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‘Crighton Terrace.’ The dispatch officer’s tone was perfectly calm. ‘No number given.’

Tim’s gaze was still on Laura and his eyes widened to reflect her own alarm. He hit the siren and pushed his foot down hard on the accelerator.

Crighton Terrace.

Jason’s street. Had Shelley decided to make even more of a point than simply breaking into Jason’s house? Was it burning to the ground right now?

And where, in God’s name, was Megan?

10

Jason’s house was not on fire.

Laura let out a sigh of relief as they turned into Crighton Terrace. The two fire appliances, beacons lighting up the overcast grey of the dawn sky, were parked at the end of the street beside the old, deserted house.

‘Probably arson,’ she decided aloud. ‘No one’s lived in that place for months, which would make it a tempting target.’

‘Can’t see any flames.’ Tim sounded vaguely disappointed as he parked well clear of the activity surrounding the fire trucks. ‘Bit of smoke, though.’

They skirted a pair of firemen from another station who were unrolling and coupling long lengths of hose. Bruce was standing beside the control panel of the Inglewood appliance. Laura couldn’t see Jason anywhere and assumed he must be on the other end of the hose leading through the open front door of the house.

‘Anyone injured?’ Tim queried.

‘Not yet.’ Bruce waved towards where their ambulance was parked, its back doors open and the empty stretchers visible. ‘Take a pew and put your feet up for a while.’

‘Anyone inside the house?’

‘Not that we know of. Jase tells us it’s been empty for a while. Early morning jogger saw the smoke coming out from under the eaves as he ran past.’

‘Can we get a bit closer?’ Tim enjoyed watching a different service at work.

‘Sure. Just watch you don’t trip over any hoses. Or firemen.’

Laura was staring at the house that had become a familiar landmark during her walks with Jason and Megan. She could see fingers of flame reaching out through the smoke billowing out from under the eaves. Only one corner of the house seemed to be involved at present, on both storeys. Her gaze tracked along the side of the house as she wondered where Jason might be.

‘Who’s upstairs?’

‘What?’ Bruce had to shout over the sounds of the pump and other fire officers being deployed nearby from the second appliance.

‘I saw someone.’ Laura pointed. ‘At that window.’

‘What?’ Bruce jerked his gaze away from the panel of instruments. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes. Look!’ The shape appeared again, a shadowy outline due to the drifts of smoke.

‘We haven’t got anyone upstairs. The staircase is dodgy.’ Bruce was reaching for his radio. ‘Jase? Can you hear me?’

A crackling sound came back. ‘Affirmative.’

‘Looks like there’s someone upstairs.’

A swear word came back this time. ‘Roger. Send in a ladder. We’ll get in at⁠—’

But Laura didn’t wait to hear what was planned for the ladder. She had been focusing on another window at the far corner of the house from the flames. She had seen the person again and this time a puff of wind had cleared the drift of smoke for a fraction of a second. Just long enough to recognise the face of the woman. A face framed by long, blonde hair.

‘Oh my God!’ Laura started running.

‘Laura!’