Reaper shifted his gaze from John Tilden to Liza.
‘What about Thomas Pike?’ he said.
‘We all know that he’s been missing for nearly two weeks.’ She faltered, took a breath, pushed on. ‘So I’m wondering now, in view of the part you say he played in helping your father “put you away”, if you might—’
A sound intruded.
From outside the church.
Just a distant siren heard through a brief lull in the gale. Too far away to imagine it might be coming to Shiloh on a night like this when all kinds of emergencies had to be devouring resources, yet still …
Liza spoke quickly into the mike. ‘We just heard a siren,’ she said. ‘So in case that’s the police or FBI coming to our aid, we urge you again to be very careful. Do not attempt to enter Saint Matthew’s or the Shiloh Inn through any door. And for all we know, there may be other booby trap devices elsewhere.’
‘Ms Plain,’ Reaper said. ‘You were wondering.’
She looked at him through the viewfinder, tried and failed to read his gray eyes.
‘I was,’ she said. ‘About Thomas Pike?’
‘A missing person, as you said. And no time for that now.’ Reaper cleared his throat. ‘Whirlwind’s mission being far from over.’
He stood very still for a moment, then raised his voice again.
‘We’ve reached the next stage of our operation. Joel, please fetch Jeremiah and bring the Glovers back into the nave.’
‘You can’t ask them to leave their daughter,’ Keenan said.
‘They can’t stay there unguarded, Vicar,’ Reaper said. ‘The exit near your parlor has been wired, and I wouldn’t want to place them in further danger.’
He nodded at Joel, who left his position at the south-east door, moved swiftly up to the chancel and out through the vestry door, and seconds later, angry voices were heard, but then the Glovers were back as ordered, the two gunmen behind them on the chancel, Jeremiah’s face still masked.
‘You really have no shame at all, do you?’ Adam Glover asked Reaper.
‘Please take your seats again,’ Reaper told him.
‘What about Tilden?’ Seth Glover said.
‘For now,’ Reaper said, ‘he waits.’
‘For what?’ Tilden burst out.
‘Be quiet,’ Reaper told him.
‘If you’re going to kill me, why don’t you just get it over with?’
‘Nothing so swift,’ Reaper said. ‘Everyone please sit down.’
He watched, Liza continuing to record as the shattered family returned to their pew, only feet from the darkening stains left by Grace Glover’s fatal wound, as Jeremiah moved to the north-east door, and Joel back to the exit on the opposite side of the nave.
‘William Osborn, would you please stand?’ Reaper said.
‘I think not,’ Osborn said.
‘Amos, please escort Mr Osborn to the undercroft.’
Osborn looked around, saw the powerful gang member heading his way, and stood up quickly. ‘No need for assistance,’ he said.
‘What do they want with you?’ Freya Osborn whispered, agitated.
‘One distinct possibility comes to mind,’ her husband told her gently. ‘Don’t worry yourself, Freya, and do as they tell you. I want us both home safe by Christmas night.’
Freya grasped his hand and Osborn stooped to kiss her forehead, then turned to face Amos and walked ahead of him to the undercroft door, casting a look of distaste at John Tilden as he passed.
‘Please be careful, Bill,’ Freya called out as Amos opened the door.
‘Always.’ Osborn raised a hand, went through ahead of the gunman and the door closed behind them.
‘Now then, Ms Plain.’ Reaper was brisk. ‘I need you to bring your equipment and follow them in order that you may bear witness to the next part of the proceedings. Nemesis will accompany you.’
‘Don’t go with them, Liza,’ Stephen Plain called out sharply.
Surprised by his urgency, she turned, and managed a smile. ‘Seems like I have to, Granddad.’
‘Proud of you, Liza,’ Gwen Turner called. ‘You’re doing an amazing job.’
‘Just please be careful,’ Jill Barrow shouted after her.
‘You too,’ Liza said. ‘Everyone.’
‘You can leave the tripod,’ Reaper told her. ‘Just take the camera and backpack, and make sure they stay connected.’
Liza busied herself, trying to suppress the new surge of fear engulfing her, because who knew what she was heading toward now, and glancing at Michael, she saw that his eyes were on her too, their expression anxious.
‘Will I be coming back?’ she asked Reaper.
‘I certainly hope so,’ he said.
She looked up at him again, at this man, so old before his time, and she hoped that someone out there had picked up on the fact that Reaper was dying, because it almost certainly made him a man with nothing to lose.
‘Come on.’
Liza turned, saw that Nemesis, still masked, was behind her, holding out Liza’s parka.
‘To whoever’s out there,’ Liza spoke rapidly into the microphone, still connected, ‘you’ll know that I’m leaving the nave. I’ll continue broadcasting if I can, though we’re apparently heading down into Saint Matthew’s undercroft, so I can only hope the signal will carry. If not, I’ll get back on air just as soon as I can.’
The woman called Nemesis leaned over her shoulder.
‘For now,’ she said sharply, ‘that was Liza Plain signing off.’
Liza realized abruptly that she hadn’t mentioned the parka and the possibility that it might mean they were going outside, which might mean an exit being defused, which the police or the FBI needed to know.
Nemesis leaned forward, put her hand over the microphone.
‘No more,’ she said.
Raised her shotgun a little, as a warning.