I looked at Cas, then the police officer.
The police officer shrugged. “I don’t see why we can’t get it.”
Cassian nodded. “The teacher near the gates will know where it is.” He pointed at Mia’s teacher, who was standing with a group of her colleagues, looking over at us.
“I’ll go and speak to her. Can I ask you stay here so we can organise taking a statement – it doesn’t have to be tonight.”
“I’d rather do it tonight.”
The officer nodded. “I understand.”
There was more busyness, people around us, someone getting rid of a journalist, someone talking to Mavis. I was lost in the midst of organised chaos, paramedics, police, Mia’s social worker who gave her a cuddle as soon as she saw Mia. Mia liked her, which was such a good thing, and I only hoped that Sue Samuels didn’t get moved to a different department anytime soon.
There were medical checks in the ambulance for Cassian and Mia, who was a mixture of curious about what was in an ambulance and wanting to get out of it as fast as possible and go home.
An hour later and a police car drove the three of us round to the cottages, Liv standing at the gate to the path waiting for us. There had been a bit of an argument as to whether she needed to be checked at hospital, but the decision had been made that as she was physically unharmed, a local after-child-medical could happen tomorrow instead.
She was quiet in the police car, nestled into me, Cassian on her other side, looking incredibly shattered. My evening was rightly going to be spent with her and Heidi, Roman on his way with Heidi from the Puffin Inn, where she’d been anxious and worried, but very good, spending most of the time stroking the dogs, which made a change from when she wanted to try and ride them or dress them up.
I still didn’t know what’d happened in Cassian’s office, or how the three of them had gotten out physically unharmed. I knew Cas well enough to see that he was shaken and exhausted, the adrenalin crash happening before my eyes.
“Stay the night with us,” I said as we walked down the path into my home. “Sleep in Heidi’s bed; the girls will be with me.”
He nodded and half collapsed into the sofa as soon as we were there. Liv made herself comfy in the chair. I sat next to Cassian, with Mia lying across me, and a few minutes later, Heidi almost timidly walked in. She saw me, started to trot towards me and climbed up onto my knee, I pulled her in for a hug, feeling muscles that’d been tense for weeks finally relax.
“How was the Puff Puff?” I smiled as I said it, although she’d started giving it its proper name the last few weeks.
“Good. I brushed the dogs.” She gave me a broad smile that showed a missing tooth. A gap that hadn’t been there a couple of hours ago.
“Did your tooth fall out?”
Roman stepped further into the room, pulling a small zip lock bag out of his pocket. “I’m told this is for the tooth fairy.”
Heidi scrambled off my knee and took the bag. “Thank you.” She smiled at him and then jumped back on me, almost kicking Cassian. “Caleb says the tooth fairy will take my tooth when I’m asleep and pay me for it.”
I glanced at Roman who was smirking in exactly the same way his son did.
“Did he say how much?”
Heidi nodded. “Five pounds.”
I looked at Roman again, glaring. “Tell Caleb he can foot that one.”
“Foot?” Heidi frowned, tugging at my sleeve. “Does the tooth fairy take feet too?”
“Only Caleb’s. A toe at a time.” I made sure my expression was as serious as my tone.
“I’ll leave you to discuss the toe fairy.” Roman gave me a salute. “Call if you need anything. I’ll let the rest of the town know you’re all okay – expect a chain of people delivering dinners for you for the next month.”
I laughed for what felt like the first time in too long. “I like the idea of no cooking. Thanks, Roman.”
“Anytime. She’s been a delight. She wobbled the tooth out, by the way. Caleb did not tie it to an open door handle and shut it, whatever she tells you.” His eyes twinkled. “Take care.”
He was replaced immediately by Liv’s boss, Detective Inspector Jones, who I’d met a couple of times in the last week or so. He didn’t sit, just rested his back against the radiator and looked relieved.
“I’m told you’re all in one piece?” He studied Mia. “Sleep’s probably the best thing right now.”
Cassian nodded. “One piece and exhausted. How’s Cara?”
