Chapter Three #2
“I don’t know if I can do that,” Margaret murmured. “I feel like my dreams went up in flames with the store.”
Moira grimaced. “I know it feels like a lot right now, but we’ll support you, whatever decision you make. We’re here for you.”
“I feel like we should be talking about the fires,” a man called out from the back of the room.
Moira looked up and glared. Brad, the owner of the gas station, looked around, a clear challenge in his expression. Caleb was only here to take notes and listen, but normally, he would’ve said something because the guy had been rude.
But he wasn’t wrong. The crowd was here to talk about the fires and what they could do about them. They needed to protect themselves and each other, and it would be impossible to do that if they didn’t know what they were dealing with.
Moira sighed. “We are here to talk about the fires, including the fire that destroyed Margaret’s livelihood.”
“It wasn’t only me,” Margaret said. “There have been other fires. We need to do something.”
“Which is why we’re here. I think it’s obvious that someone’s targeting shifters,” Moira declared as she glanced around the room.
If she was waiting for someone to say she was wrong, she’d be waiting for a long time. Caleb was pretty sure that everyone here agreed that someone was targeting shifters, including him.
He wasn’t sure what he hoped to find out today. He doubted that anyone had any idea who was behind the fires, but maybe someone had noticed something or someone. Maybe they could find clues that would lead to a name.
Or maybe they wouldn’t because the person setting the businesses on fire didn’t belong here.
There was a chance that it was a human who didn’t like that shifters existed.
Unfortunately, there was also a chance that the person behind this was a shifter with a grudge, although Caleb couldn’t think of why anyone would do something like this.
If it had only been one business, he would’ve understood, but four?
No, this was a pattern. This was someone with a grudge, but whether or not that was a grudge against shifters in general or against the people who lived and worked in the area, he didn’t know.
“I think we should set up patrols,” another man said.
Jeremiah worked at the diner, and he was too old to go on the patrols he’d just mentioned, but something told Caleb that he’d be there anyway.
Everyone in the room seemed to want to be involved, even those who didn’t care much about their neighbors, like Brad.
They wanted to protect their livelihoods.
“We don’t know what we’re up against,” Julia, the owner of a women’s clothing boutique, said. Her gaze flickered to Caleb. “Why is the press here? I thought this was a safe place.”
Everyone turned to Caleb. He might not like being the center of attention, but he also didn’t mind it. It was part of the job, just like giving explanations was.
“I’m not here as the press,” he said.
Julia didn’t seem convinced. “Why are you here, then?”
“I’m a concerned citizen. I may not own a store in the area, but my best friend does, and I want him and everyone else here to be safe. I want to find out who’s behind the fires.”
“Because you want a story to publish.”
“Oh, please,” Christy declared.
Caleb had noticed her when he’d come in earlier, but he hadn’t gone to her. He might be worried about her and the others, but he was here to work first and foremost.
“Caleb isn’t looking to become famous or whatever you’re thinking,” she continued. “He cares about everyone here. He’s one of us.” She looked around as if daring people to argue that. Thankfully, no one did.
Caleb cleared his throat. “I truly want to help find out what’s going on.
I don’t want anyone else to lose their business, and I certainly don’t want anyone to die, which is what will happen eventually.
I don’t think that the arsonist cares about people’s lives.
It’s a miracle no one’s been killed yet, but that’s not going to last for much longer.
The more fires are set, the more people will be hurt. ”
“What do you suggest we do, then?” Moira asked.
Caleb was confused. Hadn’t they just said that he wasn’t one of them? Well, to be fair, Julia was the only one who’d said anything like that. No one else had asked him why he was there.
“I’m looking into the arsonist,” he explained.
“I have contacts within the fire department. They want the arsonist stopped as badly as we do. In the meantime, the only thing I can suggest is that everyone be careful. Keep your eyes open. Don’t stay in your stores later than you normally would.
I realize no one here wants to lose their business, but losing your life is much worse. ”
“So no one knows what to do,” Brad complained.
“I’ll talk to my contact in the fire department,” Caleb promised. “I’ll ask him if he has any suggestions. If you notice anything suspicious, though, I suggest you call the cops. No one here needs to get hurt.”
“You’ll keep us up to date with what you find out through your friend?” Moira asked.
Caleb nodded. It looked like he was going to have to talk to Austin, which wasn’t what he’d been planning.
He didn’t have anything against Austin. In fact, he’d be happy to talk to him and spend more time with him.
Considering what had happened the last time they were in a room together, though, he wasn’t feeling great about it.
He’d been wrong. He’d allowed what he thought of dragon shifters in general and of Sal to taint what he thought about Austin.
It wasn’t fair because he didn’t know Austin, and Austin deserved a chance.
Caleb had told himself he’d give him one the next time they met, but he hadn’t expected that next time to be so soon.
He hoped Austin would accept his apology. It wasn’t only because of the fires, either. Sure, Caleb needed information, but he also wanted him and Austin to be okay. He wanted them to be able to get along for West and Jonathan’s sake.
And maybe, he wanted to see how good a fit the two of them were.
He found Austin attractive, and he was grateful for the help Austin had given him when he’d been panicking at the bookstore fire.
He couldn’t deny that Austin was saying and doing all the right things.
On paper, he seemed like the perfect guy, and Caleb yearned for that.
Well, he didn’t yearn for perfection, but he did want someone in his life.
He wanted intimacy and happiness. He wanted to be able to not hide who and what he was.
Austin felt like the perfect person to have that with.
He already knew about Caleb. In a way, he’d already been vetted since he was West’s best friend. Caleb just needed to reach out.
It looked like he wouldn’t have a choice.
* * * *
“HEY, AUSTIN,” LISA called out.
Austin was cleaning the station’s kitchen, and the sooner he was done with that, the better, so he didn’t look up. He did answer, though. “What’s up?”
“There’s a visitor for you.”
Austin put down the rag he’d been using to scrub the counter and frowned. “A visitor?”
He couldn’t see Lisa, but he could almost hear her roll her eyes when she answered. “Why don’t you come out here instead of yelling through the station? I have stuff to do.”
So did Austin, but he was curious. He quickly washed his hands, then made his way to the entrance of the station.
He had no idea who he’d find there, so he had no expectations, which was good because nothing could have prepared him for the sight of Caleb standing by Lisa, looking like he wanted to run.
Instead of doing that, Caleb squared his shoulders and faced Austin head-on as if he expected Austin to kick him out.
Austin wasn’t about to do that. For one, he was curious about why Caleb was here, but that wasn’t all of it.
He didn’t want to have a bad relationship with the man, even if they could never get over whatever hangup Caleb had about him.
Lisa looked from Austin to Caleb with a grin that told Austin she’d demand answers later. It was a problem for the future-Austin, though, and he shooed her away, watching her go before he turned back to Austin.
“Hey,” he said with a smile he hoped would soften Caleb.
Caleb frowned as if he hadn’t expected Austin to be nice to him. Austin was a nice person, dammit.
“Hi. Am I bothering you?” Caleb asked.
“Nope.”
“Are you sure? Because it sounded like you were busy.”
“I was scrubbing the kitchen counters. I promise you that it can wait.”
Austin still looked like he was going to change his mind and run away. He glanced around the station, possibly for an emergency exit. “I was hoping we could talk,” he eventually said.
“Why don’t we step outside for a moment?” Maybe Caleb would be more comfortable outside the station.
“As long as it’s not a bother.”
“I wouldn’t have suggested it if it was. I promise we’re fine, Caleb. You don’t have to worry about me or my job. If the bell rings, I’ll go, but otherwise, we have time.”
Caleb nodded and followed Austin outside. Austin could have chosen somewhere else, but he didn’t want anyone to hear whatever Caleb was here to tell him. It probably had to do with the fires. He’d made how he felt about Austin clear, so Austin doubted he was here about anything else.
Once he was sure no one would hear them, he turned toward Caleb and waited. Caleb sucked in a breath and grimaced. “I wanted to apologize,” he said.
“Why?”
“For what I said at the hospital.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“We both know that’s not true. When you offered for us to work together, I should’ve said yes. I wanted to say yes.”
“Are you sure about that? Because you said no, and that’s perfectly fine. I don’t expect you to want to spend time with me if you don’t trust me.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you.”
“Again, are you sure about that?”
“I don’t know you.”
“And you didn’t look like you wanted to get to know me back at the hospital.”