Swinging his own legs over the sill, he sat for a moment, perched on the wooden frame, heart pounding and a familiar panic freezing his limbs.
The skin on his back felt as though it was already blistering and burning, but even so he hesitated.
The pale rectangle of the mattresses waited below.
If the dog could do it …
‘Come on, you stupid bastard!’ he told himself angrily.
Suddenly, behind him, there was a whoosh as the bedroom door finally failed, a glance over his shoulder showing him a tide of rolling orange flame curling at high speed across the ceiling.
Better jump than burn! The words echoed in his head as he launched himself from the window sill. There was a brief rush and whistle of air past his ears and almost at once he hit the cushioning bulk of the mattresses and the hard ground beneath, rattling his bones and driving the air from his lungs.
All at once, Taz was all over him, licking his face in an ecstasy of joy, and he had to push the dog out of the way in order to roll off the mattresses and scramble clear of the danger zone.
As Daniel got to his feet, he was taken by a fit of coughing and bent double, feeling as though the fire was actually burning in his lungs.
Immediately, Drew was there, frightened eyes reflecting the glow of the fire. ‘Dad? Are you OK?’
‘I will be – thanks to you,’ Daniel croaked, eyes watering. He took the boy’s arm and hurried him further away from the cottage. Then, together, they turned and gazed at the furnace it had become, the fierce orange glow showing through every chink. Smoke was pouring thickly from all over the roof, and tiles began to come free and slide down the slope of the roof in cascades, tinkling like demented wind chimes and shattering on the baked earth below.
Even as they stood there in the first thrall of horrified fascination, part of the roof fell in, leaving a skeleton of burning rafters outlined against the sky. Drew jumped, clinging more tightly to his father’s arm, and Daniel could feel the boy trembling. He folded him into an embrace.
‘That was my bedroom,’ Drew said through chattering teeth. ‘We were in there just a minute ago!’
‘I know, but don’t think about it. We’re safe now.’ Easy enough to say, but he himself was deeply shocked by how close to tragedy they had come.
Still coughing spasmodically, Daniel took his mobile from his pocket and keyed in 999. His own network was useless here, but the emergency number would try all available networks in an attempt to find a signal.
There was none.
A shower of sparks tore upwards through the smoke as the chimney and another section of the roof collapsed, some of the burning debris sliding down the remaining tiles to land in the garden. Even from where they stood, they could feel the intense heat tightening their skin, and the trees all around the garden boundary were bathed in an orange glow. On the cottage, only the row of ornamental ridge tiles remained, outlined against the flames.
‘What about your car?’ Drew asked suddenly, looking up at his father. ‘Will it be all right?’
Daniel stifled an oath. ‘I don’t know. I’ve got the keys. Let’s see if we can get round the front.’
They made it, by dint of forcing a way through the side hedge and making their way through the wood to reach the lane. Once there, Daniel could see that his car was as yet undamaged. It was out of the range of the falling tiles, and what wind there was had blown the flames the other way.
He judged it was fairly safe to retrieve it and, telling Drew to stay put, ran forward, operating the remote locking system as he did so. The car’s bodywork felt warm on the side furthest from the house but not overly so. The inside was like an oven, and the leather seats and the steering wheel were hot to the touch, but thankfully the trusty engine started first time, and, putting it in gear, he drove it to safety some fifty feet up the lane. He supposed the smart thing to do would be to drive on until he picked up a mobile signal, but he’d have to take Drew and the dog with him.
As soon as he opened the car door, he was met by Taz who’d been running in its wake. Drew wasn’t far behind, breathlessly calling.
‘Dad! Dad! Listen!’
‘What is it?’
‘Sirens – listen!’
Sure enough, over the spit, roar and crackle of the conflagration, the urgent double note of an approaching fire engine could be heard. Even supposing someone had spotted the glow of the fire almost straight away, they had been extremely quick. It was a shame the cottage was already beyond saving.
Blue flashing lights hove into view between the trees, and within moments two units had drawn up in front of the burning building. Uniformed men spilled out in all directions and went to work deploying their hoses, whilst one spotted Daniel and the boy and strode towards them.
‘D’you know if there’s anyone inside?’ he shouted.
‘No. It was just us,’ Daniel replied, indicating the three of them, and the man raised a hand, turned on his heel and went back to the others, the bright fluorescent strips on his sandy-brown uniform appearing to dance independently in the light from the vehicle.
‘Can we go back and watch?’ Drew asked.
‘I expect so, but we mustn’t get in the way. Stay close to me, OK?’
They moved closer. There was no novelty in the spectacle for Daniel, who had attended many fires during his time on the force, but for Drew, who watched all the activity with round eyes, gripping his father’s hand tightly, it clearly held a scary magnetism. He was shaking with a mixture of fear and excitement, but Daniel suspected that wild horses wouldn’t have dragged him away.
The firefighters went about their business with brisk efficiency, and soon two jets of water were cascading through the roof cavity of the doomed cottage, causing the smoke to turn thick and grey, before it was gradually replaced with hissing steam.
When it was clear that the battle was a fair way to being won, the officer in charge came over to talk to Daniel.
‘You the owner, sir?’
‘No. It’s owned by Mrs Summers of Maidstone Farm. We were staying here.’ As soon as Daniel started to speak, he began to cough again.
‘Are you all right?’
He nodded. ‘I will be.’
‘There’s an ambulance on the way. They’ll check you over,’ he said. ‘Do you have any idea how this started?’
‘According to my son, someone drove by and lobbed a couple of petrol bombs through the downstairs windows.’
The officer looked down at Drew, who looked somehow smaller and younger than normal in the odd mixture of pyjamas trousers, a jumper and training shoes.
‘It’s rather late for a youngster to be up, isn’t it?’
‘I was listening to owls,’ Drew answered, as if that were the most natural thing in the world for a nine-year-old to be doing in the early hours of the morning.
‘I certainly heard the cars and someone shouting,’ Daniel added. ‘I imagine you’ll find evidence of accelerants.’
‘We’ll be conducting a thorough investigation in due course, sir,’ the officer promised, in the tone of one who wasn’t keen on being told how to do his job. ‘If accelerants were used, we’ll soon find out.’
‘Oh, and they sloshed petrol against the front door. It was coming underneath,’ Daniel said remembering. ‘I saw that myself.’
The firefighter’s eyes narrowed.
‘Sounds as though they intended to make a thorough job of it, then.’
‘It seems so.’
‘And you were both in the building when this happened?’
‘Yes, we got out of the back bedroom window, but it was a close-run thing,’ Daniel told him.
‘I understand from one of my colleagues that this cottage has been empty for some months. I suppose it’s quite possible that the persons responsible assumed that it still was?’
‘My car was parked out here on the lane,’ Daniel pointed out. ‘I moved it just before you came.’
‘Ah,’ the officer said grimly. �
��That puts a different slant on it. I imagine the police will be keen to speak to you in due course.’
As if on cue, more blue lights were seen approaching, and a police car came to a halt behind the second fire engine, closely followed by a paramedic car. Four more uniforms spilled out into the crowded lane and, after speaking to the pump crew, headed en masse for where Daniel, Drew and the fire officer stood.
Daniel sighed inwardly, Taz leaped and plunged against the hand in his collar, excited by the sight of the uniforms, and Drew watched the oncoming tide of authority with wide eyes reflecting the barrage of flashing blue lights.
A wearisome hour followed, during which Daniel answered the same questions over and over again, to a seemingly endless stream of officers of one kind or another. The two paramedics in the fast response car were rather keen that Daniel should visit A&E to monitor the effects of his smoke inhalation. This manifested itself in an annoying cough that set in every time he started to talk, but nevertheless he declined. He had seen enough of A&E departments on a Saturday night into Sunday morning to last him a lifetime, and he had no intention of spending the night in one when what he really needed was a chance to get his head down and sleep.
Eventually, they gave in, dressed a burn on his hand and checked Drew over before climbing back in their car and disappearing along the lane towards the village.
One or two sensation-seeking locals had driven up since the fire engines’ arrival, most taking pictures on their mobiles before going away, disappointed, Daniel suspected, at the lack of ongoing drama. Because of this no one took much notice of the appearance of a Land Rover, until its driver got out and ducked under the blue and white tape stretched across the lane and demanded to know where Daniel was.
‘I’m sorry, miss,’ a burly firefighter said, standing in her way. ‘You must stay back.’
‘Not until I’ve seen Daniel.’ She raised her voice, trying to see round the man. ‘Daniel?’
‘It’s all right. That’s Mrs Summers – the owner,’ Daniel called out. ‘Jenny, I’m over here!’
‘Oh, thank God!’ She ducked under the firefighter’s outspread arm and hurried towards him. ‘Are you OK?’
‘Fine.’
‘And Drew? Where’s Drew?’ She glanced round anxiously.
‘He’s fine, too,’ Daniel assured her. ‘It all got too much for him and he’s asleep on the back seat of one of the police cars.’
The police officer who had been questioning Daniel now cleared his throat and turned his attention to Jenny.
‘Mrs Summers? I’m afraid we shall need to ask you one or two questions …’
She ignored him.
‘I don’t understand. How did this happen?’ she asked Daniel. ‘It wasn’t the chimney, was it? I’ve been meaning to get that swept for ages.’
‘No, it wasn’t that. I’m afraid it was deliberate. Someone threw a firebomb through the window.’
‘No!’ she gasped, putting a hand to her mouth. ‘Oh, my God! Why?’
Daniel wasn’t prepared to discuss that in front of the policeman, so he just shrugged and shook his head helplessly.
It was another twenty minutes before they were free to leave the scene of the fire, and a glance at his watch showed Daniel that it was nearly four in the morning. The crew of one fire engine were stowing away their equipment in preparation to leave, whilst the other would be remaining to carry on damping down the smouldering cottage, the officer in charge told Jenny before he left in his own car.
The police patrol cars had gone, and Drew walked sleepily beside Daniel, holding his hand, as they followed Jenny towards her Land Rover, the Merc being the wrong side of the fire tenders in the narrow lane.
‘So, how come you’re here and not at the hospital?’ Daniel asked as he slid into the passenger seat. ‘Did someone phone you?’
‘No.’ Jenny glanced over her shoulder to where Drew was already asleep once more, belted into the back seat. She continued in a lower tone. ‘Actually, um … there was nothing to stay for. Gavin passed away just after one o’clock this morning.’
FOURTEEN
‘Oh, Christ! I’m sorry, Jenny,’ Daniel said, putting his hand on her arm. ‘And now this. What a bloody awful night for you!’
Jenny took a deep breath.
‘I’ve had better,’ she acknowledged, with just a hint of unsteadiness.
’Would you like me to drive?’
‘Thanks, but actually I’m better when I’m doing something. Just don’t be sympathetic, all right?’
‘OK.’ Daniel understood.
There was a hint of rosy grey in the east as they drove clear of the trees and over the last rise before the dip to the farm. Jenny slowed up and stopped. Below them, the patchwork of fields and hedges spread out in the first milky light of dawn, surrounding the old farmhouse and its outbuildings and looking much as it had probably done for centuries past.
‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’ Jenny said, drinking in the scene.
‘It is.’
‘I’ve always loved this farm, this land,’ she said wistfully. ‘I’ve loved the thought that so many generations of my family have lived and worked here over the years. I was proud to think that I was carrying on the work they started – somehow it gave everything a meaning, made sense of life. I thought – I hoped – that maybe one of the children would want to take it on after me. Harry’s always loved the outdoor life. But now I don’t know what I’ll do. Nothing seems to make sense any more, and I don’t know if I’ve got the energy to go on alone.’
‘Maybe – when this is over – you should get away for a bit. Take the kids and go somewhere with no memories, where you can just relax and recharge your batteries. I find sometimes you need to distance yourself from something to see how important it really is.’
Jenny turned her head to look at Daniel in the muted light of the Land Rover cab.
‘But is it going to be over? At the moment it just seems to be getting worse. I feel like everything’s out of control and it scares me. I mean, look at tonight. You could have been killed. You and Drew. And for what? What’s going on, Daniel? Do you know?’
‘I know a little, and I’ve got a pretty good idea about the rest. What I need now is some proof, and I will get it, so hang in there for a bit longer, eh?’
Jenny watched him for a few seconds, then sighed. ‘OK. But whatever you find out, I’d like to know. I mean, I’ve wondered sometimes, lately, if Gavin was mixed up in something. It wouldn’t surprise me. I suppose I’ve known for a long time that he was bored with his life here – with me too, I think. You can tell me. I won’t be shocked.’
‘If I knew, I’d tell you,’ Daniel said simply. ‘But I don’t.’
‘Fair enough.’ She put the car in gear and they moved forward once more.
When they reached the farmhouse, Daniel carried the sleepy Drew inside and followed Jenny upstairs to Harry’s bedroom, where he laid the boy on the bed, eased his trainers off and gently pulled the quilt over his sleeping form, clothes and all.
As if aware of being watched, Drew stirred, shifted on to his side and pulled the quilt high over his face until only a glimpse of a lean cheekbone with its sweep of dark lashes remained. Daniel half smiled, remembering how the boy had always slept like that, even when he was very small. Amanda had worried that he would suffocate himself.
Amanda.
What would she say if she ever learned of this night’s events? And she would learn of them; that was a certainty. Daniel would have to tell her himself, even if it had her divorce solicitor rubbing his hands in glee. The inevitable accusations of being an unfit parent would be bad enough, without the added crime of an attempted cover-up.
He looked down at the boy once again. So innocent, so entirely dependent on him for protection and guidance. The fact hit him again with a jolt. His son had almost been killed because of him. Perhaps Amanda was right; perhaps he wasn’t fit to take care of a child.
No. He gave himself a se
vere mental shaking. That was exhaustion talking.
‘Is he still asleep?’ Jenny was in the doorway.
‘Yes. He didn’t wake at all.’
‘Do you want to get straight to bed, or would you like a cup of tea?’
‘Tea,’ Daniel said decisively. ‘My throat’s horribly dry and sore.’
Daniel slept in late the next morning, glad that it was a Sunday. He woke to the smell of frying bacon wafting up the stairs and made good time showering and getting dressed. With practical foresight, Jenny had left a T-shirt out for him: one of Gavin’s, he supposed. A glance into Drew’s room revealed nothing but a tumbled bed and half-drawn curtains, and when Daniel reached the kitchen, he found the boy already there and tucking into a full English breakfast.
‘Just in time,’ Jenny said, carrying two more laden plates to the table. ‘I was about to call you.’
‘Wow! You’ve been busy!’ A swift scrutiny noted slightly swollen eyelids and skin paler than usual, but, all in all, he thought she looked as though she was holding up quite well.
‘Cooked breakfast on a Sunday is a Maidstone Farm tradition,’ she told him. ‘Help yourself to coffee. I’ll run you over to pick up your car later on.’
Conversation, as they ate, was restricted to everyday matters, Daniel reluctant to dwell on the subject of the fire with Drew present and Jenny apparently equally keen to avoid talking about her loss. However, when Jenny rose from the table to make another pot of coffee, Drew spoke up of his own volition for the first time, and it was obvious where his thoughts had been.
‘Why did they do it, Dad? They must have known we were inside because of the car – that’s what you told the fireman.’
‘I don’t suppose they knew you were there. And, anyway, I expect they thought we’d wake up and get out in time.’
‘But we almost didn’t …’
Daniel’s wish to save his son from harsh reality led him to search for a mitigating answer.
‘A lot of people don’t realize quite how quickly a fire can take hold,’ he said, conveniently disregarding the fact that these particular people had made quite sure of a rapid spread by using petrol bombs. Although he didn’t think his death had been the primary aim, he didn’t kid himself that the reported discovery of his charred remains would have occasioned too much grief in the Boyds.
No Holds Barred Page 16
