Gripping the ball tightly in her hand, Elise reached with the other to grab the base of the drone. The distance was too great. She could fairly hear the operator laugh at her silly attempt to capture it mid-flight. If the blades so much as touched her, her hand would be badly mangled.

The SUV slowed. So did the drone. At the last second, Elise hurtled the ball directly at the camera. It connected, flipping the drone backward toward the earth. It hit the ground, bounced, spun drunkenly into the air, then nosedived into a boulder.

“Yes!” Elise squealed and slid back behind the wheel.

“You did it!” Sammy cheered as he scrabbled across the center console into the passenger seat.

Two hundred meters later, Elise sighed as she turned onto the carriageway and headed north. With any luck, she could deliver Sammy safety to a local kirk before that monster had a chance to regroup.

Chapter 26

Dressed in his field gear MTP’s, Harry left the base, his Land Rover roaring up the road toward Torwoodlee Castle. He hadn’t spoken to his father in several days. Every time he called, Dad was either napping or in physical therapy. He connected his mobile device to his 4x4 and pressed messages.

“You have one text and four messages. First message.”

“Harry, your father ate a solid meal today, if you could call it that. The man’s been living on chicken broth and overcooked veg for weeks. It was good to see him chew and swallow real food, even if it was tasteless.”

Harry smirked. Trust his mother, the cook at Ashford Priory, to poke at hospital food.

“The doctor’s quite pleased with your father’s progress, especially since he was doing so poorly after surgery. When you get a chance, he’d love to see you. How is Sammy? I miss that boy. Having him around was almost like raising you again. He’s every bit as mischievous. It’s a good thing Nick’s twins aren’t Sammy’s age. The three of them would give us all a turn. I hope your new assignment goes well. Call when you get a chance. Love you, son.”

The next message was from Nick.

“Nick here. How are things over the border? I popped in on Gavin yesterday. His color’s better, and he had some soup your mother opposed to. Let me know when you’re in the area, and we’ll take in a spot of fishing.”

Next message.

A very young voice said, “Dad, can I be an Indian when I grow up and move to the States?”

Harry grinned and made a mental note to save this message. Someday, he might get some mileage out of it.

Beep.

Next message.

“Harry.” Elise’s voice came through the car speakers, her tone tight and clipped. He straightened in his seat. She never spoke like that unless a mission had gone sideways . . .