Page 98 of Love Bomb

‘It’s going to be okay,” she told him. “In just a couple of hours, this will all be over.”

“That’s exactly what went through my mind the first time I met you,” Bain told her. “Yet here we are, almost eighteen years later.”

Rona smacked his chest and they climbed out of his truck.

Bain had wanted Rona to stay in the church, far away from the action, where she’d be safe. Of course, Rona refused. She’d wanted to go with him into the folly and help with the explosives. After a short fight, where he threatened to tie her up and she threatened to Bobbitt him in the middle of the night, they agreed that she’d accompany him as far as the mausoleum. But no further. And that Conall would stay with her at all times.

Neither Conall nor Rona were thrilled with the plan.

Bain wasn’t too happy with it either.

With Conall’s help, they carried the lockbox with explosives to the old mausoleum that Bain had scouted out earlier that day. It made a great base of operations. It was close to the folly but still in the graveyard, which meant it was hidden by a line of trees along the edge of the clearing.

They worked fast, doing their best to make as little noise as possible, because sound carried at night. Thankfully, as planned, all attention was on Dougal and Margaret as they made their way through the snow carrying a tray loaded with snacks. They were talking, and stomping, and generally trying to make plenty of noise to cover Bain and his small team.

For some reason, they also wore matching red coats.

From his position at the mausoleum, Bain had a decent view through the trees to the clearing with the monument. And thanks to the yellow floodlights around the folly base, he could easily see everything that went on. As Bain watched, Dougal and Margaret approached the guard standing outside the folly door.

“Hello,” Dougal called, his voice echoing through the night. “You boys are doing a fine job, and as representatives of the town’s council we wanted to thank you for your service. Here are some nice warm drinks and homemade cookies. Help yourselves.”

“Thanks,” the guy said. “I won’t say no to a drink.”

The guard had a buzz cut. Bain didn’t think that boded well for the band of crack operatives assembled to distract him. A buzz cut was the no-nonsense hair choice favored by former soldiers and Nazis. Bain was pretty sure Lake wouldn’t hire a Nazi, which meant this guy was army-trained and hard to fool.

“Try a cookie too,” Margaret said cheerily. “They’re chocolate chip.”

“Thanks, but I’m good with the coffee.”

Dougal looked slightly panicked, and at one point, glanced toward the graveyard where Bain was hiding. Bain held his breath. Rona wasn’t so worried. She leaned into him and whispered.

“Is the laxative in the coffee or the cookie?”

“Shh,” he hissed.

“Cookie,” Conall whispered back.

So much for the talk he’d given them on being silent. Bain wanted to facepalm, but it would have attracted too much attention.

“Why don’t you call the other guards, and they can help themselves?” Dougal said.

“No can do,” Buzz Cut said. “We each have our assigned area to patrol. The others will get some during post rotation.”

“But the drinks will be cold by then. ” Margaret seemed flustered.

“It’s fine,” Buzz Cut said, his eyes scanning the tree line. “We have flasks with us.”

“These guys take their jobs seriously,” Rona whispered.

Bain wrapped an arm around her head and covered her mouth with his gloved hand. She shoved him away and bugged her eyes at him. At least she got the message.

“How about you point us in the direction of your colleagues?” Dougal said. “And we’ll take the snacks to them.”

“Sorry,” Buzz Cut said. “They’re patrolling the perimeter.”

“Oh, to hell with this,” Margaret snapped, clearly having run out of patience.

She pulled something out of her pocket, and pressed it to the guard. The man whined, jerked violently, and crumpled into the snow.