"I think he knocked his head when he hit the ground, make sure the ambulance arrives soon." Harry was concerned about DS Thompson; when they had left Carter's house, he was still unconscious. "Frank Carter's handcuffed in the kitchen, he's waiting for you. He doesn't seem to be keen on staying home now that he spilled the beans on Coltrane."

On her right, James cursed and accelerated as the traffic light ahead of them passed from green to amber, he wouldn't lose any time in the traffic today. They were just about to leave London now. After Carter's declaration they had jumped in their car, they had no time to wait for backups and anyway they were the nearest, all the other teams being on the other side of London.

"Listen Chas, we're already on our way to Winfield Hall, but you should try and call Watson to warn him in case we're too late."

She hung up and put her cell phone on the dashboard next to the firearm. James glanced at it then focused on the road, changing gear. "Did you check the gun?"

"Check the gun?" She repeated with a questioning look.

"Yeah check the gun! Is it loaded?"

Harry swallowed a sigh but grabbed the gun. It was a revolver with six chambers; there were only two cartridges in it. "You do know you're not allowed to use a gun." She tried.

"So how many shots do I have?"

Harry frowned but answered nevertheless. "Two."

James clicked his tongue crossly and Harry knew what he was thinking; there were three guys and only two bullets, he was one shot short.

"You do remember using a firearm is illegal in England." She tried again. "even to protect your own life."

"Well I made a promise to my wife. I told her I wouldn't let anyone touch our kids and I intend to do whatever it takes to keep my word." The tone of his voice let no place for arguments; he would do it, no matter what.

Harry looked by the window, she knew she wouldn't change his mind. But did she really want him not to use this gun if it proved necessary? She couldn't tell. Focusing on the landscape she noticed they were already approaching the little village below Winfield Hall.

When the phone rang again, Harry put it on speaker so that they could both listen to Chas.

"We should arrive in twenty minutes, maybe less. Watson told me he was taking care of your children security so you shouldn't worry too much about them." He tried to reassure them, then he cleared his throat. "Now don't go overreacting but Watson also told he had lost contact with three men watching the entrance of the estate."

"What!" James bellowed.

Harry's hand nearly dropped the phone as her entire body felt limp and weak. Coltrane was still a step ahead and if they weren't fast enough... If they didn't make it on time... Chas' voice brought her out of her inner nightmare.

"Yes, I know what it sounds like but maybe there's nothing to worry about, Watson is checking it at the moment."

"There's nothing to check and everything to worry about! Coltrane's already there!" Dempsey stepped on the gas, it would take time for Coltrane to go past all the guards and he would make sure to be there to catch this bastard before he could enter the house.

...

As James drove the last yards in the lane getting to the front steps he spotted a man getting inside through an opened window. The tyres squealed as he put all his weight on the brakes in front of the said window, turning the wheel so as to avoid a bunch of flowers; as the car came to an abrupt halt James leaned to grab the gun and got out in a kind of frenzy. He jumped on the window with an amazing ease for a man his age, but his children were in danger, there was nothing he couldn't have done.

The room in which he arrived was empty. Dashing in the corridor, he saw a door closing on his left and ran inside. It was a long room filled with old furniture and lined with knights' armours and ancient paintings. He spotted two men running ahead of him and yelled "Coltrane!"

He pointed his gun at Coltrane and was ready to shoot before the man had even turned round. James put his finger on the trigger but as he was about to fire he saw a shadow moving in the mirror in front of him. Someone was attacking him from behind and he barely had the time to avoid the halberd Mike Thorn was aiming at his back. Luckily for Dempsey, the weight of the ancient weapon surprised Thorn who couldn't aim properly, but his aim wasn't the only one going off course. Dempsey's shot had been deviated when he had avoided the blow and Coltrane was looking at him with a wry smile from the other side of the room.

Dempsey would have shot his gun a second time if he hadn't to deal with Mike Thorn who was raising his pickaxe again. Diving behind a suit of armour Dempsey caught hold of a shield to protect himself but Thorn was getting better with his aim and the shield quickly proved not to be up to it as the first blow cracked it in two. Throwing it aside, he backed away looking wildly around him for a weapon to use; his last cartridge he saved for Coltrane.

All around him were knights; a few had shields with colourful blazons, others had flags on long sticks, but none of them was carrying a sword or a pike. On the other side of the room, Derek Coltrane and Bill Thorn had fled by the door and he was desperate to go after them but his opponent didn't seem ready to give up the fight. They were both playing 'hide and seek' between the armours running around them, avoiding each other.

As James avoided another blow he stumbled and collided with a knight that was momentarily destabilized. He watched it waver on the spot and an idea dawned upon him. When the next blow came he jumped behind a knight and pushed it with all his might. The armour creaked and clanged as it fell, disembodying itself onto Mike Thorn who fell on the ground, knocked out.