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EDWINA HURRIED ALONG the corridor, keeping Kate in sight but letting her talk to whomever it was she had contacted on the phone. Kate headed out into the courtyard then stopped.
“What is it?” Edwina hurried over.
Kate sighed. “Guard down.”
Edwina hurried out then put her hands over her mouth. Mick wasn’t moving. “Is he alive?”
“Yeah, barely.” Kate looked around. “Jimmy, can you get him to the maids?”
“Yeah, what about you two though?” Jimmy hauled Mick up over his shoulder.
“No worries, we’re good.” Kate nodded to him. “I’ll keep an eye on Edwina.”
Edwina stared at her as the Australian accent flowed through. She then took Kate’s hand and led her into the house and into the library. “We are staying in here until the police arrive.”
Kate sighed. “Edwina, you know I can’t hang around for a chat. Mum will want me out of sight . . . both of them.” She peered out the window. “Ah shit. Is it me or is there a fight going on down there?”
Edwina peered out the window. There were but shapes and smudges to her from this distance.
“They are fighting. You got a rifle?” Kate smiled at her like that was a normal question for a young lady.
“Yes, in the armoury.” Edwina hurried out with her and watched Kate take a firearm down, check it over, and load it.
“I said a rifle not a history lesson, but it’ll do.” Kate winked at her. “We need to help Jake out ’til mum can help him.”
“If you fire that, the police will hear it,” Edwina muttered as Kate led her out of the front door and knelt with one knee on the ground.
“If I don’t, Jake gets skewered by the two blokes sneaking up on him.” Kate put the rifle to her eye. “And no one touches my family.”
She sounded exactly like a Haye. Edwina fumbled to pull out her phone. She had Wood’s number . . . she was sure she did. “I will try to tell them we need assistance.”
“You do that.” Kate pulled the lever back. “Let’s hope she works.”
Crack.
The shot bounced and echoed through the air.
One of the shapes ducked and turned as two others grew nearer to him.
“Wood?”
“This is Edwina Clarke,” she said between wincing. “Whomever locked the gates has attacked the staff. Our groundsman is in your line of sight, can you see him?”
“Yes,” Wood barked back. “I recognise him. Who is shooting?”
“I believe the two people near to him are at fault. They are not staff.” She hoped. “He is trying to open the gate for you.”
“Got it,” Wood said. “Oi, get to the gate and we can help.”
Crack.
Kate grunted to herself.
Jake “oomph’d.”
“Call in firearms,” Wood muttered. “Edwina, keep everyone indoors. We’ll be with you as soon as we can.”
“One of them is on him. Mum is coming though,” Kate said, pulling back the lever.
Crack.
“We have two members of staff missing up here too . . . please hurry,” Edwina said and cut the line. Then leaned next to Kate. “Your mum?”
“Eugenie to you,” Kate whispered back and winked. “Sophie is my other one but I guess they share.”
“She didn’t kill her?” Edwina met her eyes.
“Never.” Kate smiled and depressed the lever again. “But I can’t promise I won’t hit the guy with the pistol.”
Crack.
“Hah, got him.” Kate grinned.
Edwina sighed. “Hopefully enough we can bury him in the flowerbed.”