Brute Force

117

I lay watching the two Russians' boots pace up and down. I turned my head when Mairead told one of them to rig up some arc lights.

I made eye contact with Tallulah. She had Ruby in her arms, head into her shoulder so she couldn't see me. The little one was shivering and sobbing.

I made myself cut away. I didn't want the Russians to see that we cared for each other. And in any case, I was just too exhausted, and I needed to think.

One. I hadn't seen any weapons apart from the box-cutter.

Two. They must have another boat tied up alongside for Mairead and the two Russians. Or was she so hell-bent on revenge she just wanted to hear me say the magic words and then blow us all to hell?