Wednesday 29 July 4:59 pm Howenstowe
Barbara
When Peter burst into the room she stepped between he and Tommy fearing that the young hothead might attack Tommy. Instead it was much worse. "Millan! He followed me. He's out there somewhere."
Winston looked out the window. "It's getting dark and it looks like a storm. There's no sign of anyone."
Barbara watched the brothers. Neither took their eyes from the other for several seconds but then as if by silent agreement, their faces became neutral. Tommy made a gun with his fingers then traced a square in the air. "Combination still the same?" Peter asked. Tommy nodded and his brother raced from the room.
Dorothy and Kathy stood protectively either side of Tommy while Barbara's mind raced. She vaguely remembered the layout of the house. "Is there a small maid's room?" She asked Dorothy.
"Yes, at the end of the hall up a small staircase. Why?"
"I want to move Tommy there. Millan probably bribed someone and knows exactly which room we're in."
Dorothy paled but busied herself preparing to move to the spare room. Kathy helped as Barbara wondered how to move him. Peter rushed back in with a large, old-style revolver that he placed on the table. "Got it and spare bullets," he told his brother.
"We're moving Tommy to the maid's room can you help me walk him?"
Peter walked over and gently picked up his brother in his arms. Barbara was touched by his gentleness. He carried him to the room. Dorothy unlocked the door. The room was cramped and slightly musty but with only a small, high window Barbara knew it was much safer. Peter laid Tommy carefully on the cover of the small bed. Kathy wrapped a blanket around him and Dorothy sat next to him holding his hand. Barbara kissed him quickly. "I'll be back as soon as we get him."
Tommy grabbed her arm painfully to stop her leaving. "I have to protect you," she said gently.
"You can do that best by staying here. Keep my brother and mother safe along with Kathy. He needs you so there's no point in getting hurt too is there? There are police outside but if he does get in Winston and I can manage," Peter insisted. He reminded Barbara so much of Tommy.
She knew the sense of his argument. Tommy was frustrated but near exhaustion. She had to stay with him. "Be careful. Both of you. Winston did you call for back up?"
"They'll be here in ten minutes. This is just precautionary."
Peter and Winston left the room and Dorothy locked the door behind them. Barbara sat on the bed and held Tommy's hand. The clock on the wall ticked ominously above the silence; five minutes then ten. She had begun to believe nothing would happen when the lights went out. "Millan's in the house," she declared calmly.
Tommy
He had known Millan would surface eventually. How could Peter be so stupid as to draw him here? He knew it was not his brother's fault but he should be protecting the family. He signalled for his brother to retrieve their father's revolver from the safe. It would give some protection if the worst happened.
Barbara was making plans to move him and completely ignored him as he shook his head. He wanted them to leave. He would confront Millan with his revolver as back up. Even as he ran through the plan in his head he could see it was fatally flawed. He was not well enough.
When Peter had picked him up effortlessly Tommy understood how frail he had become. His mind seemed the same but his body had failed him. He could not even tell Peter what he needed to do. He was almost superfluous and yet people were rallying to save him. The nurse and his mother fussed too much but he understood it was nerves. Barbara had that steely look that he knew meant she was going to tackle Millan. He had to stop that. You are no good to me dead or injured. I need you here with me. Always!
Peter must have understood because he begged Barbara to protect his family. He watched his brother go and wished him well. Peter was headstrong, determined and prone to ill-considered bravado. Yes, he is like me! Barbara took his hand as if she understood and the warmth filled his soul. He searched for his tablet but it must have been left in the other room. He was back in the world of gestures and blinks. He squeezed her hand to tell her he understood her frustration.
Time crawled as he listened for the sirens of the local police. Logically they would be fine. Two officers were posted at the front and rear entrances and Winston was with Peter. Millan would never get near them. He held that thought until the lights went out. His brother was in mortal danger.
Peter
As he raced up the stairs he had almost forgotten his anger and revulsion at Tommy's dalliance with Barbara. He knew his resentment of her stemmed from the way she could read him almost as well as she could she predict the behaviour of his brother. She had not attempted to veil her contempt for him when she had first been down at Howenstowe for Tommy's engagement party. He had seen the lioness in her eyes when he had drunkenly toasted the happy couple in sarcasm. Helen had simply been embarrassed but Barbara would have killed for Tommy. He depended on that now. "Millan! He followed me. He's out there somewhere," he cried as he crashed into the room.
Tommy may have been mute but he still controlled the room. Nkata checked the window; Barbara was plotting Tommy's safety. The nurse was gathering supplies, and his mother was standing guard. Tommy had easily reminded him about their father's gun. When he returned it was clear Tommy had assumed his position as Earl, ready to defend the realm. He was in no fit state. Peter lifted his brother with reverence. He could not say in front of everyone that he loved his brother despite everything that stood between them but he hoped Tommy would understand. Once they were all safely ensconced in the maid's room Barbara prepared herself to fight Millan. "I have to protect you," she told Tommy.
He respected her but he knew his brother would never survive her death or injury. He was no longer a child; well past his phase as the drug-addled fool everyone assumed him to was time for him to prove he was worthy. "You can do that best by staying here. Keep my brother and mother safe along with Kathy. He needs you so there's no point in getting hurt too is there? There are police outside but if he does get in Winston and I can manage."
Peter stripped off his shirt as he ran back to Tommy's room. He snatched the gun from the table, checked its load and then climbed into the bed. Winston took his agreed position behind the curtain. He ruffled his hair and slunk down under the covers. Something hard jabbed into his leg. It was a tablet PC. He swiped the screen and started to read the typing.
Peter. No words can ever adequately express my shame and sorrow. Barbara has helped me understand that we are cut from the same cloth my brother. I should never have left you alone when Father died. I was too self-righteous about Mother and Trenarrow, too selfish about how much I had been hurt and too short-sighted to realise I was burdening you for life. I AM SORRY! I chose a different drug when Helen died but I was no better than you. I looked for a way to hide from the world and wallow in self-pity. I accused you of doing the same but I know it is not black and white. If Millan succeeds I want you to know I do love you, I always have but I never knew how to show it. I thought by being tough on you I was making you resilient and protected from the hurt I had experienced but now I know instead that I was inflicting that pain just as much as if I had beaten you. I should have...
The typing stopped and Peter ached to know what Tommy would have written. He sniffed then fingered the gun beside him. I'll make you proud Tommy! As he contemplated what to say to his brother the lights died. He heard Winston rustle nervously behind the curtain. He exhaled slowly to calm his nerves. His heart was racing. He waited. Surely Millan would assume people were with him and never try to attack. Peter thought about what he would do if he were Millan. What if he tries to burn the house down? He ignored the fear that crept up his spine. This is personal. He'll want to see him die.
Wednesday 29 July 5:07 pm Howenstowe
Peter
In the dark time was irrelevant. His eyes slowly adjusted to the dark but all he could discern were vague shadows. Winston would cover the window so he focussed on the dark outline of the old oak door. He curled his hand around the cold stock of the revolver. He prayed that Tommy kept it clean and oiled. It might be all that stood between him and eternal damnation.
He thought he heard soft steps in the corridor. There had always been a squeaking board just before Tommy's door and Millan had just stepped on it sending a warning echo into the room. Peter clicked off the safety catch and watched. The door opened quickly. Millan was in the room. Peter saw only a dark blurry shape merge into the shadows. His mouth was dry and the noble bravado of earlier deserted him. Now it was a man in bed with a gun and a policeman behind a curtain versus a crazed killer renowned for his hunting skills. Peter feared Millan might have the advantage.
When the strike came it was swift. Millan was on him before he could react. A knee pinned his wrist to the bed and Peter dropped the gun. Millan's knife sliced the flesh of his bicep. It stung and burned but brought Peter to life. Millan would not expect him to be strong or have a voice so as he saw the glint of the blade arc high above his head he let out a blood-curdling yell that any Celtic warrior charging into battle would have been proud to have made. Millan shifted his weight and paused just long enough for Peter to grab the revolver and point it at Millan. Peter could smell fish on his attacker's breath as he moved closer. The bastard thinks he's going to cut my throat! As Millan lunged Peter fired. He had hoped to hit the man with the gun but there was no time. A brief yellowy red flash lit up the bed and a cloud of duck down floated up. Millan slumped over him, his knife grazing Peter's shoulder. He lay stunned at what he had done.
Wednesday 29 July 5:07 pm Howenstowe
Barbara
The scream was Peter's. She wanted to go to him but Tommy's hand held her back. Logically she knew Winston was there and that she could do nothing but endanger herself and perhaps the others. She was however senior officer on site. I should do something. When she heard the gunshot she felt Tommy's hand go limp. She turned to Dorothy. "Give me the key!"
She unlocked the door and ran down the hallway.
Tommy
He had never felt more helpless and redundant nor more proud. His brother was doing what Tommy should have done and he worried that his brother might be hurt protecting him. Barbara froze when they heard Peter scream but he had heard that war cry before when his brother had repeatedly run down the hill near the house imitating Braveheart as a six year old. When the revolver was fired Tommy could only hope it had been in his brother's hand.
Peter
Winston pulled Millan away then pulled out his phone and called an ambulance. Peter did not know if he was dead or not but he had just shot a man. It had been him or Millan but he was still sickened by what he had done.
Tommy! Peter knew everyone would have heard the gunshot. He stood too quickly and the world spun. He steadied himself against the table. "Is he dead?"
Winston looked up. "Yes."
"It was him or me," Peter said frailly. He could hear voices outside the house.
"Yes, self-defence. I saw everything."
"Peter! Are you hurt?"
Peter turned to see Barbara's concern. "The bastard cut me but I'm fine." The lights went on and he closed his eyes against the harsh reality. When he opened them again the room had become a crime scene. He looked down at his tee-shirt and saw that his blood had mingled with Millan's. He ripped it off and threw it on the floor. Barbara was staring at him with a mixture of admiration and fear. "I'm sorry," he said as he embraced her, "can you ever forgive me?"
"Of course...you're his brother, now go and see Tommy."