THE SOUTH BANK MURDERS an absolutely gripping crime mystery with a massive twist (Detective Rob Miller Mysteries Book 5) by Biba Pearce

Author:Biba Pearce [PEARCE, BIBA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime thriller, mystery and suspense
Published: 2022-03-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

It felt like he’d only been asleep for a minute or two when Trigger woke him up.

“What is it, boy?” He patted the Labrador’s head to try and stop his frantic barking.

Jo sat up beside him. “Do you smell smoke?”

Rob sniffed the air. Yep. The unmistakable smell of fire.

He threw back the covers. “Get Jack.”

She slid out of bed and darted to the door. The smell was stronger now it was open. “Oh my God. It’s coming from downstairs.”

Rob pulled on his shoes and ran down the stairs. Trigger howled behind him. “I know, boy.” He disappeared into the smoke-filled hallway.

It was coming from the living room. He took a breath and crept in. The smoke was thicker in here, but it seemed to be emanating from one point on the floor. It was then he noticed the window was broken. Someone had thrown a Molotov cocktail through the glass.

The rug was on fire, and it was spreading to the curtains. They didn’t have much time.

He charged out of the room and back up the stairs. “We’ve got to get out of here,” he yelled. “Grab what you need.”

Jo was clutching Jack. “How bad is it?”

“We can get out, but we have to go now.”

She grabbed her handbag and threw it over her shoulder, then ran back into Jack’s room, picked up his fluffy bunny and a blanket and waited on the landing. Rob scrambled for his wallet and phone, looked around but figured everything else could wait.

“Follow me,” he said, but Jo knew what to do and was right behind him, her hand on his shoulder. Jack was wrapped in her arms, a blanket over his head. Rob grabbed a trembling Trigger by the collar and together, they descended the stairs.

Smoke billowed out of the living room, making it hard to breathe. Rob held his breath as they rushed along the hallway towards the front door. He could feel Jo’s hand on his shoulder. Steady. Determined. Thank God she was so level-headed. He pulled back the latch and yanked the door open. They stumbled out into the night, coughing, with tears pouring down their cheeks. Jack gave a little splutter and began to cry, but the fresh air got rid of any lingering smoke in his lungs.

“He’ll be fine,” Rob said at Jo’s worried look. “Crying is probably the best thing he can do right now.”

They stood together in the street watching the living room go up in flames. Rob felt his gut wrench. The sofa, the table, the television, the few books and CDs he’d collected over the years, all destroyed.

Then he looked at Jo jiggling Jack, who was gazing at the orange flames mesmerised, and Trigger, whining against his leg, and felt a surge of gratitude. They were safe. That was the most important thing.

He was about to pull out his phone and dial 999 when they heard sirens blazing down the street. Seconds later, two fire engines pulled up in front of the house. The firemen jumped out and shot into action.

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