The sight of her, falling with every other step, scrambling uphill, her face streaked with dirt and blood and with ice caked in her hair and on her clothing, hit Tony with enough relief to all but wind him.
O’Reilly reached Alex first with Lamb close behind. She stopped trying to walk and let them hold her up.
Tony slowed down. He began to feel warmer inside – and more jumbled and besieged by emotions than he could have imagined.
He was only yards from her and he smiled. ‘You gave me such a scare,’ he managed to say, wanting to be the one supporting her, wrapping her in his arms.
That wasn’t something he had a right to do, but in time perhaps … If friendship was ever there in the first place, it might grow back. He’d have to be patient; not his strong suit.
Uniformed officers ran past him and were sent on toward the open end of the culvert from which Alex had appeared. Lamb left to follow them.
‘I don’t think I’ve killed him,’ Alex said, looking at his face. ‘I didn’t want to kill him.’
‘Will’s in there?’ Sickened, Tony stared at the opening she’d climbed out of. ‘You were in there with him?’
‘He had a knife.’ Her voice broke. ‘He murdered Edward and Percy – and he was the one who attacked Reverend Restrick.’
He could almost feel her shock settling in. ‘She doesn’t have to talk about this now, right, Inspector? She can tell it all when she’s warm and dry.’
Medics carrying gear, including a stretcher, hurried by them.
‘Alex says the keys are in the Land Rover,’ O’Reilly said. ‘Will you drive it to pick up your dad and get it back to Folly-on-Weir, then?’
Tony took another step toward Alex and the detective. He was being dismissed. ‘Is that what you’d like, Alex?’
She didn’t answer or even seem to hear.
‘My dad went to help a woman in labor.’ All he saw in Alex was confusion. ‘In a cement-mixer truck. I need to find him now.’
When she still didn’t say anything, he turned uphill and started to climb. He couldn’t feel his hands or feet – or much else.
‘Tony!’ Alex’s shout started level and got higher. ‘Tony?’
He faced her. ‘I’ll bring your Land Rover back. Where shall I take it?’
‘To Corner Cottage,’ she said, looking at O’Reilly who nodded, yes. ‘That’s where I’ll be, then. Can you come in? Will I see you?’
He gave her two thumbs up and carried on up the hill.
From somewhere, warmth washed into him.