Page 103 of Glasshouses

“He’s still inside.” She coughed the words.

“Why didn’t he escape?” I already knew the answer. She had blood on her face and her hands.

“I hit him over the head, and he didn’t get back up. I felt happy about that.” She didn’t cough this time. “I think the house will need to be knocked down. Maybe we could have gardens here instead. I could design them and we could charge an entry fee.” The coughing stopped her.

“Why did you hit him?”

“Because he killed Amanda and he wanted to kill you.” She said it like it was the most obvious answer in the world. “I’m sleepy.” Her head was on my shoulder.

“Try to stay awake.” I felt as if I’d been drugged. I hoped the fire didn’t spread this way as I wasn’t sure I could find it in me to move.

Neither of us said any more. Vinny charged into the garden, calling my name, my phone long since cut off. I managed a weak response, enough for him to call the paramedics and then I was wrapped in a foil blanket and given a mask, oxygen filling my lungs and my bloodstream, Vinny’s arm wrapped around me, calling me every name under the sun, only I didn’t hear them all because everything gently faded away.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Being kept in hospital overnight while they monitored my oxygen levels meant that I couldn’t receive my bollocking off Wrigley for going in the house. Even he had the sense to stay away, leaving any updates to Vinny, who was also complaining that he couldn’t wash the stench of smoke out of his hair.

“I can go and get you a burger, if you want?” He looked hopefully at me.

“I’m really not hungry. I want to know what’s happened to Lily.” I was propped up, still connected to a couple of machines, and desperate to get out of here.

I’d been taken straight to hospital by the paramedics, ordering Vinny not to let anyone call my foster parents, and then passing out in the ambulance. Smoke inhalation was not for the faint of heart, and I was starting to have the mother of all headaches.

Vinny sat back in the chair. “She’s in a slightly worse state to you. They’ve been more worried about her oxygen levels, but she’ll be okay. Once she’s fit enough to leave here, she’ll be going back to Millstone.”

“Has someone gotten in touch with her probation officer and Doctor McKay?” I reached for the glass of water a nurse had left by my bed with the promise to sip it.

“Doctor McKay’s on her way. We’ve left a message for the probation officer. There’s an officer stationed outside Lily’s room.” He sounded bored. “It won’t matter what we charge her with; she’ll be back in secure.”

“She needs to be there.” I dropped back onto the pillows. “What about Stefan Taylor?”

“In intensive care. She didn’t kill him, but she did knock him out in an area where he hadn’t poured accelerant. He’s got second degree burns to his legs, and it’s touch and go whether he’ll make it.” He made a face like he’d eaten something disgusting. “He could do the decent thing and joss it then the taxpayer won’t need to fund feeding him.”

“It’d give Lily closure.”

Vinny shook his head. “She doesn’t deserve your sympathy. She tried to kill you.”

“She came back and got me out. She didn’t have to do that.”

“She was responsible for that in the first place.” Vinny did not sound like he gave a shit. “She’s a killer, Mia. I get she had a fucked-up childhood, but she still made decisions that killed people.” He’d heard what she’d told me when he was on loudspeaker, before the line had cut out.

“What about Stefan?”

“We’ve searched his house and found the same rope used on his father. He’s also got a shrine in there to various fires, a couple of others that killed people and the person responsible was never identified. There’s a whole lot of shit that we’ll have to go through over the next few weeks.” He stretched, seeming agitated. “I’ll pick you up in the morning. Take you home.”

“Thank you. Where’s my car?”

“Still at Roselea. I’ll get someone to get it back to yours. The house is a wreck and it’s going to need demolishing, but I suppose that will be The Holding’s responsibility. At least the glasshouses weren’t damaged.” I thought of the building, the charred stone and the air filled with soot and ash, surrounding it like a blackened veil, concealing its secrets.

He stood up, cross with me, clearly. I knew why. “Get some rest, Mia. Try and follow some instructions at least.” He left the room, the rollercoaster of the day starting to slow down.

I stayed awake with my thoughts while nurses came and checked my statistics, unplugging me from both machines and bringing me tea and a fairly decent sandwich. I managed to eat even though it felt like I was swallowing glass and all I could taste was smoke.

Still, it gave me enough energy to get a shower, the water pressure even lower than my top bathroom, but it was hot and the hospital issued soap got rid of some of the grime, the water running off me a weak brown.

I was in there long enough for a nurse to come and check I was okay. By the time I got back to my bed, dressed in a hospital issued gown, I had a visitor sat where Vinny had been and a bag.

“Having adventures?”