Chapter 17
Grace
“We still don’t have anything concrete, Grace. There was no DNA other than your parents’ and of course the fire burned too hot to get any fingerprints.”
I’d never been so frustrated in my life.
Chief Taylor had been exceptionally kind over the last few weeks, initially trying to keep me informed about the ongoing investigation.
Suddenly, all communication had stopped.
Kaput. Given his attitude, I had a feeling he didn’t want to tell me the investigation wasn’t a top priority.
Maybe I should be grateful he’d returned my call.
This time.
“You haven’t spent much time at the barn. Didn’t you tell me there was a crude bomb?”
“Grace, the entire forensics crew was there for almost twelve hours, the fire marshal hours after that. Now that weeks have passed, any evidence we didn’t find would likely be tainted.
Yes, the bomb itself was crude in components, but I assure you manufactured in such a way as to cause maximum damage.
You don’t need to continue worrying about this. ”
“No offense, Chief, but my family was murdered. Not yours.” I was angrier with him than I’d been before, frustrated at the lack of movement.
“I understand, Grace. I really do. Look, why don’t you go ahead and tear down the barn? You’re free to do that now. I know some people who will give you a good price.”
Why? Because it was just something else to finalize their deaths. Oh, I hated this.
“What about the sporting goods store fire? Any connection?” What if they hadn’t done enough? “Maybe the arsonist purchased his bomb making materials there and was caught.”
I’d be damned if the man didn’t laugh as if I was just a woman and didn’t know what I was talking about. I’d experienced the bullshit before, partially because I wasn’t always an in-your-face kind of girl whether by height or attitude. But I was learning how to be and it was frustrating as hell.
“Grace, just leave the worry about the many fires to those trained to handle them.”
There it was. The condescending bullshit tossed out like a tiny cookie crumb that I’d scramble to snatch up.
A starved little mouse. That made me angry, furious.
I didn’t care about his position or that he was my on-again, off-again best friend’s dad.
“Listen here, Chief Taylor. I understand you have a job to do and I appreciate you acting as if you care about what happened to my parents, but there’s something about that fire that indicated more than just a random crime.
It was a well-orchestrated plan that wasn’t tossed together overnight.
Have you given any credence to the thought my parents knew the arsonist?
With no forced entry anywhere, they obviously weren’t too concerned when he or she showed up. ”
His sigh pleased me. He was irritated. I was glad.
Ellie May suddenly jumped off the couch, woofing as she did. Which meant I had company inside the house. He was earlier than usual. Maybe because it was a Thursday. A little tingle drifted down my spine. In the last few days, everything seemed… normal.
Normal in the sense that the time spent with Viper had been as if we were a couple. The passion had exploded, but he’d gone to work, excited about the training he was doing with the Zullies, even allowing me to hear stories about his day.
With the July Fourth celebrations this weekend, I only had one Friday client to see. I was feeling a little jolly about sharing a holiday with the man, which was completely ridiculous. For all I knew, he had to work.
He’d grilled outside both nights, enjoying the chore, even moving his hulking mass of a body in time to some rock music.
We’d gone on a walk to the river, this time not near the shell of a barn but just as beautiful.
And he’d still found time to do several repairs. My heart was full.
Which was dangerous because I didn’t want to forget what had preoccupied my mind since returning home.
For a good reason.
“Grace, I understand you’re missing your parents and it seems as of the wheels of justice aren’t working as fast as you would like. But we do know what we’re doing and are exploring all avenues.”
“Including the fire at the store?” I’d caught a glimpse of another fire on the news, although the fire department had put it out quickly. That had prompted me to put in the call.
I turned toward the kitchen, half expecting to see Viper standing there watching me, but he wasn’t. Yet the front door was open with only the screen door in place and there was no sign of my fur baby.
“Including the fire at the store. Stop worrying. We will find the guy.”
Yeah, maybe in the next century or not before more dead bodies showed up. “Fine. Thank you.”
“Grace, before you go. Darlene told me you’re… angry about what happened at the park the other night.”
Now I bristled. “You could say that.”
“Perhaps I should tell you what I know.”
“You know what, Chief Taylor? I know all I need to know about Viper Locke, including he is a hardworking, decent man who is trying to live his life. And he’s making mine that much happier by being in it.
So while I appreciate your concern, I’ve got it covered.
And I would very much hope that you would stop hounding him.
Because if you don’t, you’ll have me to deal with. Thank you for your time.”
I was on a roll, so angry with everything and everyone that I was willing to shut them out of my life.
Maybe I’d needed to do so before. I held the phone to my head, squeezing the plastic.
Maybe I was hoping I could break the damn thing.
Oh, I was furious, even stomping my foot. Men were pains in the ass.
“You’re early,” I said without turning around.
“I can fight my own battles, Grace.”
As usual, Viper’s voice held a tinge of anger, but not nearly what it had days before. Still, I felt like a shit. “I know you can. Believe me, I know. You’re one of the strongest, most talented men I’ve ever met. More so than the damn chief of police. I can tell you that.”
I found the courage to turn around and face him. As always, he was way too handsome. He was still in his training uniform, and I could tell he’d had a rough day by the dirt and soot on his face. Which was sexy along with the typical smirk he should trademark.
He had a box in his hand, which made me cringe. “I’m sorry about the box. I was looking for something in your room and I wasn’t snooping. I promise.”
With a look of consternation on his face, he pulled out the dirty ballcap that had been my father’s before the knit cap he always wore when it snowed, the strings of yarn indicating it had seen better days. “Are you really keeping these?”
Moving closer, I snatched the box from his hands. “I don’t know yet.”
“Grace, you have boxes everywhere. Until you decide what to do with everything, you’re never going to be able to make this place your home.”
“Said from a man with no home.” Groaning, I glared into the box. He was right. Keeping the twenty-year-old hats was silly. “I’m sorry and before you say anything, you have a home here. I’m just… on edge.”
“Let me guess. The chief thinks I’m a bad influence.”
“You are.” I caught him off guard with the admittance, although my thoughts were entirely different than anything the chief had on his mind.
I was rewarded with a split second of a smile. “Glad you understand that I am.”
Since the night we’d shared our fears and tragedies, there hadn’t been another awkward moment.
Of course until now.
“What did he say about the fire?”
My laugh was as bitter as I felt. “Nothing new. No new connections because there were no fingerprints, which pisses me off since someone was in the clinic with my father. I can feel it. There’s also no connection to the fire at the sporting goods store, yet the fire burned hot in the same way.
Not that the fire marshal has come out and provided a full statement on what happened, but three people lost their lives. How many more will die?”
“From what I heard, the fire marshal is good at her job.”
“Yeah, so I heard as well. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll do a little sleuthing of my own.” I was shocked at his reaction, the angry vehemence catching me off guard.
“No, you will not! I forbid it!”
His chest was puffed out, his entire brow furrowed and the cords on the sides of his neck at full attention and throbbing.
“The last time I checked, you aren’t the boss of me.” While I was mostly kidding, sparring like breathing to us, he didn’t seem to take it that way, his eyes narrowing as he took two long strides toward me.
“Listen to me. The person responsible is dangerous. Don’t you get that? You could get hurt or worse. I don’t want to see you like…”
He sucked in his breath before rubbing his jaw.
When I inched even closer, taking my time doing so, he closed his eyes. Just by placing my hand on his arm, tiny bolts of current flowed through my fingers. He felt the electricity as well but refused to acknowledge it.
“I’m not going to do anything stupid, Viper. Don’t worry. But I am a big girl and can ask a few questions. That’s all I’m talking about.”
“And I’m telling you that’s not a good idea.”
“Why? Do you know something I don’t know?” When he glanced away, albeit quickly, I could tell he knew much more than I did. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing important.”
“Then share.” Since he was the master of offering gruff faces to highlight his grumpy attitude, I gave one back.
His eyes were on fire. “The fire marshal warned my captain we could have a serial arsonist.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“And you’re going to promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”
“Who, me?” I pointed to my chest, trying to break the tension.
“Yeah, you. And I’m warning you.”
“You’re warning moi?”
Viper enjoyed using his finger, pointing it at me when maddeningly irritated about something I’d said or done. Which was frequent given I adored pushing his buttons. “I should say I’m making a promise to punish you.”
“Oh, I’m very afraid.”