‘I still can’t get hold of Jess,’ Madeleine said as once again she hit the red button, turning off the phone and dropping it back down on the table in Bandit’s kitchen.
It was dark outside, but from the gatehouse she could still see the blue flashing lights that still surrounded the hall, while firemen continually worked to try and save her home.
She looked down at where both Poppy and Nomsa slept peacefully on Bandit’s couch. ‘I have no idea how to thank you, and I can’t believe you found them both.’
Bandit shook his head. ‘They’d gone down the tunnel and guess what? There’s a false floor in the summer house. Eddie must have built the summer house right over the top of the entrance.’
‘But it was bricked up, how did they get to the summer house…?’
He held a finger to his lips, leaned forward and kissed her. ‘Over the past few days I’ve been working to open up the tunnel. It was supposed to be a surprise for you. It seems that Poppy had worked me out, as always. She showed Nomsa where the tunnel was and led them both to safety.’
A tear dropped down Madeleine’s face. ‘My brave, clever girl,’ she whispered and then looked up to where Bandit stood. ‘Thank you so much for trying to surprise me, your surprise has saved their lives.’
The night before still seemed surreal. The main part of the house including the grand staircase had been saved, but the reception and the bedrooms above were all destroyed and, at this moment in time, Madeleine had no idea what insurance cover her father had had. She’d never thought to check it after her father’s death but right now, she didn’t care. Poppy was safe and all she had to do now was find Jess to complete her family circle.
‘I should go see what’s happening at the hall. It’s almost daylight,’ she said as she grabbed one of Bandit’s coats and he rose to go with her.
Burnt and broken, the hall rose up before them as Madeleine made silent promises to do everything she could to bring it back to its former glory.
‘Mrs Frost, can I speak to you please?’ a fireman asked as he walked towards them. ‘Mrs Frost. I’m Fire Officer Hanwell. Could I ask, do you recognise this pen knife?’ His words were simple, yet Madeleine looked at the knife and caught her breath. It lay protected in a plastic bag.
She nodded. ‘It… it… belongs to my ex-boyfriend. Where… how did you get it?’ She searched his eyes for an explanation, but already knew what he was about to say. ‘Was he in there?’ She paused as the answer hit her all at once. ‘Did he do this? Is he dead?’
Fire Officer Hanwell shook his head. ‘No, miss, there is no body. But we believe the fire was started deliberately and the knife was dropped by the site of where it was started.’
Madeleine began to shake. ‘He did this, didn’t he?’
Bandit’s arms surrounded her as her legs gave way and she collapsed into him, sobbing and cursing all at once as she remembered the sprinklers and the word ‘sabotage’ that Bandit had used. Her head spun as every imaginable reason for Liam’s penknife, that he kept on his keyring, being at the site of the fire flew through her mind. He’d started the fire. He’d said she’d pay for leaving him. He’d said she’d be sorry. But, he’d gone… she thought he’d gone. Thought he’d finally left them alone. So, why had he come back? Why couldn’t he leave her alone and what’s more, where was Jess?
The sun had now risen and Madeleine walked around the outside of the house alone, surveying the damage. She looked up at the window from where she and Bandit had climbed and then across at the rose bushes where her rucksack remained. Walking between the bushes, she grabbed the bag and threw it over her shoulder.
‘Mrs Frost, word has it that the fire was started deliberately. What are your thoughts on that?’ A young woman had suddenly appeared. She had a recording device in her hand and thrust it at Madeleine making her jump backwards.
‘Do you mind, that almost hit me,’ Madeleine shouted as she made her way out of the roses and back towards the house.
‘I’m so sorry. I’d hate people thrusting things at me too.’ She paused and flicked back her long auburn hair. ‘Can we start again? I’m Ella Hope of the Filey Chronicle. I’ve always loved this house, my parents brought me here once for a treat and I just need a statement about the fire. It’s my job. One statement and I’ll leave you alone, I promise.’
Madeleine smiled at the woman. They were about the same age and Madeleine seemed to remember her from high school. ‘All I can say is that at this point, I honestly don’t know what happened. I’m just relieved that everyone got out safely.’
Ella flicked through a notebook. ‘Could I ask one more question? Your sister, Jess Croft. She’s missing, is that right?’ she asked without waiting for permission.
Madeleine nodded. ‘Yes, she left just before the fire. I haven’t heard from her since.’
Ella picked up her mobile phone and began pressing buttons and then held a picture up for Madeleine to see. ‘But, Mrs Frost, if your sister left, why would her car be parked right outside the gates of the hall? Do you think she could have gone back inside? Could she have started the fire?’