“I’m warning you,” Officer Donaldson said. “Get off that man.”
“Quick,” Betty shouted at the crowd. “Someone take a picture so I can send it to the interweb.”
Cameras flashed as Betty beamed a wide—and very gummy—grin.
Kirsty looked down at the gagged and bound Brandon. It took all of her self-control not to kick the man.
“He’s not worth it,” Lake said, as though reading her mind.
“At least he didn’t get the necklace,” Kirsty said. “Which means I have a whole load of diamonds.”
“Diamonds, huh?” Lake said. “That makes sense. I wouldn’t get too excited, though—you can’t sell illegal diamonds.”
“That’s just pants,” Kirsty said as she snuggled in closer. “I was right about that necklace all along. It is a piece of junk.”
Lake chuckled beside her and together they watched as Betty bounced on Brandon.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The fire had gutted the inside of Kirsty’s shop. The smoke had damaged her home upstairs. What didn’t suffer flame or smoke damage was ruined by water. Now the interior of her building was a black, burnt-out mess. Kirsty stood in the front window of Lake’s shop, surrounded by her family and friends, watching the clean-up. Lake held her tight against him.
“Looks like we won the war,” Betty said. “Kirsty’s business is dead.” Everyone scowled at her. “What?” she demanded. “I’m not talking about anything you can’t see for yourself.”
“Don’t worry,” Kirsty’s mum said. “We’ll help you fix things. I’m sure there’s a lot you can salvage.”
“Aye,” Shona said. “The fire was superficial. The structure is fine.”
There was nothing superficial about it. Anything that was left would land in the rubbish skip.
“You don’t get that smoke smell out,” Jean said. “Nothing removes it.”
Kirsty’s mum glared at Jean.
“I’m sure what we can’t salvage will be replaced by the insurance company,” her mum said with confidence.
Kirsty’s heart sank. Lake squeezed her tighter. With his arm round her shoulder, things were slightly easier to bear. Having him there, knowing he was okay, put all material losses in perspective. She looked at the sodden mess that was her life. It could have been worse. Not much worse, but still. She took a deep breath. There was no avoiding this.
“I don’t have any insurance, Mum,” she said.
She felt Lake stiffen beside her.
“You don’t have any insurance?” Her mum’s voice was a high-pitched squeak.
Kirsty shook her head sadly.
“I got rid of it to free up money for advertising.”
Her mum’s mouth fluttered open.
“Well, that was bloody stupid,” Betty said loudly.
Kirsty couldn’t disagree, so she kept her mouth shut.
“We’ll figure something out,” Lake told her as he kissed the top of her head. “We’ll all pitch in. It’ll be fine.”
He sounded so sure of himself that Kirsty found herself believing him, even though logic told her that it really wouldn’t be fine.
“What about the war?” Betty demanded. “What about not helping the enemy? What about winning?”