Chapter 77
Hanna is so groggy that she has to force her eyes open when the sound of her phone wakes her. Sleepily she gropes around on the nightstand. She feels as if she has only slept for fifteen minutes, but the clock informs her that it is almost four in the morning.
She sees Daniel’s name on the display and is wide awake in a second.
“What’s happened?” He would never call at this hour unless it was something important.
“There’s been a major fire in Sadeln. Same address where Filippa was found.”
“Seriously?”
Hanna swallows. This can’t be a coincidence.
“The call just came through,” Daniel goes on. “The fire service are on their way, or they might be there already. A patrol car has also been dispatched.”
“Anyone hurt?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Hanna is holding her breath. Another death would be terrible.
Daniel pauses, as if he is reluctant to continue. “Could you go over there?” he says eventually. “I’m on my own with Alice.”
Hanna pushes her tousled hair back from her face. She understands his sense of inadequacy, how hard it must be for Daniel to ask for help.
“Of course, don’t worry about it,” she reassures him. “I’ve got this.”
She reaches for her jeans and yesterday’s sweater, her phone pressed to her ear.
“How about Anton? Could he come with me instead of you?”
“I’ll call him, ask him to get straight over there.”
There is another brief, strained pause. Hanna can hear him breathing on the other end of the line.
“Call me when you’re done, whatever the time is,” Daniel says in conclusion.
Hanna is almost dressed; she pulls on her padded jacket and heads for the front door.
As soon as she steps outside, the wind grabs her. It is whining around the corners of the house, and the low mountain birch trees are bending toward the ground.
Squally winds—increasing the risk of the fire spreading quickly and getting out of control.
Hanna sets off for Sadeln, driving as fast as she can. She prays that the fire service have made it in time; otherwise more houses could be at risk.
And lives.