“I’ll head straight over.” He hung up, not wanting any more details right now.
This was too much of a coincidence; Abby being followed after leaving the bar and now this. There was the possibility that it wasn’t her that someone had been after, and it was the bar’s takings, but it still seemed too much of a coincidence.
Moving without waking Abby was impossible, so Alex leaned over and woke her up gently, her eyes flickering open.
She smiled and his chest felt full again.
“Got to head out. Police emergency.” He kissed her mouth, her eyes still half closed with sleep. “Have a good day and I’ll phone you when I can.”
“Is everything okay?”
He wasn’t going to lie. “No. Scott’s bar’s been broken into but I don’t want you to jump to conclusions. Go back to sleep.”
She nodded. “Be careful. I’m staying here all morning.”
“Good.” He gave her another kiss and headed to the bathroom, his head already running wild with theories.
Scott stood outside the building,wearing his usual jeans and rock band T-shirt, his hair scraped back and his eyes tired.
“How did they break in?” Alex’s words were directed at the forensics specialist, Mia, who looked as tired as he felt.
“Back of the building, busted through the window into a toilet. Got as far as opening the door into the bar and the alarm went off. Police were here before Scott. I’ve already had footage pulled from the nearby cameras and we’ve caught whoever it was running away. I’ll do more with it tomorrow but from what I’ve had sent through from the geek squad, it matches the description of the lads who held up the shop in Waterfoot.” Mia looked at Scott. “I know you’re worried about Abby because of what happened the other week, but she doesn’t stay here anymore and the flat above the bar looks totally empty.”
Scott nodded. “I don’t think this is someone after Abby. I think this is scrotes who are hanging round here because of the festival.”
“Or something to do with the fires and Felley Manor.”
Mia glanced at him. “No point speculating. I’ve already found a cigarette that’s fresh and a couple of other bits that might be connected. There are fingerprints that we’ve found inside which suggest they’re from someone who’s come through the window. Plus a bit of blood which is still wet, so whoever it was, they haven’t watched much of the way in detective drama in the last twenty years.”
“You’ve been busy.”
She nodded. “Always. I’m going to drop it at the lab and go home and sleep.”
“You should go home too. Don’t tell me you’re on shift in the morning.”
Alex nodded. “In about two hours, so I’m going to head into the station and get some paperwork done. And hope someone takes pity on me and let’s me go home early.”
Scott nodded. “Tell Abby not to worry. And I could do with a lift the day after tomorrow.”
There were times when Alex would’ve hugged his brother if he knew it wouldn’t make Scott tremble with disgust. “Thank you. I will.”
“Leave Zack to me.”
“I wouldn’t go near Zack at the moment.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because an alpaca did a huge dump in his office and he really isn’t in a good mood.”
Scott tipped his head back and gave a laugh that sounded like a roar. “That’s brilliant. Probably my favourite thing ever.”
Maybe it was, but right now, Alex had even more to get his head round.
Twelve
Morning sunshine tipped in through the window, the curtains slightly parted by the light breeze. The weather forecast was for another hot day, breaking a few more records for English summers and periods without rain. It would’ve been another good day for an easy climb, and as soon as she thought that, Abby knew she had the bug back. It hadn’t taken long.
One of Alex’s hoodies was folded over a chair in the bedroom, one that Abby had already commandeered a few times. It smelled of him, and as much as she knew she was behaving like a teenage girl, she’d found that she’d rather wear it than most of her own clothes.
