“Oh my God. Todd toldme he showed up Friday night. Why did he come back? Were youalone?”
“Paul forced his wayin. He had me up against the wall. Todd had gone to pick up dinner,but he came back just in time, and he knocked him out. We calledthe police and he was arrested. Don’t mention it to the others. Idon’t want to spoil the day.”
“Sure. As long asyou’re alright. But we’ll talk about this later, okay.” Sam gaveher a hug.
The door slid open and Patrickapproached them with a champagne glass in each hand. “Champagne,anyone?”
“Just in the nick oftime. I was starting to feel a little parched.” Sam took theproffered glass, lifting the effervescent liquid to her lips. Toddappeared from the cabin champagne glass in hand, and joined them atthe rail.
Patrick removed his sunglassesand tucked them into his shirt pocket. “Does anyone feel like aswim before lunch? Sharon and I are going in.”
“Sure. Give me a fewminutes to change. Do you feel like a swim, Todd? How about you,Sam?” Chloe picked up her beach bag.
Sam slipped her arm around bothChloe’s and Todd’s shoulders, and turned to Todd. “I’m pleased tosee you are both looking happier than I have seen in a long time.Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.”
“I’ll keep that inmind.” Todd’s smile reached eyes full of mischief.
“Yeah, I’ll secondthat. You’re not so much of a grouch since Chloe came back. And forthat I am eternally grateful.” Patrick slapped his brother on theback, winked at Chloe, and went off in search of Sharon.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
The setting sun castan orange glow over the bay, and in turn slowed down the freneticpace of Melbourne’s bayside population by the time they made theirway back to Port Melbourne. Todd reached over the seat and tookChloe’s warm hand in his, stroking the back of it with his thumb.The atmosphere inside the car hummed with anticipation.Tonight we’re on the same track at last.He couldn’t wait to get Chloe back home and alone,to share his thoughts on how they could spend the rest of theirevening together.
As they rounded the bend in theroad from St Kilda, they could see the sky lit up ahead of them.The light appeared to be coming from a large bonfire on the beach.It wasn’t until they drove closer they realised the source wasn’ton the beach but across from the beach. Not a bonfire but a housefire. Chloe’s house!
Dense smoke billowed from thewindows, and bright tangerine and yellow flames leapt into thedarkening sky. Sparks and soot rained down on the surroundinggardens and left them in no doubt about the ferocity of theblaze.
“Oh my God, my house!”Chloe cried out, and tried to get out as the car inched nearerthrough the slowly moving traffic.
“Wait, Chloe. They’veblocked off the road!” Todd yelled at her through the openpassenger door. He pulled over to the kerb and hurried after her,locking the car with the remote as he ran.
A fireman stood by the gate,issuing instructions to his crew, his face covered in black soot.He grabbed her arm as she tried to push past him. “Ma’am, you can’tgo in there. Get back behind the tape.” He motioned to apolicewoman on the footpath to come and restrain Chloe.
Todd intervened, shook his headas the policewoman came forwards, and grasped Chloe by the elbow,easing her away from the heat and smoke.
“Chloe, do as they sayand come back over here, please. Let them do their job. You can’thelp them.” He tugged her arm, encouraging her to move until theystood well away from the majority of the falling debris. Theywatched, horrified, as the fire took hold of the upper level andthe roof collapsed, folding in on what remained of the weatherboardand brick structure.
“All my things, myclothes, my father’s furniture and keepsakes. Photos … Oh my God,the renovation, Todd. All our hard work. Gone!” The tears began tofall, and she buried her face in his chest and sobbed.
He wrapped his arms around herand held her tight.
“It’s only a house,Chloe, and they are only material possessions. The most preciousthing in that house is you and you are safe. That’s all thatmatters. You are safe. Insurance will cover everythingelse.”
She lifted her face to look athim and brushed away her tears. She saw concern etched into hisfeatures.
“Why are the policehere?” Chloe turned and asked the fireman who had appeared besidethem. “Who is in charge? Why are the police here?”
“Is this your house,ma’am? The policeman over there would like to talk toyou.”
Chloe and Todd approached apoliceman who was deep in conversation with another man with hisback towards them. “You wanted to talk to me. This is … was … myhouse.”
The man dressed in a dark suitfinished his conversation, turned and scrutinised Todd and Chloe.“I’m Detective Blake. And you are …?”
“Chloe Armstrong. Andthis is Todd Baker.”
“I’m sorry to be theone to break the bad news, but your partner couldn’t be saved. Wegot him out before the roof collapsed in the rear of the building,but we couldn’t resuscitate him. Smoke inhalation probably. Thefiremen said it looked like the fire started with a lit cigarette.He had probably passed out on the couch. There were bottles ofalchol in the vicinity of the body.
“My partner?” Chloeannounced incredulously. “I don’t have a partner. There shouldn’thave been anyone in my house.”
“Chloe, what aboutPaul?” Todd turned to the detective. “We had an incident lastnight. Miss Armstrong was assaulted at home and the man responsiblewas arrested. He was very angry and upset when he was being takenaway. He made threats. It wouldn’t surprise me if he came back. Canyou check if he is still in custody?”
“Give me a minute.Wait here.” He strode off to issue instructions to the officer inthe police car, who in turn made a call. He returned a few minuteslater.
“It seems he wasallowed to leave the lock-up. His employer posted bail thismorning.”
“He must have comeback. He didn’t look like the kind of man who would take kindly tobeing told to stay away,” Todd explained to thedetective.
“Where were youtoday?”
