Relief coursed through Susannah. It was just Jonathan and his bitter fantasies. She should have known.
“I should go, let you rest,” Robin finished. True to her word, she turned on her heel and marched out.
Susannah didn’t know what to do with herself. Was the nightmare really over? Robin certainly seemed to think so.
Tess watched Robin go with a scowl. “She’s lucky I didn’t kick her ass right out of here for everything she’s put you through. All very well to be sorry in hindsight, but look what her hate and nonsense stirred up!”
“You keep that temper, Dr Robinson,” Susannah warned, although she was as touched by Tess and her protective streak as she was devastated that Jonathan could be so whipped up by Robin’s ranting that he would commit this heinous crime.
“You could have died.” Tess’s voice trembled. She squeezed Susannah’s hand a little too tightly. “We both could have.”
“Oh come on. This isn’t prime-time television. The queer women survived! Let’s not be all doom and gloom about this.”
“Lady Karlson?” A policeman stood at the door. He looked about nineteen. “We’d like to ask you some questions. We have someone in custody over the fire.”
Susannah suppressed a weary sigh.
He eased his way in, the hi-vis vest covered by bits of equipment, a shiny black truncheon hanging from his hip. His female partner followed suit. “If you’re feeling up to it, we’d like to have a word about events surrounding the fire at The Spiky Thistle?”
“Yes, yes. Come in and let’s get it over with. Can Tess stay? She’s my…”
“Girlfriend,” Tess supplied. “I’m the one who got her out of the fire, so it’ll save you time to talk to us both.”
“Oh, so you’re the hero!” The female officer said, losing her cool expression for a moment. “I hope you know there are a ton of reporters dying to talk to you. It’s like a rugby scrum outside the hospital, and all they want to know about is you, saving the lady of the manor no less!”
Tess sputtered at the information.
Susannah took her hand. “I don’t think we’re ready for the press. Thanks for letting us know, though. And Tess here really is a big damn hero.” The sweet blush rose on Tess’s cheeks again, so Susannah risked a coughing fit to lean in and kiss her cheek.
“Very good,” the first police officer said, pulling out his notebook. “Now let’s start with where you were earlier in the evening.”
Susannah scanned the pick-up area by the hospital’s quiet private entrance for Tess in her much-maligned car. She hoped Tess had been able to run the gauntlet of reporters without getting stopped. Since the X-rays revealed her lover’s collarbone was just bruised, Tess had been allowed to drive.
Relief flooded through Susannah as Tess drove into view. She was bundling herself into the passenger seat less than two minutes later.
In the back of the car, Waffles greeted her from the safety of his crate.
“So, girlfriend, huh?” Susannah said. “And a nationally famous hero, no less.”
Tess didn’t blush this time, just winked and blew a kiss at Susannah while navigating the byzantine route to get out of hospital grounds.
“Well, we needed a word for us,” Tess said. “And since I plan on dating you a whole bunch more than we’ve managed so far, I thought ‘girlfriend’ just about covered it. Do you have any objections?”
“None whatsoever. We’ll hear from the police tomorrow about the investigation, but they’re pretty sure they’ve got their man. All the evidence seems to corroborate it.”
“Did you tell them about Robin? Was she really not involved?”
“Police raided Jonathan’s home, seized a bunch of plans, and have confirmed she was clueless about his darker activities,” Susannah answered. “She was definitely picking fights with me, but he was escalating it without her knowledge. Not big on details, my dear sister-in-law.”
“How are you feeling? Are you sure they should have let you out this soon?”
“I’m fine. If I get dizzy or breathless, I should go back in, but you really did save my life. Did I thank you for that yet?”
Tess braked for a red light ahead, making a show of thinking about it. “You know, I don’t think you have? Sure, you were unconscious, but you have a PA. Would a card and some flowers have killed you?” She snorted with laughter at herself.
Susannah leaned in for a kiss rather than roll her eyes. “Thank you.”
“Ow.” Tess said when they parted, cars behind them honking because the light had turned green. “That bruising isn’t fun.”
“Sorry.” Susannah fought a surge of guilt. “I couldn’t resist. Still, you should rest.”
“No delivering calves for me today, that’s for sure. Adam will have to stand in for me.”
“Well, I happen to know somewhere very comfortable you could relax tonight. Far away from a crime scene and the smell of burnt wood,” Susannah said. “My bed is definitely big enough for two.”
Waffles barked.
“Okay, three, but he has to stay at the bottom.”
“Good luck with that,” Tess replied, driving them towards Midsummer, trying to hold back a beaming smile as she went.
Chapter 23
Tess held her mug of tea and stood by the front door of the vet surgery, trying to watch the events out in front of the pub without being too obvious. Clearly, she hadn’t succeeded, as in less than a minute, Joan crossed the street from the café to come and get a better view beside Tess.
“What are they saying to Susannah?” Joan asked.
Tess shrugged. She was neither a lip reader nor a psychic.
“I mean, what did they say to her before this?”
“How would I know?” Tess tried to look innocent.
Joan’s answer was a reproachful look.
Great. Seemed the whole village knew where Tess had been spending most nights since the fire.
They continued to watch from a distance as Susannah talked with the fire officer and a senior-looking police officer. There was lots of pointing and gesturing, but it was impossible to tell if the news was
