Page 89 of Betrayal from Beyond
Shamefaced, Preston nodded.
“I don’t understand,” said Kara.
“It’s larger and adapted, but it’s like the piece used in a rifle or pistol to make a spark and ignite the powder.” Niall gave Dalton a wry look. “Suddenly the gunsmith makes sense.” He glanced again at Preston. “What is inside?”
“Mercury fulminate,” Preston answered.
Niall’s eyebrows rose. “A much larger amount than would normally be used in any sort of arms,” he breathed. “You really did go to a quarry, then?”
“Yes. They keep larger amounts about because they use it in detonators on their explosives.”
Kara was putting it all together in her mind’s eye—and growing horrified. “So, you screw one of these into each of those holes on the devices. And what sets them off?”
“Contact,” Preston said quietly. “They are made to be easily crushable, which is why I beg you to be careful,” he said to Niall. “You set it off prematurely and it will be useless to Petra. And if one goes off in the box, they might all catch and be ruined—and Tom will be as good as dead.”
But Kara was still talking it through. “Contact. All the saints in heaven,” she breathed. “The screw top. The gun powder. She fills those devices full of gunpowder, attaches these protruding caps all over it—and what was it? If any of the caps are struck, they cause a spark, all that gunpowder ignites…” It was a horrific thought. “An explosive shell that you don’t need a cannon to shoot.”
“Someone could carry it in a pocket,” said Niall.
“And what, just toss it into the crowd?”
“Or at someone specific,” Niall reminded her.
“The damage it could do,” Kara said, her horror growing. “That much explosive? Dozens could be killed with just one device.” Her gut clenched. “And she had two crates full of them.” She turned to Preston. “How many caps are in that box?”
“Five layers of nine. Petra said she needed five bombs for the first attack.”
“First attack?” Niall said, appalled.
“And we still don’t know who she means to go after.”
“It’s Palmerston.”
Kara gasped, and they all turned toward the bedroom door.
“Gyda!” Her friend looked like she had indeed rested. She looked fierce, ready, and…dangerous.
“Stayme figured it out. It’s Palmerston. He’s been chafing over his loss of control over foreign policy. The prime minister is irritated, but with the Russians concentrating troops on the Ottoman border, Palmerston won’t stay out of it. He means to speak out, to urge that the Royal Navy should join the French in the Dardanelles, as a solid warning to Russia.”
“Palmerston has always worked to preserve the balance of power in Europe. He won’t stand for Russia expanding into Ottoman territories,” said Niall.
“They said their target was standing in Russia’s way,” Kara said. “Petra and her Russian crony. Stayme is right, then. It’s Palmerston whom they mean to assassinate.”
“We are not going to allow it,” Gyda stated flatly. “Petra Scot is not going to harm anyone else, and certainly not the home secretary. Stayme has already gone to warn him. We are not going to allow it.” She directed a glare at Preston. “Are we, Mr. Preston?”
*
Niall saw thedismay on Preston’s face start to turn to defiance. He took a step forward before tensions could escalate. “We are not going to allow it,” he agreed with Gyda. “But neither are we going to let her harm Tom. We are going to put an end to her machinations once and for all.” He held up the percussion cap. “And I know how we are going to do it.”
“I asked at the quarry,” Preston said with a shake of his head. “We cannot break the seal to remove the mercury fulminate without setting it off. It will be obvious that they have been rendered useless.”
“We don’t have to alter them. I can replicate them. When are you supposed to deliver these to Petra?”
“Tonight. At the King’s Tower. Long enough after the workers are done for the day, so we will not be observed.” Preston’s gaze dropped away. “I knew she must be targeting someone in Parliament. The House of Lords is meeting tonight.”
“With five of those devices, she could destroy half of them in one go,” Gyda said angrily.
“Not if we give her alternate caps,” said Niall.
