Wes nodded.He wasn’t mad the arsonist hadn’t gotten more daring with the fires, in fact he’d half hoped they’d stopped when there hadn’t been any incidents all week.
“Unless…” the chief said.
“Unless what?”
“Well what if this was just the distraction?”
“I don’t like where you’re going with this.”
But then both their phones started to light up and Wes’s radio sounded with the emergency tone.
“There’s been an explosion out at the marina, and there’s a boat engulfed in flames just inside the port.Correction make that two boats,” the operator said from the radio.
“Damn it,” Wes said.“Can you send the other truck?”he said pointing to the two shiny red fire trucks parked at the sign.
“We’ll have to, but they definitely planned on this delay, causing more damage,” the chief hollered over his shoulder as he signaled for the second crew to go.The men from Engine 2 already had their gear on and jumped back on the truck, then the driver hit the gas and the large truck sprayed dirt up as the sirens wailed.Wes hopped into his truck to follow.There was no way this was a coincidence.Two fires the same night he’d be formally announcing his bid for sheriff against Sam Shepherd.Sam might be the son of a wealthy, prominent businessman, but he’d never held a real job.And if Wes had to guess Sam was the one behind these fires.Wes just needed the proof.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Shelby
All of the Lights
By seven Shelbyhadn’t heard from Wes and started to wonder if he’d planned to stand her up while he made his appearance at the town meeting to announce his bid for sheriff.She had given him several chances to tell her, while they’d played phone tag until today.But he still hadn’t mentioned anything about his plans to run for sheriff.She had to assume he was hoping to hide it from her a little longer.She’d stayed busy helping Miranda each morning with the horses, and writing every day.Every time she sat down at the desk in Pops’s library the words flowed from her.It was like she’d turned on a tap to her creativity.And there was no way she was going to be able to deny this was where she wanted to be.Even if Wesley didn’t want her enough to be honest with her about his plans.Like Miranda said, she had every right to stay in this town if she wanted to and it didn’t matter what anyone else wanted.It was still an odd friendship, but she was happy to find someone in town who liked her just the way she was.
Grabbing her bag, she took one more look at herself: fitted jeans, the boots Wes had gifted her, and the winter coat over a soft white sweater with a high neck.She did a light smoky eye and reapplied her favorite berry lipstick.She was going to town for dinner, and then she planned to watch Wes and her brother announce their bids for sheriff.Driving down Main Street it was clear the town folks were showing up in full force for the big town hall meeting, but then she spotted a plume of smoke down by the marina.A dozen blue and red lights, and two fire trucks spraying water into the harbor on what looked like a boat fire.
She parked as close as she could get and then pulled out her phone to see if there was anything on the local news about what was going on.
Five Alarm Fire in Sandy Point Marina
The Shepherd Marina and Signature Sail Boat just went up in Flames.
Can Sheriff Hart keep Sandy Point safe for you?
Each story seemed more geared toward showing how Wes was losing his ability to protect the citizens of Sandy Point.Walking the two blocks to the sheriff’s department she realized she probably wouldn’t get to ask Wes anything because it was packed.But she overheard the desk Sergeant tell folks Sheriff Hart was busy with the fire in the marina and wouldn’t be able to answer any of their questions.The town hall meeting was still set for eight p.m., and in less than an hour Wes was supposed to give his speech and there was no way she was going to miss that.After exiting the sheriff’s department she walked over to May’s coffee shop.It usually closed by five, but she wasn’t surprised to find it packed.She was probably staying open late due to all the extra activity in town.
“Coconut matcha?”May asked as she walked through the crowd collecting a few dirty mugs from tables.
“Uh ya, if you have the time.What’s going on?”
“Well I planned to stay open as sort of a staging ground for all of Sheriff Hart’s supporters, but then the fire happened at the marina and folks seem to just be hanging out until the town hall meeting.”
“I see.Any chance you have any food left?”Shelby asked just as a young couple got up from a table next to her.
“I’ll see what I’ve got.Take a seat if you can find one.Hey, are you back for good?”
Shelby just smiled, unsure what to say.Was she?Had she just decided today that she wanted to be back in Sandy Point full-time?”
She found a single seat along the shopfront windows, and a few moments later Miles walked by with several other men and they took up position at a table in the corner.They looked stressed out and she couldn’t help but overhear some of their conversation.
“If the town thinks Wes can’t control this arsonist, then they might be swayed to vote for Shepherd.”
Miles ran his hand through his hair.“I’ll be forced to run against Wes if people have lost confidence in him.We can’t risk Shepherd winning.He’ll run this town into the ground.”
May was back with a hot matcha and croissant with cheese.“Sorry, this was the best I could do.”
“It’s perfect.Are you expecting Wes here before the town hall?”
