I took my gun from Maverick. "You're the rear guard" I whispered.

He nodded and I moved past him to Tobin. Using the sign language he favoured I told him to stay close unless there was a fight then he had to run for Roland's home. I asked him if he remembered the way I showed him when we put the note in Roland's car. He nodded and I patted his shoulder. Maverick watched the exchange with interest.

As if he could work out the complex language by himself, it's interesting that he's trying.

Leading our small group up the dark tunnel I realised how loud Maverick was being. This might be a problem. I thought looking at the way he filled the tunnel.

The only light was from the torches we held the tunnel was rough cut and the roof was reinforced with metal sheets held up by lengths of wood. It was clear I had built it. I'm no builder or engineer, but I read many books on building a tunnel. The many exits were covered with metal plates that were covered in moss and undergrowth. I'd done what I could to hide these tunnels knowing I might need a safe place to hide.

Maverick's vest rubbed against the metal and parts of his belt banged on the wooden posts. I made the tunnel with me in mind, he is a big man and there isn't a way for him to move through them without making noise.

I held up my hand at a crossroad in the tunnel. I looked back at Maverick and pointed at him then at the floor. He nodded so I turned to Tobin and said with my hands, make him stay here I'm going up ahead to see it's safe.

Tobin replied, I will. I moved up the tunnel and after about a mile I stopped looking up at the exit above me. I listened carefully and heard faint voices so moved back to the crossroad I picked the other direction and walked a short way off. There the voices were even fainter and I waited until they were lost to the wind. I clicked my tongue and heard Maverick start moving.

I moved the heavy board that covered the exit and pulled myself out as they got to the end of the tunnel. I gestured to the two down the hole to stay as I watched and listened for a hint of something wrong.

I watched the shadows and saw nothing other than the natural movement of the forest. I couldn't hear anything except the wind so I pointed at Maverick and he was able to climb out easily due to his size. I got him to pull Tobin up as I watched the inky shadows for any sign of those people.

Tobin slipped the board back in place and tapped me twice on the shoulder with one finger. I kept low to the ground as I moved forward, indicating to Tobin and Maverick when I wanted to scout ahead. When I did this I would leave the two in the deepest shadows I could find away from any sounds of people. Only twice did I need to guide us around the people looking for me, both the police and the wolves.

I lead them on a winding route through the forest to my home. As we got there I saw all the people walking around my home and felt my skin crawl.

Maverick shuffled up and handed his gun to me. He made the same gestures I'd used to tell him to stay put and I nodded. He stood and walked over to one of the men. "Oh, your back." The man said jumping slightly as Maverick walked out of the forest.

"Yer. Are you done here?"

The man nodded. "Yep. Just clearing out now. There's been another three discovery's out there..."

"There's another by the lake. How quickly can you clear out the house?"

The man shifted his case to his other hand and seemed nervous. "We are out of the house, we just need... access to the grounds."

At a sound, his head had wiped around and he looked into the woods, halfway through his sentence. "Well, I won't keep you then."

He shifted his feet. "You didn't find her?"

"No. She's been most elusive. Is the chief about?"

He sighed. "He walked off again. Someone called him saying one of the search team turned up dead."

"Right. I'll secure the house and see if I can raise him on the radio."

The man nodded and walked off as Maverick moved to my car. I watched him with interest. He put his hands behind his back and gestured for us to move, we ran to the back door. I pressed Tobin back into the shadow of the cabinets and held my gun levelled at the door. I watched Maverick come to the back door. "Chief I need you back at the house. I failed to find her."

"Understood. On my way." The reply came as he walked through the door.

He locked it and walked through to the living room. I crept up to the door leading into the living room watching as he closed the front door and locked it. He turned the light off and I moved up the stairs, gun swinging to check corners. Both Tobin and Maverick followed me up.

"Can we talk now?"

I lowered the gun as he turned the corner to come up the last few steps. "Yes."

He joined me at the top of the stairs and I handed him a gun. Tobin lay down with Ted and was shivering. "They will find us." His words carried fear and shook with the strain of being quiet.

"It's alright Tobin. At the moment we are safe in here with all these police around us."

Maverick sat at the top of the stairs pointing the gun down them as I moved to Tobin's side. I tucked Tobin into his bed. "You see we are safe here." I gestured to Maverick. He nodded cuddling Ted to his chest.

"I'll be over there backing up Maverick." I turned but Tobin grabbed me and I felt his shaking. I hugged him tightly like I had whilst hiding and whispered. "We are safe here. We have Maverick and the police around the house. They can't get near us."

Tobin nodded as I started to hum softly. He fell asleep quickly because of the stress of the last few days caught up with him.

After I tucked Tobin in I moved to Maverick's side and picked up the second gun. "Tia who is Guinevere?"

He would ask that now! "Not a question I can answer right now."

"Then what's the name of your car?"

My car? Could he know the... no not possible! "She is called Rose."

He frowned. "Rose?"

"The perfect name for a being of such beauty and grace as her. When she gets on the road she is gentle in her movements, but when you open her up on the motorway she strains for more speed. She is effortless in her lines. Plus she is built like a tank because she is a Volvo"

Maverick gave me a rye smile. "All of that says Rose to you?"

"No.. there is more to it than that. Anyway, she rather likes it."

He chuckled at that. "Well, as long as she enjoys it my opinion doesn't matter. Does she have a code name?"

"She does." Where is he going with this?

He smiled at me. "Will you tell me what it is?"

I sighed and looked at him. "Llamrei."

"Llamrei?"

I nodded watching the darkness below me. "King Arthur's had two horses they are Llamrei and Hengroen. I chose Llamrei."

He shook his head. "Will you explain some of what's going on now?"

I sighed. "Your chief will want to know this too so I will explain when he gets here."

"Will you tell me how you knew I would look for the clues of the puzzle you left? You write nice poems by the way."

I was grateful for the darkness as he couldn't see the heat in my cheeks. "Thank you... to answer your question you are a naturally curious person. It's what makes you a good police officer. I gave you a puzzle before and so I figured that if I needed to give you a message this would be the best way to do it."

"Most people just give you a key and ask you to water their plants while they are away." He said sarcastically.

I smiled at him. "Where's the fun in that."

He turned slightly to look at me. "Tia.. Will you tell me..."

He stopped talking as a knock came at the front door. He jumped and turned his radio back up. "Outside... Mac, do you copy?"

He sighed handing me the gun and walked down the stairs. I listened very carefully as he moved through the living room to the front door. I heard the familiar click and creak of the door. "Chief."

"What the hell is going on mac? I've had to call off the search and James is watching over the team going to the other bodies."

They were moving around in the space below me and it wasn't until the front door clicked as it was locked, did I feel a little better.

I'd taken up Maverick's seat at the top of the stairs with the shotgun and Tobin sat up now. "Chief I need you to follow me and trust me. Understand?"

Can we trust him? Was he drugged by THEM or was he playacting? The silence between the two was deafening I raised the gun as he replied. "I understand."

His voice was hard and I released the safety on the gun. Two quick gestures at Tobin got him to cover his ears with the ear defenders I'd got out for him.

"Follow me and don't do anything, understand?"

The silence was so long because they were passing messages! I thought I could trust Maverick... I've exposed everything. How could I be such a fool... no don't think about this now Tia. You can't take these people on yourself, you need help. "I understand." The Chief said quietly.

I took a slow steadying breath. "Stay behind me at all times!" Maverick sounded stressed.

I tensed at the steps coming closer to the stairs. "Mac, what is going on?" The chief's voice was tight.

The first step of the stairs creaked as they stood on it. "Shhh." Maverick shushed him as a thud that was Maverick's boot hitting the second step.

Panic rose in my chest as I saw his head at the third step. The gun was levelled at his head. The fourth step caused him to turn, looking straight at me sitting in the dark. Maverick's gaze slipped past the end of the gun to look me in the eye.

The two men on the stairs filled the space. Maverick raised his hands to me and the chief went pale on seeing the end of the gun following every movement.

"Tia put it down."

"You were passing notes." I had pride in my tone as the words came out steady.

"Yes because we could be seen and I didn't want anyone to lip-read what I had to say. You can read the notebook with the notes in yourself." Maverick was calm and his voice was barely above a whisper.

"What did you say?"

"I told him he had to follow my instructions precisely or we would get shot. He's left his belt downstairs. We are the only ones with weapons here."

I made another gesture at Tobin and knew he had complied without needing to look at him. "What assurance do I have that he's not one of them?"

"None. I'm sure that if he is he will give it away soon and you can shoot him." The chief swallowed loudly.

I stood and stepped back up the stairs and into the dark completely. Maverick and the chief came up the stairs slowly. Maverick still had his hands up watching me intently. "Will you put the safety back on please?" The chief stared at the back of Maverick's head panicked.

"How did you know I'd taken it off?" Even I could hear my voice being flat now.

"I know you." He said simply shrugging slightly.

"Step aside Maverick."

"Not until the safety is on."

I tapped my trigger finger on the side of the trigger guard "I'm not ready to shoot."

Maverick saw the movement and shook his head. "Misunderstandings could lead to unfortunate consequences. Please Tia just the safety."

I sighed and flipped the safety on. Maverick stepped to one side revealing the chief. He had left his equipment downstairs. "How about we lower the gun now?"

I took a step back towards Tobin and shook my head. "I need something."

"What do you need Tia?" The chief's voice shook and I could see the fear in his eyes as he followed the end of the gun rather than my face.

"What happens at the red moon?"

They both looked confused. "What does that mean?" Maverick sounded worried now.

"The clouds clear and you see the blue water, where is the sun?"

"Tia you're not making sense." Maverick took a step and I moved my thumb to the safety.

He stopped again and I watched them both but they just looked scared and confused. I'll have to pick the next one carefully. "Have you seen it? The grass is greener than any I've seen. The air so pure you can taste the flowers."