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“Damn,” he growls, and I jerk away from him, narrowing my brows. But he just smirks. “I’d liked to have killed him myself.”

My lips twitch as I roll my eyes. “Harvey wanted to, too, but I was more than capable of putting a bullet in a piece of shit myself.”

He tightens his grip on me, and I notice for the first time I’m shaking. “I know you are.”

An explosion blows through the house and I scramble to get to my feet, but my ankle gives way and I end up on my hands and knees. My girls. Where are they? Lee is up and standing, bringing his radio to his lips. Ordering the men to come round to the front and help him look for them. There’s a loud smash and one of the downstairs windows scatters to the ground. Mabel runs out, coughing and spluttering, her eyes streaming as she sees me and comes running. Guinevere is directly behind her and Lee goes to her, sweeping her off her feet with his arms wound tightly around her as she cries into his neck.

Mabel reaches me, dropping to the ground and flinging her arms around my neck. We’re both crying as I stroke her back and try to calm her hiccupping sobs. Over her shoulder, I watch as Harvey climbs out to the window with Keeley wrapped around him. He runs over to me, holding her close and the closer they get, the clearer I can hear her distressed wailing.

“Shh, it’s okay,princesa. I’ve got you, remember? We’re outside now. Anni’s here, you want to see Anni?”

She pushes away from Harvey, her tear-stained face is red and blotchy as she continues to cry heartbreakingly. Reaching out for me, Harvey sets her on the ground and she climbs onto my lap, cuddling in to me. Both of my girls are out and safe, they are both holding on to me like a lifeline and Guinevere is in Lee’s arms. I cry too, holding on to each of them with the same force that they do me. The sun is nearly lost to the horizon and Harvey stands over us, watching the exchange as we’re bathed in an ethereal glow of pink and gold. I see for the first time today that his nose now has a bump in it that wasn’t there before I hithim and there’s still a fait bruise spreading on both his cheeks. It’s extremely satisfying.

He catches my eye and opens his mouth as if to say something before snapping it closed. A siren rings in the distance, interrupting any second attempt to talk to me. We all look towards the front gates. Harvey, narrowing his eyes before turning in the opposite direction.

“Gibson!” he yells. “Gibson!”

Seconds later, a young guy wearing a black police uniform comes running around the corner. “Detective? Are you okay?” He takes in the soot-stained shirt and bruised cheek.

“Who’s that?” Harvey snarls, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.

Gibson looks behind Harvey toward the sound of the sirens. “Fire department.”

“You didn’t call for back-up?”

Gibson looks at me a little nervously, and I glare at him through watery eyes. “No, sir.”

“Good man.” Harvey nods.

“I haven’t seen Captain Marks though. Maybe we were wrong—”

“Captain Marks is in the house,” Harvey says blandly.

“H-he’s in there?” Gibson stutters, pointing at the inferno. Just to punctuate the point, another explosion spits fire high into the air. Keeley’s grip on me tightens and I run my hand over her hair, trying to calm her.

“He’s already dead, kid.” Harvey puts his hand on the young man’s shoulder.

Pale and terrified, Gibson asks, “How?”

I’m about to tell him that I killed his precious captain when Harvey speaks up. “I shot him.”

Gibson’s eyes widen, unsure how to take that news. “You shot him?”

“It’s alright, kid. He came at me, it was self-defence.” He points to the bruise blooming on his face.

Gibson’s eyes dart to me again but I give him nothing. Then he nods. “Self-defence.”

The fire engine arrives at the gates and Lee lets them in. Harvey keeps his eyes on Gibson, speaking gently. “What happened with the intruders?”

Gibson looks down to the ground before swallowing whatever emotions he has and straightening his spine. “I don’t know, detective. I didn’t see anything. Must have hit my head and blacked out, they were gone when I came round. Must be on the run.”

Harvey gives him a gentle smile. “Okay, kid. Okay.”

“I’m going to go and liaise with the fire crew,” Gibson says, tipping his hat to me before heading off in the right direction.

Guinevere sits next to me and puts her arm around me, taking up the position Lee had vacated when she emerged from the house. “Are you okay?” she whispers.

“Yes, are you?”