‘What are you doing here?’ Bridie asked.
‘Layla phoned, hysterical, saying the theatre was on fire.’
Rufus stared at them. He looked about him, his eyes settling on the theatre. ‘What is all this about?’
Bridie looked crossly at her mum and Kate. ‘Why did you bring Dad? I told you not to tell him.’
‘We had no choice. He insisted on coming with us. There wasn’t time to argue.’
‘Hey, I’m right here,’ said Rufus.
Kate said, ‘It was Jack, wasn’t it? The rehearsals were still going ahead despite his efforts, and so he decided—’
‘Rehearsals?’ Rufus glanced at the theatre. ‘In The Little Theatre by the Sea?’
‘No, it wasn’t Jack,’ Bridie replied to Kate.
‘What? Then who?’
Bridie pointed to the woman sitting inside in the ambulance. Despite the passage of time, Bridie had immediately recognised her from the poster, and if she had any doubts, Reggie was sitting in the ambulance, holding her hand. ‘That was my saboteur.’
‘That old lady tried to burn down your theatre?’
‘Not intentionally. She was squatting there, living in the dressing room when apparently a curtain caught fire from anaked flame on a portable gas stove. But she was the one moving stuff around, turning lights on and off …’
Kate waded in, adding, ‘Trying to scare us into closing down rehearsals to stop the show going ahead. She must have known of the rumour about the ghost – that actress who had disappeared during the last show there years ago.’
‘Oh, she knew all right. That lady in there is the actress, Isobel Raine.’
Chapter 54
‘Will someone please tell me what on earth is going on?’ Rufus asked.
‘Hello, Rufus.’
Rufus turned around. They all did. She’d spotted them standing outside the ambulance.
They all gathered around the back of the ambulance, looking in.
‘Isobel?’ Rufus looked taken aback. ‘Is that really you?’
‘Yes. Yes, it is.’
‘What are you doing here?’ Claire asked suspiciously.
There was an awkward silence.
‘Ahem.’ Rufus coughed into his hand and commented, ‘You’ve got an American accent, Isobel.’
‘That’s just what Reggie here said.’
Reggie looked over at Rufus. ‘Long time, no see, Rufus. I’ve missed you. Wished you’d stopped by Cobblers Yard, but I guess that wasn’t possible – revisiting your past.’ Bridie caught Reggie’s eyes drift to her mum.
‘It wasn’t, not under the … circumstances.’ Rufus glanced at Claire. Their eyes met.
Bridie looked at her mum and dad and wondered whatcircumstanceshe was talking about. Bridie’s gaze drifted to Isobel, who was staring at her intently.
Rufus said, ‘Bridie, will you go and wait with … with Kate over there while I speak with Isobel and Reggie?’
