Page 134 of Worse Than Murder

‘It’s the only way out.’

There’s a good five feet between the window ledge and the top of the ladder. Adele and Sally will just about reach if they’re careful, but Carl is going to have to jump, and I haven’t quite worked out how to get Woody out.

‘Send Carl first,’ I shout. I look down at Philip. He gives me the thumbs-up.

There’s an explosion and one of the picture windows at the side of the restaurant is blown out, shaking the entire building. I hold onto the ladder tightly.

‘It has to be now!’ Philip screams.

* * *

‘I’m not going,’ Carl says. He steps back from the window and sits down on the floor beside the bed. Woody runs to him and curls up beside him.

‘What?’ Sally asks. ‘Carl, sweetheart, I know it’s scary, but Matilda will grab you and guide you down to the ladder.’ She coughs. ‘Your dad is waiting for you at the bottom.’

‘I’m not leaving Woody.’

‘He’ll be right behind you,’ she says.

‘No. He won’t,’ he cries. ‘He can’t jump down to the top of the ladder and Matilda won’t be able to catch him. He’s not going to get out. I’m not leaving him.’ He wraps his arms around Woody’s neck and holds him close.

‘Carl, I’m not losing you again,’ Sally shouts. Her voice is shaking with terror. She’s nervous but trying to sound forceful. ‘You’re going out of that window.’

‘Woody looked after me in Sweden. He got me through it all. I’m not leaving him here to die.’

Adele grabs a curtain and yanks it off the pole. ‘Carl, I’m pretty sure I can wrap this around Woody and lower him out of the window. It’ll reach Matilda. She’ll grab him and get him down. He’ll be fine. I know it. But we have to move now.’

‘He goes first.’

‘No. You go,’ Adele says, firmly. ‘It’ll give me a chance to make this secure.’

‘Don’t leave him to die,’ he says, tears running down his face.

‘I won’t. I promise.’

Carl takes Woody’s head in his hands. He kisses him on the nose and the frightened dog licks him back.

‘I’ll be right outside, Woody. I’ll be waiting for you. I love you.’

Sally grabs Carl by the shoulders and pulls him away. ‘Come on, Carl.’

There’s a whoosh from the door. The wet towels have dried up and caught fire. The whole door is now ablaze.

‘Jesus Christ!’ Adele says. ‘We’ve not got long.’

‘What’s taking so long?’ I shout from the top of the ladder. I can’t see into the bedroom from this low down.

‘We’re coming,’ I hear Sally reply.

She appears at the window. She looks petrified. I know how she feels. She lifts Carl up. He wipes the tears from his face with the back of his hands and lowers himself out of the window.

‘I’ll see you soon, Woods,’ he calls out.

I’m standing on the top rung. I don’t feel secure. I risk a glance back and Philip is holding the ladder firmly at the bottom. I reach out for Carl, but I still can’t get to him. There’s a space of about a foot between my fingertips and his feet.

‘Sally, you need to let him go,’ I shout.

‘Oh God!’ she cries.