Oh, please God, not yet, she thought heading down the stairs. There was no way she wanted relatives in the house.
‘May I help you?’ she asked, stepping out of the property to where two men were being contained by Penn, Stacey and a couple of officers. Leanne had moved to the side and offered no assistance at all.
Both men were slim and attractive, one dark-haired, one light.
The fair-headed one took a step forward. Penn’s arm instantly raised like a car park barrier. The man looked at it with disgust and knocked it away.
‘Zachary Daynes,’ he said by way of introduction. ‘Where’s my family?’
She looked to the dark-haired male who had put a steadying hand on the other man’s shoulder.
‘Gavin Daynes,’ he offered in a calmer tone.
‘Brothers?’ she asked.
Gavin held up his left hand to display a gold band. ‘Husbands.’
‘Got it, Mr Daynes. Would you please come with me?’ she asked gently.
He shook his head and lurched for the barrier. Bryant was ready and pushed him gently back.
‘Let me through,’ he hissed, and for the first time Kim got a whiff of alcohol on his breath.
‘Please, Mr Daynes, come with me.’
She needed to move him away from the doorway before he saw or heard something he didn’t need to.
With Gavin’s help, she was able to steer him towards a park-style bench just out of the cordon area.
‘We had a call from the neighbours,’ Gavin offered. ‘Something about a fire,’ he said as she raised the tape for them to exit.
‘I have to help,’ Zachary said, turning back, but Kim had a firm hold of his arm.
‘Mr Daynes, I’m afraid that there’s nothing you can do for them now.’
‘Wh-What?’ he asked, looking from her back to the front door.
She shook her head.
His legs buckled and he all but fell onto the bench.
‘Are…are…you saying they’re dead?’
‘I’m afraid so,’ she said, delaying even for a moment the inevitable. One piece of horrific detail at a time was enough.
Gavin’s hand had tightened on his husband’s shoulder as his mouth fell open.
‘Rozzie and Lewis?’
‘I’m sorry, Mr Daynes.’
‘Jesus Christ,’ Gavin said as Zachary’s head fell forward and his body began to shake.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she said.
‘From the fire?’ Gavin asked, blinking away the tears.
The inevitable had arrived much sooner than she’d hoped.