"I wanted to knock his false teeth down his throat, but Chief Reeves would've had my badge," Liam admitted.
"It would've been worth it," I affirmed.
"It absolutely would've been worth it. Are you alright?" Liam pressed a kiss to my forehead.
My humiliation dulled a bit, but the frustration remained. At least I wasn't facing this alone. "I will be. I just need a minute."
Liam nodded. "Take your time."
I leaned against him, drawing comfort from his body heat. My mama would've had a fit, knowing I cried over some white man's opinion, but had I missed something deeper?
Liam took my hand, leading me toward the couch. I kicked my heels off along the way before we settled onto the cushions. My body curved naturally against his side while his protective arm was around my shoulders. Liam's cologne wrapped around me like a security blanket.
"You know what my grandma would say about today?" I asked.
"What's that?"
"She'd say,'Baby girl, folks will throw dirt on you. Just don't let them bury you in it,'" I mimicked her deep Mississippi drawl, and it brought a smile to my lips.
Lin's chest rumbled with a chuckle. "Smart woman."
"She was. She would've loved this project and how I'm bringing a new life to this building with so much history. That's why Whitaker's accusations hit so hard. This isn't just another job for me."
"I know. That's why you're the right person. You care more about how it will represent the community than adding a new notch on your belt."
I nodded and laid my head on his shoulder, but the moment was shattered when Liam's radio beeped.
"Dispatch to all units, engine three responding to a small fire reported at the old hardware store on Main. Additional units requested for crowd control."
Liam and I looked at each other.
"That's three blocks from the community center," he said, rising from the couch, his body shifting from comforting boyfriend to focused firefighter in an instant.
"You don't think?—"
Liam cut me off. "Don't know yet if it's related." He moved to the entryway, grabbing his radio and keys.
I didn't believe in coincidences anymore, not after everything that happened.
I followed him to the door, hugging myself as a chill crossed my body. "Be careful."
Liam turned back. "I always am. Stay here, okay? Door locked, alarm set. I'll call as soon as I know anything." He pulled me in for a quick kiss, saying everything his words didn't.
I nodded, projecting confidence. "Go. I'll be fine."
He left as I stood alone in the entryway. It seemed this was only the beginning.
Outside,a crowd gathered, and news vans set up. Small town tragedy made good for local coverage. I approached the building and stepped over the debris into the rec hall's electrical room. The stench of an electrical fire and something else hit me. The other fire crew, Engine 3, did their job in containing the blaze.
I moved deeper into the dark space with Fire Marshal Winters behind me. The thing was too perfectly arranged, as if someone had set up their own textbook example of faulty wiring. I'd done this job too long to be fooled by amateur theatrics. Someone damn sure wanted us to think this was an accident.
"Engine 3, caught it early, but it could've been a lot worse," Winters noted, aiming his flashlight into the darkness.
I nodded but said nothing as I scanned the room. The fire had been contained to this section of the building.
"Do you see what I'm saying?" Winters asked, crouching near the charred panel box.
I kneeled beside him. "Someone wanted us to think a spark jumped, but they overdid it. Real electrical fires don't arrange themselves this neatly," I continued.
