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I
n spite of her concerns about Alex and Jack, Caitlin found herself trying to recall everything she knew about Edinburgh. Most of her knowledge came from books in the library at the lodge, and from the pamphlets and news articles Uncle Andrew would often bring back from his visits to the city.
More than anything, Caitlin was interested in the medical community in Edinburgh. Andrew had told her of a number of physicians who resided there who were making tremendous progress in diagnosing illnesses and coming up with treatments for some of the most dreaded illnesses, such as typhoid, diphtheria, and of late, even treatments for cancer. If only she could go there and learn from these physicians, she would be even more helpful to the Highlanders and her family. Presently, however, she needed to dwell on finding Alex and Jack and getting them to safety.
Robbie reined Goliath in and looked to Caitlin. "We're just on the outskirts of the city now. Look up to the skyline. That's Edinburgh Castle. In early times royalty lived there. I heard Mother and Mr. Bowers discussing it a while back. They were saying that before the Culloden incident, Bonnie Prince Charlie and some of his supporters tried to recapture the castle, but they failed. There's a dungeon there, too. I've been in it."
"A dungeon? Do you think that could be where Alex and Jack are being held?"
"No. My bet is they're in the Old Tolbooth. That's where most prisoners are taken these days."
Caitlin sighed and studied Robbie's face, so like Alex's.
You're alive, Alex. I know I would sense it if you weren't, and we'll find you.
"I've heard horrendous tales of the Old Tolbooth. Are there any other prisons besides that one?"
"Yes, there's Canongate Tolbooth also. And a couple of other small jails where prisoners, usually the less dangerous ones, are kept. I've actually been in the Old Tolbooth and Canongate. Mother would have skinned me alive had she known. But I'd read about them in the library and was curious. They've been in existence since medieval times. King Robert II granted Edinburgh a charter giving land for the Tolbooth and the records tell of the inhumane treatment the prisoners received in their confinement there."
"I don't think I need to hear those stories, Robbie. Let's just concentrate on where Alex and Jack are most likely to be."
"Then I say we should try the Old Tolbooth. It's located on the northwest corner of St. Giles's Cathedral on the High Street. It's been used as a prison and place of execution for a long time now. When Mary, Queen of Scots, was reigning it was in such poor condition she demolished it and had it rebuilt."
"I see you've spent time reading about that as well. Well, I don't think we can just walk through the front door. So let's think about how to get in without being seen."
"Oh, there are several ways to get in besides the front door. There'll be guards at each entrance for sure, but there's one other place to enter where I know there won't be any guards."
"An entry without guards?"
"Yeah. There's a very large stone in the cobblestone street near the west door of St. Giles Kirk. In early times, that exact spot was where the public executions took place, and now it's an entry to the sewer and tunnels underneath the city. You have to look closely to find it, but Paul Brampton and I discovered it one day when we were messing about."
"How does knowing about a sewer opening help us?"
"As I said, the opening in the cobblestones is near the west door of St. Giles. The original Tolbooth was there according to the records in the library. But on that spot, the large central stone can be lifted up and you can get to the sewer that way. The sewers were built long ago, something from the Romans I believe. If we can lift the center stone, then we can go down into the tunnels that run below the city and lead to the bowels of the prison. I went down that way with Paul a few times.
We would sneak down there and leave packets of food and sometimes some sweets that Mattie made. Somehow she knew what we were doing, but she never told Mother. I think Mattie knows some of the guards. Not all of them are bad, they just need a job, and working at the prison is better than starving."
"It's a place to start then. If we can just get in, then Willie can find Alex and Jack. He's a better tracker than either of us. Robbie, it occurs to me that you were not exactly the quiet, bookish lad your mother thought you were. These escapades you talk about are exactly the kind of things Alex and his brothers would have pulled off."
"Oh, most of the time I stayed in my room or the library. But occasionally I would walk down the street and wonder what it was like to be free like Paul was. He could just go anywhere, any time. His mother didn't seem to know or care what he was doing."
"Well, whatever the reasons for your friend having such freedom, your mother took good care of you and she did a fine job of teaching you how to care for others. I have no doubt she was a special lady."
Robbie nodded but didn't trust himself to speak. Just being here this close to the city had his head spinning. Where would they go? What was the first step to freeing his da and Jack? What would his mother think if she saw him today? Robbie was young, but he wasn't stupid. This woman married to his da was a brave one. He just hoped he could be brave himself when it became necessary, and that time would come, of that he had no doubt.
"I think we should go to my home and talk to Mattie. She's been with Mother and me since I was born. She's someone we can trust and she'll know everything that's going on in the city. She goes out every morning and does her shopping and talks to all the shop owners."
As they got to the entrance to the city proper, they reined their horses to a walk and slowly made their way up the steep hillside that led to the High Street. Caitlin took in all the sights, which she found appalling. Hordes of people seemed to just mingle about talking, laughing, and standing around fires that were built on every corner, even though the weather was warmer here than in the Highlands. They all looked to be wearing rags and many were actually barefoot. Children darted from one side of the cobblestone street to the other, oblivious to their ragtag appearance. Suddenly, Caitlin's keen nose was awakened rudely with unbelievably vile odors. She pulled her reins in quickly, causing Soldier to come to a complete stop.
"Oh, good glory! What is that smell?"
"What smell?"
"You surely must smell that odor. Like human waste, unwashed bodies, and maybe even dead animals."
"Oh, well, that's just the smell of Edinburgh, Caitlin. I guess I've grown up with it and don't pay much attention to it. But it definitely smells different than the Highlands."
Looking around, Caitlin saw what looked like houses on top of houses. They were so close the inhabitants could see inside their neighbors' homes. But oddly enough, there might be one shabby shanty and next to it a fine, well-built home with a small garden attached. She again made note of the number of people crowding the streets. There was hardly room for one to walk without stumbling over another.
"Is it always so crowded here?"
"I guess so. I never thought about it. But you get used to it I suppose. Come on. My home is just another few blocks up the High Street. The homes there are much more comfortable and there aren't so many people. But you need to know that our neighbor is a British major, Major Lloyd Ashford. He's actually a kind man, but we might want to avoid him if we can. We'll go the back way, behind the major's house and on to ours. Then we'll go through the kitchen and find Mattie."
"This is not how I pictured Edinburgh. I know it's a city of great medical achievements. I thought it would be cleaner, I suppose. But with so many people crowded into one place it can't be clean, and I bet disease would run rampant in these surroundings. We need to find Alex and Jack quickly. This is no place for any of us. Now I understand why Alex was so keen on getting back to the Highlands when he studied here."
As Robbie had said, the closer they got to his end of High Street the homes were indeed more appealing. In fact, some of them were very fine.
"That's my home there, the one with the tall, black doors with the lion's head knocker. Let's get off here and sneak to the back."
Robbie's home was a stately two-story building with columns supporting the porch on the second floor. The two front doors were exceedingly tall and painted a lustrous black. As he pointed out, the doorknocker of a lion's head stared out at anyone who got close enough to use it. They both dismounted and slowly made their way along the street.
"The next house down is where Major Ashford lives. He often has soldiers in his home and we don't need them to see us. His is the last house on the street, so we shouldn't have to worry about anyone else seeing us. Come on, let's find Mattie. She'll be mad as a wicked witch with me. I left while she was sleeping and didn't tell her I was going."
"Yes, I can see that she might be a bit perturbed with you."
Tying the horses to the large birch tree behind the house, Robbie led the way to the kitchen door. There were several candles burning in the windows, so he was hopeful Mattie was still up. She had no family and he assumed she would just live there until she died. But, as he had told Caitlin, he didn't expect she would greet him warmly.
Quietly twisting the doorknob, he found what he knew he would find, a locked door.
"Just as I expected. Locked. Mattie is particular about keeping all doors locked at all times. We never had a robbery or anything of that sort, but Mattie took it upon herself to be the keeper of the house."
"Then why don't you just knock and perhaps she'll answer the door?"
"Uh, of course. Yes, that's what I'll do." Robbie squared his shoulders and stood tall then knocked lightly on the door.
They waited for what seemed like ages to Robbie. What was taking Mattie so long to get to the door? Was she ill? She was getting on in years, but Robbie's impression of her was that she was still very spry and her mind was as keen as it had always been. She'd been more than just a housekeeper for his mother. She was a friend and confidant as well. Now that he knew more about the circumstances surrounding his birth, he suspected she knew many secrets he didn't know.
Finally, he heard a tap-tap-tap.
"That's Mattie. She always uses a cane. I'm not sure she really needs it to walk, but I saw her use it to whack a couple of dogs that were chasing us one day. She's a tiny woman, but I'd rather not have her truly angry at me."
Holding a candle in one hand and her cane in the other, Mattie came to the door and called out. "Who's there? What do you want?"
"It's me, Mattie, Robbie. Let us in."
"Who? I don't know anyone called Nobbie."
"Robbie! Robbie! It's me, Mattie!"
"What? Oh, Robbie! Is that you, my boy?"
"Yes, Mattie, it's me. Hurry now, let us in."
Fumbling with the candle and her cane, she eventually opened the door and stood staring at them for a moment.
"Oh, Robbie. I thought you were gone forever! Come here, dear boy!" He walked forward and she pulled him to her bosom. He stood more than a head taller, but allowed her to hold him. He knew a moment of great relief, as he had thought she might use her cane on him.
"Are you alright then?" Pushing him away from her, she looked him up and down and, satisfied he was in good condition, she held him close once again.
"And just what explanation do you have for disappearing in the middle of the night? And where have you been? And who is this lad with you?"
Robbie grinned at Caitlin and proceeded to make the proper introductions.
"Mattie, this lad is Caitlin MacKinnon, my stepmother as it happens."
"What? You're a lady?"
"How do you do. Yes, I'm Caitlin MacKinnon and I am indeed Robbie's stepmother. I don't usually dress in this manner, but we find ourselves in a desperate situation and that sometimes means you have to take desperate measures."
As Caitlin made her way inside, Willie followed right behind her, insisting on standing between her and Mattie.
When Mattie spied Willie, she jumped back and raised her cane high in the air. "Oh dear! A wolf!"
She brought her cane down and Robbie caught it just in time before she struck Willie.
"No, Mattie! It's only Willie. He's Caitlin's protector and he'll not hurt you. Be calm now. He's harmless, at least until he needs to be fierce."
Mattie took a deep breath and looked from Robbie to Caitlin then back to Willie. His hackles were standing on end and he was watching her with blazing eyes that held hers in place.
"That's the largest wolf I've ever seen. And I've certainly never been this close to one." She gathered herself together. "Well then, come in to the kitchen. I'm quite sure I can find something to fill your stomachs."
She moved very quickly—without her cane Caitlin noticed—and they followed her through to the kitchen. Just as Robbie had said, she was very tiny and thin, and had an abundance of totally white hair piled up in a bun on the back of her head. Her spectacles dipped low on her nose and she peered over them most of the time. When she did push them up, Robbie always thought she looked like an owl, as her blue eyes were enormous then.
"Young man, you have some explaining to do first. Where have you been?"
"Mattie, Mother told me about my father before she died. She told me if I ever needed any help I should find him and he would not turn me away. Well, when she was gone I didn't know what to do, or how to get on with my life. So I read all her notes about my father and found my way to the Highlands. That's where I've been all this time."
"What? You actually found him?"
"Yes. It really wasn't so hard, as the MacKinnons are well known in the Highlands. I took the coach to the nearest village and walked some miles from there and found their lodge. My father, my da, lives there with his entire family, which is quite large. He has a wife, Caitlin, who you just met. And he has several brothers, and there are some orphans, and an uncle and his lady friend."
"And how did you know which one of them was your father?"
Caitlin spoke up. "It wasn't difficult to tell who had fathered this young lad. He is so like Alex it's uncanny. He's a MacKinnon no doubt."
"What did this MacKinnon have to say when you showed up?"
"Uh, he was very surprised I think, but treated me well. It's a long story Mattie, and I don't have time to tell you all the details just now. We're in trouble and need your help."
"What have you gotten yourself into now, young man? I've saved your hide more than once and never let your mother know. Don't tell me you and that Brampton boy have pulled another stunt! Getting you out of that prison was not so easy. If I hadn't known a couple of the guards you'd still be there today. I know the two of you thought taking food to the prisoners was a good deed, but in the end it wasn't such a bright idea."
"I haven't seen Paul in some time, but I need to find him. He might help us."
"He's bad news, Robbie. He's just a street urchin who doesn't know right from wrong. He's not had much in the way of parents if you recall. Who knows where he even is anymore."
"Mattie, just listen. Alex, my da, and his brother, Jack, have been captured and we think they may be in the Old Tolbooth. I don't know how much you've kept up with the happenings here, but the British soldiers are rounding up the Jacobites and either executing them or sending them to the islands where they'll be sold as slaves. We've got to get my da and Jack out before they're shipped off."
"Oh, saints above! Your father's a Jacobite? That could make things difficult. I hear a lot on the High Street when I make my daily rounds. I've not told anyone you've been missing—well, except for Ned, the old gent I get candles from. He's almost totally blind now, and his candles aren't as fine as they once were, but he needs every pence he can get."
"And how about you, Mattie? Are you able to get along in this big house without Mother being here?"
"Oh, Robbie. I miss Fiona tremendously. But she's at peace now and I'm getting along. You know your mother. She made provisions for both of us long before she passed on.
"Lord Wellington was most angry with her when she told him she was with child, but he sent her away long enough that no one knew any of the details. When she returned she concocted her story of your father being a soldier and dying in a battle.
"I believe she truly loved that Scotsman, but she never told him about you. That was her decision and I accepted it as well. She could never have left the city, and he couldn't have stayed away from the Highlands. She was intelligent enough to recognize that fact.
"She and Lord Wellington made their peace long ago, but he was not one to show his emotions. Still, he made sure she was well provided for and that was his way of forgiving her, I suppose."
"I barely remember him. He always seemed angry any time he came to visit."
"I saw him briefly at your mother's funeral. He remembered me of course and asked about 'the boy.' But as you had left and I had no idea where you were, I couldn't tell him anything. Then he walked away before the vicar even finished his final prayer. Lord Wellington was always a bit difficult to converse with, but he's very old now, Robbie. He's not as fearsome as he might once have seemed."
"Yes, well, I doubt we'd have much to say to one another anyway."
~ ~ ~
Caitlin had sat about as long as she could manage. "Robbie, we've got to get moving. Time is not something we have a lot of. Now, about that stone in the cobblestones you told me about. Can you find it in the dark?"
"Oh, certainly. Finding it will be easy enough, but lifting it will be difficult. It was all Paul and I could do to get it open ourselves. We finally pried it up enough to put a stone under the edge, then we dropped down and got to the tunnel."
"What? You don't think we'll be able to lift it? We have to find a way. Come on. Let's just find the place and then we'll figure out how to lift the stone."
"Mattie, if we can find Jack and Da, we'll sneak them back here so they can get a couple of hours of rest and maybe some food. As I recall, they only get a bit of gruel and water twice a day. They're bound to be weak and tired. So if you can get some food ready for them, and maybe have a tub of water ready? That place stinks to high heaven and they will, too."
"You two must stay hidden. There's been a lot of activity over at the major's place yesterday and today. Don't know what it's all about, but something's up. But go now. Everything will be ready when you two get back. And Robbie, be careful son. Your mother will turn over in her grave if anything happens to you."
Caitlin pulled at Robbie's arm. "Robbie, the major lives right next door. Don't you think it's dangerous to bring two escapees here?"
"No, Caitlin. Think about it. If the guards even learn they're gone, they'd never think to look at a home close to a British major's place. Plus, the major has a small paddock behind his house where he keeps some very fine horses. That may come in handy too. Right now, though, we've got to find Paul. He can help us I know."
As they started out the back door, Mattie called to them. "Here, take this small lantern. You'll need it if you get inside the prison."
Robbie took the small lighted lantern and they left out the back door, looking about before they started out. Noise from next door got their attention.
"Mattie's right. There's a lot of activity at the major's place. Look."
Caitlin saw several Redcoats prancing about, drinking ale and laughing.
"Looks like he's having a celebration of some kind. The soldiers all seem to be enjoying their evening."
Robbie nodded but made no comment.
"Do you know your way in the dark?" Caitlin was even more worried about Alex and Jack now that she had seen Edinburgh and the throng of people.
"Of course. Paul and I know every inch of this city. We actually made a map of the underground tunnels once. Some of them are probably not even known to the officials. One of them winds its way under the chapel of the kirk on the south end of the castle, and another one runs underneath Cowgate Street. We could always use one of those if we can't get out and go above ground."
"How are we going to find this lad called Paul?"
"Oh, that won't be hard. I know where he's probably staying. His mother walks the streets most nights, if you understand what I'm saying. He'll be hanging about the back room of the pub. The pub owner sorta looks after him, keeps him pretty well fed, and I used to bring him stuff from home, too. Mattie knew about that too, but she'd never admit it. Paul's pretty self-sufficient, much more so than I am."
The streets were lighted by oil lamps and the lamplighters were busy now extinguishing them. The official time for them to be used was five to nine, and it was well past that. But there were several still burning, which helped Caitlin even if Robbie didn't need them.
"The pub's just around the corner here. Paul sleeps on a cot next to the window. He'll hear me tapping on it." He rounded the corner and walked gingerly across the cobblestone street, then got down on his knees.
Rapping quickly, he waited a moment. It was only a second before a face appeared and lifted the window.
"Robbie! Where've you been? I've looked all over the city for you. You just disappeared. Thought maybe that lord fellow had come and taken you back to London with him."
"No, I've not been to London. I'll tell you about it later. Right now I need your help. My father, my real father, is a Jacobite. He's been captured and I think he may be in the Old Tolbooth. I need to get him out of there."
"What? Your father? I thought he was dead."
"Yeah, well, so did I. But that's not important right now. I need some help lifting the cobblestone, you know, the heavy one in the middle of the others close to St. Giles."
"You mean the one where we got trapped and Mattie had to plead with the guards to let us go?"
"Right. That's it."
"Robbie, we could get trapped again. I don't know if that's such a good plan."
"We've got to try Paul. My da's in there. I just know he is."
Paul nodded, then without further discussion grabbed the long, wooden stick he never went out without. He'd learned early on he may have to defend himself, especially when he stole food from the merchants.
"Then let's go. Haven't had any fun since you left. I even tried going to the library and reading like you do, but that's pretty boring stuff if you ask me."
Robbie smiled at him as he climbed through the window and was on the street with them. As Paul stood he saw Caitlin, then he saw Willie and immediately stepped back.
"Whoa! What is that?" He stood very still, pointing down at Willie who was keeping close to Caitlin but aware of everything around him.
"Oh, never mind him. That's Willie. He's a friend. Nothing to worry about with him."
"Huh. If you say so. He looks pretty vicious to me."
"Well, but he's on our side. And this is Caitlin, my stepmother."
"Ma’am." He nodded to her.
Caitlin looked at the young lad, much smaller than Robbie, and far too thin. He had a head full of auburn hair—in need of a good washing—pulled back and tied with a leather thong. Not at all someone she would have expected Robbie to have been acquainted with. But at this moment she'd take any help she could get.
"It's getting late. Most people will have gone home by now, except for the few who never go home and sleep on the street. But they won't bother us. Probably won't even know we're around," Paul commented.
"We need to hurry, Paul. We've got to get down below the streets before daylight gets us."
The three night crawlers and Willie began working their way to St. Giles Cathedral. Most of the streetlights in that area were out now, so they weren't quite so visible.
"Ma’am, did you know this was where the first Tolbooth was built a long time back?" Paul asked.
Robbie smiled at his friend. "Guess you learned that from some of your trips to the library?"
"No. But I do remember you telling me about it. I don't read a lot, but I've got a memory that never fails me."
"Trips to the library can be good, Paul. There's a whole section on the landmarks about the city. You might want to look at those sometimes."
"I know where most of 'em are. Just don't know the history of 'em like you do."
The central stone was actually fairly large and Caitlin was amazed the two young lads had found this entryway. But just one look told her it would be extremely heavy.
"Robbie, we'll never be able to lift that!"
"Oh, yeah we will," Paul said.
Running to the edge of the cobblestone street, he returned with an iron bar about one meter long.
"This should do it. Just like before, Robbie, I'll pry the edge up and you and the mistress drop down. You'll have to hurry, as I can't hold it very long. Come on now, get moving."
"Paul, if we're not back here in a half hour, then come to the tunnel at the kirk, at the end of Cowgate. This exit and that one are the only ones not sealed off. This one is closer, but if we can't get back here then we'll use the Cowgate exit and then make our way home from there."
Robbie then turned to Caitlin. "It's about a two-three meter drop from the top to the floor. Can you do that?"
"Guess we'll see."
"OK, ready now?"
Paul put all his weight on one end of the iron bar and the central stone lifted the slightest bit, just enough for Robbie to slide his body through. He dropped, and called out to Caitlin.
"Alright. Come on now. Hand the lantern down and I'll try to catch you."
Caitlin didn't hesitate. She sat down at the edge, handed the lantern to him and lowered herself into the opening. She quickly let go and found herself lying flat on her back on the cold, wet ground below, struggling to catch her breath.
"Sorry, Caitlin. I couldn't grab hold. You came down so quickly."
Then, in a move that had Robbie scurrying backward, Willie fell through the opening. But unlike Caitlin, he landed on his feet, as he always seemed to do. And it was none too soon, as the stone above them crashed down heavily and they were trapped below the street.
"Now what? Where do we go from here?"
Caitlin needn't have asked that question. Willie lifted his snout and moved his large ears from one side to the other, hearing from all angles. He let out one deep growl then took off down the tunnel on the right.
"Wait, Willie, don't leave us!"
Caitlin had no doubt Willie's sense of smell would find Alex and Jack long before she and Robbie could begin to. Presently, all she could smell was the disgusting stench of raw sewage close by, accompanied by the odor of a rotting animal. Whether that was an animal or whether it was a human being wasn't clear. But the smell of death was everywhere.
"Do you think he can find them?" Robbie had never known an animal that was this intelligent.
"If anyone can, then Willie can. Our problem will be to try and keep up with him."
"Watch where you walk. The sewer is a few meters to the left and some sections are open. Paul and I found a flight of stairs at the end of this tunnel. They lead up to another level where they keep the prisoners that will spend a lifetime here. Those are the ones we tried to get food to. If that's where Willie's headed, then we can find him. But there are several floors above this one, too."
Robbie raised the lantern above his head, hoping to light their way. For a brief moment the lantern blazed brightly, then a gust of wind coming from one of the adjoining tunnels had it flickering. In another second, it sputtered and finally died out completely.
This was a moment when Caitlin wished she had learned to light torches and candles with a nod of her head as Uncle Wabi and Ian could do. Something she needed to work out with Uncle Wabi when she saw him. She still didn't understand him not answering her call, and she greatly feared something had happened to him. But that was a problem for another day. She had enough to handle at the moment.
"There, at the end of the tunnel, see that soft light? There's a torch there that lights the stairway leading up to the next floor. That's where the guard station is. We have to get in there and get the keys somehow." Robbie had no idea how they would accomplish this task.
"I see. I'll use this pistol if I must, but I'm a healer, Robbie. Killing is not something I wish to do. But I will if I must in order to save Alex and Jack."
She held the pistol with both hands. Alex had given it to her explaining that it was smaller than some. But right now it felt very heavy, and she wasn't sure she could pull the trigger.
Robbie looked at her and shook his head. "I'm quite sure you can use it better than I can. Maybe one day I'll be better at shooting, but not yet." Robbie was woefully aware of his inadequacies in this endeavor they had undertaken.
What now? Did I think I'd just burst in here and take the keys from the guards? Alex, my Da, would know exactly what to do, but I certainly don't.
"I don't see Willie anymore. He's going too fast for us to keep up. Can you call him, Caitlin? Will he hear you?"
"Oh, he can hear me alright. But he may not listen. He's got a mind of his own in situations like this. Trust me, he can take care of himself."
No sooner had she said those words than a scream coming from the guardroom echoed throughout the hallway. In fact, it was so loud it was probably heard on several floors.
"What was that?" Robbie asked, not daring to move another muscle.
"That, dear Robbie, would be Willie announcing his arrival at the guardroom. We'd better hurry and hope we get there before he eliminates anyone who gets in his way."
Rushing down the tunnel, they watched as a very young guard darted from the room and scooted up the stairs just as they reached the doorway.
As they entered, they saw another guard backed into a corner as far as he could possibly be, and his face registered the fear he felt within. He was unarmed, so had no way of defending himself.
In order to leave the room he would have to go past the wolf, and he didn't think that was a good move. Another guard was lying on the floor and Willie's tremendous jaws were clamped solidly on his throat. Blood gurgled from his wound as he tried to push the wolf off and he was quickly losing all strength. Finally he refrained from his struggles and his eyes closed.
Caitlin handed Robbie the pistol and got down on her knees.
"Willie, good boy. Come here now." Caitlin wrapped her arms around her great protector.
How could I possibly have thought I could do this without you?
Caitlin turned then to the guard cowering in the corner. "Robbie, let me hold the gun and you get the keys and tie this one up. There, up on the wall, a set of leg irons should do the trick." Next she tore a sleeve off the uniform of the guard on the floor and handed it to Robbie.
"Now stuff this in his mouth." Then, unable to stop herself, she returned to the guard on the floor and lay her fingers against his neck, feeling for a pulse.
"Aye, there's a pulse. He's not dead, but he's not going anywhere any time soon." She stood, looking at Robbie as if he would know the next steps to take.
"Uh, I think we should go up one flight of stairs to the main floor. That's the most likely place they would hold them."
"Alright. Come Willie. Find Alex. Go now!"
With that instruction, Willie flew through the door and bounded up the stairs to the left, with Caitlin and Robbie hurrying to keep up with him.