“I guess so,” she said, careful to hide her disappointment. It didn’t look as if he would understand her ability. There was no point arguing her case when she couldn’t explain how she knew it to be true. “If we don’t find any at the other sites, then you’ll be right.”
She fidgeted in the seat and looked behind her. Maya was curled up sound asleep. Turning back to face the front again, she noted how much darker the sky was. The rain fell in sheets, the wind blowing it across the road, making visibility poor like it had been when she’d met Bullwinkle.
“How much longer before we get there?” she asked, anxiety making her voice sharper than expected.
“Less than five minutes,” he replied. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. This weather makes me nervous, especially after my encounter on Sunday. As well, it exasperates me when the puzzle pieces don’t fit.”
“They will,” Jake said. “We just haven’t found them all. We’re here.”
He pulled into the lot and parked in his designated spot.
“As soon as we get inside, I’ll take care of that cut.” He turned off the engine and grabbed his cane and an umbrella off the backseat.
“Don’t be silly. It’s just a scratch. Point me to the Ladies’ Room and I can clean it up myself.”
“No way. I won’t be satisfied there’s no glass in it until I’ve cleaned it. Can you carry the gear while I let Maya out to pee before we go inside?”
“Sure,” she said, unwilling to argue over something so trivial. If he wanted to play nurse, she might as well let him.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later, Jake leaned back and stared at her, the first aid kit Lynette had given him sitting on the table in the breakroom beside her. The woman had tripped over her own tongue apologizing. She would probably stay quiet in the short term, but a leopard didn’t change its spots.
Unfortunately, Alexis hadn’t had a chance to ask her about the dogs, something she wanted to do when Jake wasn’t around.
“You were right. It was just a scratch,” he admitted, dabbing at it with the cotton ball soaked in peroxide. “No bubbling, so it’s clean.” He applied a small bandage to it and kissed her cheek. “Mia requires me to kiss her boo-boos. She claims they heal better that way.”
Her cheeks burned. It had been a very long time since anyone had offered “to kiss it and make it better” for her.
“I’m sure they do,” she said, and chuckled, hoping he would think the gesture meant little or nothing to her. “Now, which way to the lab?”
Before he could answer, a man entered the room. Judging from the insignia on his shirt, this was Everett Lewis, the chief of police. He was older than she’d expected.
“The wind’s picked up,” he said, coming into the room. “It’s going to be one long miserable night. Let’s hope all the troublemakers stay put and that bastard doesn’t decide to strike again. With this wind, he could burn down half the town.”
“He won’t. He doesn’t leave things to chance, and weather like this is far too chancy,” Alexis said. Besides, the full moon was still a day away.
He held out his hand. “Welcome back to Paradise, Alexis. I’m sure this isn’t the way you expected to come home, but we’re grateful that you did. You might not remember me, but I remember you. I’m sorry I didn’t listen.”
Alexis shook his hand, purposely avoiding a comment on the last thing he had said.
“Thanks. I suppose it could be worse. All that rain could be snow.”
He chuckled. “It will be soon enough. I understand you’ve got some rush items for the crime lab. Let’s get them there so you two can get out of here and get home.”
The police lab, while small, was modern and well-equipped. Alexis turned over her evidence and logged it. Jake did the same. Part of what they’d found would be sent to the Centre for Forensic Sciences in Toronto where they’d do DNA testing. The rest would be examined in house. There was a lot the technicians here could do to help them learn from what they’d found. She talked to the techs about the wax, explaining specifically what she was looking for, while Jake spoke to the chief. He’d mentioned wanting extra security for their visits to the crime scenes, so that could be what they were discussing.
“It’ll be about a half hour before we can leave. The techs are changing my mirror as we speak,” he said, coming to stand beside her.
“That’s fine. I know you’re anxious to get back, but before we do, can we look over the evidence collected from the other fire scenes? I saw they had some of what I found in the cabin here already. Given what I learned today, I want to look for similarities, things they might’ve recorded but overlooked.”
“Like wax?” he asked.
“Maybe. It’ll make the time I need on site a lot shorter, and since we have safety concerns now...”
“Your wish is my command. Let’s go into my office. I’ve got copies of everything in there.”
Alexis followed Jake down the hall.
“Nice,” she said, as he opened the door. “The office I have in San Francisco isn’t anywhere near as big as this one. It would give the bathroom in my cottage a run for the money though. I see what you mean about your budding artist.” The wall above his credenza held six framed drawings.
“She picked the ones she wanted framed. I promised to rotate them after Christmas. She’s going through her unicorn phase.” He chuckled. “I’m the envy of all the senior officers, especially Matt Conway, the OPP liaison. You’ll like him. Don’t let him fool you. He may look like a bit of a slob, but like Columbo, he’s as sharp as a tack. He’s away in Ottawa, testifying at a murder trial. Let me show you what I have.” He pointed to the white board. “The chief’s sent a request to Bear Island for whatever information they may have on the fire. The RCMP is usually quite thorough. If there was even the slightest thing that didn’t fit, someone will have noted it.”
She nodded. “Good to know. Did I tell you that, in the right conditions, static electricity can create a fire? If it’s hot enough and dry enough, it could mimic a lightning strike. Korea sees more than forty major fires caused by static electricity each year. I was there for a symposium last year.”
Jake smiled. “I’m glad you’re on our side. Now, let me show you what I have.”
Alexis nodded. From the overlap on the board, this was going to take longer than she’d expected. It was a good thing they’d had a late lunch.
* * *
“Are you ready to pack it in?” Jake asked. “It’s after six. Maya’s getting worried she might not score any dinner tonight.”
“My bad,” Alexis answered, exhaustion evident on her face. “I often lose track of time when I’m going through mountains of information like this. The techs did a good job. Those photographs will give me nightmares for months to come.” She yawned and stretched, looking around the office. “Where is the poor puppy?”
“Back in the car. I just strapped her in. You didn’t even notice I’d left you alone. I hear Glen Hazlet, one of the paramedics, is having trouble sleeping, too.”
“I can understand that. Having to see that, touch the bodies to move them ... no one should have to deal with something that gory in real life. Paramedics and other first responders see things the rest of us can’t imagine. If this is giving him nightmares, then it must’ve been even worse than it looks. It’s the stuff cheap horror movies are made of.” She yawned again. “By the time I enter a fire scene, bodies have usually been moved.” She stared into space as if she’d left him.
“Alexis?”
Rousing herself, she smiled. “I’m sorry. I’m brain dead.” She shook her head and chuckled. “Nothing’s making sense anymore. I keep going over the same stuff, looking for different answers, and there aren’t any. I need to get to the fire sites. The techs haven’t noted any wax, but they didn’t see it at the cabin either. Things just aren’t connecting. I’m missing something.”
Jake smiled. “I know what you mean. I’m not
an adrenaline junkie by any means, so that little shoot-out earlier took a lot out of me. I’ve been spinning my wheels here, trying to put together a profile from what we have, but it’s all over the place. I need a break and like Maya, dinner would be nice, too.”
They packed up the files, put them in the file cabinet in his office, and locked it. He pocketed the key, and then ushered her out of his office locking that door behind him.
On their way out, he introduced her to George Lloyd who would be working dispatch tonight. The officer had had heart surgery and was on light duties. Someone would be in at eleven to cover the rest of the night for him and Lynette would be back on the desk by seven in the morning.
“Tomorrow, we’ll have answers about some of that evidence we collected, and I’ll take you over to the other crime scenes. Feel like having dinner with me?” he asked as he started the vehicle.
He watched the emotions play across her face. “Can we just make it a soup and sandwich night? I’m really beat.”
“That works for me. Better still, how do you feel about fast food? Louis’s Burgers makes the best, messiest burgers imaginable. To top them off, his wife sells her homemade butter tarts that melt in your mouth. How about it?”
“Do they have poutine?” she asked, her head cocked to the left, her eyes narrowed.
“They do,” he admitted. “Made the Quebecois way with curd cheese and beef gravy.”
“Then what are we waiting for? I haven’t had a good burger and poutine in years. We can get Maya a burger, too, that is if she’s allowed people food.”
“Then, my dear Ms. Michaels, you’re in for a treat. Maya can have a baby burger just this once.”
Alexis turned to the dog and whispered. “We’ll make it a cheeseburger. You can thank me later.”
Jake threw back his head and laughed. When was the last time he’d done that? Reversing the vehicle, he headed to the restaurant.
* * *
“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” Jake said, when he’d parked the car as close as he could to her cabin.
She opened her eyes, blinked owl-like, and smiled sleepily, covering her yawn with her hand.
“Sorry about that. I guess I was more tired than I thought. That food was delicious, but so many carbs all at once always puts me to sleep. Can’t do that too often.”
“Don’t I know it. You snore, by the way.” He chuckled.
She sat up straight, indignation and humor in her eyes.
“I do not!” She punched his shoulder.
“Ouch! Yes, you do. More like a snuffle than a snore, but a noise is a noise. I would carry you in, but the leg is sore, so that’s a pleasure I’ll reserve for another time.”
He got out of the car, grabbed her kit from the backseat, and limped around to the passenger side where she stood. The outside light on the cabin shone brightly, and there were lights on inside as well. Minette had made sure his orders were followed.
“Stay here and watch me,” she offered. “I can make it that far on my own.”
Too sore to argue, he nodded. “If you’re sure. I’ll see you around the same time tomorrow morning for breakfast. We’ll go to the garage site first. Ev’s going to arrange for a squad car to meet us there.”
She nodded. “Tell me there are no good sniper spots nearby, and maybe I’ll be able to sleep through the night.”
He shrugged. “I have a feeling we might both have a bad dream or two, but the area is residential with a dog park full of trees across the street. Most of the leaves have fallen, which means there isn’t much cover. Since that fire stands out from the other two, perhaps it’ll have something different to tell you.”
“I should really look at them in order,” she argued, but her heart wasn’t in it. “I doubt that’ll make a difference. The techs did a great job at the second site. I hope your leg feels better tomorrow. Goodnight.”
She turned to go.
“Alexis,” he said, reaching for her, unable to curb the need to hold her again the way he had this afternoon. “We’ll get him. I’m really glad you came back.”
He put his finger under her chin and tipped it up, intending to drop a quick kiss onto her lips, but the touch of her mouth beneath his was his undoing. He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss before common sense reminded him that this might not be the smartest thing he’d ever done. Lifting his mouth away, he released her. “Sleep tight.”
She smiled, nodded, and turned away once more. Once she opened her cabin door, she stepped inside and waved at him. He flashed the lights, waited for her to close the door, and started the vehicle.
Chapter Thirteen
Kissing Alexis, even that briefly, fueled a hunger Jake hadn’t felt in years. Maybe it was just that instinctive reaction to the fact that they could’ve been killed, or perhaps it was a teenaged boy’s dreams surfacing, but getting involved now probably wasn’t a good idea. He’d pined for her years ago, still did it seemed. Since she hadn’t slapped his face or shoved him away ... If it was meant to be, it would be.
The parking lot was more crowded than usual for a Monday since some of the Elders were arriving tonight. While he should probably go around and park in the garage, he opted for the handicap spot in front of the inn. A sudden flash of lights filled his rearview mirror and caught him off-guard.
It was probably someone turning around. He looked at his watch. After seven. There were lots of reasons for people to be out now and jumping to the conclusion they’d been followed wouldn’t help him sleep any better. He grabbed Maya from the back seat, let her do her business in the small dog park out front provided for the guests, and bagged her gift, dropping it into the garbage can beside the door.
He entered the lobby, said hello to the night clerk, and opened the connecting door to his apartment. Tomorrow he would have to make sure Maya got a proper run. Even little dogs needed exercise.
Stepping into the apartment, he was pleased to see that the room was deserted. He was too sore right now to play with Mia. He’d moved too quickly in the clearing, and while he should’ve adjusted his leg, he’d been reluctant to do so. He was used to the looks he got, those pity stares when people didn’t know what to say, but he didn’t think he was ready for that look on her face.
From upstairs, he could hear Minette reading a bedtime story to her daughter. Later, after the child was asleep, she would probably get on the computer with David for their nightly chat.
Since he’d called and told her not to wait dinner for him, Jake slipped into his room. The lights in the driveway concerned him, but he was probably jumping at shadows. Getting shot at did that to a person. Although he was dead tired, there was something he wanted to do before he settled for the night. He opened a new document and proceeded to list a number of questions that had occurred to him, the topmost one being to ask Alexis what that reporter had meant when he’d called her Fire Psychic. There was no way a regular fire investigator would have been able to figure out half of what she seemed to know. Another was to list the names of the three suspects he had yet to interview: Ansel Curtis, Lamont Kirby, and Angus Carothers, Junior. All three were ace marksmen and might well be the Fire Angel. The last one was to check around for someone who’d ordered sixty bags of play sand.
* * *
Sucking on his cigarette, he watched from the side of the road, waiting to see if Jake would come out and move his car. When fifteen minutes had passed, and he hadn’t, he drove into the parking lot and parked at the far end under the burned-out lamp where he’d sat the previous night. From here, he could see her cottage clearly.
The lights were on inside her cabin. They’d been on before she’d gone in. Come to think of it, she’d left every bloody one on yesterday. He frowned. Was it possible that she was afraid of the dark? He could have lots of fun with that.
After the way the two of them had sucked face, he’d expected Jake to go inside the cabin with her. Maybe he was coming back later—the reason he’d left his vehicle out front—and she was getting r
eady for him, setting the scene. He should’ve left her a candle. Didn’t women find candles romantic?
It was early, not even eight yet. Plenty of time for a rendezvous. What was she doing? Soaking in that fancy tub? Relaxing on the sofa, enjoying one of the bottles of beer he’d left her? He hadn’t seen anything particularly sexy in the bag he’d looked in but sitting wearing nothing but the robe would be seductive enough.
Did she realize he’d been inside her room yet? He’d make sure that she did the next time, and there would definitely be a next time. That gun of hers could be problematic, but he would deal with that when he had to.
Frustration filled him. After he’d driven back home, he’d contacted his part-time employee and collected the canteen from him around four. Not knowing what she’d found and what the police thought they knew was driving him crazy. He’d gone to the station ostensibly to pick up the coffee machine, in the hopes that Lynette could bring him up to date, but suddenly, the damn woman had clammed up. She’d claimed there was a leak in the department, and she wasn’t going to say anything to anyone about anything. The last thing she wanted was to be considered a blabber mouth. A little late for that, but he’d commiserated and flattered her by asking her who she thought might be handing out information. That had loosened her tongue enough to let slip that Alexis had brought samples in to be tested and that she and Jake were working in his office, waiting for the results.
Fire Angel Page 17