Sccccchrickt
Sir! You have to-
I freeze. Wait, what? Gas? I cant smell anything, but then I never could.
Sccccchrickt
Sir?
Sccccchrickt
The world slows down. Every single detail stands out like a knife blade: the patch of stubble on Thains chin; the laughter coming from the hall; the DVD case for The Muppet Christmas Carol lying on the carpet; the sound of my heart beating in my ears like a drum. Thump, thump, thump.
I turn, haul in a deep breath. NO! And then everything
PC Richardson made it as far as the garden gate before the house blew. A sudden rush of heat and noise, blasting through the lounge window, spraying him with broken of glass, knocking him flat on his back. And then the flames, roaring over his head as he lay in the middle of the snow-covered pavement.
He groaned. Rolled over onto his side, then up onto his knees. It wasnt meant to happen like this!
Ewan Richardson staggered to his feet and stared at what was left of Dillon Blacks house. The whole downstairs was gone and a good chunk of upstairs too. Bricks and bits of wood littered the front garden. A police-issue helmet lay halfway down the garden path. Someones arm poked out through the front door.
Richardson lurched forwards, peering into what was left of the lounge. It was covered in blood and bits of dark-red meat.
He put one hand against the wall and threw up in the snow.
It wasnt meant to be like this: he was supposed to go in first. Flick on the lights. . .
No one else was meant to get hurt. Just him. Blown to pieces instead of lingering on, getting sicker and sicker. Watching his body slowly kill itself. IT WAS MEANT TO BE HIM!
He sank down against the wall.
It shouldve been him.
A cheerful blast of music came from his pocket. He dragged out his mobile phone: Sandra. Richardson switched it off without taking the call, covered his face with his hands and sobbed.
He should be dead now ? quick and painless ? and Sandra would get his death in service benefits, and his pension. A big chunk of money to look after her and little Emma. To say sorry. For everything.
Now all shed get was the ?3,000 Dillon Black had paid him for the warning about this mornings raid.
Life was so unfair.