Chapter 47
‘How should I know?’ says Bella, in answer to her father’s question – something of her old pique returning, now that she sees Drew is going to be okay.
Tobias runs a hand through his hair. His back is killing him after kneeling on the stony beach, crouching over his son’s body for so long.
‘I tried calling all three of you,’ he splutters. ‘When I heard all this racket going on in the town; fire brigades, sirens. A hell of a commotion. I’d woken up and found you all missing.’
Bella looks back at him vacantly. Her face still has a lost, haunted quality to it and he wonders how long it will remain, or if she will be permanently scarred by this near miss.
The female paramedic, Sarah, leans over then to give Bella’s shoulder an encouraging squeeze as if she can tell that Tobias’s barracking is not helping.
‘There’s been a house fire, over on the other side of the bay,’ she supplies. ‘That’s why we were so late in responding to you guys, I’m afraid. We’ve had most of our local crews over there. It’s where we’ve just come from.’
‘Christ,’ says Tobias, ‘Talk about atrocious timing. What are the bloody chances?’
He says this with little sympathy. If he’s honest, it feels like a massive inconvenience that his son didn’t receive priority treatment. As though reading the bitter inference in his voice, Sarah clears her throat.
‘It’s a pretty bad situation over there actually. There’s been some casualties. I can’t really say any more.’
‘Oh right. House fire, you say?’ he responds. ‘I presumed it was a campfire that had got out of hand. I hear it gets pretty lively round these parts when there’s a local celebration. Young kids, high jinks, taking the law into their own hands, that sort of thing.’
Bella shifts uncomfortably beside him and the irony hangs heavily between them.
‘No,’ says Sarah coldly. ‘Haven’t a clue how this one started, could have been a stray firework I suppose, even a lit cigarette end?
But it was serious. One of the big houses up on Cliff Road.
We thought it might be straightforward as it was a vacant property but a couple of people were found on site.
Not sure if it was the smoke inhalation or the fallen scaffolding that got them. ’
She stops talking now, her mouth clamping tightly shut on any more information, as she realises she has said too much. Her colleague exchanges a meaningful glance with her and they both stand.
‘Right, we have to get Drew to hospital. He’ll need to be under observation for the next day or so,’ says Jim, business-like. ‘You’re welcome to follow on behind us in your car, sir. Your daughter might need treating for shock and any other… er, side effects,’ he adds diplomatically.
Bella dips her head, but nods once in assent and drags herself stiffly to her feet.
They all turn to look at him, their faces expectant, waiting for Tobias to respond but his body has become inert, either from shock or paralysis, he’s not sure.
‘What did you say?’ he finally gets out. ‘About scaffolding?’
He hears his daughter give a small gasp of comprehension followed by the words, ‘Oh God, Dad. You don’t suppose …?’
‘We really need to get going now,’ says Jim impatiently, his focus as always on the patient.
‘But that sounds like my house. My, I mean … our property. We’re fixing up a house on that street.’
The two paramedics exchange glances again, hoisting Drew up onto the stretcher, his body still limp and weak as he lapses in and out of consciousness.
‘Wait,’ calls Tobias. Then he makes a quick decision. He has always been good at putting emotion aside and seeing the bigger picture. ‘Can Bella ride with you in the ambulance? She can stay with Drew, get checked over at the same time.’
The paramedics shrug noncommittally but carry on. He turns to his daughter.
‘Stay with your brother. Find a pay phone, or get yours charged, and let me know where you are when you can.’
She nods obediently, eager to do as she’s told.
To evade further censure, he presumes. Tobias tries an encouraging smile.
‘I need to find out what’s happened at the property,’ he adds.
He also needs to find Olivia, his wife, their mother.
He hopes to God that this will not end up being one and the same thing.