by Lena Gregory
Gia laughed wearily. “No, silly. It wasn’t like that.”
“Oh, well, sorry to hear it.”
Leave it to Savannah to worry about her love life while the forest burned down around her.
“So, what was he doing there?”
How much to tell her? Not like she wasn’t going to find out. “He stopped by earlier. He’d gotten in a fight and showed up on my doorstep.”
“Was he hurt? Hold on.” She moved the phone away from her ear, but Gia could still hear her as she woke Joey and told him to get dressed. “All right. I’m back.”
“You don’t have to come all the way out here, Savannah, though I do appreciate it. Everyone is okay.”
Hunt and Leo raced toward her. Savannah said something, but Gia missed what it was as Hunt and Leo jumped into Leo’s patrol car and peeled out, then rocketed down the street.
“Gia? Gia!”
“Oh, uh, sorry, Savannah. Leo and Hunt just took off in an awful hurry.”
“Do you know where they were headed?”
“No idea.”
“I asked who he got into a fight with.”
“I have no idea. He wouldn’t tell me.”
“Okay, hang up and stay where you are. Joey and I are on our way.”
Gia disconnected and dropped her phone into her bag. No sense arguing with Savannah. Once she got something in her mind, there was no swaying her. She petted Thor.
Now what? She stood and watched the firefighters. The flames seemed to have diminished considerably. Hopefully, they’d get it under control before it got out of hand.
“Do you know how it started?” A young woman stood beside her with a toddler on her hip.
“I don’t know. I woke up to my dog barking like crazy.”
“Lucky thing.”
Gia weaved her fingers through Thor’s thick fur. “Yeah.”
“This whole neighborhood could have gone up with how dry it’s been lately.” Her tone held a note of accusation. As if Gia had done something either stupid or intentional to cause the fire. “You’re new here.”
She bristled but refrained from telling her off. “Yes, I am, but I’m well aware of fire safety, and I’m quite sure I didn’t do anything to cause the fire.”
“I hope not.” The woman sauntered away, clutching her child a little tighter.
Gia sighed. How could she blame the woman? Most of her neighbors probably felt the same way. In the few months she’d lived in Boggy Creek she’d been connected to one dead body and one forest fire in their community. Although, to be fair, no one had outright said she’d caused the fire. Just because it had started beside her house didn’t mean it was her fault. Of course, technically, neither was the dead body.
The fire did bring to light one disturbing fact. She had no clue if there were any fire roads or back exits that led out of the development. She’d only ever come in and out through the front entrance. She’d have to ask around. If there were no fire roads, maybe she could get the board of directors to establish some, even if they were nothing more than dirt trails. At least then she’d be able to say she’d contributed something positive to the neighborhood. And she wouldn’t feel as trapped as she suddenly did.
A patrol car maneuvered around several fire trucks and stopped beside her. Leo hopped out. “I need you to come with me, Gia.”
“Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know, but a couple of officers picked Maybelle up a little while ago, and Hunt wants you to come down to the station and answer a few questions about what went on between the two of you in the café earlier.”
“Why on earth would they have picked Maybelle up because of a disagreement?” As much as she disliked the woman, that was a little excessive.
“They didn’t pick her up because of the disagreement.”
“Well, why did they pick her up then?”
Leo took her elbow and escorted her and Thor to his cruiser. He opened the back door and let Thor in, then shut it and held the front door open for Gia.
She stared pointedly at him. In her experience, Leo would blurt something out if she waited quietly for more than a few minutes.
Leo grimaced. “Fine. They picked her up for speeding on the main road out of Rolling Pines just after the fire started.”
“Are you kidding me?” What had Maybelle said right before she’d stormed out of the café that morning? This isn’t over?
“I’m dead serious.” Leo guided her into the car.
“Do they think she started the fire?”
“I don’t know, but there’s something else as well.”
Gia was still coming to terms with the fact that the fire might have had something to do with her after all. “What’s that?”
“The backseat of her car was covered in a decent amount of blood.”
Chapter 11
By the time they made the half-hour trip to the police station and strode through the front doors, Gia was seething. How dare Maybelle pull a stunt like that? Where did she get off risking hundreds of lives starting a fire? Smack in the middle of dry season, no less? And whose blood was all over her backseat? Could she have killed Marcia somewhere else, then dumped her in the woods? Not likely. But Hank also had access to Maybelle’s car.
Leo led Gia to a small room and held the door open for her to enter. “Have a seat, and Hunt will be right in.”
“Thanks, Leo.”
He nodded once, backed out, and closed the door.
Gia couldn’t sit. She was too wound up. “Sit, Thor.”
Thor looked up at her but remained standing and alert. Apparently, he couldn’t relax either. She unhooked his leash and ran her hand along his back.
Gia paced the small room. She skirted the only furniture the room held—a wood table that had seen better days and four mismatched chairs—each time she changed direction. She couldn’t get past what had gotten into Maybelle. She should have taken her more seriously when she’d come into the café, should have called the police and filed a report. Maybe they could have charged her with harassment at least.
The door screeched open, and Hunt entered. When Thor ran to him, he petted his head and caught Gia’s gaze. “Are you okay?”
Gia sat against the table’s edge and tried to order her erratic thoughts. “Yes. But why didn’t you wake me?”
“I’m sorry. Everything happened too fast. At first, I didn’t realize there was a fire, then I didn’t want to give it time to spread, not with how dry it’s been lately, and I knew you’d wake to Thor’s barking.” He grabbed both of her arms—a little too hard—and kissed the top of her head. Then he pulled her closer. “I was worried sick.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and stayed that way, her cheek resting against his chest, his heartbeat pounding beneath her ear. For one moment she blanked her mind and enjoyed the warmth of his embrace, the strength of his arms around her, keeping her safe. The lingering odor shattered her peace. “You smell like smoke.”
“Yeah, I know.” He stepped back.
Darn.
“I need a hot shower and a soft bed.” He held her gaze for a fraction of a second longer than necessary, then turned away, pulled out a chair, and sat. He gestured for her to do the same.
She sat across the table from him. Probably best to put some distance between them, let him grieve for Marcia without the added strain of Gia putting any kind of demands on him.
“I’m sorry, Gia.”
“For what?”
“Everything. Take your pick.” He propped his elbows on the table, looked down, and clasped his hands behind his head.
She waited quietly, giving him the time and space he needed to order his thoughts. The guilt he’d spoken of earlier was evident in his pained expression, his slouched posture. He seemed almost defeated, and yet, she knew better. He could be th
e most caring, sensitive man she’d ever met, but beneath that kindhearted exterior lay a core of steel.
The soft click of Thor’s nails against the tile floor echoed in the otherwise silent room. Click, click, click, click. She’d have to get him to the groomer and have them cut. He needed a bath anyway to wash away the smoky stench clinging to his fur.
Hunt finally looked up. “I wasn’t really sleeping, just sort of dozing in and out, when Thor started barking.”
Thor looked over at the mention of his name. He stopped beside Hunt and sat next to his chair.
“When he barked in the yard earlier, I didn’t check it out, just accepted it was probably a bear. I shouldn’t have. I can’t even believe I did. When he started again, I got up to have a look around. I figured if nothing else, the walk and the fresh air might help clear my mind so I could sleep.
“I smelled smoke the instant I stepped out the door.” He rubbed his face with both hands, smearing a spot of soot across his cheek below his black eye, then sat back and petted Thor. “You’re a good boy.”
“Do you really think Maybelle started the fire?”
“At this point, I have no idea.”
“Did she say what she was doing up there at that time of night?”
He blew out a breath and slid lower in the chair. “She said she was looking for Hank, wanted to stop him from doing anything stupid.”
“I don’t understand. What would Hank do?”
“Maybelle was in the café earlier today.” It wasn’t a question.
Gia knew darn well he’d heard the story from Maybelle, and probably someone else as well. Maybe several someones if the Boggy Creek rumor mill didn’t disappoint, which it rarely did, but she’d humor him and accept the change of subject. For now. “Yes. She came in because she thought I told the police Hank was having an affair with Marcia. She also accused me of trying to steal her husband, said she’d shut the cafe down, and swore this wasn’t over before she stormed out the door in a huff.”
Hunt’s gaze shot to hers. “Back up. She accused you of trying to steal Hank?”
“Yes. She said he wasn’t having an affair, that I made it up. She really seemed to believe I was trying to pin Marcia’s murder on her and steal Hank for myself.” A thought from earlier reoccurred. “You didn’t tell her about the pictures I found, did you?”
“Of course not.” His mind seemed a million miles away.
“What about Leo?”
He shook his head. “No one would have told her about that. Why? Did she mention the photos?”
“No. Not exactly. I just couldn’t figure out what made her think I told the police about Hank and Marcia, and she said she had friends in the police department, so I figured maybe someone told her.”
“Huh…”
Something else Leo had said nagged at her. “Where’d the blood come from?”
“What blood?”
Gia rolled her eyes. “You know exactly what blood I’m talking about, Detective Quinn.”
He tilted his head back and forth, cracking his neck, then sat up straighter. “According to Maybelle, it’s Hank’s.”
“I don’t understand. Why would Hank’s blood be in the backseat, and if Hank had been in her car, why was she looking for him?”
“Seems Hank got into a fight earlier.”
“He…” Oh. Oh no. She didn’t even have to voice the question.
His self-satisfied smirk gave it away. “He was bleeding pretty heavily from a gash across his cheekbone and another above his eye. Seems the blood, along with two swollen, black eyes, was interfering with his vision, so he called Maybelle to pick him up. They had an argument, though she was stingy on the details, and he mumbled something about someone getting what he deserved and took off on foot.”
“Will he come after you?”
Hunt started to laugh, then winced and touched his lip. “I doubt Hank wants another go at me anytime soon.”
Under the circumstances, Gia probably would have done the same thing Maybelle claimed she’d done. She’d have gotten into the car and driven past anywhere she might expect to find her husband. Anywhere the target of his anger was known to hang out. “Do you believe her?”
“Hell, I have no idea. I don’t know what to believe anymore.” He shoved his chair back, stood, and started to pace.
“Where is she now?” The last thing Gia needed was a repeat of Maybelle’s appearance at the café.
“She called a friend to come pick her up.”
“Who?” From what Gia had heard, Maybelle didn’t have too many friends.
“Some guy named Floyd Masters.”
“Floyd Masters?” Why did she know that name?
“I don’t know who he is, but apparently he sits on the council with her.”
That’s it. The list. His name was on the list of people who’d signed out the folder with the café paperwork. She’d planned on Googling his name when she’d gotten home earlier, but she’d forgotten all about it.
Hunt stopped pacing in front of the door and pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes. “All I know is a woman who trusted me came to me for help…”
He gripped the doorknob. “And I failed her.”
She wanted desperately to alleviate the pain and guilt he was suffering. She stood and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Hunt, you can’t torment yourself—”
“You can go, Gia. Thank you for coming in.” He jerked the door open, then froze.
“What are you doing here?” A vein throbbed at the side of Captain Hayes’s temple, his face beet red, bordering on purple.
Hunt glanced over his shoulder at Gia. “Talking to a friend.”
“What’s she doing here?”
Hunt shrugged. “I have no idea. Hanging out, I guess.”
Captain Hayes drilled a finger into Hunt’s chest. “I already warned you once. You are off this case.” Spittle sprayed from the captain’s mouth, and he stepped back and pointed toward the door. “As of now, you are suspended. Leave your shield and your weapon and get the hell out of here.”
Hunt glared at him. His hand shook when he pulled his shield from his pocket and threw it at the captain. It hit him smack in the middle of his chest, then dropped onto the floor.
Hayes lowered his voice. “That’s it. You have exactly ten seconds to get out of here before I take you into custody.”
Hunt stared at his captain for another moment, then stormed out. The door slammed shut behind him, and Gia jumped.
Thor barked once and looked up at her.
She petted his head. A bead of sweat dripped down the side of her face as she stared at the door, waiting for Captain Hayes to come back in and demand answers from her about why she was there.
Hunt had told her to leave. And she was desperate to follow his advice. But where was she supposed to go? And how was she supposed to get there? Her car was back at the house, blocked in the driveway by a gazillion fire trucks.
Her mind whirled through excuses for her presence that Captain Hayes would believe and wouldn’t get Hunt in any more trouble than he was already in.
Savannah poked her head in. “Okay if I come in?”
Relief rushed through her. “Sure.”
Savannah went straight for Gia and threw her arms around her. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Gia hugged her back, then flopped into her chair. “I’m sorry. I should have called and told you I was leaving.”
She waved off the apology and sat beside her, stopping first to pet Thor. “No worries, Leo called and told me, so Joey and I came right here. Do you have a lot of damage?”
“I don’t even know. It didn’t seem like it would be too bad. The firefighters were getting it under control when I left. The only things I saw burning were the patch of woods between my neighbor’s house and my house, and the side of t
he garage.”
Savannah squeezed her hand, then pulled her to her feet. “Do you have any idea how lucky you are?”
“Yeah, I do.” Gia looked around the empty room. “Where’s Joey?”
“He went to see Hunt, but as soon as he’s done, we’ll give you a ride home.”
“Did you see Hunt on the way in?”
“No, why?”
“He just left here.”
Savannah frowned. “Was he okay?”
“I’m not sure. Hayes suspended him.”
Savannah pursed her lips but didn’t seem as surprised as Gia would have expected.
“You don’t have anything to say?”
“What can I say? Hayes is an ass.” She hooked her arm through Gia’s. “Now, come on. Let’s get you home.”
Gia made no move to leave.
Savannah widened her eyes and stared pointedly at Gia. “Joey will take care of Hunt. Now be quiet and let’s go.”
Gia looked around what was probably an interrogation room. She should have realized there could be cameras hidden somewhere. Which meant Captain Hayes could know exactly why Hunt had been there. She let the matter drop. “There’s no sense in going home. I have to get the café open. As it is I’m going to be late.”
“Well, you can’t go in looking like that.”
Gia hadn’t given any thought to her appearance. She looked down at the wrinkled clothes she’d thrown on over her pajamas. She couldn’t even imagine what her hair and makeup looked like.
“And you need a shower before you go anywhere.” Savannah pinched her nose closed. “You stink like smoke.”
She should have realized that sooner, since she smelled it on everyone else.
Savannah tugged her toward the door. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“My house. You can shower, and I’ll lend you something to wear. I have a few longer skirts that might work.” She grinned. “Though they’ll be a lot shorter on you.”
Gia smiled. Leave it to Savannah to take care of everything. Savannah, like Hunt, was the kind of friend you could always depend on. “Savannah?”