p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"Dr and Mrs Burton arrived in Yorkshire after the long train journey from London. They had decided not to drive, neither of them feeling up for it. They had been informed of the tragedy by the local constabulary, astern London sergeant awkwardly breaking the news to them. Dr Burton had been running through that moment through his mind ever since …/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"The doorbell rang and Alex went to answer it – there on the doorstep stood an extremely uncomfortable sergeant, standing as stiff as a statue. Alex immediately thought that something serious had happened, but had no idea what. He invited the officer in, and at the sergeants request called Mrs Burton into the front sitting room. She looked just as confused as Alex felt – they sat down on the sofa together, taking in the business like posture of the Sergeant, sure that only bad news was going to ensue./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I'm afraid there's been an accident involving your daughter, up in Aidensfield. There was an explosion in the police house, while she was inside."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""How is she? Is she seriously injured?" Dr Burton interjected anxiously./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"The officer didn't need to reply – the look on his face spoke a thousand words. Grace let out a scream of despair, and Alex automatically pulled her into his arms, his mind reeling. How was this even possible? How could something like this happen?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I'm SO sorry," the officer continued, "the house was completely destroyed, and there was nothing anyone could do."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Was it a gas explosion?" Alex was completely gobsmacked./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""No I'm afraid not. I don't know the full details of what occurred, but as I understand it, an incendiary device was deliberately placed in the house."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"Grace was crying on Alex's shoulder, and let out a cry of despair at the officers words./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Rob, was he…" Alex braced himself./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Again, I don't know the absolute circumstances, but Constable Walker was not in the house when the incident occurred."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"Incident. Alex noticed how they used that word instead of accident. Two different letters made all the difference in the meaning of the word, the meaning in their life./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Forgive my impertinence, but I assume you will be travelling to Aidensfield in the near future?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I-I-I… Yes of course Officer."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I can have an officer drive you, if needs be?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Thank you, but I think we will get the train. We will need to sort things out here, then hopefully set off tomorrow morning."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""OK well when Sergeant Miller from Ashfordly phoned earlier, he told me they had spoken to a Websters Hotel, and they are reserving a room for your arrival. Also, we can keep an eye out on your empty house and make sure everything is safe while you are away. If there is anything else we can do to be of assistance, just let us know." The officer gave them a card with his name and station number on it and stood up./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Again, I'm so sorry for the tragic news. I'll see myself out." He dothed his cap to them then left./span/em/p
div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"hr style="color: black;" align="center" noshade="noshade" size="1" width="100%" /div
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"After crying herself dry, Grace had been sitting, barely responsive, in a state of shock. There had been no sleep that night, and instead, Alex had mechanically packed suitcases and phoned the train station to find out the time of the first train north the next day./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"Now, sitting in silent thought on the train, Alex was worried. Grace hadn't spoken at all, but he wasn't surprised. He knew his wife, and knew her personality- she would open up when she was ready. He was worried about seeing Rob, about what Grace would say to him in her grief. She had still been adjusting to his family and background, after the shock of his sisters and finding out about his father at the wedding. Son of a jailbird wasn't what she had wanted for her daughter, and she hadn't known Rob long enough to find out what he was like. She had hoped her daughter would aim higher than for a mere village constable. He hoped the wedding and the few weeks between would have been enough for her to warm to the idea, but he knew that grief could make people say things, and he dreaded what might happen if she got going on Rob, as he felt sure she was dwelling on Robs parting words – em"I'll take care of her, I promise."/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"They arrived in Aidensfield early afternoon, after a transfer at York. After unloading their luggage, then guiding his wife off the train, the full feeling of the situation really hit him. He wasn't sure how he felt about Rob – he needed to be in full possession of the facts. It was then that he noticed a police officer holding up their surname on a card. He walked over to the unknown officer who informed them he had been asked to escort them to meet Sergeant Miller at Ashfordly Police station. Alex agreed, as his first priority was to find out exactly what had happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"At the station, they were shown into the Sergeants Office, where he greeted them with sombre expression./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Dr and Mrs Burton, first let me tell you how sorry I am for your loss. I understand your local officer only gave you brief details of the incident?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""He said that the explosion was caused by a … by a… well he said there was some sort of …bomb?" Alex found himself lost for words as the full horror of that word hit him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I'm afraid that that's exactly what it was. Constable Walker was involved in a high speed chase, pursuing an escaped convict. The convicts car hit and killed the dog of a villager, who took it rather badly. He made a bomb, and slipped it in with your daughter's belongings as she was moving them into a police house. He used a large amount quantity of chemicals stolen from the school lab, and the house was completely destroyed by the blast and the ensuing fire. "/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""SCHOOL? How old was he?" Alex was appalled at what they were hearing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""He was young, only 14. He was, as we understand it, extremely disturbed, and this incident seemed to push him over the edge. "/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"That word again – incident. Alex was completely aghast, and sat in silence for a few moments, allowing the information to penetrate./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"When he found the ability to speak again, he asked the question that had been pressing on his mind all night:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""They said that Rob wasn't in the house at the time…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""The villagers had found a new puppy to replace the lost dog. Rob had gone round to deliver the puppy, and the boy told him about the bomb. He couldn't get through to Helen on the phone, so he raced back, but tragically was too late."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"Whilst Alex digested this information, Grace seemed to wake up out of her reverie. They thanked Miller then left, taking their suitcases to a garage that had been recommended for car hire. They went to check into the hotel, all the while sitting in silence. Alex decided to go visit Aidensfield, and Grace insisted on going too – this made Alex uneasy but it was going to have to happen sooner or later, and there were arrangements that had to be made./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"They walked around the village taking in the mournful air. Grace wanted to see the police house, and then visit the mortuary, but Alex convinced her she wasn't ready yet, so they wandered aimlessly, eventually finding themselves outside the pub. They walked in the door, and Alex's heart sank when he realised Rob was sitting at the Bar- he was trying to keep Grace away from him as long as possible. He tried to sit her at a table with her back to the bar, but she had already noticed. She plopped herself next to him, and ordered a brandy. Rob blanched when he saw her, but greeted them with an air of wary politeness. Alex decided to just go with it, so sat down and ordered a drink too, whilst shooting Oscar what he hoped was a warning glance. As they all sat there, the atmosphere could have been cut with a knife. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""You said you would take care of her," Grace muttered, the accusation in her voice plain to hear. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"Rob sighed and closed his eyes, and decided feigning deafness was the best course of action. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Well? Proud of yourself are you? If it wasn't for you she would have come back down to London after Matthew and none of this would have ever happened!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"This seemed to stir something in Rob and his eyes narrowed dangerously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Did you ever stop to ask yourself why she didn't move back to London?" Rob snapped, slamming his fist on the bar. "Maybe its got something to do with the fact that she wanted to distance herself from you and your antiquated patriarchy. If you seriously think Matthew was the best she could do then go back to the same gutter he crawled out of."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""How dare-" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I'm sorry Rob, we shouldn't have come here like this," Alex cut across her before things could escalate any further. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""No you shouldn't have," agreed Oscare, glaring at them both. "I think its time for you both to leave."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""We'll be in touch about … the arrangements," Alex said to the back of Robs head as he pulled Grace towards the door. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"The doorbell rang and Alex went to answer it – there on the doorstep stood an extremely uncomfortable sergeant, standing as stiff as a statue. Alex immediately thought that something serious had happened, but had no idea what. He invited the officer in, and at the sergeants request called Mrs Burton into the front sitting room. She looked just as confused as Alex felt – they sat down on the sofa together, taking in the business like posture of the Sergeant, sure that only bad news was going to ensue./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I'm afraid there's been an accident involving your daughter, up in Aidensfield. There was an explosion in the police house, while she was inside."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""How is she? Is she seriously injured?" Dr Burton interjected anxiously./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"The officer didn't need to reply – the look on his face spoke a thousand words. Grace let out a scream of despair, and Alex automatically pulled her into his arms, his mind reeling. How was this even possible? How could something like this happen?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I'm SO sorry," the officer continued, "the house was completely destroyed, and there was nothing anyone could do."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Was it a gas explosion?" Alex was completely gobsmacked./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""No I'm afraid not. I don't know the full details of what occurred, but as I understand it, an incendiary device was deliberately placed in the house."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"Grace was crying on Alex's shoulder, and let out a cry of despair at the officers words./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Rob, was he…" Alex braced himself./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Again, I don't know the absolute circumstances, but Constable Walker was not in the house when the incident occurred."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"Incident. Alex noticed how they used that word instead of accident. Two different letters made all the difference in the meaning of the word, the meaning in their life./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Forgive my impertinence, but I assume you will be travelling to Aidensfield in the near future?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I-I-I… Yes of course Officer."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I can have an officer drive you, if needs be?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Thank you, but I think we will get the train. We will need to sort things out here, then hopefully set off tomorrow morning."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""OK well when Sergeant Miller from Ashfordly phoned earlier, he told me they had spoken to a Websters Hotel, and they are reserving a room for your arrival. Also, we can keep an eye out on your empty house and make sure everything is safe while you are away. If there is anything else we can do to be of assistance, just let us know." The officer gave them a card with his name and station number on it and stood up./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Again, I'm so sorry for the tragic news. I'll see myself out." He dothed his cap to them then left./span/em/p
div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"hr style="color: black;" align="center" noshade="noshade" size="1" width="100%" /div
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"After crying herself dry, Grace had been sitting, barely responsive, in a state of shock. There had been no sleep that night, and instead, Alex had mechanically packed suitcases and phoned the train station to find out the time of the first train north the next day./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"Now, sitting in silent thought on the train, Alex was worried. Grace hadn't spoken at all, but he wasn't surprised. He knew his wife, and knew her personality- she would open up when she was ready. He was worried about seeing Rob, about what Grace would say to him in her grief. She had still been adjusting to his family and background, after the shock of his sisters and finding out about his father at the wedding. Son of a jailbird wasn't what she had wanted for her daughter, and she hadn't known Rob long enough to find out what he was like. She had hoped her daughter would aim higher than for a mere village constable. He hoped the wedding and the few weeks between would have been enough for her to warm to the idea, but he knew that grief could make people say things, and he dreaded what might happen if she got going on Rob, as he felt sure she was dwelling on Robs parting words – em"I'll take care of her, I promise."/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"They arrived in Aidensfield early afternoon, after a transfer at York. After unloading their luggage, then guiding his wife off the train, the full feeling of the situation really hit him. He wasn't sure how he felt about Rob – he needed to be in full possession of the facts. It was then that he noticed a police officer holding up their surname on a card. He walked over to the unknown officer who informed them he had been asked to escort them to meet Sergeant Miller at Ashfordly Police station. Alex agreed, as his first priority was to find out exactly what had happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"At the station, they were shown into the Sergeants Office, where he greeted them with sombre expression./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Dr and Mrs Burton, first let me tell you how sorry I am for your loss. I understand your local officer only gave you brief details of the incident?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""He said that the explosion was caused by a … by a… well he said there was some sort of …bomb?" Alex found himself lost for words as the full horror of that word hit him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I'm afraid that that's exactly what it was. Constable Walker was involved in a high speed chase, pursuing an escaped convict. The convicts car hit and killed the dog of a villager, who took it rather badly. He made a bomb, and slipped it in with your daughter's belongings as she was moving them into a police house. He used a large amount quantity of chemicals stolen from the school lab, and the house was completely destroyed by the blast and the ensuing fire. "/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""SCHOOL? How old was he?" Alex was appalled at what they were hearing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""He was young, only 14. He was, as we understand it, extremely disturbed, and this incident seemed to push him over the edge. "/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"That word again – incident. Alex was completely aghast, and sat in silence for a few moments, allowing the information to penetrate./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"When he found the ability to speak again, he asked the question that had been pressing on his mind all night:/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""They said that Rob wasn't in the house at the time…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""The villagers had found a new puppy to replace the lost dog. Rob had gone round to deliver the puppy, and the boy told him about the bomb. He couldn't get through to Helen on the phone, so he raced back, but tragically was too late."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"Whilst Alex digested this information, Grace seemed to wake up out of her reverie. They thanked Miller then left, taking their suitcases to a garage that had been recommended for car hire. They went to check into the hotel, all the while sitting in silence. Alex decided to go visit Aidensfield, and Grace insisted on going too – this made Alex uneasy but it was going to have to happen sooner or later, and there were arrangements that had to be made./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"They walked around the village taking in the mournful air. Grace wanted to see the police house, and then visit the mortuary, but Alex convinced her she wasn't ready yet, so they wandered aimlessly, eventually finding themselves outside the pub. They walked in the door, and Alex's heart sank when he realised Rob was sitting at the Bar- he was trying to keep Grace away from him as long as possible. He tried to sit her at a table with her back to the bar, but she had already noticed. She plopped herself next to him, and ordered a brandy. Rob blanched when he saw her, but greeted them with an air of wary politeness. Alex decided to just go with it, so sat down and ordered a drink too, whilst shooting Oscar what he hoped was a warning glance. As they all sat there, the atmosphere could have been cut with a knife. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""You said you would take care of her," Grace muttered, the accusation in her voice plain to hear. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"Rob sighed and closed his eyes, and decided feigning deafness was the best course of action. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Well? Proud of yourself are you? If it wasn't for you she would have come back down to London after Matthew and none of this would have ever happened!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"This seemed to stir something in Rob and his eyes narrowed dangerously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""Did you ever stop to ask yourself why she didn't move back to London?" Rob snapped, slamming his fist on the bar. "Maybe its got something to do with the fact that she wanted to distance herself from you and your antiquated patriarchy. If you seriously think Matthew was the best she could do then go back to the same gutter he crawled out of."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""How dare-" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""I'm sorry Rob, we shouldn't have come here like this," Alex cut across her before things could escalate any further. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""No you shouldn't have," agreed Oscare, glaring at them both. "I think its time for you both to leave."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;""We'll be in touch about … the arrangements," Alex said to the back of Robs head as he pulled Grace towards the door. /span/p