The silent house arc, p.19
The Silent House (ARC), page 19
17/09/2019 13:04
love life, but later when I was helping her to clear up, she brought it up again.
You can’t be alone for the rest of your life, Paige, just because of one bad relationship.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. I didn’t want to talk
about it but I knew she wasn’t going to let it go.
It wasn’t just a bad relationship though, was it? It was
five years of my life wasted, with someone who treated
me like shit and left me with nothing but debts. You all
saw it, but I didn’t believe a word you said until it all came crashing down around my ears. I don’t want to risk
finding myself in that sort of situation again. My taste in men is so bad, I can’t be trusted.
There are plenty of men out there who won’t treat you
like that, though, Gem pointed out. At some point, you need to give it a chance, even if it’s just a date or two here or there.
You can hardly talk, I said, but it was a cheap shot.
I’ve got Petra; you know my reasons for staying single,
she said, looking disappointed that I’d compared my expe-
rience with the loss of her husband. In a few years, when she’s a bit older, I’ll be ready for a relationship again. But you’ve cut yourself off completely from the prospect, and it’s not right. I worry you’ll be lonely.
I shook my head, but didn’t reply, and she didn’t push
it any further. As I drove home I wondered if I should be
trying to move on, but knew deep down that I couldn’t.
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11 hours before the murder
Laura was playing with the children in the living room,
trying in vain to get Jaxon to play nicely with his sister.
Bridget hoped he would settle down soon, but knew it
was unlikely with his father being such a bad influence
in his life.
Crossing the room, she dusted the picture frames on the
wall, and her eyes alighted on the photo of her niece. Bridget’s brother and sister-in-law had been no good as parents, either, neglecting their child in favour of alcohol and their own
social lives. If someone had acted a little earlier, maybe
something could have been done to help. She picked up the
photo and clasped it to her, deciding to add it to the collection by her bed. It might motivate her when trying to
convince Laura that sole custody was the best option.
She turned around and saw Laura sitting against the
sofa, her hands across her face.
What am I doing wrong? she asked. He won’t do
anything I ask.
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You need to be firm and consistent, Bridget replied. It’s the only thing children understand.
I am! I am, all the time, but he just laughs at me. She looked over to where Jaxon was ripping up a piece of
paper that Lexi had been scribbling on, the little girl
looking on in confusion. She doesn’t cry, whatever he does to her. Maybe if she did, he’d learn to be nicer to her.
Don’t blame this on Lexi, Bridget said sharply. Perhaps she understands him better than any of us.
Laura sighed and moved to take the paper away from
Jaxon, knowing full well he’d hit her and scream when
she did. Every time she suggested something that she
thought might help Jaxon, her mum shot her down. She
should be used to it by now.
Time for tea, Bridget said, before going back through to the kitchen, leaving Laura to tidy up and bring the
children through. At least it was Friday, Laura thought,
so she got a couple of days’ rest. Maybe she’d stop at
the Deaf club for a while after dropping Jaxon and Lexi
off with Alan. She yawned, then thought perhaps she’d
prefer to come home and have an early night instead, but
the thought of an evening in with Bridget didn’t fill her
with excitement, either. If she was honest, she was fed
up with her life. It was boring and lonely, and she realised
that if she didn’t do something about it soon, nothing
would ever change.
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Chapter 15
Saturday 10th February
I don’t know if it was the sound or the smell that woke
me. Both crept into my dreams and roused me from a
disturbed sleep, but at first I didn’t realise what the insistent beeping was. I coughed, and coughed again, and the rank
air that filled my lungs helped my brain to make the
connection: the smoke alarm.
Grabbing a t-shirt off the floor, I covered my mouth
and nose and jumped out of bed. It was still dark, but
there was enough light from the street outside for me to
see the smoke curling underneath my bedroom door. What
was it I’d been taught about fires? Fighting panic, I battled to keep my breathing steady; hyperventilating now would
only make me breathe in more smoke. I felt the door
with the back of my hand. It wasn’t hot, so I risked
opening it.
Just inside the front door of my flat was a heap of
flames. I couldn’t tell what it was and stepped closer.
Oh God, I realised suddenly, Anna wouldn’t have heard
the smoke alarm!
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The fire was closer to her door than mine, but I managed to skirt around it to wrench the door open and shake her
awake. She didn’t respond. I didn’t know how long we’d
both been inhaling smoke in our sleep, but she would’ve
had more than me. I redoubled my efforts, and Anna
opened her eyes and started to cough heavily. She retched
but brought nothing up. I quickly signed Fire, and pulled her out of bed.
We were both coughing as we went out into the hallway.
The fire was blocking our route to the front door. I’d
never considered the possibility of having to get out of
my flat another way. Could I fit through one of the
windows? Even if I could, it was a long drop from the
first floor. I doubled over with another coughing fit, and
Anna darted back into her room. She re-emerged with the
duvet in her hands and flung it over the fire, stamping
down on it. I grabbed her and pulled her back, worried
that the duvet would burst into flames, but it didn’t, and
I wrenched the front door open. I hammered on the nearest
door until I woke someone and asked them to call the
fire brigade, then rushed downstairs to warn the people
in the flat below mine. Anna trailed behind me, coughing
loudly.
A few minutes later, we were out of the building, gulping
fresh air into our lungs. I could hear sirens approaching
and I alerted Anna, earning some curious looks from my
neighbours who had also gathered outside. Many chose
to stay in the building, but those whose properties were
immediately adjacent to mine didn’t want to take the risk.
I directed the firefighters to my flat, then stood and
waited to be seen by a paramedic who had pulled up in
a car. I interpreted for Anna while she was checked over.
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‘You seem okay, but if you start to cough more, or feel light headed at all, then you need to go straight to A and
E,’ the paramedic told Anna.
We agreed, and once he’d checked me over, we leant
against a wall and waited.
What do you think caused it? Anna asked me.
I didn’t want to accept it, but I knew exactly what had
happened. Someone shoved something through the letter
box and set fire to it.
Really? The horror on her face mirrored the feeling in my stomach.
At that moment, a firefighter approached me.
‘Miss Northwood? The fire was easy to put out when
we arrived, that was quick thinking to smother it.’
I told Anna she’d probably saved my flat from burning
down and she beamed.
‘First signs do suggest it was arson, so we’ll be passing
it on to the police. There was charring around the edges
of your letter box, and the position of the flammable
material suggests that’s how it entered your flat. To be
honest, it was mainly paper and cotton wool, and your
carpet is fire retardant, so it might not have spread much
further anyway.’
I nodded. ‘I think this might be related to my work
with the police,’ I said. ‘In which case, it needs to be
passed to either DI Forest or DC Singh.’
The firefighter frowned, but nodded. ‘If you say so.
They might just send a PC out to take your statement
initially, though.’
I didn’t have the energy to argue, and went back to join
my sister. She was shivering, so I pressed myself up against
her to try and share some body heat. The paramedic came
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back to speak to us, warning us again about the signs to watch for over the next forty-eight hours, then we were
allowed back inside.
The hallway was black with the residue from the smoke.
I walked around the rooms, opening every window despite
the wintry air that rushed in. I propped open all the
connecting doors in the hope that the smell would dissi-
pate. A couple of pictures in the hallway looked to be
damaged, including my favourite piece of felt work, but
the smoke hadn’t penetrated any other room enough to
do any more than superficial damage.
We should be thankful they didn’t know what they
were doing, I said as Anna poked the foamy pile of paper and cotton wool with her toe. The scorched duvet was
bundled next to it. I’d have to get her a new one.
Why do you say that?
I doubt they only meant to set fire to my doormat, I
replied, then shivered. I didn’t want to think about what
they’d hoped to achieve, whoever they were.
Picking up my phone, I texted DC Singh to tell him
what had happened. He’d probably be fast asleep, it was
four-thirty in the morning, but at least he’d be able to
look into it when he was back in work. Sending the
message made me feel comforted, somehow.
There was a knock at the door, and I opened it to find
the firefighter I had spoken to earlier.
‘I’ve reported the incident, so someone will be round
to take a statement, but it could be a few hours yet.
We’ve taken samples from the material that was put
through the door, and they might want to send forensics
out to take fingerprints from the door. It’s likely they’ll
have leaned against it when they opened the letter box,
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but unless they wore gloves they’re going to have a pretty nasty burn. Normally they push stuff through, then drop
a match through and set it on fire that way, but your guy
did it the wrong way round. Lucky for you they didn’t
know what they were doing,’ he said, echoing my earlier
sentiments.
I thanked him, then went back to join Anna in the
living room. I sank down onto the arm of the sofa and
rubbed my face with both hands.
Who the hell would do this? Anna asked.
The same person who’s been threatening me. It must
be.
Anna frowned. Do you think this is all because someone
wants to stop you from finding out what happened to
Lexi?
I sat back on the sofa and looked at the ceiling for a
moment. Someone must think I know something. But I
can’t think of anything that might make me a threat. I
don’t even know these people.
Anna came over and put her arm around me, giving
me a squeeze. Do you want to go back to bed?
I shook my head. I don’t think I can sleep. I’m going
to just make a coffee and put the TV on. I want something to distract me.
Ten minutes later, we’d settled ourselves in front of a
DVD when there was another knock on the door. I had
no idea who it could be, so we both crept into the hall,
Anna standing to the side while I looked through the
peephole.
Relief coursed through me, and I opened the door to
see DC Singh, looking younger than usual, in jeans and
a green jumper.
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‘I didn’t mean you had to come round straight away,’
I said, trying to keep my voice light hearted. I didn’t want
him to know how relieved I was to see him.
‘I was awake,’ he said, but didn’t offer any further expla-
nation. ‘They need to sort out the security on this building.
The front door was propped wide open; I just walked in.’
I made him a coffee and he sat on a chair opposite the
sofa, listening as I explained what had happened.
He shook his head slowly when I’d finished. ‘I’m sorry
you’ve had to experience this, Paige. I didn’t take these
threats seriously enough, and I blame myself for what’s
happened tonight.’
‘It’s not your fault.’
He shook his head again. ‘Have you noticed anyone
acting suspiciously, hanging around your flat, following
you?’
‘No, nothing at all. I would have told you.’
‘I think we can assume whoever did this is the same
person who’s been threatening you. I’ll make sure we get
a CSI down here to see if they can find anything.’ He
looked up at me, his brown eyes full of concern. ‘Do you
want to reconsider working for us on this case? I completely
understand if you want to withdraw. We can find another
interpreter.’
I thought about his suggestion for a moment. I was
torn. These threats were starting to scare me, especially
now they’d involved Anna by setting fire to my flat while
we were both asleep. I didn’t want anything worse to
happen, but I also didn’t want to give up my connection
with the police. I was desperate to help, to know what
was happening. And something about his tone of voice
made me think he didn’t want me to quit.
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‘No,’ I said firmly, making my mind up. ‘Whoever it is wants to scare me off, and I’m not prepared for them to
succeed.’
Singh gave me a small smile. ‘Okay. But if you change
your mind at any time, please tell us. And keep hold of
my number, in case anything else happens.’
Are they going to give you police protection? Anna
asked, but I waved her question away. Singh looked
between the two of us, so I interpreted her question for
him.
‘I’m not sure we can do that at the moment,’ he replied.
‘But I will look into it.’
I nearly laughed, thinking he wasn’t serious, but the
look he gave me said otherwise , so I thanked him instead.
He got up to leave, but as we reached the front door he
turned to me. ‘Do you have any idea who it might be? It
does look like whoever this person is, they know you’re
working with us, and they see you as a threat. They must
think you know something.’
‘I have no idea, I’m sorry. None of the people involved
really know me, other than Laura.’
Singh nodded, holding my gaze for a moment, then
said goodbye. Once he’d gone, I leant against the door,
deep in thought, until Anna came through to find me.
I don’t think they’re taking this seriously, she said.
They are, they just have no idea why someone would
want to hurt me. Neither do I. Maybe they’re just trying
to scare me. I didn’t believe it, but by saying it I thought I might allay Anna’s fears.
But when they realise you’re not quitting, what then?
They could have killed both of us. What do they need to
do for the police to believe someone wants to hurt you?
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I glared at her. Don’t say things like that. Anyway, you saw him, he believes us. But he’s a DC, he’s not in charge, and I doubt DI Forest will want to waste any resources
on me.
A jolt of anger coursed through me. How dare this
person think they could threaten me and stop me from
doing my job? I wasn’t weak. I wasn’t a coward. And I
would not let them intimidate me or push me away from
this case. They’d threatened my life, and the life of my
sister, and I wouldn’t let them get what they wanted.
