‘Which service?’

‘I want to report a fire at 1 Bozeman Street, Whitsun.’ Holly stayed behind the cover of the ivy-clad boundary wall as her eyes combed the street for a sign of Maggie.

‘Can I get some details?’ the female operator asked.

‘Just get here as—’

A loud crack. Sounded like a gun discharging. Holly waited for the pain.

‘Ma’am?’

An SUV was parked outside a house two doors along from Maggie’s, and in the streetlight she could see there was something silver lying on the hood. She swung back to McHerry, but there was still nobody there.

‘Ma’am?’

Holly hung up and pocketed the phone. The Browning felt slippery in her grip as she pointed it at the SUV. Was that? Cautiously she approached and confirmed it was a revolver. She grabbed it and tucked it in her left poncho pocket before her eyes darted to the roof above. All the houses in the row were joined. She stepped backwards and craned her neck and could see an attic window in Maggie’s roof. It was open. Sticking close to the front doors she limped towards the dead end of the row.

‘Who are you?’

Holly turned back to find a middle-aged, redheaded man in tight-fitting black pyjamas half cowering behind his door.

‘There’s a fire.’ Holly nodded at Maggie’s home and kept her weapon hidden behind her leg.

He didn’t appear to believe her and took off his spectacles. ‘You’re not a resident.’

‘That house is burning down.’ She nodded again. ‘You should call the emergency services.’ She had to get him back inside.

He peered down the row and gasped: ‘Jesus wept.’ He fixed her accusingly. ‘Where have you come from?’

‘I was just passing by.’

His brow hardened. ‘At this time?’

‘Better call them. It’s spreading fast.’

He seemed in two minds about whether to leave her, but then disappeared back inside, yelling: ‘Jean!’ A dog started barking.

Holly made her way to the last house. She rounded the corner and found a fire escape at the side. There was nobody on it. She reversed a few feet to see if there was any movement above. Was Maggie still on the roof? She squinted into the shadows of the yard behind her but it was empty. Maybe she’d heard Holly’s conversation with the neighbour and was staying up there until she thought she’d gone. She could hear the man who had just stopped her. He was talking on his phone in the street.

‘I want to report a fire in Bozeman Street… On their way now?’

If she hung around he was probably going to attempt a citizen’s arrest. Should she start climbing? Maggie would have nowhere to go. And now she was unarmed. She put one foot on the bottom step, gripped the cold metal handrail and kept her eyes on the top of the escape.

‘Maggie? Are you both OK?’ The neighbour’s voice echoed.

Holly halted and headed back into the row. Maggie was in front of the houses on the opposite side clutching Penny in a blanket and was almost to the end of the street. She must have come down the escape and slipped by her while she had the exchange with the neighbour. ‘Stop!’

Maggie turned, and so did he.

‘We’re going to wait for the police to arrive.’ He held up a hand. ‘Think you should wait with us.’

Holly extended the gun as she falteringly approached.

At first the neighbour didn’t react, but then he saw what she had in her hand. His arms immediately rose, and his combative expression drained away. ‘Whoa.’

‘Go back inside and close the door.’

Another front door opened nearby and an elderly man in an orange robe emerged.

‘Go back inside!’

He immediately obeyed Holly, and the first neighbour complied as well.

Maggie didn’t move except to swing Penny to the far side of her so she was shielded from Holly.

Holly slowed about six feet from her. ‘Put her down.’ She moved forward another pace so she could see her through the snow. This was it. It was Maggie or Abigail.

‘We can work this out. He doesn’t need to know.’

Holly shook her head. ‘He’s watching us now, up there. He’s got a drone buzzing around.’

Maggie briefly raised her eyes, but dropped them back to Holly as if it might be a trick.

Holly tensed her body and could see Maggie was desperately trying to figure a way out of the situation. ‘I’ve got your gun. I don’t want to shoot with Penny in your arms, but if you move now I’ll pull this trigger.’

‘Ever fired one of those before?’

Holly didn’t respond.

Don’t listen to her.

‘No, you haven’t. You’re scared out of your wits, and I don’t blame you.’

‘Stop talking.’ Holly’s heart pounded at the back of her brain.

‘Maybe you should call Babysitter.’

‘I said stop talking.’ Holly focussed on her chin.

‘If you do it, you’re going straight to jail.’

‘It didn’t stop you.’ Holly clenched her jaw.

‘That was just you and me. If he sees exactly what’s going on here he’ll know there’ll be too many witnesses. We can offer to cover for him. Tell him we’ll square things with the police. If we stay silent, maybe he’ll spare both our children.’

Holly could see Maggie was going to use any argument to stay alive for Penny. This was her last opportunity to do what Babysitter demanded. ‘Lay Penny on the floor now,’ she whispered.

Maggie didn’t.

Don’t think about it. Just do it.

‘Think of Penny. I’m counting three. Whatever you choose to do before that is up to you. One… two…’