13. Mali
“Thank you for joining me today, Miss Flowers.” Steven, the insurance correspondent, greeted me when I walked into his office.
“Thank you for finally getting back to me,” I replied.
It had taken longer than I imagined for the investigation to end. I appreciated the time and effort everyone took into making sure the investigators gathered the right information, but I was ready to close this chapter of my life and move on.
I sat across from Steven as he pulled up my file on his computer.
“We’ve spent the last eight weeks going over the data collected from the investigation.
We spent many hours going through footage from your neighbors’ security systems, your saved security videos, and testimonies from the firefighters the night of the incident.
We have confirmed a gas accelerant started the fire. ”
“Someone set my home on fire on purpose.” The statement made my ears ring.
“Yes, ma’am. Not only were your fire alarms disabled, but someone also tampered with your water system as well.”
“W-wow.”
My heart pounded in my chest. I could barely hear Steven as he explained all the findings from the investigation.
“I know this is a lot to process, but we also have video footage of the suspect in various security videos, fleeing the scene. I’m going to play a zoomed in compilation of all the clips we could find of the suspect if you’re up for it.”
“I can do it.”
He turned the screen for me to see, put the video on full screen, and pressed play. The grainy quality of the first video made me squint my eyes, but by the third clip, the suspect became clearer, especially since I could see the eyesore of the truck as clear as day.
My blood boiled. My stomach flipped. My heart pounded.
Juda.
Every clip showed him plotting, planning, and scheming.
He tried to kill me.
Joylei was right.
It was Juda who sent the text. It was Juda who set the fire. It was Juda who tried to cry his way back into my life like he wasn’t a fucking idiot.
“Miss Flowers?” Steven’s voice brought me out of my thoughts.
“Hmm?”
He held out a few sheets of facial tissue. I didn’t know I was crying until I dabbed the soft cotton paper against my cheeks.
“Thank you,” I croaked out.
“I’m so sorry you had to watch this. Do you know the man in the video?”
I nodded.
“Could you provide his name?”
“Juda Rainey.”
“What is his relation to you?”
“Ex-boyfriend.”
Steven nodded. He turned his computer screen back toward himself. He clicked and clacked away at his computer.
“I will submit the new information to the police officers who assisted us with the investigation. Would you like to press charges?”
“Yes.”
My whole body shook with the combination of emotions. I couldn’t even focus on the things Steven said. My mind kept going over the last decade of my life. How had I not seen the signs? How had I been so naive to let this go on for so long?
I should have known when he didn’t want to do things with my family.
I should have known when he didn’t help with bills while being at home all fucking day.
I should have known when every moment we spent together ended in an argument.
He cheated.
He lied.
He tried to fucking kill me.
“Miss Flowers?”
“Hmm.”
“I’ve submitted your request to press charges. An officer will contact you in the following days. We also have a final estimate of the money you’re owed by the insurance. We can negotiate if you feel the number doesn’t satisfy your losses, but that process may take even longer.”
I nodded.
He slid a piece of paper over to me. On the high end of five figures. It was less than I wanted, but I had more than enough money saved in my accounts to get the home I wanted. This would help furnish and replace what I lost, though.
“This is fine.”
“Perfect. I’ll approve the request. Please fill out the reimbursement form where you’ll select your method of payment and things like that.”
Everything moved in a blur as I signed papers and listened to Steven talk. I moved on autopilot all the way back to the parking garage, where I finally let the tears fall.
With blurry vision and an aching heart, I contemplated who to call.
On one hand, Joylei deserved to know she was right about her assumption that Juda was involved.
I wanted to let her know she had him all figured out, while I was delusional.
But I knew my best friend, and I honestly didn’t have the capacity for her energy right now.
I needed my person.
I needed my safe space.
Without a second thought, I called Flame. He answered on the second ring.
“Hey, my love.”
“Hi.” My voice sounded foreign to me, so it did not surprise me at his next statement.
“What’s wrong? The insurance folks were on bullshit?”
I sniffled. “I watched footage from so many angles. It was clear as day who set the fire, and I . . . I feel so stupid, Flame.”
Once again, my voice cracked as the sobs came deep from my belly. I was sick of letting Juda influence my emotions like this. I was sick of being the damsel in distress. I was sick of being inconsolable about the things happening in my life.
“Baby.” Flame’s soothing voice pierced through the sobs.
“I could have died, Flame. I could have lost my life and-and—” The sobs returned.
“Do you need me to come get you?” Flame inquired.
I nodded, then remembered he couldn’t see me. “Y-yes, please.”
“I’m on my way. I’ll catch a ride from one of the guys at the station so your car isn’t stuck there.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Do you want to stay on the phone?” he asked. I could hear shuffling on his end.
“Yes, please.”
“Cool. I got you.” He spoke with his captain first, then Connor. I listened to his movements through the phone, picturing what it looked like on his end.
As I listened to the custom white noise, I put the call on the car’s Bluetooth and opened my thread with Joylei. The last conversation we had was about the new episode of our favorite show. We got deep into the fictional worlds on the television screen.
My thumb hovered over my keyboard for what felt like an eternity, trying to figure out what to say and how to say it.
ME:
You were right, bestie ;/
LEI:
Of course I was. ;) But about what?
ME:
I went to the insurance company today. The investigation is over.
LEI:
So, what did they say? You getting paid big money?
ME:
Juda set the fire and tampered with the water system. He tried to kill me. I snapped at you and you were right the whole time.
My eyes burned with tears. I sniffled and wiped at my cheeks as I watched the response pop up on my phone.
LEI:
Aww pooh. I’m so sorry to hear that. I hate I was right in this situation, but at least you’re going to get the justice you deserve. They really should put that bum ass nigga under the prison.
ME:
I hope he rots in a cell for the rest of his life. He’s such a vile and disgusting human being. He’s going to get what’s coming to him.
LEI:
Period. How are you though? I know this is a lot. Do you need me to leave work? I’ll pull up on you with wings and daiquiris.
ME:
I love you so much, boo. Flame is actually headed this way to drive me home. I’m still visibly shaking. Like that revelation rocked my fucking world, even though I should have seen it coming. I feel so stupid.
LEI:
Girl, you are not stupid. You are a kind soul with a heart of gold. You gave him the benefit of the doubt and that’s okay. It’s not on you at all.
ME:
I hear you, but I feel still foolish.
LEI:
You’re not the first woman to get played by a man and you won’t be the last. Niggas are great actors and won’t show their true colors until they have to—hell even then they still might lie until they take their last breath.
ME:
I hate it here for real. Glad I found a man I know isn’t like Juda at all.
LEI:
Yeah, you need to let me cordially meet this Flame guy. I have got to make sure he passes all my tests.
ME:
Soon. Very soon. I really think he’s the one for me.
LEI:
IKTR bestie boo
“We’re pulling into the parking garage now, my love.” Flame’s voice took my attention away from Joylei.
“Okay. I’m on the third level near the elevators.”
“Perfect.”
We disconnected the call. I typed a quick text to Joylei as I got out of the driver’s seat. I adjusted the seat for Flame. He was a lot taller than me, so I wanted to make sure he didn’t have to do too much to get comfortable in my seat.
“Hey, you.”
I stood up straight and turned to see my man. I waved to Connor as he drove off. Flame wore his CCFD uniform shirt with a pair of gray slacks. He had a single gold chain around his neck and his station boots. He looked good as fuck.
“Hey.”
We closed the distance between us. His arms opened and pulled me into a much-needed hug. I melted into his embrace. He rubbed my back and laid his head on top of mine.
“Thank you for coming to get me. I’m still visibly shaken up about this.”
“You don’t have to tell me anything you’re not ready to talk about. Let me get you home and settled in, baby.”
I gazed up into his fierce brown eyes and smiled. “How did I get so lucky?”
He pecked my lips. “The fates wrote our love in the stars well before we ever met. I know God made you just for me, and I’m going to make sure I spend the rest of my life showing up for you in every capacity you need me to.”
After one more long, lingering kiss, he walked me over to the passenger side of my car and opened the door for me. Once I was in, he got in the driver’s seat and still had to adjust the seat and mirrors.
“I tried to get it right, but I think I’ll just save these settings so when you get in the car, it automatically adjusts.”
He grinned. “You’re so cute.”
I sat back in the seat and watched Flame drive out of the parking garage. He looked so good while he drove. His muscles moved, and his side profile was so attractive. We rode in silence for a long time.
My mind debated whether to tell Flame the full extent of what happened. I didn’t want to keep him in the dark, and if I had to appear in court eventually, he would find out—but fear consumed me.
It scared me to think Flame would hurt Juda.
It scared me to think Juda could hurt Flame. Juda tried to kill me. If he even thought about trying to hurt Flame . . .
“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” Flame met my gaze briefly.
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
He glanced at me. “What are you talking about?”
“Juda . . . He’s the one who set the house on fire. He tried to kill me . . .”
The frog climbed up my throat, forcing me to swallow hard. I didn’t want to cry, at least not right now. I had to push through to get this out.
“He almost killed me . . . I don’t want him to hurt you, either. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if someone from my past hurt the man I want to build a future with.”
“Your ex set the fire?” Flame clarified.
I nodded. “Yes, he did. I pressed charges with the company, and they said an officer would contact me soon to complete the report.”
He nodded. His demeanor remained calm. He glanced at me and offered a reassuring smile as he said, “Yeah, Cade’s Cove Police Department doesn’t play. I’ve got a couple of friends on the force. I’ll check on that report when I get back to the station. You have my word he won’t get away with this.”
I reached over and held his arm. “You’re the best.”
A weight lifted off my shoulders. I could breathe better. To know Flame would handle things the right way eased a lot of my worries.
My man is a good man. A real good man.