“The MacTavish ancestral home was designed to be invulnerable to attack,” she says. “But you proved that there is always a weakness we didn’t find.” My flinch is obvious and she pats my arm. “That was still a good thing, in the end. This would not be.”
“How many soldiers do you have patrolling the grounds?” I ask.
“Fifty at least, four more watching all the security feeds and several teams of guard dogs.”
“Any escape tunnels, secret passageways?”
“Four,” she says, “All barricaded and guarded.”
“Any new employees or family guests here tonight that you don’t know well?”
“I trust all our employees,” she says firmly, “I vetted them all myself. As for the families, there could be new members I’m not completely certain of.”
“Why don’t you make the rounds again, isolate anyone you don’t feel confident about, assign guards to those areas?” I suggest. “Meanwhile, where’s the highest point in this house? I remember a bell tower?”
She’s watching me thoughtfully, and there’s a slight, uncomfortable pause before she nods and smiles. “I knew I was going to be pleased with you. I’ll show you the way to the tower and begin my sweep of the families.”
The bell tower rises another sixteen meters above the third story of the mansion and the 360-degree view of the grounds is magnificent. My new phone buzzes as I’m setting up my sniper rifle scope.
“Dougal?”
“Cormac just told us your theory,” he says. I can hear one of the other brothers shouting instructions behind him and the sound of distant gunfire. “We’re in a firefight at our construction company. We’ll leave it to burn if we have to, we’ll be there within thirty-five minutes.”
“Do you have your bulletproof vest on?” I ask, putting together the tripod and attaching the rifle.
“What the hell question is that to ask?” Dougal snaps, “Focus on who’s truly in danger here.”
“Do not take that tone with your wife. I need you alive!” I push back.
“You love me, don’t ya’?” His tone is deeply pleased, even though I can still hear shouting and gunfire in the background.
My jaw drops.
“Are you remembering what’s happening here?” I ask incredulously.
“I canna’ hang up until you say you love me.”
“I’m not going to have this conversation with you right now, Dougal MacTavish!” I sputter. “You need to-”
“I love you, Isla. My wife. We will live through this night, but I will tell you now because I want to say it to you. I love you.”
My eyes are wet. Damn him. “I love you too, Dougal. I canna’ imagine why, though it’s true.”
“Good.” He sounds so happy for a man watching his construction site burn. “I’ll be there soon. Be safe, love.”
“Aye, you as well.” I see movement in the north perimeter and we don’t have a patrol there. “Got to go.” The phone drops as I pull the rifle around, spotting through the scope.
Mala and I had picked up headsets from Colin, the head of estate security and I click it on. “Sighting four hostiles, Northeast perimeter, they’ve breached the wall.”
“Are you in position?” Mala asks.
“Aye. Firing now.”
This tower is well-built to withstand the centuries of harsh Scottish weather. The stone walls under where the bell used to hang are double-reinforced. Even if they spot me, returning fire is going to be tricky.
Sighting the first man running across the ground, I take in a deep breath, and let it out as my finger pulls the trigger. His head explodes, splattering the man next to him.
“One.”
