Page 136 of Worse Than Murder

‘Shit. I bloody hate heights.’

‘More than fire?’

‘Good point.’

Sally lowers herself out of the upstairs window, holding onto the ledge by her fingertips.

I reach up and grab her ankles. ‘Sally, if you let go, we’re going to end up toppling back. You need to lower yourself down gently to me. Just a few inches, maybe not even that.’

‘I can’t.’

‘You’ve literally no choice, Sally.’

‘Fuck! Please don’t drop me.’

‘I’ll try not to.’

‘Okay. Letting go now.’

Sally lets go of the windowsill and I feel the full weight of her. She screams as her feet land on the top rung and she wraps her arms around my neck, like Carl did, only Sally has longer arms and a tighter grip and I’m pretty sure my eyes are going to pop out of my head.

‘Jesus Christ, that was scary,’ she says.

We’re holding each other tightly, neither of us daring to move.

‘Ease yourself down me then go carefully down the ladder.’

‘You can do this, Mum!’ Carl shouts.

Sally looks at me, tears in her eyes. ‘Thank you,’ she says as she painstakingly edges down the ladder.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Sally reach the ground and into Philip’s arms. I turn back to the restaurant. The smoke coming out of the window is blacker and thicker than before. We can’t have much longer left before it’s too late.

‘Adele, send Woody out next,’ I shout.

There’s no response.

Tania’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.