The Midwife by Victoria Jenkins

Author:Victoria Jenkins [Jenkins, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781803148649
Published: 2022-11-13T16:00:00+00:00

After they’d eaten, he drove her to the empty property. It wasn’t as nice as Lauren’s old flat, though anywhere would now feel better than there. Karim waited at the door as she went inside and looked around. She was hardly likely to say no to the offer when she had nowhere else to go.

‘You can stay here as long as you need to,’ he said, when she returned to the hallway.

‘Thank you. I appreciate everything you’ve done to help me out today. How much is the rent?’ She was hoping it would be similar to the other flat. This place was smaller, but she realised it was in a more expensive area.

‘Look, I’ve spoken to my brother and we don’t want any rent from you for the first month here. With everything you’ve been through, you deserve a break.’

‘I appreciate the offer, it’s really kind of you, but I can’t do that. I don’t want—’

‘It’s not charity,’ he interjected, anticipating her response. ‘It’s one person helping another. But there’s a condition.’

‘What’s that?’

‘You tell the police about your brother. Today. I don’t fancy having another place go up in flames, and I don’t want to be getting a call saying you didn’t make it out next time.’

Lauren was forced to fight back tears. Karim caught sight of them.

‘None of this is your fault, Lauren,’ he said.

Oh God, she thought. If only he knew. ‘I’d be paying you if I was in the other flat, and I’ll be paying you in this one. But as I say, I appreciate the offer, I really do. I’m just grateful to have somewhere to stay.’

‘Do you know when you’ll be able to get your things?’

‘I should get a call this afternoon, I hope. This is only going to be temporary. I’ll have to move out of London before my maternity leave finishes anyway. Childcare,’ she added, by way of explanation. ‘Can we arrange a six-month contract?’

They were interrupted by her phone, which she’d tucked in the waistband of her leggings. She hesitated before answering, wondering whether she would be met once again with nothing but breathing.

‘Is that Lauren Coleman?’

‘Yes. Who’s this?’

‘My name’s Detective Sergeant Barton, from Thames Valley Police.’

Lauren’s heart stuttered. Had they already found out how the fire had been started? Or more… had they found out who was responsible? Then she realised that someone from the local police would be calling her, not a detective from Thames Valley.

‘I’m sorry to have to inform you of this, Ms Coleman, but…’

The rest of his words faded behind the rush of thoughts that invaded Lauren’s brain. Karim was watching her, his face creased with concern as he witnessed her reaction to a conversation of which he was only audience to half. As the detective finished speaking, Lauren jolted herself back to the present.

Karim eyed her questioningly. ‘Everything okay?’ he mouthed.

She placed a hand over the phone and lowered it from her face. ‘No,’ she said quietly. ‘It’s my brother. He’s been found dead.’

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