Chapter 8
The car fire kept them busy until early evening. Luckily, the boys took to Rose. They planned to eat dinner at Tess’s—they were making little pizzas—and would wait until David was free.
The two of them walked into his house through the garage, into the big kitchen he’d had redone for Hope. “Hungry?” he asked.
“I’ll have soda water for now. I’m anxious to hear your thoughts.”
They sat in the breakfast area, with lemon flavored seltzer before them. “This could be an inside job, Tess.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time a firefighter turned into an arsonist.”
He looked her straight in the eyes. “What if it’s an investigator?”
She got the innuendo. “Seriously, Chet Carson?”
“Him, too.”
Oh my God! “Lance?”
David nodded. “Or somebody else in our circle. Think about it. The fires were meticulously timed. We already decided the arsonist wants us to know what he’s doing since he was so obvious throwing the incendiary device into a house in broad daylight. And he taunted us with the flowers and candy. Even Suzanne mentioned the personal nature of this when he sent you both gifts.” He drew in a deep breath because this was killing him. “He could have been stalking us even today, Tess.”
She swallowed back her anger. “What do we do?”
“When I mentioned our inner circle, I…maybe…fuck…I’m pretty sure I saw Todd Jeffries watching us through binoculars. Not only did he turn up today, which was a huge coincidence, but he’s at a bad place in his life.”
“Enough to commit such awful crimes?”
“It’s hard to believe.” His eyes moistened. “He’s my best friend. Lately, though, he’s seemed…critical of me.”
She took his hand across the table. It was big and warm and comforting. But she had to comfort him now. “I’m horrified, David. But don’t jump to conclusions just yet. Maybe Todd got bored of waiting around for the kids and was looking at the scenery. The crowd.”
“I hope so.”
“I hope none of them are involved. What do we do now?”
“We don’t know much about Lance and Chet. Let’s do some digging. On your laptop and mine.”
“You know everything about Todd?”
“I think so. But we should google him, too. We’ll do the others first.”
She got up, went to her bag by the door and drew out her computer. She’d pulled the tie from her hair in the car, and when she sat again, she tucked it back behind her ears. By then David had snagged his computer from the counter.
She asked, “What do we look for?”
“I don’t know, Tess. It’s a hunch. Maybe I’m imagining things.”
“Remember when you had a hunch about the State Street Fire?”
“Yeah.”
“You suspected the right man. And in other fires, your hunches have been valid.”
“Okay, let’s research. You take Chet, I’ll take Lance.”
Her fingers tapped on the keys. “We have DOBs in the fire department files. I’m calling them up.”
She found their birthdays.
They worked separately. Tess’s search started with present day and descended by dates.
Chet Thomas Carson
Employee of The Office of Prevention and Fire Control
Captain in Marissa County Fire Department.
Worked in several station houses in MCFD.
Hmm, that was odd. Most firefighters stay put when they’re assigned. Note to self: Look at Marissa County.
More professional information was available.
Then she clicked into Marissa County’s site and found an article with his name highlighted: Nepotism at the OPFC. His uncle appointed him Captain, then got him transferred to the OPFC. Note: Was he qualified?
Background: parents, both teachers; one sibling who died. She swallowed hard and her stomach lurched. She whispered, “I can’t search this part, David.”
He pulled his chair close to hers. His warmth took away the chill of what she’d uncovered. “Why, honey?”
“His sister died when they were children.”
“I’ll do it.” He turned her laptop toward him and clicked keys. Oh my God, he’d taken off his wedding band! Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t noticed him wearing it all day. Swamped by a curious sense of joy, she had to move, so she got up and went to look out the window over the sink.
Finally, she heard “Oh, no.”
“Suspicious death?”
“Uh-huh.”
“In a fire?”
“Uh-huh. Doesn’t mean he did it.”
“Could mean he had an ax to grind against a fire department that didn’t save her.”
David stood, too, and brought his seltzer to the counter. Eased back on the edge, so their hips were bumping. “This is a lot to take in. Want to quit for tonight?”
“Not yet.” She stopped the seltzer halfway to her mouth.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um…I…this new information makes my stomach queasy.” Really queasy.
She stole a glance at him. He was frowning, in the way he did when he was figuring things out. “Maybe you need to eat. Some cheesy brie with raspberry glaze dripping on it.”
At his description, her stomach lurched. She bolted out of the kitchen, raced to the bathroom down a hallway, got to the toilet just in time.
Soon, he was behind her. Holding her hair back. “It’s okay, baby, it’ll be over in a minute.”
It seemed longer until she finished. He handed her a towel and a cup of water with mouthwash. She wiped her face, swirled the liquid in her mouth and spit it out in the bowl.
He eased down to the edge of the whirlpool tub, linked his hands between his knees and looked at her. “So, what is it? You’ve got some terrible illness or you’re pregnant?”
She sat back on her haunches and stared up at him. “I’m pregnant.”
“Thank God.”
* * *
David helped her up and led her to the first-floor guest room, where he opened a window and a warm breeze wafted inside. “Kick off your shoes.”
“What?” She glanced at the bed.
He shook his head. “We won’t make love. We’ll lie down until you feel better enough to tell me about all this.”
He slid out of his sandals as she lay back into the pillows. Sliding up next to her, he took her in his arms, soothed back her hair and sighed. Just being able to hold her gave him a sense of contentment.
“I’m better,” she said after about five minutes. They both sat up against the headboard. “What do you want to know?”
“Not the date. It could have only happened that night. So, you’re not even a month along.”
“Nearly a month. I made a doctor’s appointment for next week.”
His hand fisted.
She put hers over it. “For a blood test and baby check. I’m not planning to end the pregnancy.”
“I don’t want you to.”
“I knew you wouldn’t.”
They were both silent. Finally, he asked, “Do you want to get married?”
She sputtered, but finally got out, “No.”
“No?”
“David, you told me you weren’t ready for a relationship now.”
“This changes things.”
“Not for me. I won’t be with a man who doesn’t want me.”
He laughed out loud. “Oh, I want you, woman! I think about us in bed every single day.”
“I didn’t mean physically. I can tell how you act around me that you do. I mean emotionally and psychologically.”
“Shouldn’t this be my decision?”
She turned and nosed into him. He brushed his hand down her hair. This woman was having his child!
“No. It’s my decision. I can’t have only half of you. I waited too long for you and I’m not settling for second best.”
“You could never be second best.”
“I was to Vinny.”
He tipped her chin up to face him, stared into dark eyes that for years had made him happy. “Vinny’s an asshole for cheating on you.”
“Tell me you see my point. Don’t just try to win the argument, please. This is too important.”
“I see your point. I understand. But fate’s limited our choices. Having a child together is a big deal.”
“We can still have a child together and have choices.” She uncurled out of his arms and sat up. Swung her feet to the side of the bed. “Let’s get back to work.”
Leaning over, he grabbed her around her waist and pulled her back to him. “No to work now. I need some time to think about this. I need to hold you close.”
Tess wanted that, too. Suddenly, in a different way. A spurt of desire flooded her, more intense but the same kind as she’d had today. But she nestled into him. After a few minutes, she thought, fuck it, and looked up at him. “Kiss me, David.”
His face turned taut, his eyes flaming. He was trying to resist her. He couldn’t.
She didn’t remember him being this hungry last time. She could feel the restraint in the tenseness of his back, the hesitancy of his mouth as it pressed against her. She cupped his neck and drew him closer.
His restraint snapped. He slid his arms around her and held her so tightly her breath hitched. Then he devoured her mouth. Took tiny bites of her lips. Smoothed them with his tongue. Instead of cowering at his onslaught, she met him equally—dueling with his tongue, winning, biting, bathing.
The kiss went on for a long time. When they drew back, both were breathing hard.
She whispered. “Make love to me.”
“Are you sure?”
“I want you. Now.”
To prove she meant it, she shrugged off her capris and panties, then yanked at the hem of her T-shirt and wrestled it over her head. He reached for her bra and flicked the front closure. His hands were gentle. Too gentle. “Don’t hold back. We can’t hurt the baby.”
“You’re bigger here.”
She nodded.
He kissed her breastbone, suckled her, loved her. Tenderness flooded Tess. He took his time kneading her breasts, massaging her nipples. His hand moved downward and caressed her abdomen, then he bent over and wisped his lips over her belly.
She squirmed on the bed and instinctively her legs clamped together as his hands roamed to her breasts again, to her hip, down her thigh. She tried to hold on, but this was David. The man she loved.
“David, please I’m ready.”
His smile was smug as he yanked the hem of his shirt out of the waistband and drew it over his head. He undid his belt and pushed down his shorts and briefs. She grinned at his impressive arousal.
“Want to get on top?” he asked solicitously.
“No, you, over me.”
He covered her with his body, poised himself at her entrance, then leaning on his forearms, he watched her as he eased inside. Further and further. She clenched around him.
“Arrgh,” he growled as his control once again fled. He pushed in to the hilt, then back out, then he plunged into her. She couldn’t wait, couldn’t savor the moment. She came wildly. “David, yes, yes, oh God.”
He mumbled something she couldn’t make out, then spiraled and emptied himself into her.
When he came down, he lifted up again. His face was sweaty and flushed, as hers would be. “Oh, Tess,” he said meeting his forehead with hers. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Entwined in each other’s arms, they dozed. When they awoke, he held her, grazing her arm with his knuckles.
After a while, she said, “Let’s go back to work.”
“I don’t want to.”
She laughed. “We have to.”
“I suppose.”
Rolling off the side of the bed, she stared down at him, held out her hand. Finally, he took it and got up. They both redressed and went back to the kitchen.
* * *
Their search of Lance Manwaring turned up some intriguing background. He’d excelled at everything in his life: high school valedictorian at Anderson Prep and Yale University with honors. And as he’d told them, the jobs he had in the government before he came to Crystal City, including certification in EMS, training at a hospital and courses in arson investigation.
“So why on earth did he become a cop?” David asked.
“God only knows. It’s the oddest biography I’ve ever seen.”
He sighed, grasped her hand. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her. “You know, his vocabulary is erratic. Sometimes he uses big words, and sometimes he talks like a cop on a beat.”
“Now that you mention it, he does. Other times he acts…entitled.”
“Because he’s sure of himself?”
“You know, you’re right. His attitude toward me seems possessive.”
“You should have said something.”
“Things between us have been a little strained lately, David.”
He tugged her up from the chair and eased her down on his lap. His lips in her hair, her shiny, lemon-scented hair, he said, “We have to find ways to reduce that stress.”
“It’s not good for the baby, I know.”
“I could order you to take some leave.”
She snorted. “No, you can’t. I’d sue you for discrimination.”
“You’d make your pregnancy public?” He asked the question, but he knew the answer. His woman was a force to be reckoned with.
“If you did that, I would. Which you’re not going to do, so let’s decide what we will do.” She brushed back his hair from his face. “I vote for concealing the pregnancy until after the third month. That’s the danger period for miscarriage.”
“Lord, I hope that doesn’t happen.”
Her hand slid to his neck. “You really mean that. Most men would feel trapped.”
“I’m not most men. Besides, you mean younger men who don’t know the value of life.”
“Have you thought about what having a child at fifty will be like?”
“I haven’t had time.” A small smile escaped him. “But off the top of my head, I can’t see it doing anything but making my life more meaningful.”
“You’re too good to be true.”
“Not to you, lately. I’ve hurt you.”
“Unintentionally.” She yawned.
He checked his watch and said, “It’s nearly nine. You need to get home. I’ll call and tell the boys we’re coming.” He picked up his phone from the table, just as it chimed a text arrival. He read the missive. And laughed. “Huh. They want to have a sleepover in a tent that Rose helped them make. Rose says she’ll do Tuck-In with them.” He cocked his head at her. “I always admired that tradition you have with the girls.”
“It’s a great communication technique. Maybe you should try it with the boys if they like what Rose does.”
He held up the phone. “Should we let them do this?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll follow you home and make sure everything’s okay.” He hadn’t yet sold Hope’s car.
“Fine by me.” She stood. “I feel lighter.”
“I do, too.” Lighter, relieved and warm inside. “Let’s just see what happens, love.”
“With the case?”
“No. That has to be solved. I meant with us.”
“I agree. Let’s just see.”
* * *
On Sunday morning, Tess came downstairs to find Rose alone in the kitchen. She checked the clock. Nine a.m. “Wow, when was the last time I slept this long?”
“How easy you forget. You were a typical teenager. Only after you married Vince did you become so sober—getting up at the crack of dawn, running yourself ragged to take care of everybody.”
“Yeah, I guess.” She went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of orange juice. After she poured herself some, she sat with her mother. “Aren’t the girls up yet?”
“Up and gone. David’s taking them and his two out for breakfast and then to play laser tag.”
“Boy, those kids really do like each other.”
“Yeah, they do.” Rose eyed the juice. Then she tipped Tess’s chin. “When were you going to tell me?”
Tess didn’t dissemble. “I’m not sure. David found out last night because I got sick. We want to keep it quiet until the end of three months.” She smiled at her mother. “But I probably wouldn’t have been able to keep it from you. I’m so happy, Mom.”
“What did he say?”
“He asked me to marry him.”
Her mom laughed out loud. “Marone! I knew I loved that man for a good reason.”
“I said no. At least not yet.”
“Of course, you did. You can be so stubborn.” Rose cocked her head. “Then you’d have to be to get what you wanted in life.”
“I thought he didn’t want me, but now it sounds almost stupid to say that.”
Rose sipped her coffee, which was black as sin. “He adores you, baby. He just hurts because Hope is dead. Can’t you give him some space to feel that?”
A sudden sweep of relief went through Tess. Had she been wrong about all this? Had she made too much of his needing time? Did they have a chance together, especially after what happened between them last night?
She didn’t get to ponder the question because suddenly, the smell of her mother’s coffee assaulted her. She flew to the bathroom. Vomited—man, this was getting old. When she came out and down the hall, her mother met her halfway. “The doorbell rang. Your coworker is here.”
Lance? Oh, my God. “Which one?”
“He says his name is Chet. Do you want to go freshen up?”
“No, I brushed my teeth. I can see him in this.” She pulled at a teal-colored T-shirt—at least she’d put on a bra—and matching summer bottoms she’d slept in. “But do me a favor. Stay in the hallway where you can see us. Keep your phone on, and dial the first two numbers of 911.”
Rose’s eyes widened. “Is he dangerous?”
“I really don’t know.”
The mama bear inside Rose surfaced. “I can do that.”
Straightening her shoulders, Tess walked into the living room. “Chet?”
Turning from the window, he gave her a sad smile. He looked younger today, wearing a Buffalo Bills T-shirt and jeans. His dark hair was mussed. “Hi, Tess. I’d like to talk to you.”
“Couldn’t this wait until work tomorrow?”
“I need to do this today. Please.”
“All right.” She indicated the chair for him and took another. She tried to relax her shoulders and clasped her hands to keep them from shaking.
Until he said, “I know you and David are concerned about me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Tess, you think I might be the arsonist. My background could indicate that, I admit. But I swear, I’d never intentionally set fires.” He took sheets of paper out of his pants pocket and unfolded them. “These show evidence of where I was at the time of every arson since I got here. For many of them, I was with you. But when I wasn’t, there’s names of people I was with—witnesses, actually, to prove I couldn’t have set any, even at the park yesterday.”
“I-I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. The second sheet is the actual police report on when my sister died. I’m sure you researched me by now, because I would have done that if our roles were reversed. I had nothing to do with the fire or her death.”
She was speechless.
He stood. “I’ll leave now so you can stop white-knuckling your hands.” Without saying more, he walked to the foyer and out the door.
Open-mouthed, Tess watched him go.
* * *
Early Monday morning, Linc had come to pick up the boys at seven, so David went to the academy shortly after they left. Tess’s office was dark as it was still early. She’d told him about Chet Carson when he dropped off the girls yesterday. David believed him. Which narrowed down the suspects. And made it clear what he had to do today—the miserable task he was forced to perform.
He dropped down at his computer, sipped black coffee that was bitter today, and typed into the search engine:
Todd Jeffries, DOB and home address.
Vice-president of Segment Financials was the latest job that he’d held. And lost. Before that, Manager of Tax Department. Next, Assistant Financial Analyst.
David knew all this. He’d gone through his promotions with Todd as they unfolded.
Images of his friend infiltrated his brain…
“Leave me alone.” David, at seven, was a peaceful guy but had been backed into an alleyway in town.
“Who’s gonna make me?” the bully threatened.
Todd came out of nowhere. Behind him were his two older brothers. “Me. And my bros. Scram, and don’t ever push him around again.”
In high school…
David had been the star quarterback and Todd was a strong receiver. He remembered the thrill of lifting the football, looking for an opening, and usually finding Todd.
Then as adults…
Todd stood across the altar from David, grinning from ear to ear as Hope and David said their vows. He gave his friend a wink that said, “Go for it, buddy.”
Not long after their roles were reversed on the same altar…
Dear God in heaven, how could he go further with this awful suspicion of his best friend? Maybe he was wrong to try. Tess could do this part. For one thing, he was totally biased. But mostly, it killed him to think that Todd was the arsonist.
All wound up about the situation—and don’t forget Tess’s pregnancy—he checked the clock. He had time to get in a half-hour of the treadmill which always made him feel better.
In ten minutes, he walked into one of the academy’s workout rooms. It smelled faintly of disinfectant as it was empty except for one person. Lance Manwaring lifted weights in the far corner. He was sweating profusely. He must have been at this a long time.
He called out, “Hey, Lance.”
“David. Didn’t know you worked out.”
“Usually, I run, that’s why I haven’t been here all summer. But I lift a few weights, too.”
David jumped on the treadmill and started slow. For a couple of minutes, he relived Saturday with Tess, how she felt under his hands. How she called out his name when pleasure hit her. He looked around to think about something else. He was at work, for God’s sake.
Something across the room snagged his attention. Manwaring had tattoos, and a bag off to the side with the same insignia on the front. David couldn’t quite make out what it was. So, he waited five more minutes then got off the treadmill and headed to the men’s room. Manwaring shot him a funny look as he passed the weight area, but David took the risk and glanced down at the insignia. An eagle. With broken wings. How odd. Something niggled at him about the drawing. After he waited long enough in the men’s room, he walked out and down the hallway. He’d just reached the doorway when he felt someone come behind him.
He could barely breathe as his neck was head-locked.
He felt a prick then shooting pain.
Blackness came as David hit the floor.
* * *
There, that satisfied him. His ability to be perfect was intact again, after another little blip. They kept him sane. Had he given Ashford enough to cause his death? If not, he’d finish the job soon enough. Maybe in a fire.
* * *
Holding an umbrella, Tess hurried through the slight drizzle into the academy and took the elevator to the second floor. She was anxious to see David. Crossing the common room, she found his office lit from within. She knocked. Tried the handle. Locked. She let herself into her office, disposed of her belongings, and fished a spare key out of the desk that opened their connecting doors.
Inside, she sniffed. Smiled. He’d been here recently. She tested the coffee cup and it was lukewarm. She glanced at the computer. The screen saver was on, so she touched the space bar. A document came up. Notes. On Todd Jeffries. Tess scanned them. So, he must have come in early to do a search of his best friend. Her spine prickled, though she didn’t know why.
Back at her desk, she texted him. Then she worked for an hour, texting him and phoning twice. Still, no David. Unable to sit still any longer, she stepped out into the common room. The overhead lights were on now, and the chief’s outer door open, so she crossed to his office. The assistant in the reception area greeted her. “Hey, Tess.”
“Elly. Did David call in that he’d be late?”
“Not to me. Maybe he phoned the chief.”
“Could you check?”
“Sure.” Elly went into the chief’s office.
A few moments passed and Joe Redman strode out. “I haven’t heard anything from David. He’s not here?”
“He probably is. His office was lit and a coffee cup was still warm.”
“Did you text or phone him?”
“Yeah, several times.”
The chief tried, too. No luck. He turned to Elly. “Call security to come up. Four of them.” He led Tess out of reception and they waited in the hall.
“Why did you call them, Chief? He’s probably in somebody else’s office.”
“Then our people will find him. This arson thing has me on edge. I don’t like when someone in the office is out of touch.”
“I guess I’m on edge, too. I had a…foreboding in David’s office.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. Firefighter hunches can be life-saving.”
Tess sighed as they waited. “We sat down over the weekend and brainstormed a hunch David had. Everything’s on my computer, if you’d like to see what we found.”
“I would.” He glanced over her shoulder. “Hey guys.” He gave instructions to the three men and a woman. “Okay, Tess. Let’s look at your notes.”
Once in the arson suite, the chief scanned her computer over her shoulder. “Lance Manwaring?”
“Who we can’t find much on.”
“And Chet…” His phone buzzed before she could tell him about Chet’s visit. “Redman…yes, yes…Hell! Call 911 and we’ll be right there.”
Panic shot through Tess. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”
“They found David passed out in a hallway. No idea why, except when he fell, he hit his head.”
Tess flew out of the office with Redman at her side. When they reached the small gym, they found David lying on the ground. “David!” She rushed to him.
Awake now, he looked up at her. “I’m okay, but I’m woozy as hell. And my neck hurts like a sonofabitch.”
The head of security said, “He was
injected with something. There’s a needle prick just below his
right jaw.”
* * *
The ER staff at Crystal City Memorial gave preference to firefighters and police. So, as soon as David got into a treatment room, a doctor swished aside the curtain.
“David, hi, Nick Peris. I haven’t treated you yet, but you’re the arson guy, right?”
“Right.”
Tess and Joe came in before he could say more. They introduced themselves.
He gave David a once over. “You aren’t burned.”
“No,” David said. “The security medic thinks I was injected with something. I’m woozy and my neck hurts like hell.”
The doctor moved closer to him, turned his face and switched on a small penlight. “Definitely a puncture wound. I’ll do a tox screen.”
“How soon will you find out? To treat him?” Tess’s voice had turned hoarse.
“I’ll put a rush on it.” His brow furrowed. “How’d you get it?”
“I have no idea. I don’t even know what I was doing down in in that hallway but I had these on…” He plucked at the T-shirt he wore with shorts. “So maybe I was going to work out.”
“Have you called the police?”
“I did,” the chief put in. “Detectives are on their way.”
“Well, let’s take care of you for now. I’ll get things going on my end and send someone in to take your blood.”
A few minutes after Dr. Peris left, the nurses entered and drew blood.
When they finished, Redman stepped closer to the bed. “You don’t remember anything, David?”
“All I know was I was working on the arson case and got upset. One of our suspects is a friend of mine.” He frowned. “That’s the last thing I remember.”
They discussed some aspects of the case.
When Peris returned, he was frowning. “They found traces of benzodiazepine in your system. A drug that dampens activity in key parts of the brain. It’s often used in anesthesia, so patients don’t remember the surgery or procedure happening.”
“I wonder who wouldn’t want me to remember my morning?”
“That’s out of my wheelhouse,” Peris told him. “But you have enough of it in your bloodstream to require you to be hospitalized overnight and have saline drips to get it out of your system.”
“Do I need more treatment than that?”
“No, it’ll leave your body in twenty-four hours.”
“I can go home, drink water and wait for it to be gone.”
“No, you’ll stay here.” The chief stood. “That’s an order.”
When the doc left, Redman added, “Tess, stick close to him. I trust you to make sure he gets in a hospital room and stays there.”
“I will, Chief.”
When Redman left, David patted the mattress. “Come close.”
She crossed to the bed and sat. Her dark eyes were shadowed and her whole body taut. “I was so worried.”
He placed his hand on her stomach. “It’s not good for our little one.”
“I’m glad you know about the baby, David. I was coming in today to tell you—”
“Hello?” someone called through the curtains. “CCPD here.”
Instead of just the detectives, Ray Lincoln, the police chief, entered the room. They all wore uniforms and looked imposing.
“Chief?” David asked. “Why are you here?”
“I don’t like it when something happens to one of my favorite people. I came myself to see you’re all right, and get the whole story first hand.” He introduced the two detectives. “Now talk.”
After yet another recount of the incident, the chief shook his head. “It’s someone in our midst?”
“Could be.”
Lifting her chin, Tess asked, “Why isn’t Captain Manwaring here? He’s the law enforcement on the case.”
“Apparently he called in sick. My people are checking on him now, to see if he’s okay.”
David and Tess exchanged looks.
To the detectives, Lincoln said, “Make sure a uniform is posted outside his door all night.”
“Do you think someone might still want to hurt him?”
“I honestly don’t know, Tess. But I’m not taking any chances.” Ray held out his hand to David. “Stay safe.”
The detectives left with him. They were headed to the academy to check things out there. Luckily, the security team cordoned off the gym area.
Tess asked, “You didn’t want to tell him about Lance?”
“They’re just suspicions. I can’t ruin a man’s reputation until we have proof.”
The trip to his room had made David tired so he fell asleep, holding her hand, happy she’d stayed with him.
* * *
“Ah, there you are.” David smiled at Tess when she walked back into his room, carrying a heavy purse stuffed with what she’d need tonight.
“Sorry, I had to go home to get some things. But I’m here and I’m staying with you all night.”
“No! It could be dangerous.”
“There’s an armed guard outside. Nobody can get through her.” She held up the purse. “Besides, I have mace in here along with everything else.” He was still skeptical. “David, I’m not leaving you.”
He blew out a heavy breath.
She took plastic containers out of her bag. “I brought us dinner. We had it frozen so I heated it up.”
“Did you bring wine?”
“No, of course not. But later, we can have root beer and popcorn while we watch TV. I’ve got that, too.”
The lasagna with mozzarella and spicy meatballs were delicious. She’d brought crusty bread, which they both crunched on.
After she cleaned up, she studied him. “You look tired again.”
“Yeah.”
“Take a nap.”
“It’s six at night.”
“So?”
Eventually, nature took over and he fell asleep. Vaguely aware of the sound of nurse’s voices, phones ringing and carts being pushed, Tess worked on her tablet, looking for more clues about Lance.
Later, she heard, “Hey, love.” He ran a hand through his hair messing it more. She noticed his green eyes were clearer, now.
“Hey. You slept.”
“What did you do?”
“I brought my tablet and looked into a few things.” She yawned.
“You’re exhausted. You should go home.”
“This is non-negotiable. Push yourself up, we’re having snacks.” She slid onto the bed with him, and for an hour, they watched the news as they crunched on the popcorn and drank root beer, his favorite.
At nine, she eased off the mattress. “I’m going to wash my face and brush my teeth.” She plucked out a deep plum yoga outfit she’d change into. “I’m wearing these to sleep in.”
Taking her purse, she cleaned up and when she returned, he’d moved to the left of the mattress. She’d rather be closer to the door, but she couldn’t let him in on her suspicions.
“If you have to stay, you’re not sleeping on that uncomfortable hospital recliner. I know what they’re like from being here with Hope. Now, get in here again.” He lifted the sheet and blanket and she climbed in. Sliding his arm around her, he pulled her close.
She nuzzled into him. His scent calmed her. They’d made him change into a gown, which he hated, and it was scratchy against her cheek. “Go to sleep. You’re exhausted. My baby needs rest, too.”
Smiling, Tess dozed off.
She awoke from a sound sleep to the semi-darkness. Only a small light shone from the far wall, so she moved away and watched the man she loved sleep. After all that happened, she knew in her heart she’d do anything she had to do to keep him in her life. She caressed her stomach where his baby cocooned inside her.
A noise at the door alerted her. Spooked, she crept out of bed and went to the wall of the bathroom, peering around it to see what the disturbance was.
A big man in uniform was talking to the guard outside. A man she recognized. The cool, calm firefighter inside her surfaced again. When she realized she’d left her purse in the bathroom, she dropped to the floor and crawled around the wall. Once inside the bathroom, she grabbed her bag and crept back to her side of the bed. She fished inside and found the mace, and with a purse that still contained extra pop, she crawled back into bed. She covered herself with the blanket, even her head.
Soon, he came in.
She heard footsteps shuffle to the side of the bed closest to David. She felt his presence, but peeked out anyway.
He took something out of his pocket.
A syringe.
Tess sprang up.
Sprayed the mace right in his face. “Owwww…” He howled and stumbled forward. Covered his eyes.
She sprung over David and hit the intruder on the head with her purse hard enough to knock him to the floor.
David awoke while she was half on top of him.
Someone else rushed through the door—the cop outside—and turned on the overhead light.
“What’s going on?” David asked grabbing onto Tess’s waist. “Honey, what are you doing?
Out of breath, she sank back to her side. “I just caught our arsonist. It’s Lance Manwaring.”
* * *
Cuffed and battered—fuck, what did that woman have in her purse—Lance sat in a brightly lit interrogation room that smelled of stale coffee and cigarettes. He’d been dragged here at five in the morning, booked and now, at nine, he was still waiting for the cops to question him. He had to figure a way out of the current mess he was in. All his life, he’d narrowly escaped these little slips and he’d do it now. The notion excited him.
Chief Lincoln came inside with David Ashford. The asshole.
“So, Captain Manwaring,” the chief began. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“What the hell happened?”
“Meaning?”
“I stopped at the hospital to see my friend and a crazy woman attacked me.”
“You were holding a lethal dose of benzodiazepine in your hand.”
He arched his brows. “That wasn’t mine. I picked it up from the floor when I came inside.”
“Give it up, Manwaring.” This from Ashford. “We caught you red-handed.”
“So, she says. And she’s crazy. Just like…” He trailed off.
“Just like all women? Can’t you do better than that?” Ashford gave an ugly laugh. “Lieutenant DiMarco has a stellar reputation.”
“So do I.” He’d made sure that his perfect persona was the only information on the Net.
“I guess we’ll see at the trial.” The chief sounded confident. “We’re in the process of tracking all arsons back to you.”
“You’re crazy. I was at some of those scenes legitimately.”
“I remember now,” Ashford put in. “You were in the gym yesterday morning. As soon as I saw you on the floor of the hospital, I remembered you were there.” David pulled some paper out of a folder. “This insignia that’s on your bag and that you brazenly wear on your arm traces you back to a group of a website called firestarters.com, people who claim to have committed arson. They share tips on how to set fires and avoid being caught.”
“I got into the Dark Web to track them for our cases.”
“You’ve been a member since your twenties. You weren’t tracking arsonists then.”
“Bullshit.”
“Hardly. The evidence is piling up.” The chief’s tone was scornful. How dare he talk to Lance that way?
“Then you’re wrong.” Other people were always wrong. He’d lived a perfect life. “I want a lawyer. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“Meanwhile, you’re charged with burning the property of others and of felony murder. You have a right to remain silent…”
“I want a lawyer.”
The chief, an asshole himself, finished the Miranda.
“Now you can call one.” Lincoln pointed to the cop over against the wall. “He’ll give you a phone.”
“You confiscated my phone? What about my first amendment rights?”
Nothing. Then both stood and left the room. On the way out, the chief said to the guard, “Watch the fucker, Krause. He’s a wily one.”
Lance leaned back as far as he could in the chair. This was going to take a little more finessing than he planned. The guard handed him a phone. Good, he’d get help now. He rarely needed any, but these bozos had cornered him.
Seething, Lance punched in numbers. He’d win in the end. He always did.