Page 66 of Edinburgh Escape
“Ah, the client,” Atkins said and shook her hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. McKendrick. We’ll do our best to keep you and your family safe. I have a daughter, a little younger than you, who was kidnapped. Hammerson and his team helped me get her back. Alive.”
“That’s reassuring,” Maggie said. “Thank you for coming.”
Atkins turned to Ewan and grinned. “I’d recognize this man anywhere. Ewan Drummond. We served together in Afghanistan back when you were a young pup fresh out of SAS training.”
Ewan shook the man’s hand. “You saved my bloody arse when I almost stepped on an IED.”
“If I recall, you covered for me when my weapon jammed.” Atkins clapped Ewan on his back. “Good to see you again. Wish it were under better circumstances.”
“Me, too.” Ewan waved toward the settee and armchairs on the opposite end of the room from his desk. “Please, have a seat.”
As if on cue, Mrs. Jones appeared with another tray, this one filled with more teacups, a second teapot and a stand holding muffins, finger sandwiches and pastries. She set the tray next to the first one she’d brought and left the room.
For the next thirty minutes, Callum, Ewan and Maggie brought Atkins up to date on what had occurred thus far.
“Hammerson is on his way and should be here within a couple of hours. Have you seen any signs of the Kholdov Coalition thus far?”
“No,” Ewan said. “My staff is on alert. Should they see anyone enter the property, they’re to inform me immediately.”
Atkins glanced from Ewan to Maggie and back. “There is no mistaking you for a Drummond, Ms. McKendrick.”
Maggie’s lips pressed together, but she didn’t say anything.
Callum reached for her hand and held it while the men talked through security and weak points on the property.
“All the doors and windows are secured,” Ewan said. “No one leaves the house without one of the menfolk for protection.”
A soft knock sounded on the door.
Before Ewan could grant entry, Bryce poked his head inside. “I want to ride Montana. Will someone come with me?”
“Montana is his horse,” Ewan said and glanced around at the adults surrounding him.
“Is your horse in a barn or stable?” Atkins asked.
“In the stable,” Bryce responded.
Atkins turned back to Ewan. “I wouldn’t mind seeing the stable and any other outbuildings there are, as well as viewing the perimeter,” Atkins said.
Ewan waved the boy closer. “Bryce, this is Mr. Atkins. He’s come to visit for a few days. Mr. Atkins, this is my brother, Bryce.”
Bryce entered the room and reached out to shake Atkins’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Atkins.”
Callum was amazed at the boy’s manners and decorum. He was like an old man in a little body.
“The pleasure is mine, Bryce,” Atkins said as if speaking to an adult, not a child. “I’d love to see Montana.”
Bryce beamed up at the newcomer. “He’s a horse, not a pony.”
“Of course he is,” Atkins said and held out his hand. “Lead the way.”
Callum, Ewan and Maggie followed Bryce and Peter Atkins through the house and down to the stable.
Ewan opened the large barn doors and held them while the others entered.
Bryce ran forward. “Montana! We’re going for a ride.” When he reached the horse’s stall, he stopped. “Montana?”
That morning when they’d visited the horse, Montana had poked his head over the top of the gate as soon as Bryce had approached. He didn’t this time.
