by Nora Snowdon
Lu shook her head. First things first. After inhaling ten slow deep breaths, she dialed Susan.
CHAPTER 9
“You’re back!” Ace hollered, his face breaking into a broad grin. “And you missed one heck of a call last night. Another frigging mansion, but this one practically burned to the ground before we even got there. It musta been a bomb or something. Nothin’ goes up that fast without help.”
“Anyone hurt?” Lu asked, praying for the right answer.
“No, thank God. The place was deserted, although I think the cops arrested someone running from the scene.”
“Really? And what did—?”
“Listen up.” Reynolds walked into the middle of the room. “Today’s crew was busy with truck maintenance and cleaning after the big call last night, so take care of any housekeeping things you notice, and we should be back to regular schedule tomorrow.” He looked over at Lu and smiled. “I told Ralph we needed our full team and he agreed. So Dawson’s back. The cops’ll have to poach from someone else for a while.” Reynolds had a self-satisfied smirk as he added, “Maybe they can get some teachers or nurses to help them out.”
After the outgoing team’s report, Lu slunk away to the kitchen for coffee. She’d only been back at the fire hall for twenty minutes and she already felt restless. How was she going to feel after fourteen hours?
Ace caught up to her again in the kitchen and nodded at the brewing coffee. “It’s espresso roast. Laurel Ann swears it’s the best.”
“Sounds good. So how’s it going with her?”
“She’s great. We’re going to the auto show next week. Then I got her tickets for the Mariners’ home game for her birthday in June.”
“Oh man.” Marcus walked in and stood behind Lu as they waited for the coffee to finish dripping. “Are you yammering on about Laurel Ann, again?”
“She asked.” Ace pointed his thumb at Lu. “You’re just jealous.”
“Right,” Marcus mumbled. He poured his coffee and sat down at the Formica topped table. “Anyone for cards?”
“Only if it’s a freebie game,” Lu said. “I can’t afford your poker stakes.”
“Sure.” Marcus didn’t look happy, but without Red working, he wasn’t going to get enough takers for Texas Hold ’Em, anyway. He rifled the deck like a Vegas dealer. “How ’bout you, Ace?”
“Okay, for a while.” Ace slumped into a chair. “Whatcha dealing?”
“Rags to Riches. Cut for high.” Marcus drew a ten.
Lu settled into her chair and cut a three. Good, she didn’t have to call trump. Hopefully the game would last until Reynolds took off for bed. If they looked occupied, even in a stupid game, then Reynolds would be more likely to assign whatever crap duty was left over from the day shift to Gord. The only thing more boring than night shift would be night shift with cleaning.
Ace turned to Lu while Marcus dealt. “Did you and Morgan catch any arsonists? It seems like last night was probably the same guys, huh?”
“I dunno,” Lu answered. “Was it a grow-op?”
“Oh yeah. The Bellevue kid replacing you was sniffing around the building after, trying to get a contact high.” Ace laughed. “Man, I’m glad you’re back. That kid was a pain.” He sorted his cards and then added. “He was so full of himself. It was better when we didn’t hire those overeducated college kids.”
“He wasn’t so bad,” Marcus said. “Probably after a few calls he’ll calm down and stop trying to prove himself. Spades are trump.”
Ace groaned loudly. “How do you always pick my worst suit?”
“It’s only the first hand,” Marcus reminded him. “Lead, already.”
After only a few hands, Lu remembered why she didn’t enjoy playing cards with Marcus and Ace. Even when it wasn’t for money, they both took the game too seriously.
There was a familiar buzz in her pocket. Lu pulled her phone out and checked the display. If it was Susan she wasn’t going to answer. They’d talked until 4 a.m. last night and, much as Lu felt sorry for Susan, she couldn’t stand listening for another five hours tonight.
Byron’s name flashed on the display. Uh oh. Was she supposed to have called him this morning? But he must’ve known she’d been taken off his team. She hit the answer button and said, “Lu speaking.”
“Hey Lu.” Byron’s deep voice sent a shiver down her back, even over the phone. “Is this a bad time to call?”
“Nope, I’m just hard at work playing cards.” Lu stepped away from the table with an apologetic wave at Ace and Marcus.
“I figured Josh would’ve pulled you back for something important like that.” He chuckled. “Are you winning?”
“No.”
“Good. Then you won’t mind the interruption. Did you hear about the fire last night?”
“A little. Ace was on it.” Good response, she congratulated herself. Then if she said something she shouldn’t know, he’d assume Ace told her. “Do you think it’s the same guys?”
“The M.O. was different—faster timing. They hadn’t harvested yet and the fire spread quicker. But the rest of the operation matches up.”
“Maybe someone else set the fire before the owners were ready.”
“Or it could’ve been an accident.” There was silence. Then he added, “I know you’re not working for me anymore, but could I buy you dinner some night and get your thoughts on this case?”
“Sure. I can be bribed with food any time.” Lu turned so Ace and Marcus couldn’t see the smile creeping up on her face. Was he asking her on a date? Sort of? He wasn’t her boss anymore, so that wasn’t a problem.
“Great. How about tomorrow, Saturday, or Sunday?” Again that raspy chuckle. “Not that I’m rushing you, or anything.”
“Hmm, I should pretend to check my busy social calendar, but actually I’m pretty open.”
“I’ll pick you up at your place tomorrow at six-thirty?”
“Sure.” Lu gave him the address, hung up and gave a discreet fist pump. Whether it was a date or just to discuss the fire, at least she’d still get to see Byron. She took a calming breath put on her poker face and sat back at the table.
“Who was that, Lu?” Ace asked. “Hot date?”
“Only kind for a fire fighter,” she quipped. “Now whose play is it?”
“Yours. That’s my jack, spades are trump, and you need five tricks.”
“Thanks.” Lu put down her queen.
“Darn,” Ace grumbled.
“So when you guys did the overhaul, did it look like the same set up as the Baker Street fire?”
“I wasn’t on last night,” Marcus said, holding his hands up in defense.
“The shelving looked the same,” Ace said. “But obviously the house set up was different with people living upstairs and the growing downstairs in the basement. Oh yeah, and there were a couple of computers.”
“Similar ventilation system?” Lu led her ace and took another trick.
“I guess.” Ace looked at her suspiciously. “Hey, you still investigating? Are you a whatchamacallit, a double agent?”
“Yeah, and I’m curious. We did so much snooping around, but I got pulled off before we got any answers.”
“Bummer,” Ace commiserated. “Do ya think Morgan’ll call you when he cracks the case?”
“Maybe.” Lu hoped she wasn’t blushing. Just discussing Byron with Ace made her feel guilty and a little embarrassed. What if it actually did turn into a relationship? She needed to work on concealing her emotions.
Reynolds poked his head into the kitchen but, as hoped, left to find Gord when he realized they were in the middle of a game. Funny, Reynolds was still good looking, but his personality seemed so uptight and cold in comparison to Byron, it was hard to even remember her attraction to him. Now she just had to hope Byron was attracted to her.
*
Driving her replacement car home at eight-thirty in the morning, Lu was both relieved and bothered by how quiet the night had been. After the insane night
before, first dealing with Kaitlynn and the fire, and then with Susan sorting out the aftermath, she had dreaded a stressful shift. On the other hand, the lack of distractions had left her mind free to rehash all her worries. She’d spent much of the night blindly staring at the ceiling and chewing her thumbnail—a habit she’d given up ages ago. Maybe she needed to buy some sort of adult teether to save her nails. Or start chewing the ends of pens again.
Her brain hurt from juggling all her new anxieties. Byron was now investigating the fire that she’d actually started. Unless the cop car speeding by had noted her car, there wasn’t anything to link her to the fire. But with Byron, she couldn’t be positive he wouldn’t find something. And then that cold-looking Asian guy had gotten a good look at her and her car, the guy she’d thought was going to shoot her. Would he assume she was somehow involved with either the fire or the cops? Or Kaitlynn? Shit, what about the girl? How addicted was she? Was she in love with the skuzz-bucket? Teen girls were crazy when their hormones were in overdrive.
Thinking of hormones brought Lu back to Byron. Should she be helping Byron when his solving the case could lock her up? But could she be found guilty of starting a fire when science didn’t even believe her abilities existed? Or if they did believe in her powers, would she get locked up in a lab to be tested? And could she stay away from him? His voice on the phone had definitely sounded warmer. And this was a man who already set her libido on fire just with “Hello.”
Oh, fuck, now she sounded like some stupid chick-flick bimbo.
Lu parked in her stall behind her apartment building and checked that she’d turned everything off. After so many years with her Chevy, this newer vehicle, a 2010 Corolla, felt like a spaceship with all the extra electric gadgets. At least the guy at the garage said it should be quick to fix her car. She hoped he was honest since she hadn’t dared asked anyone at work about mechanics. Last thing she needed was someone wondering how she’d mangled her car.
“Hey, Lucinda.” The woman who lived down the hallway from her smiled as Lu opened the front door. “You’re back on night shift, huh?”
“Yup.” What was the woman’s name? Hmm, just go for the safe question. “You off to work now?”
She looked surprised and explained, “I work from home … Amway, remember? I’m running back to Leila’s school. She forgot her lunch.”
“Oh. Well, have fun.” I’m probably off her Christmas card list … Sharon! The name came to Lu as the woman turned the corner. Damn.
It felt strange coming back in the morning after night shift. She had readapted so quickly to regular hours with Byron, now she felt turned around again. At least she was on her four-day-off shift. And she had a date tonight. Or maybe just dinner to discuss the investigation. Lu reminded herself not to get her hopes up. She might be reading too much into Byron’s general affability. But a girl could dream. Now that she wasn’t working for him they could go out. Kissing Reynolds had awakened her physical needs, but Byron was certainly more her type. He was handsome, intelligent and fun without the preening ego of Reynolds.
The day stretched interminably. Lu considered napping so she’d be alert for the dinner, but she knew a nap would make her adjustment back to regular hours take longer. She’d have a long hot shower before dressing for dinner and that would revitalize her. And what to wear? She was tempted to go with her work attire of dark pants and sensible shoes. That would be the easiest. But she’d like to make him notice her somehow.
After trying on and discarding half of her wardrobe, Lu finally decided on a light summer shift from a couple of years ago. She checked her image in the mirror. The bright blue material made her eyes and hair look more vibrant, but the neckline wasn’t low enough to make her feel self-conscious. She gave another quick brush of her hair. For the last while she’d mostly had it tied back in a ponytail; it felt weird cascading free.
At six-thirty on the dot her apartment buzzer rang.
“I’ll be right down,” Lu hollered into the intercom. No point asking who it was because the system only worked one way, and that was scrambled enough. Spying Byron through the glass doors as she stepped off the elevator made her heart lurch. He was dressed up—for him, in dark blue pants and a button-down shirt. He turned to her as she released the latch on the door.
“You clean up good,” he said, smiling as he took an appreciative glance at her dress. Yup, he noticed.
“I was about to say the same thing. I’m not used to seeing you in anything other than T-shirts and jeans.”
“That’s not true.” Byron looked at her in surprise. “Just last week I had a—oh, I guess that was when you were off. Shall we?”
“Great. Where are we going?” Even with her heels, Byron was still taller. What a nice change from her last boyfriend.
“You’ll see.” He slid his hand to the small of her back as he directed her toward his car. Lu resisted the urge to lean in closer to his body. When she ducked into his car, her back still tingled from the warm imprint of his hand. Was he feeling this crazy attraction too? She inhaled deeply, trying to normalize her breathing while he walked around to the driver’s seat.
“So how was it being back at the fire hall?” Byron asked as he started the engine and drove into traffic.
“It was an awfully long night. It’s amazing how fast the body readjusts to day shifts.”
“Any calls?”
“Nope. And Reynolds was pretty intense. Are there more cutbacks coming, or something?” Lu wondered whether it was kosher asking Byron, but it would be nice to know when heads were about to roll.
“They’ve already cut essentials to the bone. Unless Josh has heard something I missed.” He signaled and shifted into the left lane. Lu waited until he’d completed the lane change.
“I asked Ace about the fire two nights ago. Have you already been to the scene?”
“I was there today. Did Ace have any interesting thoughts?”
“He said the set-up looked the same. But I don’t remember there being computers at the other two sites.”
“No. I’m pretty sure the growers didn’t plan this fire.” Byron shoulder checked and merged onto the highway. “We did catch one perp. So far he isn’t saying anything, but we’re hoping to get him to roll.”
“One of the growers?”
“Nah. Just some stupid kid. His fingerprints came up blank, but I think we might’ve found his car.”
Oh shit. Could that be Kaitlynn’s boyfriend? “What kind of car?”
“An old Camaro.” He eyed her strangely. “Why? You’d said there weren’t any vehicles at the Baker fire.”
“I was just wondering if it was a gang-type car,” Lu lied, her mind trying to recall the car she’d followed. “You know, like a dark SUV with hidden gun compartments.”
“No. Just a beater.” Byron turned off the highway and took a couple of lefts. “Here we are.”
They parked in front of a stately building with huge wooden doors, stained glass windows, and a big oak tree standing guard. The old wooden sign said The Red Lion.
“This looks fancy.”
“Yeah. Unfortunately no cartoon mascots, but the steaks are amazing.”
“Did I mention I’ve become a vegetarian?” Lu asked.
“You lie.” He chuckled good-naturedly.
“Yeah.” She smiled and stepped out of the car.
Inside, the restaurant had an old-world charm. Wrought iron wall sconces and two-tiered candles on the tables warmly illuminated dark wood walls and tables. Large framed oils depicting hunting scenes, and a massive fireplace completed the cozy atmosphere. The hostess met them with a smile.
“Mr. Morgan, good to see you again. Your table is right this way.”
“Thanks, Leanne.”
“You must be famous,” Lu whispered to him as they followed the plump, but immaculately turned out woman to an intimate table in the corner.
“Yup. Not only that, I also get the best seats at McDonald’s.” He pulled out the chair for her
and then took the one opposite.
“Carmen will be with you in a moment to take your orders for the bar. Have a lovely evening,” Leanne said then disappeared into the dark woodwork.
“Want some red or white wine with your dinner?”
“Red, thanks.” Hmm, this definitely felt like a date. Man, I hope I don’t get something stuck in my teeth.
Carmen arrived at their table and after a short discussion departed with their wine order. The service was fast but unhurried. Lu opened her menu. No prices! This must be how rich people dine. Hope I don’t order the most expensive thing.
“If you like seafood,” Byron said, interrupting her thoughts, “I highly recommend the prime rib with lobster.”
“Ooh, that sounds good.” So much for not ordering expensive. “Sold.”
The flurry of the wine arriving and the ordering of food happened all at once and then suddenly they were left alone again.
“So, um, what was the new fire scene like?” Lu asked to fill the silence.
“It’s too early to know much. It doesn’t seem to have been triggered by an electrical short, and there’s no sign yet of an accelerant. On the other hand, it went up too fast to have been a cigarette butt or something like that.” Byron raised his wine and clinked the glass against hers. “Cheers. You look beautiful tonight, if I forgot to mention it.” His blue eyes seemed to catch and hold her mesmerized with their intensity. Oh yeah, this was a date.
“Thanks,” Lu mumbled, the sudden dryness in her throat making it difficult to speak. She took a sip to cover her embarrassment and coughed as a small drop slid down the wrong way. In a second Byron was behind her lightly patting her back.
“You okay?” he asked as her coughing subsided.
“Yeah. Sorry.”
“It happens to all of us.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze before returning to his seat. “How did the spying on your friend’s kid go the other night? Often the parents who are the most concerned seem to have the least to worry about.”
“Actually I think Susan’s right to worry. Kaitlynn seems to be getting into drugs.”