“Why would someone do that?”
Adam opened his mouth to respond, but another male voice cut him off.
“Because the arsonist thinks you can ID him.”
We both glanced toward the open door where Dylan stood.
“What?” My mouth fell open. The arsonist ran us offthe road? I started to shake my head, but then thought better of that sudden movement. “But I can’t.”
“I’m aware.” Dylan sighed. “But he doesn’t know you didn’t get a good look.”
Adam sat back in his chair, folding his large forearms across his chest. “Have you figured out who it is?”
“No. We went to question the Taylor kid and his mom said he was away visiting friends.”
“And you believe her?”
“Nope. Too convenient. But she’s not giving us anything either, so right now he’s in the wind. And we’re still trying to track down the kid’s godfather to question him.”
When I first started at the station, Adam had filled me in about what they knew so far about the Taylors. The son was originally considered a suspect after a matchbook at one of the scenes had led the police to the family. Evidently, the father had been pulled from a fire seven years ago and died a year later. But they couldn’t determine a motive and hadn’t been able to prove the kid was involved in any of the recent arsons. It was later determined that the fire where they found the matches wasn’t the work of the arsonist either, sending everyone back to square one.
Their research on the family did result in turning up a godfather who was a retired firefighter. They started looking at him as a suspect in the arson cases because he had knowledge that would be useful to someone starting fires, but they still had no solid evidence to arrest either suspect.
Dylan’s expression hardened as he turned my way. “Which brings me to why I’m here. I don’t want you staying alone right now.”
“She’s staying with me.”
Adam spoke quickly, and forgetting about not making any sudden movements, I whipped my head toward him and winced. “I am?”
“Yes. Even without this new development, Doc says youshouldn’t be alone for at least the first week, if not longer, depending on how long your concussion lingers. Figured you’d prefer my place over staying with your parents.” He raised a brow, challenging me to disagree.
Which I couldn’t. He and I both knew my mom would smother me and drive me insane.
“Don’t you have a job?” Dylan narrowed his eyes at Adam. “Her parents might be a better idea.”
“I have so much time accrued, I can take at least the first week off. A few days each week after that if needed as well.” Adam turned and looked at me. “The girls and your parents offered to help on the days I have to work. Although your mom does want to try to convince you to stay with them.”
I looked around the room. Was anyone else here?
As if Adam could read my mind, he answered my internal question. “Izzy had to go pick up the girls from school and Nicole had to head back to work. Mia and your parents are downstairs grabbing food.”
“I can make sure patrol keeps an eye on your place on the days you have to work,” Dylan offered.
Did I get a say in any of this?
Like he was in my head again, Adam squeezed my hand and said, “But ultimately, it’s your call.”
I really didn’t want to stay with my parents. My mom worried about everything all the time and would make a fuss over me constantly. I didn’t want that. Mia worked weird hours as a dispatcher, so staying in our apartment probably wouldn’t work if I couldn’t be alone. Given the way my head felt, I was sure I had a pretty bad concussion. So, aside from the possible threat that might be lurking out there, I knew I shouldn’t be alone for the first week anyway. Adam knew what to watch out for and how to handle any issues that might arise.
I sighed. Adam was right in his assumptions. I’d prefer to stay with him over my parents. And honestly, I didn’t want to lead thearsonist to my parents’ farm either. It was secluded—just like some of the other farmhouses he had already set on fire.
Somehow, Adam’s apartment felt safer. And surely he wouldn’t hover and fuss over me like my mother would. He was just doing a favor for a friend.
Right?
Chapter Six
ADAM
