"When did you get so brave?"
"When I almost lost you." Lena said it simply, no drama or weight in her words, just truth. "I'm not wasting any more time being afraid of what people think."
Erin squeezed her hand. "So after tomorrow, we go public."
"After tomorrow, we go public." Lena squeezed back. "And then maybe we take a weekend off. Go somewhere that isn't a crime scene or a fire site. Sleep late. Eat food we didn't cook in borrowed kitchens."
"That sounds perfect."
They finished dinner talking about small things: where they might go for that weekend, whether Erin's lease was up soon, if Lena's ribs would be healed enough for a hike in a few weeks. Normal conversations about a future they were both confident they'd have.
Later, after dishes were washed and the apartment was dark except for the city lights filtering through the windows, they got ready for bed with the easy routine of people who'd done this before. Erin set her alarm for four-thirty, and Lena laid out tomorrow's clothes where she could find them without thinking.
In bed, Lena pulled Erin close, and Erin fit against her like she belonged there, her head on Lena's shoulder and one arm draped across her waist.
"You know what's strange?" Erin said into the darkness.
"What?"
"I'm not scared. About tomorrow, I mean. I know I should be—we're going after someone who's killed two people and set six fires—but I'm not scared."
"Neither am I." Lena's fingers traced idle patterns on Erin's shoulder. "Maybe that's what partnership means. Facing dangerous things and not being scared because you're not facing them alone."
"Maybe." Erin was quiet for a moment. "Or maybe we're both just too stubborn to be scared."
Lena laughed softly. "That too."
They fell into comfortable silence, their breath syncing and the weight of tomorrow present but not overwhelming. Erin felt Lena's breathing deepen, evening out into sleep. She closed her own eyes, letting exhaustion pull her under.
Tomorrow would come soon enough, and Erin knew they were ready.
13
Lena sat across from Erin at the long table in Phoenix Ridge Police Department’s conference room at five-thirty in the morning, steam rising from her coffee mug. The bitter liquid burned her throat, but she needed the caffeine.
They'd driven here together from Erin's apartment, the radio filling comfortable silence as Phoenix Ridge stirred to life. Lena had watched Erin pack her fire investigation gear, each piece of equipment efficiently checked and secured. The methodical preparation had steadied something in Lena's chest. Erin moved like someone who knew exactly what she was doing.
"Good news. The warrant came through at three forty-seven a.m.," Julia announced, settling into her chair, alert despite the early hour. "Judge Meltzer was thorough. We have authorization for full search and seizure at Richard Ashford's residence and home office."
Chief McKenna Adams entered with Captain Hallie Hunter, both carrying folders thick with operational details. McKenna spread architectural plans across the table while Hallie distributed copies of the tactical approach.
"Here’s the property overview," McKenna said, pointing to the blueprints. "Ashford's residence sits on two acres in the foothills. Main house is here, and the detached office building is about fifty yards south. That's where we expect he's been planning these attacks."
Lena absorbed the layout, her mind automatically cataloging complications. Isolated property. Scrub oak and pine trees providing cover. Single access road—limited escape routes, but also limited approach options.
"What are the fire department concerns?" Julia asked, turning to Erin.
Erin straightened, her finger following the office building's floor plan. "If he's been storing accelerants there, we need hazmat protocols. I'll assess the structure before anyone enters. Chemical storage, ventilation systems, and any signs of accelerant preparation all require evaluation."
"Timeline on that assessment?" Julia's pen scratched across her notepad.
"Fifteen minutes exterior, another ten interior if the building's clear." Erin's voice carried the authority Lena had learned to recognize. "If I find evidence of large-quantity accelerant storage, we adjust our approach."
Hallie nodded. "Fire crews will be standing by with hazmat equipment regardless. Better prepared than sorry."
Watching Erin command the room's attention sent warmth through Lena's chest. This was expertise she'd learned to trust—not just Erin's technical knowledge, but her ability to assess risks and make decisions under pressure. The woman across from her bore little resemblance to the person she'd clashed with in those first heated briefings.
"Let’s go over the arrest protocol," Julia continued, pulling out Ashford's file. "Detective Soto leads the apprehension. We'retreating this as high-risk given his demonstrated willingness to use fire as a weapon."
