‘I have my suspicions, Belle. And so do the police. Luckily, I’d installed a hidden camera recently, outside the property. Just as a security precaution. It will have recorded footage of any comings and goings over the last couple of days.’
Bella turns to look at him, agog, her bloodshot eyes widening.
‘Really?’
‘Yes. I haven’t had chance to look at it all properly but I’ve transferred it to the police and they’re examining it now.’
‘Isn’t it a bit difficult to see anything clearly on those things?’
‘Oh no, I ordered the top notch kind, full colour and everything, even at night.’
‘Right,’ she says, seemingly in awe of this revelation and for the first time that day he feels a small swell of satisfaction.
‘That’s not all. Two people were found on site. Victims of the fire. God knows what they were doing there. Trespassing no doubt, but the poor buggers are probably goners I imagine.’ Bella’s hand flies to her mouth in shock and her skin turns a little more ashen under the strip lighting. She looks as though she could faint for a moment, unsteady on her Bambi-like legs. ‘Come on,’ he says. ‘Let’s get home. We both must look like the walking dead.’
Tobias pulls the car along the driveway towards the hotel and parks up in the usual bay – the one he likes to assume as his own personal space. The hotel and grounds are busier now. God, how can it still be Sunday, he wonders as he climbs out of the carand casts a glance over towards the horizon, the sun still shining on what has felt like the longest day. And he still has to deal with Olivia, his heart leaden at the thought.
‘Leave your mother to me, Belle. I’ll update her on everything. You just get yourself to bed and then lie low for a bit.’
As they let themselves into the suite, they find Olivia emerging, pink and glistening, from the shower, clouds of steam billowing from the bathroom. She has the good grace to look a little shifty as she pads through to them, leaving wet footprints on the thick pile carpet.
‘Where the hell have you been?’ he says. He takes in her tired, haunted-looking eyes and wonders for the first time if his wife is okay. Perhaps she has heard the bad news already. ‘Did you pick up any of my messages? I’ve been trying to get hold of you all day.’
She sighs with an air of genuine regret and points to her phone charging in the nearby socket.
‘No, sorry. My phone died last night and I’ve … well, I’ve being feeling a bit below par this morning. Like most people, I imagine.’ She eyes him steadily, as though daring the pot to call the kettle black. ‘I feel terrible, actually. So please don’t shout at me, Tobias.’
His anger immediately evaporates when he remembers what he still has to tell her. How her day is about to get a whole lot worse.
‘Come through to the lounge and sit down, Liv,’ he says. ‘I’ve got to tell you something.’
‘Why? What’s wrong?’ Her voice rises in concern, her brow furrowing. She is clearly confused by his tenderness, was obviously expecting a row.
‘Here, sit,’ he says.
‘What’s going on, Tobias? What’s happened?’
‘Now, please, try to stay calm.’
‘I am calm. You’re the one making me nervous,’ she says.
‘He’s all right now, but Drew’s in the local hospital.’
‘What?’ she cries, immediately standing again, her towel threatening to fall to the floor.
‘He got into difficulties last night, down by the water, with Bella and some local kids.’
‘Belle? Where is she?’
‘In her room. Leave her be. She’s fine. They’re both fine. Just need to sleep and recover.’ He gives a weary sigh. ‘Like the rest of us.’
‘I must go to him.’
‘No, wait. There’s something else …’
‘I heard sirens last night,’ she wails. ‘This morning. Was that the ambulance for Drew? Oh my God, how could I have …?’
‘How could you what?’ asks Tobias. ‘This was no one’s fault, Olivia. Just kids being kids. Getting a bit loose and taking risks. Like we used to do when we were young.’
