Lands.
Strikes.
And you have to react instantly.
Which is what Lachlan’s been trained to do.
Two hours before dawn, an alarm is tripped.Then another.Then three more.The entire East Wing rings out.Glass windows are shattered for entry.Semi-automatics are fired in controlled bursts.It’s a full-on attack performed by professionals and the target, clear as day, is Jules.
Lachlan gives the order over dark-band and theCove,as he calls it over the radio, is locked down tight.The Cove is the central wedge of three connecting rooms where Jules and Mimi sleep, all of which have been reinforced to become panic rooms when necessary.
It’s the first attack on Lachlan’s watch.
What goesrightis this:
Making those three rooms into secure locations to protect from night invasionsworksbecause they can’t get to the kids.Lachlan, plus six others, gun down the attackers who approach.
But that’sallthat goes right.
What goes wrong is this:
The attack was an airdrop, therefore rendering all Lachlan’s clever plans aboutground sensorsirrelevant.They used light-bending camouflage meaning the security footage shows nothing but white blurs.They brought mini EMPs which shorted out long-range communications, including all the lights, which plunges the Estate into confusing darkness.
And worst of all, the inside job.A childminder who takes Jules hostage from the inside of the Cove blindsides him.She was planted, biding her time.
Later, he’ll assess his own failure and transform it into improvements going forward.But in the moment, it hits hard.
The traitor communicates with Lachlan through the door.She tells him and the others to stand down or she’ll spill blood.Lachlan is calculating fast, nods at Carrigan.They give the full appearance of acquiescing to a fresh wave of intruders who force them to their knees and train guns on them.The traitor comes out from the Cove slowly, using Jules as a shield, scalpel to his throat.
No blood drawn but theslightestof wrong moves will make little rivers.
Lachlan watches intently.
The childminder in question is Alyssa Monroe.
She moves like a professional.Monroe walks slowly and Lachlan sees that little Mimi is following, clinging to Monroe’s shirt tail, eyes wide.
Jules is pale but holding up well.
The only source of light comes from the ones fixed on the end of semi-automatics.‘You,’ Monroe directs at Carrigan.‘You walk with us.’
‘Let her stay,’ Jules begs softly.‘Let Mimi stay, please.’
The childminder whose sole job it was to care for the three-year-old glances down.‘Fine.’She looks at Lachlan.‘Take her.’
But Mimi balks instantly.She lets slip a very distinct sound of fear and hides behind Monroe’s legs, gripping Jules’ pyjamas with both hands.
‘No, no,no!’
‘Mimi, baby, it’s OK,’ Jules tells her, voice wobbling slightly.‘Stay with the bodyguard, he’ll keep you—!’
‘NO!’the kid screams.‘NOT BODYGARDEN BAD MAN, NO!’
Monroe’s mouth curls with distaste and she rears back to kick Mimi physically away, but Lachlan sees his opening and so does Carrigan.In the space of three seconds, several things happen in swift procession.
Lachlan uses the half-formed kick to knock Monroe off her feet and grab Jules by the hand, yanking him down, dragging him directly behind Lachlan for cover.At the same time he reaches for the gun that was aimed right at his head, steals it, flips it and takes each of the intruders down with a headshot apiece, right between the eyes.
He’s always had good aim.
