Page 63 of Worse Than Murder (DCI Matilda Darke Thriller #13)

T ania’s Punto screeches to a halt at the side of the burning restaurant.

She jumps out and looks up, mouth wide open.

She hopes everyone inside has been able to get out safely.

As she runs around the back, she stops when she sees the police car, driver’s door open and a body on the ground beside it.

Immediately, she recognises Claire Daniels and drops to her knees.

‘Claire. Claire, it’s me, Tania. Come on, sweetheart, wake up.’

Tania feels for a pulse, pressing her cold fingers hard against her neck. There’s a faint pulse.

‘Jesus. Come on, Claire, wake up. I don’t know any bloody first aid.’

She carefully places Claire on the ground, leans into the police car and picks up the radio.

‘Is there anyone there? This is Tania Pritchard. Sergeant Claire Daniels has been attacked and is unconscious. I have no idea what to do and Nature’s Diner is on fire. You need to get an ambulance out here right now.’

‘Tania, I don’t know if you know me. I’m PC Guthrie. Callum. We know about the fire. There is a fire crew and ambulance on the way. I’m going to talk you through what to do with Claire. Okay?’

‘Thank you, Callum. Thank you,’ Tania says, relieved.

* * *

‘Adele, the fire brigade is here!’ I shout.

There’s no reply.

‘Matilda, come down. The fire brigade can take over,’ Philip calls out.

‘Adele? Adele!’ I scream.

A ladder swings past me towards the open window. I see it rattling as a firefighter in full uniform runs up swiftly and confidently as if he’s simply running upstairs at home.

‘You need to go down, now,’ he barks at me.

‘My friend is in there. Adele. And a dog. Woody.’

‘We’ll get them out. Go back down, right now,’ he orders me, severely.

I can’t see his expression beneath the visor on his helmet, but I know when I’m being told off. Carefully, I lower myself down the ladder. Philip helps me on the last few rungs. I step back and look up as two firefighters disappear into the burning building.

All eyes are on the window. Nothing happens.

Eventually, there’s movement and one of the firefighters swings his leg out of the window and onto the ladder. He has Adele over his shoulder. She doesn’t look as if she’s moving.

‘Adele!’ I scream.

She gives the thumbs-up sign.

I sigh. ‘Thank God! I bet she’s loving this. Dirty cow.’

Another firefighter follows, holding a terrified-looking Woody against him.

‘It’s Woody,’ Carl screams.

The dog’s tail wags, and the firefighter has to hold onto him tighter to stop him from jumping down.

I turn to see all three members of the Meagan family standing by a tree, arms wrapped around each other, grateful smiles on their faces. They may have lost everything in the fire– their home, their business, their belongings– but they have all survived. That is the only thing that matters.

I take a step back. I place my hands in the pockets of my jeans, feel something inside and pull out Adele’s Porsche keys.

I turn around and look into the woods. Why the hell had Lynne Pemberton been running into those woods seconds before the fire started?

I run to the front of the building where Adele’s car is parked.

‘Where are you going?’ Philip calls out.

I stop and turn back. ‘I think I know what’s been going on. When the police turn up, get them to come out to the Pembertons’ house.’

‘Why? Shouldn’t you wait for them?’

‘Probably. Just get everyone to the hospital and checked out. Make sure everyone is safe.’

‘What about you?’

I shake my head. I don’t give him my usual reply, that I’m fine, because I know I’m not. I can feel the well of tears rising up inside me and I don’t know why. I head for the car.

I’ve changed a great deal in the last month.

Nobody can go through such torment and not be changed.

My tough exterior has hardened, despite the fact I’m crying more.

I’ve become a contradiction and haven’t been able to work out who I really am anymore.

Now, I know, and I need to put the new Matilda Darke to the test. Tonight, I will either kill or be killed.