22

 

Niamh sat on the stretcher inside the ambulance, a blanket around her shoulders, and an oxygen mask over her face. She smiled at Jared as he stood outside the doors. He was hopping from one foot to the other as the paramedics checked her over. She smiled, trying to ease his nerves. “I’m OK.”

“No talking,” the paramedic chided. “We’re taking you to hospital. You inhaled a lot of smoke.”

“Then I’ll come with,” Jared said, climbing in beside her. “I don’t want to let you out of my sight.”

Brad came over to him. “I need you here, I’m afraid.”

“Guv?”

“Niamh isn’t in any danger. Unlike the building behind me. If we don’t get a handle on this fire soon, we’ll lose it and the one next to it.”

Niamh could see the indecision play on his face. Torn between love and duty. “I’m fine, Jarrie.” She pulled the mask off and kissed his soot covered cheek. He smelled of fire and smoke. She probably did as well. “They need you here. I’ll get Liam to come and sit with me. And if you should see Patrick anywhere, tell him where I am.”

Jared held her gaze, and then pulled her in for a gentle kiss. “OK.”

She ran her hand down his face. “Just stay safe. No more heroics tonight. I intend to marry you in the morning.”

“I promise. And I’ll find out about Patrick if I can.”

“Thank you. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He leapt down from the ambulance and did his jacket up as he headed back towards the fire with the other firefighters.

Thank you, Lord, for getting us out of there. Keep him safe. Keep them all safe.

Darkness had fallen and the sky was lit with an eerie orange glow. Soot and ash rained down from the sky. A loud crash sent embers high as the back of the building fell inwards.

“We’ve got to go. They’re pulling everyone back.”

Just as the door closed, a voice she recognized spoke. “Wait a second. That’s my sister.”

She pulled the mask off again. “Patrick.”

The door opened slightly and, in the next instant, she was in his arms. “I thought I’d lost you,” she cried.

“I thought the same.” He sat down and pushed her to lie down. “We can talk on the way.”

The paramedic strapped her down and the ambulance pulled away, sirens blaring.

“Patrick, Toby…”

“Toby is safe. He went back to the office once he’d been checked over.”

She shook her head. “Toby is the inside leak. It’s his handwriting. Judge Matheson has the papers. Or he did. He’ll know.”

Patrick’s eyes grew wide, and he pulled out his phone. “He’ll be after the judge.” He dialed rapidly. “Nate, its Patrick. You need to arrest Toby Croft. And get someone over to Judge Matheson’s immediately. Croft’s the inside man and he’ll try to take out the judge next. I know. No, Niamh’s safe. I’m with her now on the way to Headley General. Sure, we’ll meet you there.”

Niamh closed her eyes and let Patrick’s voice fade into the background. All that mattered was Jared and the fire he was fighting. Her mind played back the images from inside the court. He’d put his own life on the line to save her. He was doing the same thing now, to put out the fire before it spread. That made him one very special man. And he was hers.

 

****

 

The fire finally under control and his shift over, Jared strode across the ED reception. “Jared Harkin. My wife, Niamh was brought in by ambulance from the fire at the Crown Court.”

“Take a seat. Someone will be with you shortly.”

He nodded and crossed over to where Patrick sat. “How is she? Why aren’t you with her?”

Patrick held up a hand. “Take it easy. She’s in with the doctor. They’ll let us know when we can go in. She wanted me to wait here for you. Fill you in.”

“First of all, you should know we pulled Miles Kingsman out. He’s alive, but going to wish he wasn’t. They airlifted him to the burns unit at Dirham.”

“OK, good. The police will want to speak with him. It wasn’t just him. Toby Croft was involved as well.”

“Wait a minute. The Toby Croft, the CPS guy Niamh was working with?”

“Yeah. Nate Holmes was going to arrest him. He wrote the letters, cut her brakes, stole the files…”

Jared rubbed his hands over his face, sinking into the chair beside his brother-in-law. “I don’t believe it. She trusted him.”

“A lot of people did.”

He glanced up as Liam joined him. “Been here before,” Jared joked wryly. He got to his feet and exchanged a manly hug with his brother-in-law. Niamh always called them that because she claimed men never hugged properly, in case the hug got taken the wrong way.

“At least this time she’s awake and not in any danger,” Liam told him. “Thanks to you.”

“I was doing my job.” He sank back into the chair. “But it’s a lot easier when it’s not Niamh I’m rescuing.”

“I bet it is. Has the doctor said anything?”

“Not yet.”

Liam sat beside him. “Shame we don’t get paid to sit here.”

Jared scrunched his nose up at him. “Yeah, really.” He sighed. “What’s taking them so long?”

“You know doctors. And she inhaled a lot of smoke.”

Jared started pacing again.

“Jared.”

He spun as someone called his name. Nate and a uniformed officer strode over to him. “Hi, Nate. She’s in with the doctor. They haven’t said anything yet.”

Nate nodded. “We picked up Toby Croft. He’s in a holding cell for now. I’m here to talk to Niamh.”

“So she’s safe?”

Nate nodded. “As far as we know. PC Williams is going to stand outside her cubicle for now. I’ll be back in a few.” He moved over to the reception desk and flashed his ID. Then he and the uniformed officer vanished through the doors.

Jared sighed. “How come he can do that and I can’t?”

“His ID is better than yours,” Liam told him.

“Evidently so.” Jared stretched out his booted feet in front of him and folded his arms over his chest. He closed his eyes. “Tell me when I can go in.”

“You’re going to sleep?” Liam sounded horrified.

“Like you said, she’s not in any danger. And I’m not sleeping. Just resting my eyes.”

Fifteen minutes later a nurse came over to him. “Mr. Harkin? You can go in now.”

Jared stood, instantly awake. “How is she?”

“She’s doing OK. The doctor wants her to stay in, but she’s refusing.”

“Sounds like her.” Jared followed the nurse, relief filling him. If she was well enough to argue, then she wasn’t too badly hurt.

“Then I’ll sign a disclaimer.” He could hear her voice as he approached the cubicle. “I’m getting married tomorrow. I want to go home and start getting ready.”

Jared pushed aside the curtain. “You really are stubborn, woman.”

“Jarrie…”

He covered the floor to the bed in three swift strides and folded his arms tightly around her.

She clung to him tightly. “I’m OK.”

He looked over the top of her head at the doctor. “How is she?”

“Her lungs are clear, but I really would rather she stayed in overnight.”

“Is she in any danger if she went home? She isn’t going to be on her own.”

The doctor shook his head. “No.”

Niamh sat upright. “Then I want to go home. It’s been a really long day. All I want is a bath and my bed.”

“I’ll get the paperwork.”

Jared pulled Niamh back into his arms and kissed her soundly. “When I knew you were still in there...” he whispered.

“It’s over,” she told him. “I was terrified, but then I saw you silhouetted against those flames, hose in hand. A real hero.”

Her fingers trailed down his face. He caught her hand in his in a vain attempt to quench the rivers of fire and desire caused by her touch. “It’s my job.”

She nodded. “They caught them both. It’s over.”

“Good. I assume you won’t be prosecuting either of them when the case gets to court?”

“No. I’ll be a witness.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Toby pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder, and arson. They’ll charge Miles with the same. Assuming he survives.”

“He was pretty badly burned.”

“That could have been me, should have been me.” Sobs shook her body, and Jared cradled her tightly, rocking her gently.

“It’s all right,” he whispered. He closed his eyes and began to pray, thanking God for delivering them both safe from the fire.

 

****

 

Jared sat on the edge of the bed and smiled at Niamh. He chinked his mug of cocoa against hers. “To the night before the morning after.”

“Shouldn’t that the morning after the night before?”

“I said what I meant,” he told her. “Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives. This is the last night of what has to be one of the longest years ever. So we’re drinking to tonight—the night before the morning after.”

“The night before the morning after, and a happily ever after to boot.” She touched her cup to his and sipped it, before leaning back on the pillows. She put the cup down and coughed violently.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Yes. Just tired, that’s all.”

They drank in silence, not needing to say anything. He finished his cocoa and kissed her cheek. “I should let you sleep. I still need to iron my shirt for tomorrow. And polish my boots.”

“Jarrie, would you sleep here tonight?” Color touched her cheeks. “I mean, the spare room, not here, here.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“It’s not the done thing for the groom to sleep over the night before the wedding. Besides, my uniform is over at Liam’s.”

“Don’t care. I don’t want to be alone.”

“You’re not. You’ve got Patrick in my room, and your parents staying in the other room. Liam and I are on the other end of the phone. You’ll be fine.” He gathered her into his arms and gave her a lingering kiss. “See you in church.”

“You bet you will.” Tiredness was evident in her voice, and she looked almost as pale as the sheets. “Top drawer in the dresser. There’s something for you.”

Jared got up and opened the drawer. He pulled out a small box with a gold bow on it. “This one?”

“It’s a wedding present. Want you to have it now.”

“I don’t have yours with me.” He felt bad for not thinking. “I can come back with it.”

“Tomorrow’s fine.” She yawned, her eyes closing. “Tired…”

“Thank you, hon.” He opened the box, tears filling his eyes as he gazed down at the gold cufflinks with a tiny diamond and his initials. “Oh, hon…” He glanced up, to find her fast asleep.