Summer Flash Burn

by Unger, Erin;

  In the hall, I asked them all to move back. Swinging the door open as little as possible, I hurried in and closed it, feeling for the wall. When a cough rattled through me, I worked to steady my breathing and pinched the nose adjuster to seal it. I moved across the room, touching the wall and then the table edge. As I drew closer to the window, I made out a puff of smoke escaping in a steady stream through a six-inch hole.

  The sash unlocked with ease, and I pulled it open before sticking my head out to take a breath. As more smoke escaped, I found my way to the door and got out, snapping the mask up onto my forehead. “Give it a few minutes. There’s no fire. Smoke, that’s all.”

  Aunt Eena pulled her robe tight around her. “This is about earlier, isn’t it?”

  “Tony? I think so.”

  With the phone to her ear, Ava must be talking to the police.

  I rotated my hand back and forth in front of my neck to get her to stop talking. When she lowered the phone and put her hand over the speaker, I drew closer. “Don’t get them involved. I can handle this situation.”

  “I think they need to come. You are being targeted at a dangerous level, and we need their help.”

  “But—”

  Shauna put a warm hand on my bicep and it melted my senses into hyperawareness. “Let someone else protect and serve this time, Christopher.”

  For sure the smoke bomb was only meant to scare me, but what kind of game was someone playing?

  Shaking off my frustration, I gave in and let her finish the phone call.

  Minutes later, Jillian and Ava went downstairs to meet the police, Aunt Eena cajoled the last couple of guests back to bed, and Shauna was plastered to my side. It wasn’t a bad place for her to be—except I should want her to back off—but I didn’t. “I better see if anything is broken or destroyed.”

  She moved away, clasping her sides. “Got one of those masks for me?”

  “No. But the smoke should clear up soon.” Send her on a mission. It’d help her feel useful. “Can you go to the supply closet under the stairs and bring up a fan? I’d appreciate it.”

  She left, and I headed back in with my mask in place. Shooting the flashlight across the room, I checked everything. Nothing broken or destroyed other than a black spot on the rug with remnants of the smoke bomb. I flipped on the light and waved my hand in front of my face to push away the smoke.

  Without touching the remnants, I inspected them. It looked like whoever made it added some firecrackers to the mix. And a tiny metal box the size of a mint container laid with the burnt-up fragments. It’d lost most of its paint. Was there something in it? Was there a pen or something I could use to flip it for a better view? There should be a pen in the nightstand by the Bible.

  I shuffled through the drawer and pulled out one with the B&B’s logo then returned to the box. It flipped over from a prod with the pen but there was no way to open it without using my other hand, and the police wouldn’t be too happy or unsuspicious if my prints were found on it. It’d be best to leave it to them to take for evidence. But…it did seem like a tactic to scare me. Nothing more.

  Before all my training and common sense stopped me, I grabbed up the box using the edge of my shirt and cracked it open, careful not to leave prints or remove ones already there. A piece of paper lay folded inside it. As fast as possible I checked the door then hastened to unfold it.

  Stop looking into the case, or you’ll get more than a smoke bomb or house fire.

  Recoiling, I stared at the paper then clenched the box so tight it began to bend. Better not ruin evidence. I set it back where it had been and stared at it for another minute. Everything pointed to Tony. I’d had enough, and tomorrow, I’d make it stop.

  23

  Christopher

  One o’clock in the morning. I mustered all the strength I had to wait for Shauna’s return after issuing statements to the police. Pictures, evidence, statements. All part of reporting the situation. But I was so dog tired I could lay in the middle of the hall and pass out. The acrid smoke still scented the air near my door. Was it possible to sleep in the room or should I collapse on the couch in the library and hope the broken springs didn’t nag me all night?

  Shauna marched up the hall as she messed with the braid in her hair. She glanced around and lowered her voice. “The police are gone. They’re going to run a few extra patrols tonight.”

  I hadn’t mentioned I’d already made arrangements for some before the whole smoke incident. Should I say something now?

  When she drew closer to me and furrowed her brow, I stopped musing. “What? Did I miss something?”

  “Yeah, I was asking you where you’d be bunking since your room is still airing. Are you OK? It’s OK if you’re not. I mean, after getting a note like that, anyone would be shaken up.” She began to stretch out her hand to me but stopped. I wanted to feel her strong touch. “I’ve seen a little combat…I know what it’s like to be kind of shell-shocked.”

  I looked her up and down. “You were in the military?”

  “Six years.”

  “Impressive.” She never ceased to amaze me. “Why’d you get out?” I stopped. “Never mind, I’m sorry. That was too personal.” But I wanted to know. I combed my hand through my hair. “Why don’t we focus on getting to bed? I can barely keep my eyes open, and the library is the only other place to sleep. Aunt Eena put sheets on the couch. You can take it. I’ll—”

  “Oh, I won’t be sleeping.”

  “Guarding. Right.”

  “From the doorway.”

  Her sense of propriety again.

  Shauna opened her mouth then shut it. “OK. Come on.”

  After tonight, she wouldn’t leave my side for the next several days for sure. And I didn’t mind this time.

  24

  Christopher

  With every mile I drove, I shed as many droplets of sweat as angry thoughts about what I’d do to Tony. I gripped the wheel with white knuckles and sped down Route 682. The Monacan village came into view, perched low in the valley. There was no doubt Tony would be there guarding his precious chief, but I didn’t care. I was ending this whole fiasco, and it was time I got control of the situation.

  Lumbering past the ticket signs, I left a frightened cashier behind and made straight for the practice field. The hum of a soft flute reached me, along with the beat of several drums. My heart rate matched the fevered pitch. Several males moved to the rhythm, their feet beating hard against the ground with each thrum. One Native American in black and white regalia with feathers adorning his head almost towered over the others in an ominous dance. Tony. As he turned in a hop formation step, his gaze landed on me.

  The ornamental tomahawk in his hand raised as his eyes narrowed to slits.

  He wasn’t going to throw it, was he? He wouldn’t.

  Tony’s arm retracted.

  The whole group stopped in mid-step and sucked in their breaths.

  Don’t do it. Before I moved away, Tony threw it. It flew through the air and arced toward me. I’m sure my heart skipped a beat. I jerked back, and the weapon landed a foot from my shoe as I braced for the blow.

  All the dancers hushed around us as if they’d blown away with the wind.

  The whoosh of blood in my ears filled my senses. I pulled my own knife out of my pocket and throttled it inches from the black and white dancer, with deathly accuracy. “What were you doing last night? You won’t get away with this. And I want it to stop now.”

  Tony fell back, landing on one knee, but he bounded up with such speed, only a millisecond passed before I had a chance to plant my feet and prepare for full body impact.

  The force of Tony’s weight knocked me back, but I managed to stay upright. A punch landed on my cheekbone and another one in my side. It took all my might not to stagger away, but I upper-cut Tony in the gut.

  Tony hunched over and gasped, giving me a chance to gain some distance between us.

  Tony straightened. “What’re you talking about?�
�

  He wanted to play dumb? “You know.”

  A flash of something sinister crossed Tony’s gaze for a split second, but he covered it with an innocent, wide-eyed stare. “I didn’t do anything. I was with my boss all night. And you can ask him.”

  I bounced back and forth on my heels. “Stay over there.”

  As Tony’s fist balled again, a shout stopped him and his shoulders jerked up a millimeter.

  “Stop now.” Chief Johns parted the group of dancers gathering close to the fight. “Christopher Newen, you have brought a pall on this tribe.”

  To see someone like Tony snap to attention would bring anyone in awe of a chief who warranted it. Lowering my fists, the man glared at me and moved to the edge of the circle of people.

  Chief Johns smoothed her pinstripe skirt. Her modern business attire took me off guard. But what did I expect? She was a modern woman as much as she was a chief.

  She halted. “Tony, this rowing will come to an end.” She kept her light-eyed gaze on me. “I know you didn’t come here only to throw things and threaten one of my men, did you?”

  I too lowered my hands. “Ma’am. Someone tossed a smoke bomb into my room at Home Suite B&B last night, and Tony was there earlier threatening me. I believe he’s the culprit.”

  Her piercing eyes moved to Tony then returned to me. “I’ll see to this matter, Mr. Newen. Now is there anything else you need?”

  With her swift intervention, she’d diffused the situation, and the dancers and onlookers returned to the field. One lonesome drum began to beat again, but it didn’t dissolve the tension as I’d expected. Instead, the air still buzzed with friction. “No, ma’am. I’ll be on my way.”

  Tony took an almost imperceptible step closer to me. “As I said before, don’t question my chief.”

  Chief Johns flashed a cold stare at Tony and motioned for him to return to practice. “I want open communication here, you two. And respect.” She pointed from him to me. “At all times.”

  With a curt nod, Tony returned to the dancers.

  The weight of her presence stopped me from commenting. I couldn’t deny she evoked awe even from me.

  She gave a curt nod, arms crossed on her chest. Her upturned lips and raised brow spoke volumes, and it wasn’t a friendly look staring back at me. “Don’t forget to pay for your entrance ticket on your way out. You somehow missed the cashier.”

  I checked the ground for my knife but it was gone. Hands shoved into front pockets, I stepped closer, but it was nowhere in sight. “Could I get my knife back?”

  She spoke over her shoulder as she headed to the shady tent, “Any use of weaponry here merits a confiscation.”

  More steam threatened to pour out my ears. Good thing it wasn’t my best knife. I stomped back to the museum and souvenir shop. Was it a matter I should bring to the police? Was it even worth trying for a fifteen-dollar pocket knife? Let it go.

  Before I reached it, an inner tug pulled at my heart. Anger and intensity were things I thought I’d learned to restrain, but obviously not. Everything was out of my control right now.

  And who was I to try and stop Shauna from reacting if I couldn’t do it myself. Things weren’t going as I’d planned for sure. I tried to pack down all the things crowding to the surface. Had the police talked to Tony yet? I’d named him as a possible suspect last night. How did the guy fit into the house fire? And was he somehow involved in my father’s death because of Chief Johns, or was I stretching things too far?

  There wasn’t one connection between Tony and Dad.

  Paying for my ticket, I exited the shop, the big eyes and shaky hands of the cashier showing she’d seen what had transpired. Wait a minute. If Tony was so interested in keeping us away, there had to be a reason. Or was it as simple as Tony didn’t like me on Monacan turf, disturbing his chief?

  I shook my head and watched my footfall as I trekked back to the parking lot. The shop sold all kinds of handcrafted American Indian items. Was it possible Tony Slaiger was at least one of the delivery men? But even if he was, how did delivering goods lead to murder? And he had to have alibied out or the police would’ve already had him in custody. Complications to my theory existed, but it only took one new revelation to start exposing the real killer.

  I’d have to ask Ava to check into Tony’s involvement with shipment deliveries.

  For the first time in months, it seemed I may’ve found the slightest possible connection from Chief Johns to my father. But the “why” still haunted me.

  25

  Shauna

  Wasn’t it supposed to be cooler in the mountains? I only imagined how hot it must be down below. I twisted my braid up and pinned it in a bun on top of my head. Who cared if it looked ridiculous? I needed relief from its oppressive heat and weight on my neck.

  Sometimes I wished I could put on a tank top, but there was no way I’d give in to wearing less clothing for the sake of the heat. And I wished the tourists around me would do the same. The world seemed determined to dress as skimpy as possible, and today was no exception. I tried to not stare at the teen in front of me who might as well be trying out for a bikini competition. Was there a pool nearby I’d missed? Probably not at the Monacan village.

  I glanced up at the heavy clouds forming on a bright sky. Was it supposed to rain? I hadn’t checked my weather app.

  We fell into line with the troop of tourists. It seemed the village drew a lot of people this time of year. Someone bumped my shoulder as I stared at the cooler two people carried to the nearby picnic area. “Excuse me.”

  When I glanced up, I smiled and tried to quell the delight building in my veins. “Hey, Christopher. We’ve gotta stop meeting like this.”

  “Running into each other? It is becoming a habit.” The smile he returned didn’t meet his eyes.

  Ava and I stopped and moved out of the way of a couple walking too close behind us. I put a hand on my hip. “You don’t look so happy. What’re you doing here?”

  He pulled us away from another family who headed to the museum entrance. He didn’t appear too pleased to have to share any info with me. “I confess…I came out here to confront Tony Slaiger. I’m sure he’s responsible for the bomb.”

  “But no one knows for sure.” He didn’t want to get in trouble with the local police for interfering with a police case, did he?

  “Not yet, unless the police contacted you this morning,” Ava said.

  “No.”

  With a swat at a stray hair out of my face, I studied him. What wasn’t he telling us? Funny how I could almost sense his thoughts.

  Ava’s phone rang, and she held up a finger and stepped away.

  I wished he would talk to me. “Did you find Tony here? What happened?”

  He avoided my eyes and shuffled his shoe across the gravel. “There was an exchange.”

  Ava locked her cell screen. “You can handle this, Shauna. Why don’t I meet you in there? Jillian found some interesting information about Queenie’s daughter, and I want to see if anyone will talk to me.”

  “OK.”

  When she disappeared into the museum, Christopher continued to evade me.

  “But you know creating tensions could stall this case again.” He still wasn’t looking at me. I put a hand on his arm, and his heat transferred to my fingers like a zap. Why had I touched him? Hadn’t I learned from the last time that getting too close to him wouldn’t help me maintain the business relationship that seemed to be unraveling to something more just a tiny bit?

  “I hired you. I know,” he bit off the reply.

  I backed away. His words stung.

  Christopher stopped me and took my hand. My mouth opened and closed. What did it mean?

  He sucked in a breath. “That was uncalled for. Look, I’m sorry. I haven’t been myself lately. Usually, none of this would bother me, but I can’t seem to keep it together right now.”

  I squeezed his hand. “Who could right after their father’s murder? It’s OK. I…we�
�re going to do everything we can to help you.”

  He lifted one side of his mouth. “Thanks.”

  But he still held my hand. We’d crossed the unprofessional line, and I didn’t know if I wanted it redrawn anymore. But there were so many reasons why it wasn’t right. I took a shallow breath and tried to bring calmness to my twisting stomach. “Umm.”

  He looked from my face to my hand as if he hadn’t realized he still held it, but then he released me and gulped. “I don’t know what I’m doing.” He held me in deep scrutiny. “Maybe it’s the case. Maybe not. And I don’t know what you’re thinking right now, but—you want to go out later tonight? To talk…or not. I’m fumbling this. Sorry.”

  Was he talking about a date? We could talk anywhere, so why’d he want to go out to do it. “Umm, yeah, we can go out.” Should I ask him to specify its classification? “Just to talk, right?”

  Why’d I agreed to go, not after all the work I’d done to try and keep my feelings for him at bay. A night out might mean more. But I couldn’t stop staring into his gorgeous eyes. “I mean…”

  “To talk.” He ran his hand down the front of his gray T-shirt and then flexed his fingers.

  “OK.” I drew out the word.

  Christopher’s phone rang. With reluctance, he pulled his gaze from me and pressed the talk button. “Hello?”

  The voice on the other end whispered across the space between us, but I couldn’t make out the words.

  He nodded. “I can meet you in front of the sub shop.”

  I rocked back and forth until he put his phone back in his pocket.

  “Leona said she has something to show us. Do you mind going with me around lunchtime to meet her? We can get a bite to eat when we’re finished.”

  I did have questions that had to be answered—and it wouldn’t hurt to spend a little time with Christopher without my partners. “Sounds like a plan. Then you can tell me more about this meeting today.”