Chapter 2 #2
Her sass has all my blood rushing south, and I don’t like it. Blake is the daughter of my best friend.
Well, my former best friend.
Landon died when Blake was young, when I was still just a deputy in the sheriff’s department.
Regardless of Landon being alive or not, I should not be reacting to Blake Jennings this way.
“Why didn’t you call 911 when you saw the fire?”
Blake shrugs a shoulder, turning to stare out the windshield. “It didn’t occur to me.”
My tone sharpens, and my volume rises a pitch. “It didn’t occur to you to call emergency services when you saw a man burning in the middle of a field that’s surrounded by trees? Dry trees. You could’ve been hurt, the fire could’ve gotten out of control.”
Blake’s face snaps back to me. “No. It didn’t occur to me.”
She’s lying.
“Why not?”
Blake squares her shoulders. “I don’t know.”
Heat creeps up the back of my neck. “That’s not an answer, Baby Girl.”
Did I just call her Baby Girl?
“I didn’t think it was necessary.” Blake’s breathing increases.
“That answer keeps you on the suspect list. Try again.” My hand on my truck tightens. I’m sure if it were possible, I’d leave behind a handprint on the metal.
“I didn’t want you to know that I’m here,” Blake shouts, and my chest tightens. She deflates and falls back into the seat. “Besides, it’s not like there was much anyone could do.”
Blake’s confession lands like a punch to my chest.
Ignoring the feeling, I focus on her second statement and tilt my head. “What do you mean?”
She stares down at her lap as she responds. “The fire started when I was driving by. I immediately turned onto the property and came over to help. He wasn’t moving when I got here. I think he was already dead.”
Whoever did this is a cold-hearted killer. That much I know. Even a normal person in their most irate state doesn’t set someone—dead or alive—on fire.
“Could you see who the person was? Did you see anyone fleeing when you drove up? A person on foot or a vehicle?”
Blake shakes her head. “No. The flames were too thick, and there wasn’t a soul in sight when I arrived.”
I don’t like seeing her like this.
Weary.
It makes me want to reach out, run my hands through her hair, and wrap her up in my arms. It makes me want to keep her safe in a way that’s more than just protecting my friend’s daughter like we did all those years before.
I want to hold her like she’s mine.
I can’t do that, let alone want that.
Placing my hand on her back, I urge her to lean forward to remove her cuffs, only to find that they’re already off.
Blake sits back up, grabbing my wrist and placing the metal bracelets in my hand. “Got tired of waiting.”
My mouth hangs open. “How—”
Blake pulls out a standard handcuff key from the back pocket of her jeans. “Always be prepared. That’s my motto.”
I pluck the key out of her hands. “No, that’s the Boy Scouts.”
Blake shrugs. “No bother. I have more of those anyway.” She drops her hands on her thighs—her thick, gorgeous thighs, and her optimism restores. “Can I have my car keys back so I can leave? I had a long night, and I’m starving.”
I know she didn’t do this. I’m confident in that, but I can’t seem to hand over the keys to her Jeep.
Shaking my head, I answer, “Sit tight. I’m going to need you to stick around for a bit in case I have more questions.”
Her perfect plump lip curls. “You, son of a—”
Stepping back, I swing the door shut and slide her keys into my pocket, cutting off her colorful epithet.
“Hey, Walk! I think we got something over here,” Tessa shouts, waving at me.
Heading for them, I realize that Ridge is on his hands and knees with Tessa standing on his back, bringing her face to face with the victim. I stop by Ridge’s head and cross my arms.
“Newbie’s gotta pay his dues,” Tessa says, answering my question before I can ask. With the victim’s mouth open, she peers inside and slides on a pair of gloves. “There’s something lodged in his throat.”
Ridge cranes his neck to get a peek up at Tessa. “Are you really going to put your hand in there?”
“How else are we supposed to find out what it is?” Tessa snarks back as she reaches in.
“The M.E.,” Ridge returns.
“That’ll take too long,” I respond for Tessa.
“Got it,” Tessa informs us, removing her hand from the crisp body. “It’s a piece of paper with part of a logo on it.”
I pull an evidence bag out of my pocket and open it. Tessa drops the paper in the clear plastic, and I seal it up. Narrowing my eyes, I take a closer look and recognize the image immediately.
“Make a call to—” I’m cut off by the sound of an engine turning over.
My head snaps up, and I spot Blake behind the wheel of her Jeep. Shoving the evidence bag toward Tessa, I search my coat for her keys but come up empty. I pump my arms and legs, running straight for her, even though I know I won’t get to the car in time.
Throwing her shifter into gear, Blake rolls down her window and blows me a kiss as she turns her car around. “It was nice seeing you, Walk!”
Wheels kick up snow in their wake as the car speeds toward the road, making a right to head into town.
You’re going to pay for that stunt, Baby Girl.