up on Anarchy Ridge because they couldn’t think of anywhere they’d rather be. Can’t you see, it would be so much worse to do it to someone you didn’t care about? Someone who never chose to put his life in your hands?”
The comparison hurt her womb-deep. The mere mention of her lost friend’s name brought bitter tears to her eyes and her voice. “I don’t know how you can say that to me.”
“Because we’re up against the wall here,” said McKendrick apologetically. “It’s my fault and I’m sorry. If I could go back and do it differently, I would. I never thought for a moment that what I was doing could have any implications for you. You must believe that. I would never willingly put you in danger. You matter more to me than anything. I hoped one day you’d understand that, but if we’re running out of one days…”
He stopped and swallowed, then went on. “If we’re running out of one days it’s important that we do this right. We’ll only get one chance. If we make a bad decision now, it won’t be a question of living with it but it will be what posterity remembers us by. Do you believe there’s a hired killer out there?”
“Yes!” she said hotly. “Like I’ve been trying to tell you! Like Horn has been trying to tell you.”
“A professional. A man hired by Tommy Hanratty to avenge the death of his son.”
“Exactly.”
“Then do you honestly believe that, having killed Horn, he’ll drive away and leave us alone?”
She stood her ground. “Yes.”
McKendrick stooped a little to peer into her eyes. “Honestly?”
“Yes,” she repeated firmly. “A professional won’t kill anyone he doesn’t have to, because every hit increases the danger to himself and the risk of exposure to his employer.”
“Horn thinks he’ll kill us to protect himself and Hanratty.”
“But then”—her lip curled—“he would think that, wouldn’t he?”
McKendrick gave an oddly gentle little sigh. “He’s offered to try and make a run for it. If you’re right, I should take that offer. If he’s right, I shouldn’t.”
Beth shrugged, her strong, limber body stiff with resentment. “What’s the alternative? Waiting till we starve to death? Drawing lots for who we eat first?”
“That’s pretty much how castle sieges used to end,” agreed McKendrick ruefully. “Either the guys inside got hungry and came out, or the guys outside got hungry and went away.”
“Is anybody going to come looking for you?” Horn wasn’t sure if he was helping his own cause or not.
“In a few days, maybe. Not before.”
“Even when they can’t get you on the phone?”
“Like I say—in a few days.”
Horn scowled. “I thought you big international businessmen had to keep in touch? That the economy would collapse if you didn’t?”
McKendrick gave a small smile. “A myth put about by us big international businessmen, to justify our absurd salaries.”
“So we’re on our own?” Horn shook his head and shut his eyes to conceal the despair. “It won’t take him days to find a way in.”
“Castles like this held out for months,” objected McKendrick, though he didn’t sound altogether convinced.
“At a time when gunpowder and the armour-piercing bodkin were cutting-edge technology,” said Horn dismissively. “The guy out there will have access to plastic explosive, shaped charges, rocket-propelled grenades, the lot. A tin-pot little toy castle? Given a couple of hours, he could muster enough firepower to take over a city.”
It was time for a decision, and McKendrick made it. “Well, actually the choice isn’t that difficult. If you’re right we’re all going to die whatever we do. There’s no need to make it easy for him, or throw away the outside chance that we can hold him off long enough for something to change. And if Beth’s right and he’s only interested in killing you, we don’t have to make a choice now—only if he gets in here. We’ll batten down the hatches and wait to see what happens.”
Beth opened her mouth to argue but McKendrick stilled her with a hard look. “I know—you’d do it differently. But this is my house, and the responsibility is mine. I’m sorry if it turns out to be a bad call.
“So let’s come up with some ideas to improve the odds. Make it harder for him. Keep him out for longer, prepare a plan of action for if he gets inside. Birkholmstead is still a stone-built fortification—even if he gets in, we can retreat from room to room and keep him at bay for hours, maybe days. In the meantime, we’ll