All Her Men (The Queen's Men Book 1) by Brina Cary Page B

morning. ‘Twas not checked… an oversight… An over sight that cost lives.”
    “Where is he or she from?”
    “’Tis not yet known. The package was delivered by a local courier.”
    “Was it given to the courier? Or postmarked?”
    “Should have word soon.”
    “Are there any suspects?”
    “Lass, we shall keep ye safe. Dinnae fret.”
    “Will, I’m not fretting. I’m trying to make political decisions. We have warheads, oil, money, etcetera. Someone tried to destroy the infrastructure today. Why? Because they want either one of those or all of them. If we find out where it came from, then we might learn which one they want. In the meantime I want protective measures placed around each of those three items. I also need to speak to the people. How do I do that?”
    Darren pulled a small radio from his back pocket. Keying it up he whispered, “Mack, the Queen wishes to speak to the nation. Will ye put her through?”
    “Darren, thank goodness ye live! The Queen, she is unharmed?”
    “Jacob died fer her.” Silence greeted him. “We lost many. Has a count been taken?”
    “Fifteen casualties, including Jacob. Aye, I shall put the Queen through. Is she ready?”
    Amelia nodded and grabbed the radio from Darren. “Yes, Mack, I’m ready.”
    “Then speak. All will hear.”
    She cleared her throat, “This is Amelia MacRory… your Queen.” Taking a deep breath to calm the butterflies swirling in her stomach she continued, “I regret to inform you that someone attacked us today. They did not just attack me. They attacked Scotland. We are at war with an unknown party. I am begging you to not let them win. Their goal was to attack our infrastructure. To bring us down by splitting us up. Scotland is united and that makes us dangerous. Dangerous to them. Dangerous to the world.
    “At this time I am asking that you mourn the fifteen friends that I lost today. Mourn their loss and keep their families in your prayers. They did not deserve this. One man died holding up a wall, so that I may live. His sacrifice and the sacrifice of the other fourteen will not be forgotten. I assure you that the individuals responsible will be destroyed. If a country is behind this attack then I will personally do everything within my power to see them punished.
    “In the meantime, I am asking that Scotland remain united. Do not allow this to fracture what you have worked so hard to accomplish. Do not let this destroy us. I was ushered out of the city for safety, but shall return shortly. I will personally oversee the burial of our dead. Then I will establish a new order of protection for our country. We will fight and we will win. I shall stand besides my Scotland. This is my home and they have attacked my home. I assure you that I will find them and they will regret every single thing they have done. They will beg for their lives and then our friends will be avenged. We will take no prisoners, and we shall ensure that no one else ever dares to harm us again. This I swear to you.” Jacob would not die in vain. He would be avenged. Even if she had to kill the bastards herself.
    Tossing the radio back to Darren, she nodded. It was time that she called in some favors. Some old friends from long ago were just perfect for what was needed. They could go where none others could. Sometimes it paid not to be a normal person. Only abnormal people could have the friends she had.
     

 
    Chapter 18
     
    The great thing about having the degree she had was the people she had met along the journey. Political Science majors and History majors tended to travel along the same paths until graduation. Amelia had managed to keep in touch with several of the Political Science majors she had met. One such happened to work for the C.I.A.. Her husband also happened to work for a protection agency. Cradling the phone to her ear, Amelia took the damp cloth offered to her by Will. Mouthing a thanks as a familiar voice began shouting in her still sore ear.