As he stood to the side of the road to make the call, the drive-by patrol car pulled up. If only they’d been there a bit earlier, they might have caught the person who set the fire and prevented this whole mess. Luke shook his head as the officer got out of the car. ‘I just heard on the radio. We passed here only an hour or so ago.’
‘The fire is under control and everyone is accounted for and safe. We’ve checked the house,’ said the firefighter. ‘It looks like the blaze started in the hallway by the letter box, but it’s too early to be sure. However, there is a smell of accelerant hanging in the air. We need to survey the damage more thoroughly, which we’ll begin soon.’
Luke turned to face them. ‘I was lying in bed and I heard liquid being poured through the letter box. I heard it. Someone tried to kill us. He tried to kill us!’
Cathy answered his call and he sobbed as he relayed to her what had happened. He needed her to just turn up and take them to her house. As he ended the call, an ambulance pulled up. Heidi started to weep as he led her towards the first paramedic and up the ramp, into the ambulance. With the attempted break-in and now the fire at his house, Luke knew the hooded man would stop at nothing to harm his family.
Forty-Five
With closed eyes, Gina reached out in an attempt to grab her phone. It vibrated off the bedside table and landed somewhere on the floor. The ringing stopped. She prised her eyes open and leaned across Briggs to see the time on his radio alarm. Two thirty in the morning. She sat up and leaned over the side of the bed. Eventually, she located her phone. She rubbed her eyes and noticed the missed call from Jacob.
‘Is everything alright?’ Briggs asked, as his phone beeped too.
She fumbled in the dark for her clothes, which she’d left in a folded pile by the door. The moonlight coming through the bathroom window flooded the landing and seeped into the bedroom as she nudged the door further open. Her phone went again, and she jogged towards the bathroom and answered. ‘Jacob.’
‘There’s been a fire at the Jenkinses’ house.’
‘Are the family okay?’
‘All are safe. I don’t know what would’ve happened if it wasn’t for Mr Jenkins’ quick thinking. Apparently, he lowered the two children from the extension ledge off his bedroom. It all sounds very dramatic but everyone is safe. It definitely looks suspicious. And get this, there’s a witness. The witness called the fire brigade. He didn’t see the fire being set but he did see someone suspicious before turning into the road and seeing flames. I don’t know any more than that at the moment.’
‘Head straight to the station and interview the witness. I’ll head to Luke’s house.’
‘Will do, guv. See you in a bit.’
Gina began to shake with excitement as she paced the bathroom. A witness was just what they needed. She forced her legs into her trousers and quickly buttoned up her shirt. She dabbed her hair with some water and smiled as she grabbed the new toothbrush that Briggs had left out for her.
‘Fire at the Jenkinses’ house. I’m heading over now.’
Briggs was getting out of bed and battling with his trouser legs while half asleep. ‘See you at the station,’ he said.
Forty-Six
As she pulled up on Luke’s road, she spotted the ambulance outside the house. She turned the ignition off and walked over to him. ‘I just heard.’
‘We’re all safe, thankfully,’ Luke said, clutching a blanket around his shoulders. Max was sitting on a seat in the ambulance while a paramedic was tending to Heidi’s ankle. ‘Slight sprain but she’s okay, aren’t you, sweetie?’ he said as Heidi looked over and wiped her teary eyes.
‘She’s been very brave,’ said the paramedic.
‘I jumped out of the bedroom window,’ she said with a slight smile.
‘It sounds like you all did really well,’ Gina replied. She lightly pulled Luke away from Heidi’s curious ears. ‘Did you see anything?’
Luke rubbed his tired eyes. ‘I’ve already spoken to an officer, a few minutes ago, but no, I saw nothing. At approximately half one, I heard a trickle through the letter box and then the fire started. From then on, well, the rest is a blur. My only priority was getting the children out of the house.’ Luke’s hands trembled as he brought them up to his mouth. He let out a sob. ‘He’s trying to kill us. Whoever has Debbie is trying to destroy the rest of my family. Not content with what he’s done to my wife, he’s out to get the rest of us.’ Gina looked down. She’d have loved to reassure him, but she knew he was more than likely correct. This was a vindictive attack by someone intent on burning the house down with the family in it. She watched as forensics carried their kit bags towards the front door and began their work.
‘I’m so sorry this is happening to you, Luke. Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?’
‘Yes. We’re okay. The kids like staying with their nan anyway. I don’t know how I’m going to deal with all of this. I don’t know if I can go back in there with what’s happened.’ He wiped his teary face with the blanket and stared into space.
‘Daddy. The lady gave me a sticker for being a brave boy,’ Max shouted as he bounded along the pavement and hugged Luke’s legs. ‘Are you crying, Daddy?’
Luke smiled. ‘Just a bit.’
‘I left my dinosaur in the house.’
‘Max,’ Cathy shouted from the other side of the road as she crossed over. She hurried over to Luke and hugged him before bending down and ruffling Max’s hair. ‘Where’s your sister?’
Luke nodded towards the ambulance, and Cathy bustled off to sit with Heidi. Gina watched as Cathy bent down and kissed her granddaughter on the forehead.
Gina’s phone beeped. ‘I’m needed at the station,’ she said, reading the text. ‘I have your number and I know where you’ll be staying. Any news or updates at all, I’ll let you know immediately. I really am so sorry this is happening to you.’
As she turned to go, Luke grabbed her arm with his shaking hands. ‘Please. I can’t live like this. This is too much. I don’t know what to do anymore.’
She placed her hand on his arm. ‘You can do this. See your children over there, they need you to be strong for them. You are doing the right thing. Tonight, go to your mother-in-law’s house and stay there. You’ll be safe with her and we’ll continue patrolling.’
Luke nodded and began to weep.
‘It’s okay, Daddy. I’ll look after you,’ Max said as he hugged his father. Luke kneeled beside him and wrapped his small frame in his arms.
Gina hoped more than anything that this witness was going to be the one. Just one clue was all she needed, one good clue. It was obvious that they were close – the perp was becoming desperate. He had to slip up soon. Maybe tonight he had.
Forty-Seven
‘Fill me in,’ Gina said as she strode across the incident room towards Jacob. She threw her coat over a desk and sat next to him.
‘What a nightmare for that family. I don’t envy them at the moment.’ Jacob rubbed his dark eyes. She noticed that his shirt wasn’t properly tucked in and he was wearing odd socks. His fine hair was mussed at the back where he’d been separated from his pillow; he’d obviously rushed in without combing his hair. Consequences of being called out in the middle of the night. She then reflected on her own appearance and grimaced at the thought.
Briggs entered and sat down, trying to flatten his hair. ‘I hear we have a witness,’ he said.
Jacob threw his pen down. ‘We certainly do, and we have a description. A twenty-seven-year-old local by the name of Elliot Cooper was on his way back from a friend’s house. He’s also the one who called the fire department. Anyway, the suspect passed him with a holdall that could easily have contained an empty fuel can of some description. Cooper said the suspect was muttering to himself and didn’t even notice him as he passed. He was wearing some sort of hooded top but the hood was down. He said he wouldn’t have ordinarily taken much notice but the man’s behaviour was exceptionally odd and it was so late.’