‘If you’re sure,’ she said, but they were already walking. Sam had quite a stride and Blythe had to power-walk to keep up. She snagged a look at him in profile. He glanced in her direction and quickly changed focus to the street ahead. She felt immediately awkward. ‘I felt so useless. When Eden collapsed like that, I just didn’t know what to do.’ She thought back to how Sam checked her pulse and eased her into the recovery position before Leonora took over.
‘We can’t all be good at everything,’ he said. ‘Vicky will appreciate you waiting with her at the hospital. Having a friend there will definitely help her get through this.’
‘Thanks.’ He had a reassuring way about him.
The village was ghostly quiet. Everyone was at the fireworks. Sam’s car was parked on his drive and as they approached they both came to an abrupt halt at the same time as they saw a beam of torchlight lighting up the side of the cottage.
‘Burglar,’ whispered Sam. ‘Call the police.’
Blythe was in two minds. She’d already cried wolf once. She pulled out her phone but decided she’d wait and see. She didn’t want to call the police out on a wild goose chase. Sam crept down the side of the cottage and very carefully opened the gate. Blythe followed him at a distance. Her pulse picked up. They inched closer. They heard the obvious sound of someone trying the back door. Blythe tapped Sam on the shoulder and he jumped. He mimed annoyance and surprise at her. ‘Sorry,’ she mouthed, with a grimace. ‘I think it really is a burglar this time. I’ll call the police.’
‘I thought you were already doing that,’ he whispered.
A clatter drew their attention. Sam inched his way towards the back garden. Blythe was experiencing a strange split loyalty. She knew she needed to alert the police but at the same time she wanted to see the burglar. An image of a giant rough-looking brute wielding a crowbar loomed into her mind and she dialled the police with trembling fingers. ‘Be careful,’ she hissed at Sam’s back. Sam said nothing, but as he turned his expression of exasperation was clear.
He waved at her in an agitated fashion, which she took as a warning sign. The torchlight grew bigger and Blythe’s heart thumped harder. They both peered around the corner of the cottage. The figure in the shadows crouched down and appeared to be looking underneath plant pots – how strange.
There was no sound as Blythe caught sight of Turpin creeping along the wall. She was relieved to see he was okay. There was a sudden movement and Turpin leapt from the wall, landing squarely on the back of the crouched figure. ‘Argh!’ came a woman’s scream. She tried to stand up so Turpin climbed onto her shoulders and hung on as her arms flailed about.
‘Help!’ she yelled, her voice full of panic.
‘Are you armed?’ asked Sam.
The woman looked even more startled as Blythe and Sam approached. ‘No, of course not.’ She seemed surprised by the question.
‘Stand still,’ he instructed. Sam stepped forward and cautiously took hold of Turpin and lifted him up. But the cat had his claws firmly embedded in the woman’s coat.
‘Help,’ said Sam, turning in Blythe’s direction. She joined Sam and managed to free Turpin’s claws with only a few warning hisses from the irritated feline.
‘That gave me a start. But don’t worry no harm done,’ said the woman.
Blythe leaned past Sam to get a look at the intruder but the torchlight was blinding. ‘Put the torch down,’ called Blythe.
‘Whoops, sorry,’ said the woman, pointing the torch at her feet.
‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ asked Sam.
‘Oh, do you live here?’ she asked, waving the torch in their eyes but realising and pointing it back at the ground.
‘Yes, and right now you’re trespassing.’
‘It’s lovely. Have you lived here long?’ she asked, flattening herself against the wall and scooting past them both. ‘Oh, hello again. Have the fireworks finished already?’ she asked Blythe, and Blythe realised it was the woman in the hat who had spoken to her at the display, engaging with her like an old friend as she inched back down the path before turning and running into the night. ‘Hey!’ shouted Blythe but the woman had gone.
‘Who was she?’ asked Sam.
‘I’ve no idea. I only met her about half an hour ago. She was asking if I was local. Maybe she was trying to get information about which houses were empty so she could rob them.’
Sam tried the back door and walked along the back of the cottage checking as he went. ‘There’s no sign of damage so I don’t think she’s a very good burglar.’ At least that was a relief. But if she wasn’t a burglar then who the heck was she?
*
Owen indicated and turned into the hospital car park. Vicky was expecting to feel a sense of relief but instead she felt a jolt of panic. This was really happening. The sight of the hospital brought the situation into sharp focus. Owen and their complicated past didn’t matter. All that mattered was Eden. Owen stopped outside, jumped out and pulled the seat forward to get Eden out. ‘Leave her. I’ll take it from here,’ said Vicky, reaching in to release Eden’s seat belt and lift her out – which was a tricky manoeuvre as she was still scrunched up. As Vicky lifted her she vomited. The back of the driver’s seat took the brunt of it. ‘Sorry,’ said Vicky, reversing out with Eden in her arms. ‘And thanks for the lift.’
She rushed inside as fast as she dared and was relieved to see there was no queue at the desk, although a quick glance around told her they were in for a long wait. There were so many people waiting that every seat was taken and people were standing up.
‘My daughter’s sick and in pain. Please help me,’ said Vicky, embarrassed at the sound of her voice cracking.
‘It’s okay, we’ll get someone to triage her as soon as you give me some information. Name?’ asked the receptionist.
