Chapter One #4
The structural concern turned out to be precautionary—a cracked ceiling panel. He coordinated with fire personnel. Directed officers to begin witness interviews. Confirmed medical transport. Cataloged evidence markers.
Ten minutes. Maybe fifteen.
Then he came back to where he’d left her.
Of course she was gone. He searched for her briefly but didn’t spot her with any of the EMTs.
Around him, officers photographed evidence. Paramedics loaded the last of the injured into ambulances. Firefighters checked for hot spots. The Christmas tree was scorched, the ice rink shattered, the food court area blackened.
Bennett found him then. “We’ll need a full investigation. That propane tank should have been inspected and secured according to code. Someone signed off on that barbecue truck setup. Someone approved that vendor. We need to know who and what protocols were followed—or ignored.”
Right.
Which meant he needed to talk to Rosie.
Hale pulled out his phone.
“I need everything we have on Starr Events,” he said when his department liaison answered. “Owner information, business license, insurance, past events, safety records. Everything. And I need the home address for Rosie Starr.”
Probably not, actually, but maybe she’d moved? Created a life for herself. One did that sort of thing after thirteen years.
Other people, not him.
But Rosie—yeah, she was sunshine and life and…she probably had a family now, kids.
Someone who she could go home to and who might stand beside her when people like, well, him, came knocking at her door. Demanding answers.
So yeah, this would be fun.
Happy New Year to him.