Chapter 13 – Jennie #2
Maggie crouches down beside me. “Ruth called me, and I came as soon as I could. Was there anyone inside?”
“Robert was the only one in the building at the time, and he’s fine,” I say. My head is still reeling from the fire chief’s initial assessment. “The fire started in my office. It looks like arson.”
Jack’s customary dark expression darkens even more, if that’s possible. “Where’s Chris?”
“Inside with the fire chief. He wanted to see my office.”
Jack walks into the diner. Maggie takes a seat beside me on the curb, and Ruth sits on my other side.
Maggie grabs my hand. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. I think I’m mostly in shock. Chris and I were at my house eating breakfast—”
Ruth looks at me curiously. “Chris?”
Oh, that’s right. They don’t know. “Chris slept over at my house last night.”
“Really?” Ruth asks, seeming quite interested.
“They gave him a sedative at the hospital when they fixed his dislocated shoulder. When he was released, he was still a bit loopy and wasn’t permitted to drive, so I thought it would be best if he came home with me so I could watch over him.”
I skip telling them about the confessions he made at the hospital as well as our follow-up discussion at the breakfast table.
“Do they know how the fire started?” Maggie asks.
“The chief said it started in the trashcan beside my desk. He found an empty gas can nearby.”
“Did any of your cameras pick up anything?”
“No. Whoever it was destroyed the cameras.”
While we’re waiting, Cara and Michelle arrive for work. They both look shellshocked at the sight of the firetrucks and police cruisers.
The crowd of pedestrians has grown outside the diner, all of them staring through the front windows.
“If the fire hadn’t been contained so quickly,” I say, “it would have spread to the kitchen, and we’d be out of commission for a good long while.” I shudder at the thought. “I can’t imagine who would do a thing like this.”
“Can’t you?” Ruth asks, giving me a telling look.
“What are you—who—?”
“Who do you think?” Maggie asks.
My face grows cold. “Do you mean David?”
“Who else?” Ruth asks. “He’s done nothing but cause you trouble since he returned.”
At that moment, Chris and Jack return.
Chris walks up behind me, lays his good hand on my left shoulder, and leans down to kiss the top of my head. “You doing okay?”
I nod. “As good as can be expected.”
And then it dawns on me—he kissed me in front of our friends, who are all staring at me like I just grew a second head. Granted, it was just a friendly kiss on my head, but still. He’s never done that before.
“Jack and I are going to look around out back and see if we can find any evidence,” Chris says. “We’ll also check the Tavern’s rear cameras. Hopefully they’re still intact and caught something.” He squeezes my shoulder once more. “I won’t be gone long.”
Once Chris and Jack are out of sight, Maggie and Ruth both turn curious eyes on me.
“What did I just see?” Ruth asks.
Maggie grins at me. “Is there something you should be telling us?”
Now my face is overheating. “It’s complicated.”
They both start laughing.
“Of course it is,” Ruth says. “Isn’t it always? Now, please enlighten us.”
I’m not ready to tell them Chris confessed his feelings for me when he was under the influence of a sedative. “We’ve been talking.”
Ruth raises an eyebrow. “Talking? And?”
“Well,” I begin, unsure how much to share this soon. Chris and I have hardly had a chance to discuss it. “It’s complicated.”
Before anyone can say another word, Chris and Jack return. Maggie, Ruth, and I all stand for the update.
“The building is safe now,” Jack says. “The fire is out. Jennie, your office is off limits until the fire inspector can investigate. But the room is pretty much destroyed. The wood floors around the desk are badly singed and will need to be repaired. Your desk, chair, and computer are ruined. And there’s smoke damage in the kitchen and dining room. ”
“Don’t worry,” Chris says. “Your insurance should cover everything. Once the fire inspector gets here and makes his report, we can start on repairs.”
“Did anyone say how long the diner will be closed?” I ask as this is starting to sink in.
“I’m guessing a few days at least,” Chris says. “You won’t be able to reopen until the health department gives you the okay.” He pulls me close, wrapping his good arm around me. “It’s going to be okay. No one was hurt. That’s what’s important. The rest can be fixed.”
* * *
Officer Stephens offers Chris a ride to the station so he can requisition a temporary replacement vehicle until there’s a determination on his SUV as to whether it’s repairable or not.
“We’ll give you a ride home,” Chris says. “There’s nothing you can do here right now. Besides, it’s not safe. No civilians are allowed in the diner until further notice.”
“Ruth thinks David might have done it,” I whisper to Chris.
Chris nods. “Believe me, he’s my number one suspect. I’m going to pay him a visit this morning to see if he has an alibi.” Then he surprises me when he reaches for my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze.
As I nod, I get a whiff of his scent—a combination of clean laundry, soap, and something distinctly male. Something that makes my insides quiver in anticipation.
And then, to everyone’s surprise—including mine—he kisses my cheek.
Our avid audience—Ruth, Jack, Maggie, and the servers—are watching our interaction.
Chris’s deputy gives me a ride home. When we pull into my driveway, I thank him for the ride and tell Chris I’ll see him later.
Chris gets out of the vehicle to walk me to my door. He leans close and whispers in my ear. “We need to continue our discussion from earlier.” Then he slips his good arm around my waist and kisses me. “Go inside, and lock the doors. I’ll come back after I question Braggart.”
It’s not until Chris and his deputy drive away that I realize he forgot to put on his sling.