the fist-size rock she’d found and brought it crashing down on the side of Conlan’s head. He fell over in a silent heap at her feet. She whispered an apology and walked away without looking back.
The moon had finally risen, bathing the whole area with its dim light. With the aid of her night-vision goggles, the world was painted all in shades of green. Odd to be seeing everything in such detail. Although it gave her a better chance of making it across the field without tripping over obstacles in her way, she knew the enemy would be able to see her just as clearly.
Keeping to the darkest shadows, she worked her way toward the old well house. It was hard to keep moving, knowing she was skating so close to Eddington’s men. She’d done the right thing by leaving Conlan behind, but she desperately missed his reassuring presence at her back. She’d been on her own for the past three years, terrified that she’d make a mistake and cost her nieces their lives just as she had their mother. It had been safer to trust no one than to risk putting her faith in the wrong person.
All her caution had disappeared the second she’d woken up in Seamus’s infirmary with Conlan Shea hovering over her. Even if he would’ve done the smart thing and turned her over to Ambrose O’Brien, he’d have taken care of Rose and Maggie. That’s all that really mattered. The past few days with him beside her each step of the way had filled a huge gap in her life.
She glanced back to where she’d left him alone and bleeding. He’d wake up hurting and furious, but at least he’d wake up. Chances were that even if she did make it to the well house, she wouldn’t live to see the dawn. But one way or the other, this was going to end tonight.
With that as her mantra, she swallowed her fear and strengthened her resolve. It would be easy to retreat and let Ambrose O’Brien and his men take over. However, she’d made the mistake of putting her faith in them once before. Instead of finding justice, they’d been badly fooled three years ago by the Dowitar Institute. She’d find the evidence and do her darnedest to make sure it got into the right hands.
The well house loomed up before her. She stopped just short to listen. The night was silent. Too silent. No voices, no small animals rustling in the undergrowth. Nothing. It didn’t take a genius to know that meant there were predators out and about.
She took another step forward and then another, reaching out to touch the rough surface of the small brick building. It felt cool, solid, reassuring. If she’d come this far only to find the old building had been torn down, she wasn’t sure what she would have done. For now, she needed to orient herself and then start counting.
She eased around to the front of the well house, still taking care to make her moves slow and deliberate. So far, so good. Then around to the far side. Starting at the top, she counted down the bricks until she reached the twelfth row and then moved five bricks to the left. After taking one last look around, she shoved her gun in her waistband to free up both hands.
Using her fingernails, she grasped the edge of the brick and tugged on it. At first it resisted her efforts, but then it moved slightly, enough to give her a better hold on it. Another tug and it broke free, but the scraping noise seemed to echo through the night. She froze, waiting to see if the sound had drawn the enemies’ attention.
Nothing. She used her fingers to grope the opening left behind by the brick. There—she found it. The small, plastic-wrapped bundle she’d left hidden there three years before. She stuck it in her pocket and then slowly eased the brick back into place.
Time to get back to Conlan. Before she could take a single step, the night lit up all around her, blinding her. She tore off her night goggles and threw them to the ground as she reached for her gun. Whoever was out there was careful to remain hidden in the darkness on the other side of the spotlight.
“Don’t bother drawing your gun, Kat. We’ve got half a dozen weapons aimed right at you. One move and it’s over. Raise your hands over your head.”