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Lucie hurried into the house to find the hallway slightly smoky. She jumped up and jabbed at the button on the smoke alarm until it fell silent.
In the kitchen, the air was thicker, but the source was obvious — the toaster. A slice of blackened bread sat trapped inside. Flicking off the switch at the wall and unplugging the toaster, she unlatched the kitchen window and pushed it wide open.
Remembering Rose was alone outside, she hurried back out, hoping she hadn’t moved. Relief surged through her as she found her exactly where she’d left her. Seeing Rose still shaking, she pulled her into her arms.
“It’s okay; everything is fine now.”
Rose’s arms gripped Lucie’s waist.
The door through which Lucie had come minutes earlier banged open. Two security men in black uniforms sprinted across the courtyard. The older of the two went straight inside the house whilst the other stopped beside them.
“Is everyone accounted for?” the younger one asked.
“Yes,” Lucie answered casually. “It’s only a bit of burnt toast. Nothing serious.”
“We’ll determine that,” he grumbled, casting an eye over her. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“I just popped by to see her,” Lucie added. “She was hungry, so I made some toast.”
The man’s eyes narrowed as he looked from Lucie to Rose, who was still trembling against her chest.
“Is she okay?”
“She’s shaken.”
The older guard reappeared from inside the house.
“The threat is neutralised; piece of toast. Power fully disengaged.”
Lucie got the feeling this was the biggest piece of action the pair had seen in years.
“I’ve opened some more windows,” he continued, turning to look at them. He spotted Rose and pulled back. “Oh, Mrs Delaney. It’s you. Are you all right?”
Rose quivered and clung more tightly to Lucie.
“She’s fine. Everything is fine. I burnt some toast and gave her a bit of a fright, that’s all.”
“You burnt it?”
“Yes, I was just telling your colleague— ”
“Name?” he demanded.
“Lucie Brown,” she answered flatly.
“And your job is?” He looked her up and down. “Elf?”
“As you see.” She tilted her head. “And you are?”
His stance widened. “Bob. Head of security.”
Lucie bit back a laugh at the emphasis on “head”.
Bob gestured to his colleague, and they stepped away. After a brief discussion, he came back.
“I might need to speak to you again... for the report.”
“Okay,” Lucie said, nodding, willing them to leave so she could get Rose inside.
