by Unger, Erin;
Ava’s cell rang, and she studied it before answering. “Yes, Mr. Newen?” A pause. “We’ll be right there.” Another pause. “I have it right here.”
I sat up straight and braced my hands against the seat cushion. What now? Christopher’s rigid tone, which had carried through the phone, set me on edge.
When she hung up, she pushed away from the desk and scurried to get her purse. “Mr. Newen has an emergency at his house. He wants us to meet him there.”
I leapt off the couch. “What happened?”
Slipping her tablet in her bag, Jillian placed the phone in as well and closed the screen of her laptop.
It took Ava a moment to stop moving. “He didn’t say. He just wants us at his house now.”
We took the five-minute drive from the B&B to his residence, but it seemed six times longer. Something serious had to have happened. But what?
As we turned onto his block, gray smoke filtered up to the sky from somewhere close, sending with it the unmistakable waft of burning wood. Please don’t let it be his house.
When Jillian pulled up to the curb, I rushed from the vehicle. Smoke poured out the side windows of a white Victorian with lots of simple charm about to dissolve into flames. Not another fire.
Christopher coughed and sputtered on his way to the side yard, a water hose in his hand.
“What happened?” I looked him over. There were no apparent burn marks on him.
“Turn on…the spigot for me?” He coughed again but didn’t answer my question.
What I wanted to do was stay right at his side, but I hurried to follow his direction to the water faucet and turned the knob fast.
He pointed the flowing water into one of the main level windows and worked it back and forth.
“Only answer with a yes or no. I don’t want to strain you.”
He grimaced and saluted but kept his focus on the open window and the water that brought death to the flames.
“How’d the fire start? Was this an accident?”
When he opened his mouth to respond, I stopped him. “Sorry. It wasn’t a yes or no question.” Duh. “Let me try again.” I repeated the second question, wishing I didn’t have to ask and knowing the answer before he gave it. Christopher shook his head, and my pulse shot through the roof. Someone was after him now too? Not good.
I turned to Ava. “Not an accident.”
It was obvious Ava was adding up damage and reconstruction costs in her head as we waited for help. “Upgrade.”
By that, she meant Christopher Newen just became a type one priority. Now, we weren’t only investigating his dad’s murder, but Christopher would need protection.
“Did you see who started the fire?” A rock formed in my stomach. Was this meant to be a second murder? On tiptoe, I tried to see into the window, but gray smoke erupted out of it and blocked my view for a moment. The heat forced me back a few steps.
He shook his head.
At my side, Ava trained her gaze to the backyard and then surveyed the area. “Do you know who did this, even if you didn’t see them?”
There was a slight pause before he shook his head no. What was he keeping from us again? We couldn’t do a full comprehensive investigation if he had secrets. But it was more important to ensure he wasn’t injured than to give him the third degree.
“Do you have any injuries I can’t see?” That might have an awkward answer. I fought to keep my cheeks from heating, but they blazed as red as the fire licking the wallpaper off the walls of his living room.
Another shake of the head.
“Where did the fire originate? A bedroom?”
“No. Kitchen.” He cleared his throat, his speech coming out a little clearer.
Why the kitchen?
“Smoke detectors…didn’t go off.”
Someone had disarmed the electrical detector system. Not good.
For the second time that day, the whine of emergency sirens pierced the air around me. What would they say when they saw me at a second location in need of emergency services? I could go skulk in the SUV. “Anything else I can do?”
Ava’s hand rested on her chest before she held her hand out to him. “I can take over that task so you can sit down and catch your breath.”
Why hadn’t I thought of that? I moved between them and abandoned my attempt to find a good hiding place. “Let me.”
Christopher refused to relinquish the hose. “Got…this.”
With a quick glance at Ava who had pulled out her video camera and started to record the blaze and surrounding area, I climbed the front steps of the porch.
“No, don’t go in there.” His abrupt answer stopped me in my tracks. “It may be compromised.”
“I’m stronger than I look.”
The water arced in the air as he sprayed the inner inferno. “Smoke inhalation can kill you in minutes.”
I’d better quit asking questions before his hoarse voice gave out.
A fire truck pulled in, and the firemen were out of it gathering gear before it came to a full stop. Unlike my brothers’ childhood firemen figurines, these did not fall all over each other and scream orders at alarming rates. The quiet urgency of several men pulling equipment out came across as one working machine.
Trying to control the coughs racking him, Christopher bent more with each hacking blare from his lungs. Smudges of gray clouded his face like a charcoal artist’s hands.
“Yo, Newen, you trying to cook again?” A firefighter headed toward him with a hose. He narrowed his eyes at the guy who cocked his head. “If you’re not talking, you must have inhalation damage.”
Three headed to him at a fast clip. One donned his hat. “Give us report.”
Choking a little, Christopher moved over to let the men start their own hose. “No unaccounted persons. Fire ignited in the kitchen…I kept it localized…to the lower back quadrant of the house.”
He told them in brief words what he’d told me about the smoke alarms.
I didn’t miss the look he jetted at me. I backed off and let him talk to them. There would have to be a conversation—and soon—about working together.
More emergency crews arrived as I headed to Jillian. “Did you see anyone hanging around when we first arrived?”
“No.”
I scanned the crowd forming across the street on the sidewalk. Most of them looked like curious neighbors, their kids running around them and pointing at the fire. A long-haired man conversed with someone beside him who had matching thick, black locks. Were they part of the local tribe? They moved to the back of the crowd and ducked their heads as if in private conversation. I began to turn around, but a teen, his hands thrust deep in his skinny jeans pockets, watched me for a moment before disappearing behind the crowd.
“Hey, Jillian, take a picture of that kid before he leaves. I don’t like the way he’s standing there. You see him? Scruffy hair, black skeleton T-shirt.”
Jillian turned her camera to the crowd. “Which one?”
Pointing to the far side of the onlookers, I began to sprint in his direction. “See him there? Dark jeans and shirt?”
Jillian was on top of the digital stuff. “Got it.”
By the time I reached the opposite sidewalk, he had disappeared. I pinched my lips together and crossed my arms. Was he only curious or did he have a more devious reason to hang around the scene? I scanned the road and houses but didn’t catch another glimpse of him. Hopefully, Jillian got a good enough shot that we could zoom in and check.
The angle where I stood gave me a clearer view of the dark-haired men. They now stood talking to a couple of guys, one of which wore a grease-stained apron and held a grilling spatula. From where I stood, the hearty aroma of grilling hamburgers made me smile. If he had my special ingredient mix, all the neighbors would be begging to party with him.
As I went to question them, Ava called me over. I hesitated in indecision then abandoned my mission for the moment. They’d better not disappear before I got back.
Ava held the camera for me to see the tiny screen. “Did you see that teenager?” I nodded. “Where’d he go? We should ask him questions.”
“I tried to, but he disappeared before I had a chance.”
“Hmm.” With another look at the frozen video shot, Ava sighed. “Someone in the crowd might know who he is.”
At the cry of an ambulance siren, I searched for Christopher amongst his colleagues. “Do you mind questioning them? Looks like our client may need a little convincing to allow the EMS crew to check him.”
“Sure.”
I thanked Ava and hurried back to Christopher. His superior ordered him to put down the hose and go visit the EMS workers.
A couple of EMS workers joked as they guided him to the ambulance. He tapped his chest with an open palm. “I’m fine. I couldn’t get to my extra mask, that’s all.”
I raised my eyebrows and kept pace with them, trying to keep quiet.
One EMS worker listened to his lungs and then put a little pulse oximeter on his finger. He watched it register his oxygen levels. “I think you need a ride to the hospital. You’re already showing symptoms of smoke inhalation and it takes up to twenty-four hours for us to ascertain the full extent of the damage to your lungs. There’s even soot in your nose.”
“I don’t know, man. This isn’t the first time. I’ve breathed a little smoke before.”
The guy checked Christopher’s nostrils again. “But this is more than usual. I’m almost insisting. It won’t hurt to get checked. You shouldn’t have tried to battle it on your own if you didn’t want a ride to the emergency department.”
Christopher braced himself against the fender of the ambulance. “Fine. But how’d you know I did?”
“I work with you.”
I scanned the crowd. Ava questioned a middle-aged man with gray at his temples while Jillian continued to record the events.
The investigation was off to quite a start. First the train accident and now an arson attack on our client. I leaned against the door of the ambulance and studied Christopher. He needed to give me more information. And if it meant some very pointed questions, he needed to tell us everything he knew and suspected. We would not be able to work together if he didn’t. Trust was paramount in our line of business.
The EMT dug through a stainless-steel cabinet inside the ambulance and then hopped out of it. “I’ll be right back, and then we’ll get you to the hospital.”
Christopher’s attention shifted to his house where fire fighters entered and exited the front door, and he pinched the bridge of his nose and looked away. “It was my father’s house.”
My hand flew to my mouth. “Oh, I am so sorry. I hope they can save it.”
His lips tightened into a thin line before he blew a breath out and raked sooty hands through his hair. “I have faith in them.”
How about trust in God, who could make it turn out OK? “I have a place I’d rather put my faith.”
His gaze flicked to me. “Yeah?”
Was I reading into it too much or did the answer almost sound sarcastic? His ragged breath gave me pause before I waxed bold and gave him a piece of my mind.
“I guess.” He pushed away from the vehicle. “I’m forgetting my manners. Can I get you a water or something else? None of you intended to walk into this mess. Let me get you something. It’s still awful hot out here.”
Wait a minute. Was he avoiding the subject, or did he really care about our comfort? He strode off before I responded. At one of the fire trucks, Christopher rifled through a compartment.
I’d better tell Ava I was going to the hospital with our client even if he seemed like he didn’t want company. Then I’d work on getting answers from him. A good drop-kick might help him open up to me…
Before he returned, I waved her over. “Look, I’m going to ride to the hospital with Christopher.” If only I had Beast right now. But Jillian would have to come get me later tonight. “They want to take him in to check him over, and I don’t want to leave him alone. You don’t think Jillian will mind picking me up, do you?”
Ava’s gaze wandered to our other partner who’d retreated to her SUV. She was already checking the footage from the scene. “She likes to be asleep early, but I’ll come get you.”
“Ha. Do you think she’ll let you?”
“You’ve got a point. But don’t worry. We’re here to do a job and part of it is you being with Mr. Newen right now.”
Were we still calling him by his surname? He was Christopher to me already.
I jumped when Christopher tapped my shoulder. He handed each of us a water bottle. “I had a hard time finding these.”
I held in a smile. My brothers would be sending me to retrieve drinks for them, not the other way around. “You better rest, you’re the one injured.”
The EMT interrupted me. “Let’s get you secured.”
Christopher heaved himself up into the vehicle and sat on the gurney.
“I need to come with you.” Would he try to stop me? I raised a hand when he began to protest. “There are more questions to be answered.” I’d better not tell him I’d be keeping an eye on him for the rest of the week. Woman protecting man never sat well with the opposite sex. “Don’t worry though. Ava and Jillian are already working on a scan of the crowd and interviews from onlookers.”
The EMT looked from him to me. “He has to give the OK or you can’t go.”
Christopher’s taut muscles loosened a fraction. “You’re not planning to follow me everywhere, are you?”
And what if I was? Yep, a sleep hold would do the trick right about now. I tilted my head to the side and raised an eyebrow. “We’re here to do a job. If I have to go with you then so be it.”
His narrowed gaze wasn’t comforting. Would he turn me down right in front of one of his buddies?
As his shoulders dropped, I kept my victory to myself. I better be on my best behavior if I wanted him to continue to cooperate.
As the ambulance sent me sliding into the EMT at my side, I peeked at Christopher in the brilliant white lights of the vehicle. His eyes might be shut, but he was on full alert with all his muscles tense. Heroes hardly ever made good patients. Or was it something different? An arsonist on the loose sure would keep me awake too.
8
Shauna
No one at Open Arms Hospital cared that one of their patient’s lives was in danger or that I was supposed to be on protection duty to keep him safe. If they had, they wouldn’t have left me out in the waiting area pacing a hole in their floor. An emergency room waiting area was the worst place to be when the patient you wanted to see wasn’t your family member. I leaned back in the hard, plastic chairs. Jumping off the nearest bridge would be more fun right now. Not that being in a room with a guy I didn’t know would be more comfortable. But at least I’d have someone to talk to.
I sighed for the hundredth time and checked the clock. How was it possible that only an hour had passed since we’d arrived?
At least the area was fresh and updated, with nice, photographed shots of the surrounding mountains and glens. A flat screen television hung in a centralized location with the news buzzing on about the kinds of incidents that made my job lucrative. But it wasn’t what I wanted to see.
And if only the lady beside me would stop droning on to the grandma beside her about the reasons she hated this particular hospital. Would it be too unbecoming if I told her she should go somewhere else if she was so dissatisfied with the service here? It bugged me to no end how everyone complained about the local hospital yet they sat in the same waiting room year after year. I closed my eyes and feigned sleep. Maybe it would come if I let it.
“Ms. Pratley.”
Finally. “Yes?”
“I’ll take you back.” The attendant smiled and beckoned me to a badge-coded door.
I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Speed-walking past a woman who must’ve bathed in cigarette smoke before she ventured to the hospital, I held
my breath and careened around a set of chairs in need of a good antibacterial scrubbing. “These people.” I could say a lot more but held my tongue. “I don’t know how you put up with their complaining.”
A gentle smile on her lips belied the volumes her eyes spoke. Her pink scrubs blended in with all the other nurses marching from one room to another or huddled in a gaggle around a screen at the nursing station as we maneuvered a few turns and long halls to room seven. “Thanks.”
Pushing the door open, I peeked into the room. “It’s me.”
“Hi, me.”
Cute. “How’s it going? Any news?”
Christopher sat on the side of the gurney. I’d guess he’d refuse to lie down even if the doc ordered it. Stubborn only got someone so far. “I’m only waiting on an X-ray. Blood was drawn, and the doctor already made her first pass.”
“Great. So you’re OK?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Did I believe him? I sat on one of the chairs against the wall a mere foot from Christopher’s knees and gave him the best mothering stare I could muster. But then my eye twitched. Utter failure. Mom may have it down, but I only managed to look like I had something caught in my eye. My shoulders slumped when he laughed…and then choked and coughed. It wasn’t that funny.
We were close, but he didn’t budge. And I wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. I won the stare-down, and he leaned back on an elbow in mock disinterest. “Can’t wait to get out of here.”
I mashed my lips together and looked from his jeans up to his torso. He wiped most of the soot from his face. And I didn’t stop looking at his eyes—the ones I could stare into for hours. “What’s the X-ray for?” Too personal of a question? “Um, you don’t have to tell me.”
He glanced around the room and put his hand on his side. “They’re looking for fluid buildup since I’m still coughing. But I’m fine.”
For the first time, I noticed the emblem on his shirt. My favorite football team. I could concede to a draw if it kept him talking. “Hey, I love that team. Can you believe how close they came to winning the Super Bowl?”