Chapter 6
The bottom windows and doors blew out smoke and heat like some sort of angry furnace. And with each second, it was becoming increasingly angrier and hotter and noisier. Martin coughed and spluttered as he ran out of the front door and stood in the road. His mobile was in the house- everything was. Should he go back in to retrieve it? Where did he leave it? No that would be very irresponsible and dangerous. So, he ran to the little white cottage next door.
The elderly couple appeared at the door looking very dishevelled and confused, 'Oh hello, Doc. Somebody's up early' as Kenneth squinted at him.
'I need you to call 999. IMMEDIATELY!' Martin was very stressed and uptight- even more so than usual, understandably.
'Oooh dear. You look a bit flushed. Oh! Are you having a heart attack, Doc?' Kenneth, in his dear sweet golden years was concerned, before shouting over to his wife….. 'Rosa! Rosa! Doesn't the Doc look a bit flushed to you?'
'I'm not having a heart attack!'
'Are you sure, Doc?' Rosa asked 'So why do you want us to call 999?'
Martin was very clearly agitated and stressed and never really understood the pace of Cornish life. Or Cornish people, for that matter! 'THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF SMOKE COMING FROM MY HOUSE AND THAT FIRE ALARM COULD DEAFEN AS FAR AS SOUTH OF SCOTLAND! WHY DO YOU THINK I NEED 999?! GET ON TO IT! NOW.'
Martin stood back. He felt just completely helpless. He sighed. How could this have happened? Everything in his life was always in check and he always had a system in place, no matter what it was, so how was he standing watching his home being destroyed by something so ferocious? What a nightmare he thought.
He looked around- absolutely nothing else he could do. Amongst all the smoke, which was now travelling through the village, he noticed a figure, quickly working its way up the hill. That better not be Louisa, he feared. All the smoke and fumes would be very toxic for her and the baby; he wanted her nowhere near this inferno. But it wasn't Louisa, It was Joe.
He ran up in his blue and white striped robe, although he had managed to put his 'duty' boots on.
'Doc! Doc. Are you ok? Please do not fear, for I am with you.'
Martin rolled his eyes.
'I've phoned my contacts at the fire station and I've also brought my handcuffs.'
'Why?'
'Well, just in case this is an arson attack and to be honest Doc, I'd be worried if I were you.'
Martin pulled that face at him. 'What are you talking about?'
'Within the last 6 to 9 months, there has been a sharp increase in domestic break-ins and burglaries, and all in detached, private properties just like yours, Doc.'
Martin didn't recall hearing about any of these…. 'In Portwenn?'
'No. Twickenham.'
XXX
Louisa rolled from side to side. Another sleepless night. She could hear some bother going on somewhere in the village but tried her best to ignore any distractions; she needed sleep! She carried on wriggling, trying to get comfy until finally giving in. She got up and sighed. She thought the tiredness and sleeplessness came after the baby was born. She looked at the cot that was already built and made all cosy in her room. It was lit up by an outside streetlight and looked so cute, even in the dark. Louisa beamed as she always did when thinking about her baby. It was a white, wooden cot with soft, white bedding. She looked at it and noted that it wouldn't be long until her little treasure would be snuggled into it. Not long at all.
She switched on her kitchen lamp and flicked the switch on the kettle, might as well have a hot drink of something. The smoke outside the terrace really was awful; she began to get worried. She'd never seen anything like this before. As she approached the all-glass double doors, she tried to squint passed this awful blanket of smoke and debris. She couldn't really see anything or distinguish any landmarks or buildings. I hope Martin is alright she thought, he wouldn't be very pleased of being woken at this hour, she smiled to herself.
She took a sip of her hot cocoa, and as the figures in High-visibility uniforms began to contain this monster, she caught a glimpse of that front bedroom window. Martin's bedroom window!
'MARTIN!' She thew down her mug, causing the frothy liquid to spill all over the kitchen table. She frantically grabbed the first jacket to hand and attempted to put it on, in a terrifying panic and trying to fit it around her tummy.
'Joe, JOE!' She almost cried as she tried to run up the hill. 'Where's Martin?' she said in a wobbly tone, almost in tears.
'Sorry, Louisa you can't come any closer. It's now a crime scene. And the last thing we need is somebody contaminating forensics.' Joe was talking utter nonsense, but he needed to feel important, as if he was doing his duty for the Doc and for the community. Of course, he wasn't, just being a mere inconvenience to the emergency services. But that was Joe.
'What?! Joe, Where's MARTIN? IS HE IN THAT HOUSE?'
'Sorry Louisa, he's gone.'
Her jaw dropped as if on a bungee rope and she turned as white as a sheet. If ever there was a time that she felt her blood run cold, it was just then.