Vengeance by Heather Burnside

Author:Heather Burnside
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781801107983
Publisher: Head of Zeus

30

Hannah had deliberated over whether to tell her mum about the fire. But if she did, it would only worry her, and Pat had already asked Hannah not to say anything about the intimidation. Aside from that, her mother would insist on coming with her, which would mean bringing Kai, and she didn’t really want her son to pick up on her nana’s anxiety again.

She saw the flames from a few streets away and knew that this fire was much bigger than the last one. Fortunately, it wasn’t too close to Pat’s house, but nevertheless, Hannah could feel the heat coming from it as soon as she stepped out of the car. A small crowd had gathered as near to the fire as the police and the blaze would allow.

Before knocking at her nana’s house, Hannah walked a bit nearer and did a quick scan of the crowd, but Pat wasn’t standing among the onlookers. Hannah walked back and pressed Pat’s doorbell. Her nana took a while to answer, but when she finally did, she looked distressed. It was clear to Hannah that she’d made a quick effort to clean up her tear-stained face, but her eyes were still red rimmed and her cheeks flushed.

She let Hannah inside without speaking, and Hannah noticed how much her hands were shaking as she clutched the door. Hannah shut the door behind her, and they hugged. But it wasn’t like their usual loving hug, it was more of a comforting gesture, and as Hannah held her nana tight, she could feel her trembling.

‘Oh, Nana,’ she soothed, and that was all it took for Pat to dissolve into tears again.

Hannah had never seen her like this in her whole life. Things must be bad if they had reduced her once strong nana to a quivering wreck. Hannah gave her a few moments to gather herself before she sent Pat through to the lounge and offered to make them both a cuppa.

When Hannah came through with the drinks, her nana was sitting in her armchair clutching a sopping bunch of tissues. Pat sniffed and attempted to dry her eyes then focused on her drink.

Hannah could tell she wanted to talk so she waited until she was ready.

‘It happened in the night,’ Pat began. ‘One of the neighbours saw flames when he set off for work. But I – I can’t understand why the family wouldn’t have done something about it … unless they didn’t know.’

‘Maybe they’re on holiday.’

‘No, the neighbours said they’re at home. They hammered on the door but there was nothing.’

‘So, what’s happening now?’

‘I don’t know. I couldn’t bear to watch.’ Pat paused for a moment, gathering herself but her next words were chilling. ‘Two little boys. Eli and Josiah, they were called. Very biblical I always thought. But the parents weren’t religious. They were a lovely couple, only in their thirties. And them two. Ooh, they were lovely little things. Fat lot of good their religious names have done for them now though.

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