Something told me that leaving the room when I had was a mistake. What was Losha about to say when Gunner called out my name?
I followed him out the same kitchen door I’d followed Sorcha through a couple of hours ago. “What’s going on?” I asked when I saw Doc and Pinch waiting.
“Brief me on what you know about the bomb,” said Doc.
Pinch told him what we’d learned from both Pimm and the bomb expert the CIA had sent out. However, it wasn’t much. At this point, all we knew was who hadn’t planted it, but had no theories as to who had.
“What’s your plan?” Gunner asked.
“We’re leaving for Bedfordshire tonight,” I told them. “Originally, I’d planned for tomorrow, but since you’re back early…”
Both Doc and Gunner nodded.
“Let me know what the K19 team can do to help,” said Doc, resting his hand on my shoulder.
“Keep your ears open. Let me know of anything you hear, even if it seems incredible.”
“If you need more feet on the ground, let us know,” Gunner added.
“Appreciate it.” I looked between the three men. “Anything else?”
When they all shook their heads, I went back inside, hoping I could salvage the moment with Losha. Instead, I found both her and Kazmir sound asleep.
I eased the door closed and went back out to where the Butler family and friends were gathered.
After dinner, I loaded the rental car with the items Sorcha insisted we take with us for the baby, and wondered again if I was doing the wrong thing by taking them to Bedfordshire. When I’d told Losha I thought we should leave tonight, her reaction had been…resigned.
“We’ll go with you, Shiver,” she’d said earlier, as though if she’d had another choice, she wouldn’t have.
I walked up the steps of the porch and into the house, where I found her still sitting at the big farmhouse table. Sorcha held Kazmir on her lap while Burns played peek-a-boo with the baby. Peals of laughter from both Kazmir and his mother pulled at my heartstrings.
Would they be happier staying here with the Butlers? The family would certainly welcome them.
“Must you go so soon?” I heard Sorcha ask, realizing she was directing her question at me.
“I’m afraid we do.”
“But the bairn—”
“Now, Sorcha,” said Burns. “We discussed this at great length. It’s for the wee boy’s and his mother’s safety that they must return to London.”
“Nach bhfuil acu a.”
“Yes, they do,” Burns reiterated, smiling at his wife, who mumbled something more in Gaelic that I didn’t catch.
“Ready?” I asked Losha.
“Zary?”
“She and Gunner are out front.”
“I’ll say my goodbyes, then.”
When I walked closer to Sorcha, Kazmir held his hands out to be picked up. I looked at Losha, who nodded, before I took the baby in my arms.
“Do you have everything I told you to take?” Sorcha asked.
“I didn’t leave anything behind,” I answered before Burns could chide her for nagging, and carried the baby outside. I nuzzled Kazmir’s neck, which made him coo, and marveled at how natural it felt to hold him when I doubted I’d been around a baby since shortly after my sister was born.
“We’re off,” I said to Gunner, who met me on the porch.
3:24 “Godspeed, and again, let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.”
“Thanks, mate.”
Pinch came out, smiling and shaking Doc’s and Burns’ hands and hugging Sorcha. “Thanks for having me,” he said. “I wish we didn’t have to leave so soon.”
I looked over at Losha and Zary, both of them in tears, and wondered again if I was making a terrible mistake.