Page 98 of All Mine
‘Things got more serious.’ He told them about the Dougalls now knowing who he was and thinking that Isabella was his wife. Fox rubbed his forehead on hearing Isabella’s name. Walker whistled low.
‘Does she know anything about this?’
‘No,’ said Etienne. ‘I told you, it’s only us.’
‘But they have no reason to come for you if Alex pays up as planned.’
‘Exactly. And we have less than a week to go.’ Etienne paused. ‘And even if they did pay me a visit, there’s no way Isabella would be within a mile of me.’
‘No?’ Walker said. ‘I thought you were getting on so well yesterday at the community event. You almost looked like a couple. . .’
‘Let’s just say, I’m not her favourite person any more,’ he said, ignoring the stab in his insides. ‘So, she’ll be safe and sound away from me no matter what happens.’
‘What does that mean?’ Walker probed. ‘Do you want to be her favourite person?’
‘Were things going somewhere?’ Fox asked.
‘Forget it,’ Etienne said. ‘It’s not happening.’ He pressed his lips together so tightly he felt the strain in his jaw.
‘We’re always around, Et,’ Fox said. ‘If you need us.’ He clapped a hand on Etienne’s shoulder and then stood to check on the boys, happy when he saw them on the swings, Reggie pushing George in a rare moment of sibling teamwork.
Walker stretched again, checked his watch.
‘Gotta go,’ he said, rising to his feet. ‘Staff meeting this afternoon. Police are coming in to brief us.’
‘What’s the score with Heart of Honeybridge?’ Fox asked. ‘How long will it be out of action for?’
‘One wing will be a week; the other wing will be more like a month. Looks like you’ll have Fred Barrow with you for a while, Et, as his room was worst hit.’
Etienne nodded. The thought of Fred being in the apartment in the evenings was oddly comforting, especially seeing as he had absolutely no inclination to bring any women home for the foreseeable future.
‘The Spare Room Sleepover was a massive success,’ Walker said. ‘There were only ten people that had to be housed in emergency council accommodation and that was only because they have extra medical needs. Isabella did an amazing job.’
She had done an amazing job, it was true. Becauseshewas amazing.
Walker picked up his rucksack.
‘Seems like Fred’s room was where the fire started. Lucky he was out in the back garden.’
Etienne frowned.
‘Why would anyone want to burn down a home for old folks? I don’t get it.’
‘And especially Fred Barrow? Why would anyone want to hurt him?’
Walker hitched his rucksack onto his back.
‘The police have been trying to find a link between all recent events. The house fire that started at the Malones’. A new hire company business that got torched overnight. A man in Shalford that came home from work to a burning house. An office in town that had a burning package put through the letter box. There’s so many and they all seem so different.’
‘And no CCTV footage that might help?’ Etienne asked. Walker shook his head.
‘Whoever is doing it certainly knows what they are doing.’
‘What are the boys playing at now?’ Fox said, standing to watch as they ran across the park and threw themselves at—
‘Ciao, Bella,’ Reggie cried with delight as he wrapped himself around Isabella’s legs. She bent to ruffle his hair and then tickle George under the armpit. Something leaped inside Etienne at the sight of her.
Both boys hanging off her, she scanned the nearby benches, obviously looking for Fox. Etienne saw her expression change as she spotted him there beside Fox. Something rippled across her face which was immediately replaced by a stoic resignation that they would have to talk.
