And Hud had been here no less than thirty minutes ago. Amazing timing, Monday. Way to go.
“Has anyone called 911?” Zoey called as she pulled out her cell phone.
“Yes, Fred did,” Susie, owner of the nearby Hair-Em Salon, said. “I hope they get here quickly. The flames could lick the side of the building soon.”
“You know this is happening all over town, don’t you?” This was from one of Susie’s clients, hair covered in foils. “Some rabble-rouser is setting fires in dumpsters. Getting his kicks that way.”
The next second, Zoey heard sirens in the distance. The Fortune Fire Department descended on them, engine truck, ladder truck and the whole enchilada. It didn’t take them long to get the fire under control with their powerful hose. But the smell of smoke and soot, Zoey realized, would probably hang in the air for days if not weeks.
It was official. Next week she would start her week on a Tuesday.
* * *
Ryan had taken care of the last-minute press conference, only to get a phone call late in the afternoon from the city’s arson investigator, Lou Walker.
“We had another dumpster fire. I won’t know conclusively for a few more days, but found a similar rag which could have carried the accelerant.”
Ryan feared that this arsonist would escalate and wind up eventually setting the ridge on fire. So far the fires, which had started a month ago, had been small. All easily contained by the FFD, and all with some type of accelerant involved. All in dumpsters. Ryan suspected a teenage firebug, and so did Lou, but they couldn’t be certain. The number one reason for arson was to cover up a crime but these fires, several in neighborhood park dumpsters, another in a school’s dumpster, hadn’t fit that profile.
“Where was the fire this time?”
“The Candy Lane strip mall downtown.”
Ryan gripped the edge of his desk. That was the location of Zoey’s shop. “Everyone okay?”
“Our guys put it out in record time, so yeah. No damage to the building either. But I don’t have to tell you this could work out to be a serious problem. The politics of this deal are all yours. And the mayor’s. I’ve already given him a heads-up.”
“Yeah, thanks.” As usual. He scrubbed a hand down his face.
Though it might not have sounded like it, he did appreciate the alert on the latest. When news got out that they had an arsonist on the loose, Ryan would have a major headache dealing with the small-town press and locals. But, as Lou mentioned, that was his problem. Always. It was his job and that of his deputies to investigate and follow leads. So far, they had nothing. He hoped they’d catch the arsonist before he did any real damage or, God forbid, hurt someone.
He hung up with Lou and shifted gears. Time to end his day. One of the few advantages of being the sheriff was the mostly regular office hours. He usually got out of here around six in the evening. It gave him time for his pet projects, like the fixer-upper he’d bought and, with Sam’s occasional help, was working to renovate, and also the group for at-risk kids he and Aidan McIntire, one of his deputies, had formed in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club. Also gave him time to hit the gym, and theoretically plenty of time to date someone, at least according to his sister, his mother and Renata, his admin.
But given the way his short engagement to Lauren had gone down in flames last year, he wasn’t interested in a commitment again anytime soon.
He filled the downtime hours fine, which was preferable to the overtime shifts he’d pulled at the Oakland PD. There he’d never had a moment’s peace or a minute to himself.
Renata was locking up her desk. “Breaking any hearts tonight?”
“Nope,” he said for the eleventh hundredth time. “Looking for a dog.”
“A dog?” Her forehead wrinkled. “I thought you couldn’t have pets in your apartment.”
“It’s not my dog.”
He’d checked and the stolen property report had been filed by Aidan. But Ryan knew that a stolen dog was very much at the bottom of the list of the department’s list of priorities.
She put her hand to her heart. “Looking for someone else’s dog in your spare time. Maybe Trudy is right . You ought to be canonized.”
He shook his head. “Save it.”
Refusing to accept his impending sainthood, Ryan walked her out, then climbed in his Jeep and made the drive home to his apartment to change and lose the gun. He hit the pavement thirty minutes later, having planned his jogging route in advance. He lived a mile from Zoey, and figured he could start on his street, circle up and end up on Zoey’s street. As he jogged, he looked for dogs the size of ponies. Figured Boo would stick out, although if someone had stolen him they would likely be hiding him for a while, if they were still in Fortune.
As a kid, he and Jill had owned beagles, each of which got out about once a month. Usually the dog was located a few streets away, following a track only it could smell. Just once had they not found a dog immediately, because a kid had taken him back into his yard for a play date. As the evening hour had marched on, Jill had a meltdown, certain the dog would never be found again. Eventually they’d received a call. But Ryan always thought it had helped that their house phone number was on a collar that also read Reward.
Jogging past Zoey’s house, he noticed her car in the driveway. He’d have to ask her whether the Great Dane’s collar had her phone number and the rather important word, Reward. Personally, he thought it prevented some greedy people from keeping random pets for their own.
One could hope.
With no sight of Boo anywhere, he ran another mile just for kicks then headed back. Sweaty and out of breath, Ryan slowed and began the cooldown. He fished for his cell phone in his pocket and dialed Zoey.
“Hello?”
He could hear a dog yipping and yarking in the background. Was it too much to hope...? “Did he show up?”
“Of course he didn’t show up. Someone stole him. Quiet, Indie!” she said. “I’m trying to talk on the phone.”
As if the dog understood, there was sudden silence on the other end. Impressive.
He took another breath of cool evening air. “Thought there was a chance of, you know, buyer’s remorse.”
Zoey huffed. “Whoever has him won’t want to bring him back once they realize what a wonderful and well-behaved dog he is.”
“Did his collar have any information on it?”
“It had the store’s phone number.”
“Anything else?” He took another breath. “Like, maybe offering a reward?”
“No, but he’s chipped in case he gets brought into a shelter. I should have thought of adding a reward. People are so greedy sometimes.” Her voice lowered. “Why are you calling me right now? You sound...busy.”
“What do you mean?”
“You sound a little out of breath and...um, maybe you should get back to it.”
Huh? It took him a minute to realize Zoey thought he’d called her right after he’d had sex, and he laughed out loud. Everyone in this town thought he had far more game than he did.
He tried not to snort. “I went for a run.”
“Oh, sorry. I just thought you sounded like...like...”
“Like I just had sex?”
Dead silence on the other end of the line. He could almost hear her pets’ breathing. After a moment, she finally spoke. “I didn’t mean...what I meant was that you...”
“Just so you know, right after I have sex the only thing I’m thinking about is more sex. There could be a nuclear attack and I’d still be thinking about sex.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you’d have sex with someone and then call me. Why would you be thinking about me and sex at the same time?” If it was possible for a voice to blush, Zoey’s just had. “What I mean is...oh my god... I just realized it’s still Monday.”
He had
no idea what that meant but this might be a good time to stop talking about sex with someone he’d never have sex with. Inappropriate, Sheriff Idiot.
“Never mind. I kept my eye out for Boo on my run and no sign of him anywhere. Listen, did you make that list I asked you to make?”
“Yes, I’ve got the names of people who came to look at Boo but I really don’t think any one of them would take him. They’re all good people, and after seeing his size they all pretty much agreed with me it wasn’t a good match.”
“You’re telling me no one was upset?”
“That I didn’t think they were a good fit to Boo? No. I think my reputation in town precedes me. Everyone knows I’ll find them a perfect pet. They simply have to be patient.”
Of course he understood the theory that Zoey could choose a person’s kindred animal. And in the case where the kindred animal itself couldn’t be a pet, she found the next best choice. Jill swore by her friend’s expertise. He wouldn’t know. Once, he’d asked Zoey what his kindred animal was, wanting to play along. It was a good party game and for someone who normally hated any kind of attention, Zoey did well with it. But when he’d asked she’d simply avoided his gaze and found something else to do. He hadn’t pressed the issue. She usually behaved as if she had no time for him. Besides, what if his kindred animal was a rat and she was afraid to tell him? He didn’t think so, but what the hell did he know?
“Someone may have wanted the dog. Even if they weren’t a good match. We have to start somewhere.”
“You’re right.”
“I’ll come by the shop tomorrow to get your list.”
“Why are you the one helping? Aren’t you too busy with other sheriffing, um, stuff?”
How to tell her that with a possible firebug on the loose, his small staff of deputies would have their hands full. This case would languish unless someone wanted to work it in their free time. That someone would be him, because...well, Zoey.
“Nah. Consider me your one-man task force.”
“Oh.” A slight pause, then Zoey spoke again. “Thank you.”
“Good. See you tomorrow.”
He hung up and wondered what the hell was wrong with him. He was really looking forward to tomorrow.
Chapter 4
By Friday, Zoey was out of her mind with worry. Corky was nearly despondent, searching the house and yard for his giant friend. Whining and snorting at the gate, as if he could still catch Boo’s smell but had no way of following. Ryan hadn’t come by the shop on Tuesday or any other day that week, but she didn’t blame him. He was busy with the city’s business. She figured he’d only agreed to help her because she was Jill’s best friend.
By now, she’d called everyone she knew to call. All the pet rescue organizations she’d worked with over the years. All her connections over social media. On Ryan’s advice, she’d been over the list once, twice, and maybe a dozen times. Names and phone numbers of people who had expressed interest in adopting Boo. Only six names on the list, and only one from out of town. She thought about calling them herself, but what could she say?
“Did you by any chance steal Boo?”
Who would admit that? Either way, she was certain no one would appreciate being accused of such a terrible crime. Personally, she’d be highly offended. It was one thing to want something desperately. She could definitely relate to that feeling. But it was quite another to take it and to hell with the consequences.
At the end of the day, Zoey locked up the store, went home for the feedings and to cheer up her pets.
“Don’t worry, Corky—we’ll get him back.”
Corky squealed. That meant, “I have full faith in you.”
Tonight she had her standing dinner invitation at her aunt and uncle’s house. Given that her two best friends in the world were now in firmly committed relationships, Zoey had all the social time in the world and a free calendar most every Friday night. It was sad. Zoey secured the pets inside safely behind their dog-proof gates, since she didn’t plan on being long, and she walked the three blocks to her aunt’s home.
Plum trees dotted the streets in this older and established neighborhood, flanking the substantial cracks in sidewalks. The roots of some trees had come up through the concrete years ago on their quest for water.
Her Tia Gloria’s home stood framed in the soft glowing light of impending sunset. Home. She’d grown up here. Had her first skinned knee on this very sidewalk. She’d had her first broken heart inside these cozy walls. Her prom dates had picked her up here and played twenty questions (otherwise known as The Inquisition) with Tio Raul. She’d still be living here if a couple of years ago she hadn’t decided that in order to be a real grown-up she had to move out of her childhood home. Spread her wings and all that.
She’d managed to get a few blocks away, which in her book was progress. The Castillo-Lopez family was large and tight and Zoey had been homesick for weeks. But now she’d been away from home for three years and managed just fine, thank you very much. She had far more animals now than her aunt and uncle had ever allowed her to have, or even approved of, which was the privilege of being a grown-up.
“Querida!” Tia greeted Zoey at the door. “Just in time. The rice and chicken are almost ready.”
“Ten more minutes for the rice,” Tio called from the kitchen.
Seemed it was always ten more minutes. But Tio’s Spanish rice and chicken were always worth waiting for. Tia did all of the cleaning and most of the cooking but this was his one dish and a favorite of Zoey’s.
“Any news about Boo?” Tia walked with Zoey to the living room, where photos of Zoey growing up adorned the fireplace mantel.
One would have thought they’d also have photos of Veronica, and there was one photo of Zoey around age five with her parents. But the rest of the photos of Veronica, as she blossomed and eventually became a full-blown movie star, Tia kept in scrapbooks. She was Mami’s older sister by fifteen years, so to say she was proud was an understatement. But she’d always understood that the last thing Zoey needed to see at home were photos of the glamorous Veronica. She and Zoey were so different at times it was difficult to believe they were related.
“Nothing yet.” Zoey took a seat on the flower-print couch. Same one she’d sat on for years.
Her aunt and uncle had given everything to family and their business. Now that they’d semiretired and let Zoey take over running the pet store, they had more time but the same amount of money. They took great care with every penny and Zoey respected that. It was the reason she hadn’t been allowed to have more than one pet of her own at the house.
“Have you heard anything from your mami?”
Tia still referred to Veronica as Mami. Even if clearly Tia had been her actual mami, Zoey called Veronica her mother simply out of respect. It was just a nickname and didn’t mean what it should to Zoey. To her, Veronica wasn’t a soft place to fall.
“I got a package just the other day with some face cream. She asked after you and Tio.”
“How kind.”
“The face cream or asking about you?”
“Not the face cream.” Tia grimaced. “I hope you’re not thinking...”
“What? Am I crazy?”
“Because you’re not even thirty. Plenty of time to worry about wrinkles.”
“If ever. You never worried about that sort of thing.”
“Well, I wasn’t the beautiful one. That was Veronica.”
“No, no, mi amor.” Tio walked into the living room. “I married the beautiful sister.”
“Raul.” Tia waved her hand dismissively and blushed like a schoolgirl.
Oh, to have that. Zoey wanted a man to see her as the beautiful one, the way Tio saw his wife. Tia wasn’t classically pretty, but the only thing that mattered was the way he saw her. And Zoey wanted someone to see her for who she was inside. Maybe someday.
“Is the rice ready?” Zoey asked.
“Yes...” Tio said.
Zoey and Tia rose.
“In ten more minutes,” Tio continued.
Zoey plopped back down. This was the family joke. The rice always needed ten more minutes. If it cooked too long, it absorbed all the tomato sauce. Not long enough and it was too soupy.
“Do you have a date to the party yet?” Tia cocked her head to the side, all innocent-like.
“You know she doesn’t have a date,” Tio said. “Has she asked me to check him out? No. Of course she doesn’t have a date.”
Right. Zoey hadn’t ever asked Tio to check out her dates, and since moving out she’d used the benefit of having her own home to make her own choices. Which hadn’t worked out that well, come to think of it. Her last boyfriend nearly two years ago had been a piece of work. He’d used Zoey’s kindness against her, borrowing hundreds of dollars he desperately needed to buy medical insurance, he claimed, then promptly leaving town. The boyfriend before him had claimed he loved small-town life and Fortune. Then he’d picked up and moved to Los Angeles with little explanation of why he’d changed his mind.
Yep. She sure could pick ’em. “Not yet. I had a date last Sunday. I don’t think it’s going to work out, though.”
Best not to mention that her date had been skeeved out by all her pets. Tia already thought that Zoey should have fewer animals and make room instead for a man and, someday, children. But what kind of mother-to-be would give up on her animals? Each one of them had required rescuing at one time or another and she’d been there for them. She wasn’t ever going to abandon them.
“Someone will come along.” Tia patted Zoey’s hand. “You still have a couple of weeks.”
“She’s a beauty, inside and out, this one. Any man should be so lucky as to marry her someday,” Tio said as he walked back to the kitchen.
Home for a Hero Page 3