Page 47 of Tricks & Treats at The Cosy Cornish Bakery

‘Sorry?’

‘Didn’t she trick Bolster the giant? Took on a man three times her size, like, and got the better of him. She got him to prove his love by filling a hole in the cliffs with his blood. Only–’

‘There was a crack in the cliffs, so the hole never filled and he bled to death.’ Chloe grinned at Amber.

They looked up as an ambulance screamed down Beach Lane, its blue lights flashing.

‘Summat’s askew,’ Pammy said dourly as she emerged from the kitchen, her face pink and floury. ‘Are you going to spend all morning nattering or are you going to put a shifty on and get some of those cakes out, Amber?’

‘Soz, Pammy. Coming right away.’ Amber pulled a face at Chloe and sauntered off.

Chloe watched the ambulance disappear around the corner. Someone must be in trouble on the beach, or in the sea. Something worried at her, gnawed, grew into panic. Surging to her feet, she yelled, ‘Oh my God. Mum!’

CHAPTER 24

Chloe ran down the lane, narrowly avoiding a car that had turned around and was coming the other way. The driver blasted his horn and she jumped onto the narrow frontage of The Smugglers, colliding with several beer kegs. One rolled over, the aluminium clattering noisily. Rounding the tight corner at the bottom she saw the ambulance parked up at the top of the slipway. Nik stood, wrapped in a silver emergency blanket, holding an agitated Ziggy by a very short lead. Pinky hovered, his face tight with anxiety, his pink and yellow shirt billowing in the wind. Chloe put a hand on the wall, panic making her breath shallow. She couldn’t see her mother anywhere.

‘Thank the lordy you’re here, maid.’ Pinky came to her and took her hands, his face grey with worry. ‘We couldn’t get hold of no one. Hannah’s got her phone switched off and your mother hasn’t got your number stored.’

Oh God, it was her mother. Chloe bit down on the hurt that speared. She meant so little to her mother that her mobile number wasn’t even in her phone. She could hardly blame Dulcie; she hadn’t been around for twenty years and what use would an emergency contact be when she’d been over two hundred miles away? ‘What happened?’

‘She got into a bit of trouble swimming, lovie.’

Nik edged towards them. He was soaked, his hair flattened to his head. ‘She went out on her own. None of the other Sea Kitties turned up this morning. It’s strictly against the rules of the club but–’

‘When have we ever known Dulcie to play by the rules?’ Chloe retorted, worry making her sharp. ‘Stupid woman. I saw her an hour ago. Off for her swim. I assumed she was meeting her friends. Had I known she was on her own–’

‘Don’t take on so, Chloe love,’ Pinky said. ‘Your mother’s been swimming these waters for years. She knows what she’s doing.’

‘Apparently not,’ Chloe bit out. ‘What happened?’

‘I saw her in the shallows,’ Nik explained. ‘Was making my way down. Some good waves today. She seemed to be okay but I was concerned she was on her own and then…’

‘Then?’

‘She went under. Big wave. She disappeared.’

‘I don’t understand, she’s a strong swimmer.’

‘The paramedics think she may have had a heart attack.’

‘Oh my God.’ Chloe clutched at her chest.

‘They’re checking her over now.’

Chloe didn’t wait to hear any more. Pushing past Nik, Pinky, who was hopping from one foot to another, and a whining, yapping Ziggy, she went to the door of the ambulance. ‘I’m Dulcie Pengelly’s daughter,’ she blurted out. ‘I need to see her.’ A paramedic helped her in as her legs had gone to jelly, and she crouched over her mother. ‘Mum? It’s me. You’re going to be okay.’

‘We’ll take her into Treliske. They’ll run some tests, see what’s going on,’ the paramedic explained.

Chloe stared at him blankly. He looked about twelve. ‘Oh God,’ she repeated. ‘That’s where my father died.’

‘Is that you, Hannah?’ Dulcie asked groggily, her oxygen mask clouding up. ‘Where’s Ziggy?’ She tried to sit up, suddenly agitated, hampered by the various attachments.

‘Ssh, Mum, it’s me, Chloe. And don’t worry. Nik’s got Ziggy safe. He’s taking care of him. We’re taking you to hospital and you’re going to be fine.’

‘Oh, Chloe maid.’ Dulcie reached out a hand and gripped on. A solitary tear rolled from the corner of her eye, running into the dyed orange hair just above her ear. ‘Don’t you let me die. I got too much to do.’

‘You’re not going to die, Mum,’ Chloe answered, with more conviction than she felt. ‘You’re as tough as old boots.’