Stevie nodded.
They watched another few moments. Then, through the smoke, a familiar form moved toward them.
Stevie gasped. She was silent for a moment longer, not daring to believe what she was seeing.
Brice smiled. “Friend of yours?”
Archie stepped from the smoke.
Stevie ran toward him. “Archie!”
Kendra, Lynch, Jessie, and Brice joined her as the robot approached them and stopped in the middle of the smoldering field.
“What happened?” Kendra asked.
Archie gestured down to his midsection, which was now entirely torn open. “I successfully removed the explosive device. Procedures for disarming it were unclear, so I threw it one hundred and twenty-two meters to the west. Human casualties, zero. Task completed.” Archie spoke as if it had done nothing more than walk the dog.
Everyone else laughed, but Lynch was in command mode. “We’ve got to get Stevie and Archie out of here and somewhere safe.” He turned to Stevie. “Take Archie to Parking Lot D and stay with him until I can get you both some help.”
“Right.” She nodded and motioned for Archie to follow her.
“Do we know how we’re going to get them that help?” Kendra asked as she watched them leave. “Since the police and special forces are all running around here desperately looking for them.”
He was already dialing a number on his phone. “I’m calling my contact at MI5 to see if they can take the heat down a bit. Get the counterterrorism unit and Ten Downing Street to start thinking of Stevie and Archie as heroes instead of criminals.” He was frowning. “But there’s not much time, and we might need more help than they can give us.”
Kendra was looking at her phone. “We may not need MI5, at least not right now.”
“Why not?” Lynch said.
“We’ve got Fitz. Come on. We’re all going to Parking Lot D.”
Fifteen minutes later, a paramedic unit pulled into Parking Lot D, and Kendra was surprised to see Fitz jump out from behindthe wheel. He fist-bumped Brice and turned to the others. “Hello, all. No time for pleasantries. I understand I have one human and one robot passenger. Unless more of you would like to pile in.”
Kendra shook her head. “How did you pull this off?”
Fitz shrugged. “There’s always a fleet of these standing by at every major event here. If you know the right people . . .”
“You’re not stealing it, are you?” Kendra said.
“Absolutely not! I’m . . . rentingit. It has to be back here in three hours, or else someone is going to be in a lot of trouble. And I’m afraid this is going to cost one of you a pretty penny.”
Brice nodded. “I got this. Get going. Take the lady where she wants to go.”
“And have your men stay with her,” Kendra said.
“Of course!”
“Actually, you’re doing something very patriotic, Fitz.” Kendra was motioning for Stevie and Archie to come out and board the van. “Jessie and I will be going with them as far as the cottage to make certain everything goes as it should. But the main thing is to get them out of here.”
Archie was already in the vehicle inclining his head at Fitz. “I must express my thanks and appreciation.”
“You’re very welcome,” Fitz said a little awkwardly. “It’s very . . . different . . . to meet you.” He turned to Stevie. “But I hope you have a plan to get us out those outside gates and past the crowds.”
“She does.” Brice walked around to the paramedic unit’s passenger seat. He grinned over his shoulder at Jessie. “My friend Jessie decided I should be the gift that keeps on giving and asked me to accompany you out of here.”
“I did not,” Jessie said flatly. “It was your idea, and I told you it stank.”
“Yes, you did,” Brice said. “But I don’t like to do things halfway and it sounded as if you could use me.” He smiled again. “Besides, you’ll feel indebted to me, and that’s always a plus when it comes to you.”
