“Yes.”
Shifting closer, he respectfully says, “Again, I want to convey how sorry I am that this happened. Hopefully, you won’t have to wait long to get the official report to send to your insurance. But I’d advise you to go ahead and contact them.”
Right. Homeowner’s insurance. Money Natalie needs. At least that’s something.
“Do you know if your policy covers temporary accommodations like staying at a hotel?” he asks.
I don’t know. I’ll have to ask Natalie. But asking Natalie means calling her and ruining her trip.
I shake my head.
“Do you have someplace you can go? Somewhere to stay?”
“Yes,” Mason tells him without elaborating.
“I also wanted to inform you that we’ll be handing this over to the fire investigators.”
Unwrapping the blanket from around my chest and shoulders, I stand up and grip Mason’s hand. “I don’t understand.”
His short mustache twitches when he folds his lips. “Upon preliminary inspection, we found an accelerant trail that starts in the back west-corner bedroom. The fire appears to have been set deliberately.”
West corner bedroom. Natalie’s bedroom.
Deliberate.
Arson.
No. She wouldn’t have.
Unfortunately, deep down, I already know the answer.
Chapter 51
Mike rushes down the front portico steps to the Jeep as soon as I park it and get out.
“Why the fuck didn’t you answer your goddamn phone!”
Not the best way to be greeted as soon as you come home. I’m tired and hungry and just want to crawl into bed with Douglass and sleep for the next twelve hours. At least I know Danni is safe and being taken care of. After AA, I took her to her sister’s so she wouldn’t be alone tonight.
I massage my temples, hoping to stave off the worst of the headache that suddenly came on. “My head is pounding and I’m fuck-tired. Any yelling will have to wait until morning. I’m only an hour later than I said I’d be.”
He yanks the car keys out of my hand and pushes me out of the way to get behind the wheel. “We’ve got to go. Plant your ass and buckle up. And turn on your fucking phone.”
Trying to retrieve my phone from my side pocket, I stumble out of the way when he slams the driver’s door shut and turns the ignition.
“Get in!” he yells at me through the window glass.
I knock on the glass and point to the house. “Let me tell Douglass first.”
“I’m taking you to her.” He honks the horn a few times to get me moving.
What the hell is going on? She’s not here?
I haven’t checked my phone since I left the house. Douglass was here with Mason, Mike, and Harper. I’d asked Mike to stick around, so I didn’t have to worry about her while I was handling the Danni situation.
Whipping my phone out, I hit the power button. Nothing happens. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
As soon as I’m seated, Mike steps on the gas, and I plug my phone into the cord I keep on hand in the center console. Most of the private drive that leads to the house isn’t lit, so as soon as my phone turns on, the screen lights up the interior. It’ll take a few minutes to charge to five percent before it will let me unlock the screen.
