Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air, thick and inviting. Zane leaned back in his chair at the shared Peaceful police and fire station, swirling his mug absently. Peaceful’s station wasn’t like most others. The coffeemaker was top of the line, stocked with first-class beans and capable of churning out just about any coffee specialty he could think of. It was, admittedly, one of his favorite things about the place—but after his fourth cup, even he had to admit he might have overdone it. His nerves were jittery, despite him being used to biding his time. But they weren’t waiting for a fire alarm this time, but for Tate MacCready.
Lou sat across from him, thumbing through notes with the efficiency of someone who’d been in law enforcement long enough to spot patterns where others saw chaos. Zane had opted to stay off duty today, knowing the arson investigation needed a united front.
The door swung open, and Zane pulled himself into a more upright position. MacCready strode in, his presence as commanding as ever. His graying hair was neatly combed, and his casual but well-put-together outfit—a crisp button-down shirt and dark jeans—hinted at an effortless style. He carried himself with an air of confidence that had endeared him to Peaceful for years.
“Gentlemen,” MacCready greeted warmly, with that familiar undercurrent of charm Zane had always admired. “Apologies for the delay. My wife, the kids, and I were out for a picnic when I got the call.”
Lou stood, extending his hand. “No problem, Mr. MacCready. We appreciate you coming in.”
“Please, call me Tate,” MacCready said, shaking Lou’s hand firmly before turning to Zane with a beaming smile. “Zane, good to see you. You’ve grown into quite the man.”
“Thank you, sir,” Zane replied, his chest warming. He couldn’t help but respect the man who had been elementary in his life choices. “It’s good to see you, too. Please take a seat.” He gestured to the chair opposite of them.
“How many kids do you have?” Lou settled back in his seat and stretched out his legs.
“Three.” MacCready pulled his wallet from his inner pocket. Opening the leather billfold, he tapped the pictures—two grinning boys and a girl with pigtails and a gap-toothed smile, all exuding the energy and innocence of elementary school kids. “Elliot, Max, and Sophie. They’re the light of my life.”
Lou nodded appreciatively. “Beautiful family.”
“Thank you.” MacCready’s smile widened. “I’ve always believed that a strong family is the backbone of any community. It’s why I came to Peaceful—to give them an upbringing away from the big city.”
MacCready shifted his gaze to Lou, his brow furrowing as he studied him. “I can’t seem to place you. I don’t remember having you in any of my classes. You aren’t from here?”
Lou met his gaze evenly, leaning back in his chair. “Born and bred in Peaceful, sir. I’m about fifteen years older than Zane here. By the time you started teaching, I was overseas.”
MacCready’s expression softened, his lips curving into a genial smile. “Ah, I see. Military man, huh?”
Lou gave a small nod. “Yes, sir.”
“Well, thank you for your service,” MacCready said. “It’s men like you who keep the rest of us safe. And Peaceful? It’s better with someone like you at the helm.”
Lou’s face remained unreadable, but he inclined his head a few inches in acknowledgment. “Appreciate that.”
Lou leaned forward and braced his elbows on the desk. "We’ve called you in because of the car fire. Can you tell us about the night your car was set on fire?"
As MacCready stuffed his wallet back in his pocket, his expression turned serious. “Of course. That was a different night altogether. It was late—around two o’clock in the morning. My wife and I had put the kids to bed at eight, and we were asleep ourselves. The car was parked out front, but we sleep at the back of the house. We didn’t hear a thing until the sirens woke us up.”
“Did you notice anything unusual leading up to that night?” Zane asked, his firefighter instincts kicking in.
MacCready shook his head. “Nothing. The fire department was quick, thank goodness, but by the time I got outside, the car was a total loss.”
Lou’s fingers drummed a fast rhythm on the table. “Do you have any idea who might have done this?”
MacCready’s brow furrowed in thought. “I can’t imagine anyone in town holding a grudge against me. I’ve always tried to treat people fairly, and as a teacher, my goal was to help my students succeed. Maybe I pushed some of them hard, but it was always out of care.”
Zane nodded. “You’ve been a mentor to so many people here. It’s hard to believe someone would target you on purpose.”
MacCready sighed, and his shoulders slumped slightly as he muttered, “I hope it’s not personal. It’s unsettling to think someone would do this to anyone, let alone my family.”
Lou’s expression remained unreadable, though his voice carried a gentler tone. “We’re looking into all possibilities, including whether this might be connected to the other fires—the dumpster at the high school and the wildfire.”
MacCready raised his brows. “The high school? That’s troubling.”
Lou nodded. “That’s why we’re here. The school building and your car seem to be the only clear connections so far. We’re worried it might be a kid from the high school.”
MacCready’s face fell. “A student? That’s… heartbreaking. If that’s true, I hope we can help them before they spiral further.”
“We’re considering interviewing some of the kids at the school, but we’re trying to be careful.” Lou held up a hand, when MacCready opened his mouth to protest. “We don’t want to accuse anyone without evidence. If you notice anything—or if anything comes to mind about who might have a motive—let us know.”
MacCready nodded solemnly. “Absolutely. If there’s anything I can do, I’ll help in any way I can. This town is my home, and I want it to stay safe for everyone.”
As they stood, MacCready shook hands with both men again, his grip firm and reassuring. “Thank you for looking into this, Lou. And Zane? You’re making this town proud.”
“Thank you, sir,” Zane said, his respect for the man unshaken.
As MacCready left, Zane turned to Lou, whose thoughtful expression hadn’t changed. “What do you think?”
Lou gave a faint shrug. “He’s convincing, but something about this still feels off.”
Zane frowned. “You think he’s hiding something? Really. Come on, man. He’s by far the best teacher in town. Hell, probably in the county.”
“Not sure,” Lou admitted, “but we need to focus on those kids. If it is someone from the high school, we need to figure out who—and why—before things get worse.”