Still no response.
“Jump over?” Loneghan was already over as he finished the words.
Alex joined him, looking around afterwards to see if anyone was watching. No one was about. There wasn’t even the sound of a bird singing.
The driveway was long, recently laid, leading to a house that looked individually designed. Whatever Kenny was doing, he had a good income to afford this, but then, Alex had been inside Drew’s house – or one of them – and had been blown away by that.
Loneghan got to the doorway first. He knocked hard, but there was no response. Alex looked through the large window into a lounge that could’ve been photographed for an interior magazine. It was tidy, the cushions plumped. A magazine lay on the coffee table.
“Looks like no one’s home. Let’s try round the back.” Loneghan started off around the side of the house, brushing past neatly manicured hedges.
Alex felt his phone vibrate again. He checked the screen and saw another missed call from Abby.
“Look here.” Loneghan’s voice was low, but it carried.
Alex ran over, dialling Abby, his phone struggling to connect. Loneghan was using his own phone, probably trying to contact McKay.
Through the large glass panes of the bi-fold doors Alex saw chaos. Clothes were scattered, shoes – women’s – were lying away from their pair across the floor. A make-up bag was on the dining table. It was the antithesis of the living room.
Abby’s voicemail kicked in. “We’re at Tilly’s address – just got there. I’ve got missed calls from you.” Alex paused as Loneghan opened the door. It was unlocked. “I’ll…”
His words were lost as dust and sparks shot out and an ear-splitting explosion savaged the silence.
Twenty
Two miles had never felt so long.
Rayah’s fear was palpable, falling off her in waves and colliding with Abby’s own. Neither of them had spoken since Abby had replayed Alex’s message on speaker phone. Rayah was focused on driving, her conflict between being safe and being fast noticeable through the frown on her face.
Abby stared at her phone, Ste’s number on her screen, waiting to be dialled. She knew he was suspended, understood from Alex that it was an excuse to get Ste away from the arrests that had been made on Friday. Garrison was trying to cover something up – or make something happen – that much she got, so phoning the station where Alex was based didn’t seem like a good idea.
Calling Ste did.
It rang, reception on her side for once.
“Abby,” he answered straight away. “Are you okay? There’s been an explosion…”
“I know. I had a voicemail from Alex,” she heard the tremor in her voice. “It stopped when there was a bang. He left it about ten minutes ago…. We’re driving to Tilly’s house…”. She couldn’t get any more words out, trying desperately to choke back a sob. Crying right now wouldn’t help Rayah. Or anyone.
“The paramedics have just got there and our team that deal with explosive devices. The street’s closed off, Abby.”
She heard Ste sigh. “Alex is alive. Our support team got there pretty much at the same time. Loneghan’s in a bad way. Abby, go to the cordon and I’ll meet you there.”
She wasout of the car before Rayah had finished braking. Ste was standing at the cordon as promised, dressed as a civilian. An ambulance was next to him. Abby almost tripped over her own feet getting there.
Words weren’t available. She clenched her fists and tried to focus.
“He’s in the ambulance.” Ste pulled back the cordon and then looked at Rayah. “Abby, go with him to hospital. Ray, are you okay?”
Abby turned to her friend and saw how pale she looked.
“Rayah, phone Jonny. Get him to come here and take you home.”
Rayah nodded and then dropped to her knees, holding her head low. Ste shouted for one of the paramedics, who jumped straight out and Abby felt torn.
“Go to Alex. I just feel faint,” Rayah said as Abby walked towards her. “I’ve had it before. It is okay. Go to Alex. Phone me. Look after him.”
Abby knelt down and hugged her, the paramedic waiting for her to clear so he could check her. “Try and do as they tell you.”
