AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"No, I need you to stay here. The police are coming, and they might take a while. Maybe...you should go upstairs for a bit? I'll let you know when it's time to go," Tacey said.
Ben rose. "I'll go up with her, to open a few windows to help clear the smoke."
"I should go with her. You've been taking care of her all day. I can't thank you enough, even if the appointment was a waste of time. I should pay you for babysitting. I don't even know how much..." Tacey stammered.
Ben chuckled. "Actually, Rory's quite the little muse. While we were drawing this afternoon, she gave me the most amazing idea for a comic strip. I've been sketching ideas down for most of the afternoon. If anything, I should be paying you...or her." He strode up the stairs. "Looks like your police have arrived."
Sure enough, two officers were standing outside the door on the footpath outside.
THIRTY-FOUR
"Miss Bell, do you have any enemies? Anyone who might wish to harm you, or your business?" one of the police officers asked, while his partner was busy examining the store room.
Tacey blew out a frustrated breath. "Only my ex, Matt. Matthew Masters. He's demanding sole custody of our daughter and threatening that I'll regret it if I don't hand her over." But she wouldn't, she decided. No matter what Matt or his arsehole of a lawyer said, she knew Matt had tried to kill her in the past, and between the cockroaches and now this Molotov cocktail, he was trying to destroy her again now. No way was she going to let him win.
"Do you have an address for Mr Masters?"
Tacey recited the address of Matt's parents' riverfront mansion, the place with rolling lawns she'd rolled across when she'd jumped out of his sabotaged Holden HR Special. He probably still had the car, for it had only taken a few scratches to the tomato-red paint when it had hit the neighbours' hedge.
God, she'd be living there with him, if he hadn't tried to kill her. Rory would be running around on those lawns...
But no. Rory probably wouldn't have been allowed to play in the manicured gardens Arnold Masters had spent every spare moment grooming, though they were likely managed by a gardener now. Even if Christine Masters was no longer there to disapprove of anything that disrupted her perfect life, Matt had been too deeply indoctrinated in his mother's rules to ever break them.
The officer tucked his tablet away as his partner emerged from the kitchen. "All done?" The other officer nodded. "Well, we'll be going, Miss Bell. We'll send these samples down to the lab, and see if we can have a chat with Mr Masters. Meanwhile, you might want to board up that window. If we find anything, we'll be in touch."
Tacey nodded and walked them out.
When she re-entered the café, she realised the place was empty except for herself and Rochelle – not a customer in sight. Tacey sighed. "We should probably close up early. You and Ben go home, while I see to fixing that window..." For the second time in as many weeks.
Ben pounded down the stairs. "Did you say you needed a carpenter? I've spent a bit of time in the building trades. Show me where your tools are and I can take care of your window. You need to get Rory home before she falls asleep and you have to carry her down those stairs."
Some mother she was. Rory could've died in the fire, and Tacey had completely forgotten she was even here. "Yes. Rory. Are you sure? I can pay you..."
Ben just laughed. "I don't need your money, Tacey. Keep it for yourself and your daughter. It sounds like you'll need it more than I do, especially the way Rory goes through art supplies. She's a good kid, that one. You get her home and keep her safe, now."
There was a note of command in Ben's tone that she'd never heard before, and Tacey found herself nodding obediently. He was a young street artist, and Rochelle's boyfriend, but there was something in his eyes that spoke of more. Like when he'd stared down Wystan, as if he knew what he was and had his measure.
Was there more than one monster in her life?
Tacey shook her head. No. But Wystan was waiting in the car, and Rory did need to go home to bed. At least she'd have Wystan to watch over her tonight, or she wouldn't sleep at all. If Matt came to Bell House and set it on fire...
Tacey shivered. No. Matt wouldn't get near Bell House tonight, because Wystan would be keeping watch. Protecting them, they way he always did.
She bade Rochelle and Ben farewell, making them promise to let her know if there was any more trouble at the café, before she grasped Rory's hand and led her out to the car.
"Where's Wystan?" Rory mumbled as she buckled on her seatbelt.
Not in the car, that was for sure. Or anywhere else Tacey could see.
"Wystan? We're going home now. If you want a ride, it's time to go," Tacey said. "Wystan?"
But he didn't appear, and Tacey was forced to go home without him.
THIRTY-FIVE
"Fire," Tacey said softly, before her mind was engulfed in a wave of panic.
Wystan reacted before he could think. Putting himself between her and the fire, he used his own stone body to smother the flames. A moment later, a flood of icy water cascaded over him, and he heard an ominous crack.
