"Yesterday at 2:47 PM, Harrison purchased four gallons of accelerant from Morton's Grocery using his credit card. Security footage shows him loading it into his car. Receipt matches the chemical analysis from the fire scene." Miller flipped a page. "At approximately 8:15 PM, cameras caught him approaching the bakery's back entrance. He disabled the security system—knowledge he had from when his family's business did maintenance work on the building years ago."
Hannah's breath caught. She remembered that—Michael's father installing the original system when she was still in high school.
"The fire was strategically set," Miller continued. "Multiple origin points, all near structural supports. He knew what he was doing. Wanted maximum damage, fast spread." His eyes met Hannah's. "The bolt on the back door was installed within the last week. Pre-planned."
"The flowers," Hannah whispered. "The dead bouquet he left..."
"Practice run," Miller confirmed. "Testing response times, seeing if anyone was watching the bakery after hours." His gaze shifted to Jake. "Which someone was."
Jake didn't flinch. "Not close enough."
"You documented seventeen separate incidents of stalking behavior. Plus the threatening notes, the graffiti, the property damage." Miller's voice softened slightly. "That documentation is what let us get a warrant so quickly. Between that and Peterson's fire investigation expertise marking this as arson..." He trailed off meaningfully.
"What's the charge?" Jake asked, his voice hard.
"Attempted murder one. Arson. Criminal stalking. Half dozen other felonies." Miller stood. "He's looking at twenty to life, minimum. DA's pushing for the maximum given the premeditation."
Hannah's fingers trembled in Jake's grip. "He really meant to..."
"Kill you? Yes." Miller's bluntness was almost gentle. "The level of planning, the timing, blocking the exits—he wanted to make sure you couldn't get out. If Cooper hadn't been watching..." He shook his head. "Well. He was. And Harrison's going away for a very long time."
"The pharmacy," Hannah started. "His mother's medication?—"
"Not your problem," Miller cut in. "Town's already setting up a fund for Mrs. Harrison's medical care. And your father's victims will get their day in court. But what Michael did?" He gestured to Hannah's hospital bed. "That's not justice. That's attempted murder. And he's going to pay for it."
He headed for the door, then paused. "Cooper's incident reports also show someone watching Harrison. Every night for the past month. Parked across the street. Documenting everything." His lips twitched. "Good thing we had an experienced investigator on scene when it all went down."
Then he was gone, leaving Hannah and Jake alone with the weight of everything he'd revealed.
CHAPTER 33
Hannah
Hannah staredat their joined hands, processing everything. "You slept in your truck?" The memory hit her suddenly. "All those nights, parked across the street. You were protecting me."
"I couldn't leave you alone." The words were rough with emotion. "Not with him watching. Not with you hurting."
Hannah's eyes burned. "Even though I pushed you away?"
Jake lifted their joined hands, pressing his lips to her knuckles. "That's what love is, Hannah. It's choosing someone even when they don't choose you back."
The truth of it settled in her chest like warmth. Like certainty. Like coming home.
Because Jake hadn't just saved her from the fire.
He'd been saving her all along.
Even when she hadn't wanted to be saved.
Even when she'd been too hurt to see it.
"I was so afraid to trust again," she whispered. "After my father. After you. The whole town hating me. I thought if I kept my walls up, nothing could hurt me."
"And now?"
Hannah met his eyes. "Now I think some things are worth the risk of being hurt."
Jake's breath caught. Hope and fear and desperate love warred in his expression. "Hannah?—"
