistol from the back of his pants and held it out to me. I didn't like guns, but I understood the need for them considering Emma and William were downstairs.
"Is this your only gun?" I didn't want to leave the man defenseless.
Lu pulled another gun out.
"Okay, let's go." I headed for the attic door.
Again, I'd spent enough time in the attic to know where to step so that I didn't make any noise as I moved around.
Going down the stairs was another story.
Lu grabbed my arm before I could take my first step and then moved ahead of me. As he took each step, he pointed to where I should put my feet.
When we reached the door at the bottom, Lu opened it just a crack and then peered out. He must not have seen anyone because he opened it all the way and then gestured for me to step out, which I did, and then I waited for him.
Lu stepped out of the doorway, closed the door, and then gestured for me to stay low before moving over to stand by the second floor fireplace. He flattened himself against it and then leaned forward just enough that he could look down to the first floor.
He stared for so long that I thought he was going to stay that way. When he finally leaned back, he held a finger to his lips and then squatted down and started crawling forward.
I dropped down behind him and then followed. As soon as I moved to the edge of the fireplace I could see the people down on the first floor. What surprised me was the fact that they were all sitting around the living room drinking coffee and talking as if it was a social visit.
I didn't understand it.
Ze'ev sat in one of the wingback chairs with Jackson sitting on the arm of the chair. Emma was pacing in front of the downstairs fireplace, her hands waving around as she barked at Jackson. William sat on the couch with an expression on his face that said he wished he was anywhere but here. Elder Payne was in the wingback chair directly across from him, two of his guards standing behind him. I wasn't sure where the other two were.
Lu held up his hand and jerked it a couple of times. I wasn't stupid. I knew that meant stop. I hunched down where I was trying to make the smallest possible target.
I had a lot of practice at that.
I wasn't sure what we were supposed to do now, but I was taking my cues from Lu. He seemed to know more about what was going on around here than I did.
I jumped when the front door suddenly crashed open and Rad came barely in, but I wasn't the only one. Everyone downstairs except Ze'ev and Jackson jumped.
Emma screamed.
Rad immediately went for the two guards, attacking them. He got in several good hits before either one of them had time to hit him.
