“Thank you for coming.All of us have busy lives, but I believe this is important.”She looked at Margaret, who was sitting at the front, her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee.“Margaret, we’re all really sorry about what happened to your store.I hope you know that.We’ll do what we can to help, including during the reconstruction.”
“I don’t know if I can do that,” Margaret murmured.“I feel like my dreams went up in flames with the store.”
Moira grimaced.“I know it feels like a lot right now, but we’ll support you, whatever decision you make.We’re here for you.”
“I feel like we should be talking about the fires,” a man called out from the back of the room.
Moira looked up and glared.Brad, the owner of the gas station, looked around, a clear challenge in his expression.Caleb was only here to take notes and listen, but normally, he would’ve said something because the guy had been rude.
But he wasn’t wrong.The crowd was here to talk about the fires and what they could do about them.They needed to protect themselves and each other, and it would be impossible to do that if they didn’t know what they were dealing with.
Moira sighed.“Wearehere to talk about the fires, including the fire that destroyed Margaret’s livelihood.”
“It wasn’t only me,” Margaret said.“There have been other fires.We need to do something.”
“Which is why we’re here.I think it’s obvious that someone’s targeting shifters,” Moira declared as she glanced around the room.
If she was waiting for someone to say she was wrong, she’d be waiting for a long time.Caleb was pretty sure that everyone here agreed that someone was targeting shifters, including him.
He wasn’t sure what he hoped to find out today.He doubted that anyone had any idea who was behind the fires, but maybe someone had noticed something or someone.Maybe they could find clues that would lead to a name.
Or maybe they wouldn’t because the person setting the businesses on fire didn’t belong here.There was a chance that it was a human who didn’t like that shifters existed.Unfortunately, there was also a chance that the person behind this was a shifter with a grudge, although Caleb couldn’t think of why anyone would do something like this.If it had only been one business, he would’ve understood, but four?No, this was a pattern.This was someone with a grudge, but whether or not that was a grudge against shifters in general or against the people who lived and worked in the area, he didn’t know.
“I think we should set up patrols,” another man said.
Jeremiah worked at the diner, and he was too old to go on the patrols he’d just mentioned, but something told Caleb that he’d be there anyway.Everyone in the room seemed to want to be involved, even those who didn’t care much about their neighbors, like Brad.They wanted to protect their livelihoods.
“We don’t know what we’re up against,” Julia, the owner of a women’s clothing boutique, said.Her gaze flickered to Caleb.“Why is the press here?I thought this was a safe place.”
Everyone turned to Caleb.He might not like being the center of attention, but he also didn’t mind it.It was part of the job, just like giving explanations was.
“I’m not here as the press,” he said.
Julia didn’t seem convinced.“Whyare you here, then?”
“I’m a concerned citizen.I may not own a store in the area, but my best friend does, and I want him and everyone else here to be safe.I want to find out who’s behind the fires.”
“Because you want a story to publish.”
“Oh, please,” Christy declared.
Caleb had noticed her when he’d come in earlier, but he hadn’t gone to her.He might be worried about her and the others, but he was here to work first and foremost.
“Caleb isn’t looking to become famous or whatever you’re thinking,” she continued.“He cares about everyone here.He’s one of us.”She looked around as if daring people to argue that.Thankfully, no one did.
Caleb cleared his throat.“I truly want to help find out what’s going on.I don’t want anyone else to lose their business, and I certainly don’t want anyone to die, which is what will happen eventually.I don’t think that the arsonist cares about people’s lives.It’s a miracle no one’s been killed yet, but that’s not going to last for much longer.The more fires are set, the more people will be hurt.”
“What do you suggest we do, then?”Moira asked.
Caleb was confused.Hadn’t they just said that he wasn’t one of them?Well, to be fair, Julia was the only one who’d said anything like that.No one else had asked him why he was there.
“I’m looking into the arsonist,” he explained.“I have contacts within the fire department.They want the arsonist stopped as badly as we do.In the meantime, the only thing I can suggest is that everyone be careful.Keep your eyes open.Don’t stay in your stores later than you normally would.I realize no one here wants to lose their business, but losing your life is much worse.”
“So no one knows what to do,” Brad complained.
“I’ll talk to my contact in the fire department,” Caleb promised.“I’ll ask him if he has any suggestions.If you notice anything suspicious, though, I suggest you call the cops.No one here needs to get hurt.”
“You’ll keep us up to date with what you find out through your friend?”Moira asked.
