by Gina Dartt
Nikki realized Kate didn’t just run her business from this building; she also lived in the upstairs, and Nikki wondered why she hadn’t known that. Tentatively, she reached out to push the bell. The door opened before she could touch it, revealing a somewhat mussed bookstore owner motioning Nikki inside. She was dressed as informally as Nikki had ever seen her, in an oversized white T-shirt and loose drawstring pants, with bright blue fuzzy slippers adorning her feet. Nikki found the ensemble unbearably adorable.
“Come on in,” Kate told her. “It’s a lot warmer upstairs.”
Dazedly, Nikki followed her up the stairs that led to a second floor landing where Kate opened the door to her apartment. Nikki paused inside, astounded by the lavish rooms she had been unaware existed right over her head all the times she had visited the bookstore. “I didn’t know you lived here,” she said, somewhat inanely, as she shrugged out of her jacket and removed her hat and scarf. “I thought there was only storage or empty offices up here.”
“I renovated when I bought the building.” Kate smiled as she took the garments from Nikki. Hanging them in the closet, Kate moved Nikki’s boots over to the mat where the melting snow could drain. “After Mom and Dad died, I sold their house and redid this floor above the store. It didn’t make sense to maintain a separate residence when I could work and live in the same building.”
“That does make sense.” Feeling nervous and extremely conscious of being in unfamiliar territory, Nikki recognized that the décor in the apartment was far more tasteful and cultured than she was used to, looking more like something from a magazine layout than a place where someone she knew actually lived. At the same time she was elated to be invited into an inner sanctum that not many had the privilege of discovering.
“May I get you something?” Kate asked as she moved toward the kitchen, past the dining table. “I think it’s going to be a long night.”
“Uh, thank you,” Nikki said as she followed.
“Coffee?”
“No, I don’t drink it.”
Kate looked at her as if she had just said she didn’t breathe on a regular basis. “Oh.” There was a pause. “Tea?”
“Um, water would be fine.” It wasn’t the first time Nikki had run into this sort of awkward situation. Not drinking tea or coffee seemed to be something of an oddity to most people over twenty, particularly in a town that boasted eight chain restaurants specializing in coffee and donuts, in addition to the privately owned shops. She had simply never developed a taste for it, finding it bitter and unpleasant, and couldn’t comprehend why other people enjoyed it.
“How about some hot chocolate?” Kate suggested in a gentler tone. “You must be cold.”
Nikki seized on this offer with relief. “That would be great.” She glanced around the kitchen, which appeared sunny and bright even in the dead of night. It had to be some trick of the wallpaper, she decided. “I’m surprised you still have electricity.”
Kate stopped in midmotion while pulling some mugs from the cupboard. “You’re right,” she said, eyeing Nikki. “I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe I should find some candles, just in case.”
“This side of the street is probably on a different line than the other,” Nikki said, aware she was just filling the moment with something…anything…to say, because the thought of suddenly being in the dark with Kate made it difficult to swallow. “Otherwise, I think you would have lost it by now. Uh, I wonder who noticed the fire.”
“I called the fire department,” Kate said, busying herself with preparing Nikki’s hot chocolate, filling the mug with water and placing it in the microwave before retrieving a tin from another cupboard. “But I’m not sure if I was the first. They arrived here quickly enough, and it didn’t take long before they were calling in others. I think both the county and Bible Hill departments are here.”
“The sirens woke me up,” Nikki said, suddenly feeling self-conscious about rushing down to the scene of a disaster in the making. “When I saw the smoke from my window, I was afraid it was the bookstore. It’s not like I go out of my way to gawk at accidents or anything.”
Kate flashed her a brief grin. “I’m flattered you were worried about me.”
Nikki decided not to pursue that one. Instead she asked, “Did you see it start?”
Kate’s features darkened, and Nikki wondered why.
“The top floor was fully ablaze when I called it in. Something woke me...maybe the sound of the flames.”
The sudden ding from the microwave interrupted anything else she might have said. Kate removed the mug and placed it on the counter before handing Nikki the tin of hot chocolate, along with a spoon. “Help yourself,” she said. “I’m not sure how thick you want it.”
Nikki obligingly scooped the dark powder into the mug, aware of Kate pouring herself a cup of coffee from the pot on the coffeemaker. Shyly, she stood next to the other woman at the large window over the sink, wondering why she, out of all the people on the street below, had been invited in. Lifting her mug carefully, she sipped her drink, not wanting to spill it either on herself or on the tile floor that was cool beneath her sock feet. Sneaking a peek at Kate’s profile as she observed the action outside, Nikki hesitantly cleared her throat. “You said something woke you?”
Kate drew down her brows and lifted her chin, though she didn’t turn her head. “Yes. It was...a noise...similar to a backfire from a car.” She shook her head. “It was probably just the glass breaking as the fire broke the windows.”
“Perhaps it was an explosion of some sort,” Nikki mused. “Or it could have been a gunshot.”
Now Kate did look at her, and Nikki was astonished to see that her eyes altered color to reflect her mood, shading from a light blue to dark gray. She wondered why she had never noticed that before.
“Why would you say that?” Astonishment edged Kate’s tone.
Nikki shrugged, embarrassed. “I don’t know. Too many mysteries, probably.” The woman continued to stare at her, and Nikki felt very uncomfortable, sorry that she had ever opened her mouth.
“You do like to read a lot,” Kate said after a few seconds, which seemed like hours. “I know you like the outdoors. What else do you like to do, Nikki? In your spare time, I mean.”
“Uh, not much,” Nikki said, wondering why Kate was asking, and why now. “I like sports, I guess. I’m into computers quite a bit, and I like going to movies. I’m really into camping and hiking. I play tennis in the summer.” She darted a glance from the corner of her eye. “Why?”
Kate looked away, color touching her high cheekbones. “I was just curious. I don’t feel I know you very well, even after all the times we’ve spoken in the bookstore.”
“Why would you want to?” Nikki blurted, amazed at the disclosure.
“Why wouldn’t I?” There seemed to be a touch of defensiveness in Kate’s tone. “I find you an extremely interesting and intelligent person, Nikki.”
Nikki couldn’t think of an immediate response. “When did you call the fire department?” she asked finally, thinking that was a much safer topic.
Kate lifted her brow but didn’t challenge the change of topic. “I woke up around quarter after one.”
Nikki considered that information. “The taverns let out at one. If anything was going on earlier than that, you’d think someone would have noticed. How late is the Dairy Queen open?”
“It closes at ten.” Kate pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Besides, I only saw tracks from the car parked in front of the insurance office. The storm seems to have kept everyone else at home.”
“What car?”
Kate took a breath and explained about the unidentified person she saw going into the office earlier, as well as the fact that she heard a car drive away shortly after she woke.
Nikki frowned. “That’s weird.”
“Probably a coincidence.”
“Yeah? A car drives away, and only a few minutes later, the building it was parked in front of suddenly bursts into fl
ames? I don’t know much about how fires work, but I don’t think they take off that quickly unless they were ‘helped’ a little bit.”
Kate regarded her, obviously disturbed at the thought, and Nikki felt embarrassed again. “I’m sorry. I’m just thinking out loud. I’m probably way off base.”
“Maybe.” Kate’s expression appeared troubled. “But at the same time, something odd did wake me up.” She seemed about to say more when her doorbell rang. She looked vaguely annoyed at the interruption but nodded at Nikki. “I’ll be right back.”
She disappeared out the door, leaving it ajar and, curious, Nikki drifted over to it, eavesdropping as she wondered who else would be knocking on Kate’s back door at this time of night, particularly when all the entertainment was out front.
Chapter Five
Kate was startled to see Rick Johnson on her doorstep. Large and ruggedly handsome with broad shoulders and the beginning of a potbelly, the constable had been a dear friend to her since high school. A laidback individual who kept tense situations under control with a joke or a calming comment rather than by trying to intimidate anyone, he was well liked and an excellent law enforcement officer who commanded respect rather than fear.
“Rick? What can I do for you?”
“Sorry to bother you, Kate.” Snow heavily dusted the shoulders of his bulky uniform jacket. “Even though I doubt you’d be asleep with all that’s going on out front.”
“No, I wasn’t asleep. Come on in.”
She hesitated as she realized she didn’t want to take him upstairs where Nikki was, though why she was averse to that, she really didn’t want to examine. Instead, she reached behind her and opened the door to the store. Leading him through the used section to the front where they could watch the firefighters still battling the blaze through the large display windows, she turned to him expectantly. Rick had his notepad out, his pen at the ready, letting her know this wasn’t a social call. “You called in the alarm?”
“I called 911,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “About two-fifteen.”
“You didn’t see anyone else around?”
She thought it a somewhat odd question. “You mean, when I looked outside?”
“Exactly.” He was being very formal with her, undoubtedly attempting to maintain a professional distance as he investigated.
“No.” She hesitated, wondering if she should tell him about the car.
“What?” He was watching her intently, and she realized her expression had given her away. He had always been very good at reading between the lines with her.
“I don’t know what woke me up,” she said. “There was a kind of noise. For some reason, I keep thinking it was a car backfire.”
“Did you notice what time this was?”
“When I glanced at the clock, it read 1:13. While I lay there, I heard a car start up and drive away. That was about...oh, twenty to two, I guess. I was just going back to sleep when I heard a crackling sound and saw the glow from the fire on my bedroom wall. That’s when I got up and called the fire department.” She shrugged. “That’s all I know.”
“Did you see the car?”
She shook her head. “Just the marks from where it drove away from its parking place in front of the insurance office. The tracks turned left at Walker Street.” She tilted her head, studying his face. “What’s this about, Rick?”
He looked very serious, his jaw set. “It’s possible the fire was started with gasoline, Kate. We won’t know for sure until an investigation team checks it out, but from what the firefighters are saying, they’re pretty sure it’s arson. If that’s the case, I decided I wasn’t going to wait around to start asking questions. It’s not as if I’m waking anyone up.”
Which was why Rick was considered an outstanding constable, Kate reminded herself. She was disturbed someone might have set the fire deliberately, particularly after what she and Nikki had been talking about upstairs.
“You didn’t get a look at the car, Kate?”
“I don’t know if it was the same one,” she said slowly, “but a car did park there just as I was closing down around five thirty. It was a dark sedan, a Lexus, I think. I didn’t really notice much more. I definitely didn’t get a license plate or anything like that.”
“What about the driver?”
“It was already snowing heavily.” She felt as if she was somehow at fault for not noticing more. “I’m not even sure if it was a man or a woman, but—”
“But?”
She exhaled audibly. “I was left with the impression it was a woman.” She put her hand on Rick’s forearm. “That’s just a guess, Rick,” she added. “It’s not anything I would swear to.”
“I know, Kate. You’re a good witness. You would never say anything beyond what you saw.”
She felt even more disturbed. “I’m a witness?”
“If it’s arson, I’m afraid you are.” He made another note in his book. “Are you and Sam Madison friends, Kate?”
Kate lifted her chin, not sure she liked how Rick had asked the question. Perhaps it had been the emphasis on the word “friends.” She had become pretty good at reading between the lines with him over the years, as well.
“What do you mean?”
He had the grace to look vaguely embarrassed. “It’s no secret that Sam...plays around.” He lowered his eyes, his cheeks darkening slightly. “You’re a very attractive woman, Kate, and you’re right down the street...”
“So I would be convenient?”
“I’m sorry, Kate. I have to ask. We haven’t found Sam yet, and frankly, if anyone knows insurance—”
“It would be him. Do you think that’s what this is about?”
“Again, we don’t even know for sure if it’s arson. I just can’t figure out why we can’t find Sam Madison at three in the morning while his business is burning to the ground. He’s not at home, and his wife hasn’t seen him since yesterday morning at breakfast.” He lifted his head. “That in itself is sort of disturbing. Even when he’s ‘working late,’ Margaret says he always manages to make it home on the weeknights.”
“Rick, if he wasn’t in that car that drove away, is it possible—”
“That he’s still in the building?” Rick looked very serious again. “We’ve considered it, Kate. The first truck on the scene sent some guys in, but they didn’t find anything. Until it cools down a bit, they don’t want to risk anyone else. If he was in there—”
“Oh, dear.”
“Try not to think about it.” He hesitated. “I don’t suppose you know who his latest flame is?” He winced. “No pun intended.”
She smiled despite the circumstances. “No. I don’t think I’m being rude in saying that it altered a lot over the years. Who kept track?”
“Not his wife, that’s for sure,” he said, and flushed. “Sorry, that was—”
“Accurate.” She studied him in the rosy reflection of the flames. “Rick, if it’s arson, and he was in there—”
“Then it’s murder,” he said flatly.
There was a creak above their heads, and Rick looked up. He frowned. “Is there someone else here, Kate?”
She felt the heat rise in her cheeks, even though she managed to keep her voice perfectly even. “I noticed one of my friends in the crowd and invited her up to the apartment to...well, watch the fire in comfort.”
He grinned. “Oh yeah? Who?”
“Nikki Harris.” She could have said nothing, since it was none of his business, or dissembled about the identity of her visitor, but she didn’t want him or anyone else to think she had something to hide or was somehow ashamed of having Nikki in her apartment. For her own self-respect, and out of respect for Nikki, she refused to let herself fall into that trap. She did notice that Rick’s face altered perceptibly.
“Lorne and Adele Harris’s daughter,” he said, an odd tone in his voice. “She just moved back to town last year.”
She hesitated, wondering how he knew. “That’s
my understanding.”
His gaze on her was speculative, as if he had somehow come to a conclusion about her that had been troubling him for some time.
She felt a spark of annoyance. “Is there anything else?”
He started slightly, as if her question caught him off guard or her sudden coldness affected him. “No. I’ll get back to you if I have any further questions.”
“Of course.” She let him out the front door, rather than returning back through the store, and he offered her one more unfathomable glance before walking out onto the street. She locked up behind him and then headed back up the stairs.
Nikki had already pulled on her boots and retrieved her coat from the closet by the time Kate reached the apartment. The acute stab of disappointment that shot through her when she realized Nikki was preparing to leave surprised her. “You’re not staying?”
Nikki appeared uncomfortable. “I think I’d better go.” She hesitated. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard you talking to the police.”
“Rick had a few questions. I did call it in, after all.”
Nikki pulled on her mittens. “It won’t do your reputation any good for people to know I visited you this time of night.”
Kate lifted a brow. “My reputation?”
“I’m gay,” Nikki said, as if this would be news to Kate. “I don’t flaunt it, but I don’t make any secret of it either. If someone straight is seen with me, that automatically makes them gay in a lot of people’s eyes. You probably don’t need that hassle.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying, Nikki.” Kate remained in the doorway, preventing Nikki from moving past her and down the stairs, though Nikki’s greater height would have made it easy for her to brush by her if she really wanted to.