Firestarter (19 page)

'Are you and her...?'

He didn't meet her gaze. 'Er, maybe. I think so.'

'I'm glad, Tony.'

Over the next few days, Hamish visited Alice regularly at her parents' home. He was kind, sweet and funny but didn't tell her again that he loved her. She'd been awake when he said those words, hadn't she? Alice had almost been killed, saved by her ex-boyfriend and the hoaxer was still making calls. Except he wasn't a hoaxer as the fire had been real... or was that started by someone else? It was hard to know what had been real and what hadn't.

Both Kate's and then Alice's birthday celebrations were unusually low key. As they were born two years and two days apart, the sisters had frequently competed to hold the best parties. This time though, Kate opted for a restaurant meal with just Alice, her parents, Pete and his mum and dad and Hamish. Alice found even that tiring, so asked for tea and cake at home with the same group of people.

She did justice to her mum's fabulous baking, especially the chocolate, beetroot and cinnamon birthday cake. Alice was confident she'd soon be able to put her birthday gifts to good use. Her parents gave her a three in one walking coat, which could transform from something close to a continental quilt into a light rainproof jacket by undoing a few zips and discarding sections. Hamish gave her a set of binoculars and a bird identification book. He'd put a marker in the page for choughs.

The present she was particularly looking forward to trying out was Kate's offering. She'd used her garish wellington boots as wrapping for a set of very nice underwear. The expression on Hamish's face suggested he approved. Her dad pretended to, or maybe really did, think it was a lacy blouse.

Her mum fussed over Alice constantly. When she started to find it overpowering, she knew she was recovering.

'Save me from her, Hamish,' she begged.

'As I didn't get to rescue you from the fire, that's the least I can do. Where do you want to go?'

'Somewhere peaceful.'

'The sanctuary? You could hide in a hide.'

'Sounds perfect.'

Since her ordeal Alice had been either lying or sitting down and the walk to the hide was far more tiring than she'd expected. Even sitting up properly on the bench so she could watch the oyster catchers seemed like hard work.

'Hello,' Louise's loud whisper reached them through the door.

'We're in here,' Hamish told her.

'I thought Alice might need coffee. It's not that warm today.' She produced a flask and packet of biscuits.

'Oh, thank you, Louise. That's kind,' Alice said.

'Glad to see you're out and about,' Louise said, then left. A moment later she put her head back in. 'The coffee shouldn't be too bitter. The state you're in I didn't think I'd need much poison.' Then she really was gone.

Alice burst into tears.

Hamish held her. 'Hey, come on. You're OK and you do know she was kidding?'

'I know and she was being nice.' Alice blew her nose. 'Sorry. I think it's having to be cheerful in front of Mum. I just needed to feel sorry for myself for a minute.'

'I feel sorry for you too.'

'Oh?' Is that why he'd said he loved her? Alice wanted to cry again.

'Yes, life with Jeff is a horrible thought.'

'Jeff?'

'Yes. I know you and Tony did most of the actual saving part, but it was Jeff who put you over his shoulder and carried you down the ladder out of the fire.'

'I don't even remember.' It was almost funny; her fantasy had come true but not only couldn't she remember it happening, she didn't want to; and Jeff being involved was the least worst part.

'Don't worry, he'll remind you. Constantly.'

'You mean I'm going to have to be grateful to Jeff?'

'Afraid so. Though maybe if you were unconscious at the time it won't count and you won't have to marry him?'

'I am not marrying Jeff!'

'Tony then? It really was him...'

'Don't be silly. I don't love Tony, I don't think I ever did and I definitely don't love Jeff. How could you think such an idiotic thing?'

'But he's a fireman and he saved you...'

'What's that got to do with anything? Oh, Hamish, my fantasy is just that. It never did stand up to reality. OK yes, you being a fireman didn't exactly discourage me, but if that was the only thing I liked about you I wouldn't have kept seeing you. Can you honestly see me lasting as much as one date with Jeff?'

'No. No I really can't. I was a bit worried though to start with. That kind of thing has happened to me before and you could have been on the rebound.'

She kissed him. 'I admit I wasn't entirely sure either to start with. Sounds like we were both holding back a bit.'

'Except in Wales?'

'True. Hamish, I love you.'

'I love you too.' He kissed her until she had to push him away for fear her dizziness would return.

'I wish I'd accepted your offer at the show now. I'd rather cling on to my rescue fantasy than remember I once needed it for real.'

'If it would help, we could have our honeymoon in the cottage in Wales and I could carry you up the stairs again.'

'Yes, that would help a lot.'

Chapter 19

With the help of the registration number Tony had noted down, the police tracked the owner of the car which had been outside Tatisuz on the night of the fire. An officer came to see Alice at her parents' home.

'The person in question is a Mr Blair, does that name mean anything to you?'

'No. I don't think I know anyone of that name. It isn't anyone who works for the company, I'm sure of that. Did he see... or say, anything helpful?'

'He did, yes. When we called to say we were making routine enquiries about the car he made such a fuss we decided we should take a look at it. He'd left the petrol cans in his garage along with a computer and printer he'd taken from your office and a few boxes of stock. He soon confessed that he and his brother set the fire. When we said we had CCTV footage of them making the hoax calls they confessed to that too. They deny any violence though.'

'You don't believe them, do you?' Alice's dad asked.

'No, and as the fire exit had been deliberately blocked they'll never convince a jury it was accidental or unplanned. We'll get the truth out of them and the bloke who hired them.'

'Have you traced him?' Alice asked.

'Oh yes. It was your boss, Miles Molde.'

'Miles! But why would he want to burn down his own business?'

'It's not unheard of for people to do that, either an insurance scam or an attempt to cover something up.'

'I should have known!' Kate said.

'How could you?' Alice asked.

'I knew he'd been turned down for a big loan. I was worried about your job and looked at his accounts.'

'You never told me.'

'I couldn't. It's confidential and I had no idea at the time what it might mean. I did tell you I didn't trust him though. When you said he'd got a big order and later confirmed you were getting your pay rises I hoped everything was OK, but something bothered me.'

'It should have bothered me too. That pay rise was too good to be true. Orders were up a little, but transport and insurance costs had soared. None of the figures seemed to make any sense, but he always had some kind of explanation and I didn't properly look into it.'

'You mean this was all just an insurance scam?' her dad asked.

'Tax too I imagine as the company he was paying huge transport costs to is called Molde Motors,' Alice said. 'He made a big thing out of the coincidence.'

The police officer made notes and assured them he'd pass that on. 'You're right about the insurance part. Molde admitted that, but claims he had no idea anyone would get hurt.'

'Claims?' Alice's dad asked.

'We're assuming the original plan was to set a fire without trying to kill anyone, but when you two turned up they panicked. One of the brothers made that last hoax call from your friend Tony's phone. Presumably Molde told them what to say, so he had to know Tony was there. If he thought there would be a surviving witness he'd have called them off, so we reckon he knew someone was in the building when it went up.'

'And the other hoaxes? Did Miles arrange those?'

'Yes. He set off the alarms in the building himself and had the Blair brothers make the calls. He thought it might make the fire brigade less likely to respond to a genuine one, or at least slow them down so there wouldn't be any evidence and he hoped whoever made the first one would be blamed for everything. Once he discovered who that was, he tried harder to implicate him.'

Eventually the brothers were tried and found guilty of arson and attempted murder. Miles was convicted of fraud and his part in the attempt to kill Tony. It wasn't proven he'd known Alice's life was also in danger, but even so he received a long prison sentence.

Six months later, Alice was again back at her parents' house. She even slept in her old room as her dad had got rid of his wine making kit and taken up painting. Watercolours thankfully, so she only had to negotiate his easel, not inhale paint and thinner fumes.

There was a tap on her door.

'Come in.'

Her mum brought her a tray holding a cup of tea, croissant with jam, dish of strawberries, glass of juice and a pot of yoghurt. 'You might not feel like it, but try to eat something. It's going to be a busy day.'

'Thanks, Mum.'

'I'll leave you to get up and have your shower, but don't take too long. We need to leave for the hairdresser in an hour.'

'No problem. Mum, are you crying?'

'Yes, but the mother of the bride is supposed to do that. It's only because I'm so happy.'

'So am I, Mum. Really, really happy.'

'Well, I should think so.'

Kate was waiting downstairs by the time Alice was ready. 'Mum wouldn't let me come up, she said I'd distract you.'

Their mum drove them to the hairdresser's and then on to the beautician's to have their make-up and nails done. By the time they left for home all three of them were total glamour from the neck up. Alice's mum's hair was in a super sleek glossy bob. Her make-up subtle, but for the flash of deep red lipstick, perfectly matched by her nails. Alice and Kate's hair were controlled torrents of spring curls. Kate's was finished with a circlet of tiny cream rosebuds. Alice had in place a clip onto which her veil would later be attached. Their faces seemed to wear no make-up, though their complexions were flawless, their lips glossy and lashes even longer and thicker than usual. They'd both had classic French manicures.

'Do you think you can eat something, love?' Alice's mum asked as she turned onto the driveway. 'There's enough time.'

'Probably and I could do with another cup of tea.'

'I can definitely eat,' Kate said.

'I've made a quiche, but I could do you some sandwiches or soup or...'

'Quiche would be great, Mum,' Alice said.

'And maybe some cake?' Kate added.

As the kettle boiled there was a knock on the door. Her dad went to open it and returned with Louise.

'If I'm in the way or anything just say and I'll clear off.'

'No of course you're not,' Alice said. 'We're just having a snack. Will you join us?'

'Thank you.' Louise accepted a mug of coffee and slice of quiche.

Alice had invited her to be a matron of honour along with Kate, but she'd refused.

'I'm not one for getting done up in dresses and things, you know that. I wouldn't feel comfortable.'

Alice had guessed that wouldn't just be because of the clothes, but didn't say anything else other than, 'OK, but you will come, won't you? And to my hen night?'

'Too right. I'm going to slip something in your drink at the hen night, then turn up at the wedding all innocence to check it's worked.'

'You know, you'd have a better chance of killing me if you didn't keep warning me.'

'Double bluff? Nah, actually I've gone off the idea of killing you. I'm planning to give you something that will create an allergic reaction. You know, scabby skin, boils, hair falling out. That kind of thing.'

'Nice.'

Louise had come to the hen night though and she'd clinked her glass against Alice's and wished her luck and happiness. True she'd gone home quite early, but she'd done that every time she'd been persuaded to go anywhere with Alice and Hamish.

The two women had made a real effort to become friends and it had worked. Alice hoped it hadn't been too hard for Louise to call and see her shortly before watching her oldest friend marry her newest.

Once they'd all finished eating, Alice's mum told her dad he was in charge of the washing up as he'd not just had his nails done.

'We can redo our lipstick easily enough, but touching up nail varnish never works. Besides, we've got dresses to sort out and it won't take you a minute to get into your suit.'

'No, but it'll take me a while to work out what to do with that cravat thing.'

'It's easy, Dad. I've downloaded a demonstration from YouTube so I'll help you,' Kate said.

'Alice, could I have a quick word before I go?' Louise said.

'Sure. Come through to the lounge.'

They both sat, though in Louise's case perching described it better.

'I... er... here.' She thrust a tiny jewellery box at Alice. Inside was a tiny, polished pale blue stone set into a brooch.

'Thank you, it's beautiful.'

'It's not an actual gemstone or anything. This might seem weird but I found it in the mudflats the day I heard you and Hamish were getting married. Normally of course I'd just leave a stone, but something made me pick it up and keep it. After you asked me to be matron of honour I decided to have it set for you... as your something blue.' Tears dripped down her face.

'Louise, I...'

'Anyway, best be going. See you in church.'

Kate's dress was a simple long shift with a sweetheart neckline, in cream silk. Alice's was made from the same material to her knees, where it merged into a lace fishtail in the same colour. Her shoulders where bare, but would be covered by the froth of her filmy veil as she walked down the aisle. Both girls wore sashes in the style often used for Scots weddings, but instead of the family tartan the material was in the same shade of grey-green as Hamish's eyes. Alice pinned the brooch Louise had given her onto her sash. Alice's mum's dress was the same colour as the sashes and so were the ribbon on her hat, and her dad's waistcoat and cravat.

Alice's mobile beeped. There was a text from Louise. 'p.s. It's radioactive'. Alice grinned then switched off her phone. She wouldn't be needing that for some time.

Their mum gave Alice one more tearful hug before Kate dragged her away and into the waiting car, leaving Alice and her dad to wait for its return.

'I've got a surprise for you, love,' he said.

'Oh, thanks, Dad.'

'Be careful not to spill it on your dress though. Beetroot wine can stain something awful, your mum said.'

'Beetroot wine?'

'I saved my last two bottles. One for you today and one for Kate when her time comes.'

'Dad, you really shouldn't have.'

'You'll have a last drink with your dear old dad before you give up his name and take on some other fella's won't you?'

'Put like that, how could I possibly refuse?' She wished it wasn't a rhetorical question and someone would magically appear with an answer.

'I'll just fetch it then.' He looked so happy she knew she'd have to get it down somehow.

She heard a cork pop. Not a good sign as beetroot wine wasn't generally supposed to be sparkling. Oh no! Had it exploded all over him? His dark suit would disguise some of it, but he'd not had the jacket done up. She hurried, as well as her fishtail dress and high heeled shoes allowed, to the kitchen. Her dad was there, pouring champagne into tall glasses and chuckling to himself.

'It seems to have aged pretty well!'

'Dad! That was a mean, rotten trick.'

'It was.' He grinned. 'Don't tell your sister, eh? It'll work just as well on her.'

'OK, I won't.' She accepted her glass and clinked it against her dad's.

They both drank from the glasses he'd poured.

'I can't say anything, love. If I do I'll cry.'

'It's OK, Dad.' She hugged him.

Hamish was waiting for her, wearing a kilt in his family tartan. His brother and Jeff were dressed to match. Hamish had made Jeff his best man.

'No man can be better than the one who carried you out of that fire,' he'd told Alice.

'I'm not so sure about that, but if one of us is going to show our gratitude it's got to be you. No way am I doing any of the things he's suggested. Well, not to him anyway. You might get a demonstration of some of them on our honeymoon.'

As he'd promised, they were spending that back in the cottage in Wales. There would be less hours of daylight than during Alice's first visit there, but neither of them thought that would be a problem.

Alice and Hamish exchanged vows, including the promise to love each other through fire and mud. The new Mr and Mrs Mustarde left church through an archway formed by uniformed firefighters holding up various tools of their trade. Thankfully none of the hoses were connected to a water supply.

The on-duty crew weren't called to a shout, so were able to pop into the reception for a piece of the cake which had been cut with a fireman's axe. Everyone from Red Watch attended with their families including William's new baby daughter. She didn't cry, but Alice's mum did. Again.

'There you are!' Kate said, 'Come on. I've got one matron of honour duty left.' She put her arm through Alice's.

'Where are we going?'

Before Kate could reply, Rachel touched Alice's shoulder.

'Congratulations, Mrs Mustarde.' She kissed Alice's cheek. 'You look really lovely. That's a fabulous dress. The whole thing has been lovely. Thank you so much for inviting us.'

'You're welcome. Thank you both for coming.'

'Congratulations, Alice.' Tony hugged her. She'd not have known which shoulder had been injured had she not seen the damage for herself.