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“Not so bad.” Even to Dane, Pastor Malone sounded depressed. He knew what it was like to lose your wife in such ugly circumstances.

“I'm really sorry to hear about Rosalie. How are you really doing?”

“It's hard, but God's giving me the grace to get through each day, albeit barely. And I have Sara. How are you and your family?”

“We're doing OK. I'm sorry to bother you at a time like this, but I need your help.”

“If I can. What do you need?”

Nate looked over at Dane. “We're trying to trace a woman called Amy Stabler. All our normal avenues of investigation have turned up nothing. She claims to know you and your wife. Actually, she said she was your wife's best friend. According to Amy, she and Rosalie went to university together, roomed together whilst there, and when you and your wife married and moved to Filely, she moved with you, renting her own place not far from the manse. She was pretty upset when your wife died.”

“I'm sorry. Amy—who did you say?”

“Stabler. She's twenty-seven. She has hazel eyes, long wavy red hair. She's very pretty. Good with kids. She said she worked in the church crèche. I'm assuming that would be your church.”

“I'm afraid I can't help you. At least not in the way you'd like me to.” There was a long pause. “Amy's dead.”

“I'm sorry?”

“Amy is dead. I never knew the woman you've just described, at least not by that name. Rosie's best friend was Amy Childs. But she was blonde, although she always wanted red hair. She died several weeks ago. She was washed out to sea, they never found her body. Rosie was devastated. But Amy had been really down after the accident and the trial. We couldn't help but wonder if it really was an accidental drowning or if she'd intended it.”

Dane frowned. “What trial?”

Nate looked at him. “Ray, I have you on speaker phone so my partner can hear you. His name is DS Philips. What trial?”

Dane's stomach turned, and he swallowed the rising nausea. Whom had he employed?
God, please overrule with this mess I have made. Help me put it right. Keep my kids safe
.

Pastor Malone spoke again. “Amy did a U-turn, and hit a pedestrian. He wasn't badly hurt, but the police got involved. She was arrested and charged with careless driving. She pleaded guilty and got a twelve month suspended sentence and a huge fine, which she paid. And she lost her license for a year as well. But it didn't end there. There were a couple of fires at her place, death threats, silent phone calls, someone tried to kill her as well. Then she left her stuff on the beach and walked into the sea. Her body was never found.”

Dane and Nate exchanged horrified glances. Dane turned to the computer and typed Amy Childs into the database. He got an instant match. It was her.
His
Amy. The woman he'd put in charge of his kids and had fallen in love with, had some maniac trying to kill her. No wonder stuff was happening. No wonder she'd been so cagy about her past and hadn't wanted to drive when he asked her to.

He shook his head. “She's broken her sentencing conditions,” he said quietly. He'd have to arrest her the next time he saw her. “Nate.” He turned the screen so his partner could see it. “It's her.”

Nate's eyes widened. “Ray, Amy's alive. She's right here in Headley Cross.”

“You're kidding.”

“No. Your Amy Childs is our Amy Stabler.”

Dane read slowly. “It sounds like someone big was after her.” He caught his breath.
Lord God, it can't be. Surely I'm reading this wrong.
“Nate…”

Nate looked over as he finished the call and hung up. “What is it?”

“The guy she ran over. It was Derek Saunders.”

Nate paled. “The guy we met in Filely?”

“Yes.
Kevin
Saunders's brother.” He pushed upright. “I need to get home now.”

“I'll take you.”

DI Welsh came in. Did that woman know instantly he left his desk? “Where are you two off to now?”

“Following up a new line of investigation.” Not bothering to explain, Dane put his coat on as he pulled his mobile from his pocket. He dialed Amy's mobile and headed to the door as he waited for her to pick up. The panic inside him grew exponentially as the phone rang off the hook. “There's no answer. I have to get over there. Nate, we gotta run.”

Nate shot their boss an apologetic look as he hurtled from the room after Dane.

 



 

Amy scooted backwards, trying to protect Jodie as Mr. Scruffy moved towards them.

“How is that possible?” Jodie shrieked.

“I don't know.”

Mr. Scruffy reached for Amy and she dodged, sending the vase of flowers crashing to the floor. She grabbed Jodie's hand and ran for the door, sliding on the wet tiles.

Three men wearing masks appeared in the doorway with guns.

Jodie screamed as one man grabbed her, pulling her away from Amy.

Amy reached for her, her feet slipping. “Leave her alone!”

Another grabbed Amy. “No, you don't. You're not going anywhere.”

The third man came over to her. “It's so nice to see you again, Amy.” He looked over at Mr. Scruffy. “Search the house, and then burn it. The rest of you put these two in the car.”

Amy struggled as they dragged her and Jodie out of the house.
God keep Vicky safe in there. And protect us.
“You don't need Jodie,” she yelled. “Let her go.”

“Shut up.” A blow jolted her head sideways, and she saw stars. To her left she saw Jodie struggle before she was picked up and tossed in the car. Someone shoved her sideways and she fell into the vehicle, hitting her head on the metal frame as she did.

The door slammed shut. She felt for a handle, but there was none.

“Where's Vicky?” Jodie signed frantically as the car moved.

“In the house,” Amy whispered. She turned and looked.

Flames leapt from the study window.
Please God, look after Vicky, and get her out of there.

 



 

Dane prayed hard as Nate sped along the streets from the police station to his house. His body taut as a violin bow, he had a horrid feeling they'd run out of time. It was like that awful night when Nate had turned up on his doorstep to tell him that Jas was dead.

Two patrol cars also turned into his road, one in front of them, one behind, blues and twos echoing. The bad feeling grew. They hadn't told anyone. What else was happening for uniform to turn up in such numbers?

They rounded the corner to find flames shooting from the study and lapping up the side of the house.

His heart sank and then stopped. His kids were in there. “Noooo…”

Nate skidded the car to a halt, stopping it on the handbrake.

Dane leapt from the car and ran towards the house, screaming at the top of his voice. “Jodie! Vicky! Amy!” He hurtled up the path and shouldered the door. It didn't give. He pulled out his key, fumbling with it. Something in the study exploded, sending sparks and flames shooting through the window.

Sirens blared from somewhere behind him as he pushed open the door. Thick black smoke billowed out.

“Dane, wait,” Nate yelled.

Dane ignored him, plunging into the burning building, desperate to find his daughters and pull them out. The thick smoke choked him, the flames crackled, heat blasting from the study door. “Vicky? Jodie? Amy?”

God, please a little help here. Let me find them.

He looked in the lounge and kitchen, but there was no one there. Putting a hand over his mouth, he fought his way through the smoke up the stairs. Amy's room, above the study, was ablaze.

He pushed open Vicky's door. “Vicky! Jodie! Are you in here?”

A whimper came from the wardrobe, barely audible over the noise of the fire.

He ran over to it, coughing, and flung open the door.

Vicky sat curled up at the bottom of the wardrobe, clutching her teddy, tears falling down her cheeks. Her whole body shook, and she rocked slowly back and forth.

Thank You.

“I got you,” he whispered. He pushed his arm out of the sling, and gathered her into his arms. He grunted as pain shot through him. The grunt turned to a muffled scream as he stood, holding Vicky tightly to his chest.

Her arm snaked around his neck, her tears soaking his collar.

“It's OK,” he managed. He took one step, almost losing his balance.

God, help me get out Vicky of here, please. Don't let me drop her.

Two fire fighters in full kit appeared behind him. “Let's get you out of here.” The voice was familiar, but he couldn't place it in all the confusion around him.

“I have to find the others.”

“We'll do that. Right now I want you and Vicky out of here.” One of them led him into his room where a ladder rested against the window.

Tears tracked down his face as they took Vicky from him, handing her out of the window.

“Now you,” the fire fighter said.

He looked at him, suddenly recognizing the eyes. “Jared?”

Jared Harkin, friend and fellow church member nodded. “Now, out, so I can do my job. Who's still missing?”

“Jodie has to be in here somewhere. And Amy. She was looking after the girls while I was at work.” He slowly slid outside, letting the other firefighter guide him down the ladder.

Nate stood at the bottom. “Idiot,” he hissed. “There's being a hero and being stupid.”

“Where's Vicky?”

“Right here.” The voice belonged to another firefighter.

“I couldn't find them. Only Vicky. Vicky, sweetie…”

She scrambled into his arms.

“I couldn't find them.” Dane repeated.

“Not there,” Vicky whispered.

He looked at her. Was he hearing things? “Sweetie?”

“Mr. Scruffy took them,” she whispered.

“Honey, Mr. Scruffy is a scarecrow. He can't move.”

Nate put a hand on his arm. “Dane, she's terrified, but she's talking. Just let her say what she saw, we'll make sense of it later. Go on, Vicky. What did Mr. Scruffy do?”

“Chased them, took them away.” Tears ran unchecked down her face.

“I don't understand,” Dane said.

“Mr. Scruffy took them,” she whispered. “Put them in a car.”

Dane looked at Nate. Vicky had no reason to lie, even if she was confusing the scarecrow with someone else. “Tell the firefighters they're not in the house.”

DI Welsh ran over to them. “Is everyone out?”

Dane looked at her. “He's got Jodie and Amy.”

“Who has?”

“It has to be Saunders. Her real name is Amy Childs. She hit Derek Saunders with her car, and got done for careless driving. She fled here in fear of her life. Only he found her and now he has Jodie.”

A paramedic came over, trying to take Vicky.

Dane held her tightly.

DI Welsh put a hand on his arm. “Dane, you need to let them check her over, make sure she's OK.”

“I need to keep her safe. But I also need to find Jodie.” He looked at Vicky, torn as to what to do. Why was this so hard?

Nate nodded, pulling out his phone. “And we will, but you and Vicky need to be checked over first. I'll get Adeline to come over and collect Vicky. She'll be safe at ours.”

Vicky clung to him tightly. “Stay with Daddy,” she whispered.

Dane hugged her. “Honey, I know you want to and I want that more than anything, but I have to go and find Jodie and I need you to be safe. Auntie Adeline will keep you safe.”

“Mr. Scruffy took them.”

“Mr. Scruffy is a scarecrow.”

“He was in the house. We didn't always move him. He did it himself.”

“Mr. Scruffy was in the house?” Dane shook his head, trying to understand what she was saying. “Where were you?”

“In my kitchen den. Then I hid in my room. He hurt her. He twisted Jodie's arm and he hit Amy.”

Anger flooded him. “And I'll hurt him when I find him.”

“Dane,” Nate warned.

“Fine.” He looked at the paramedic. “You can check her over, but she's not moving from here.” He gazed up at the house, the study and Amy's room well alight. So much for his safe refuge.

Vicky snuggled against him as the paramedic checked her over. He didn't let go, thrilled by the fact she'd spoken. He just wished her first words had been something other than this. The irony hit him hard. She'd stopped talking when her mother died, and started again when her sister vanished.

Adeline arrived. “Hi. Is everyone all right?”

“No,” he said quietly.

Nate quickly filled his wife in, using a combination of speech and sign.

The paramedic looked at Dane. “She's fine. She just needs to be kept warm.”

“Thanks.”

Vicky waved to him, and then clung to her father again.

Dane glanced over to see Vianne in the car, her face pressed against the glass, fear in her eyes. He looked at Vicky. “Sweetie, go with Auntie Adeline and Ben.”

She shook her head. “Stay with Daddy,” she whispered.

Adeline knelt next to her. “You'll be safe with me. Daddy and Uncle Nate need to find Jodie and Amy.”

Vicky cried, holding tightly to Dane.

Tears filled his eyes.
What do I do? Leave them or leave her?
He kissed Vicky's forehead. “Vicks, I promise I'll be back. But I need you safe and you can't stay here with the house on fire, because it's not safe. Auntie Adeline and Vianne will look after you.”

Adeline took her hand. “We'll go via the chip shop,” she said. “Would you like that? Or would you prefer pizza or burger?”

“Pizza,” she whispered.

At that, Dane really did choke up. The first meal she'd asked for in years and it was Jas's favorite.

Adeline smiled. “Then we'll go to my house and you and Vianne can look at the delivery menu and order whatever you like.”