Page 209 - My Home on the Earth

‘Never mind, dear,’ laughed Constance, ‘we can always have another one.’
Steve and Liam burst through the front door. ‘Alice! Is everyone all right? I wasn’t allowed come up myself. Elise, Cara, are you all right? What about you two?’ he said, gazing at Helen and Constance.
‘We’re OK. Alice, what about you?’ smiled Helen, kneeling beside Constance and stroking the elderly lady’s hand. ‘We’ll recover. Thank goodness I wasn’t alone. Would she have used the knife?’
‘Knife! What knife?’ exclaimed Steve.
‘She came prepared with a dinner knife,’ quipped Alice. ‘Your daughter was remarkable. I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.’
‘Huh! I wouldn’t let her do anything. See that heavy fender on the hearth? I was itching to pick it up and say “catch”. She’d have gone flat on her back. Stupid woman! Who told you we were here, Dad? Silly question – Mum!’
‘Yes, she did. Here, ring her,’ smiled Steve, handing Elise his mobile. Turning to Alice, he said: ‘At first I thought you’d had an accident. Then we heard on the radio that your car was in the apartment car park. I put the lights on and we got here in seconds. The other guys got in by calling the resident in apartment one and using the service door. How did she get in?’
‘The same way. She said she used a passcode given to her by her sister,’ said Helen.
‘Can we go home now?’ asked Elise. ‘I’m starving.’
‘Officially, I’m still on duty. Let me make a quick call to the station,’ smiled Steve.
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