Within a few minutes, he’s in his newly repaired BMW, speeding his way to Talia’s place in SoCo.
During the fifteen-minute drive, a dozen different thoughts cross his mind: Amanda has broken in again and left another note. Or worse, Amanda has broken in to hold Talia hostage and currently has a gun trained on her face. He thinks he’s exhausted every possible option—but nothing can prepare him for what he experiences when he turns down Talia’s street: sirens. Flashing lights. Fire everywhere.
At first, he’s too mesmerized by the flames—ten feet high, spitting and crackling like something alive—to think straight. Then he realizes those flames engulf Talia’s home. A fire engine roars down the streetbehind him, and he pulls over to the side to jump out of his car, barely taking a few steps before collapsing to his knees.
Talia.Head spinning, he calls out her name, fumbles for his phone, tries to get to his feet—but before the panic can fully set in, she’s running right into his arms. For a moment, they just sway in silence, shaking even as they attempt to hold each other steady.
Sobs rack her body. “Townsend,” she cries. “My house. It’s gone.”
All he can do is repeat the same words of comfort, again and again: “You got out. You’re okay. You’re safe.”
They both know the last part is a lie.
Chapter Thirty-One
Talia
Sitting in the police station, Talia feels numb.
Her home—the fruit of her labor—is gone, burned to a crisp before her eyes. All because some unstable bitch couldn’t let Talia have something of her own.
Next to her, Townsend squeezes her hand, and she squeezes his back. He’s already offered (multiple times, even) to let Talia live with him for as long as she needs, which she appreciates, but it isn’t what she wants or needs to hear right now. Moving in together should be a momentous step, not a temporary fix. But at this point, she may not have a choice.
Talia closes her eyes and lets her head fall to her chest for a moment, but not a minute later, Townsend is shaking her shoulder. She sits up to find Detectives Harris and Burrows—the same detectives who visited Townsend’s condo back in June to ask about Amanda—looking down at them.
“Ms. Danvers,” says Harris, “I’m going to have you come with me. Mr. Fuller, you’re going to go with Detective Burrows.”
“Wait.” Talia looks back and forth between the two of them. “Why can’t you speak to us together?”
“We’d prefer to speak to you both separately.”
“But ...” For the second time that night, Talia feels like things are completely out of her control. “I’m not in a good place right now. I’d really like to stay with Townsend.”
Harris gives a tight smile. “This won’t take long.”
Talia can tell from Harris’s expression that she’s not budging on this. Could they possibly still suspect Townsend of hurting Amanda? Doesn’t her harassment campaign prove that she’s alive and well? “Fine.” She gives Townsend’s hand another squeeze and then stands. “Where are we going?”
“Follow me.”
Harris leads Talia down the hall to an interview room, complete with a bare table, two chairs, and what Talia imagines to be a one-way mirror, like they’re on the set of a police procedural drama. The detective settles into one chair and gestures for Talia to take the other.
“Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? Water?”
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
Harris shrugs in a way that seems to saySuit yourself.“Listen, Ms. Danvers. I know you’ve been through a traumatic experience tonight, and I don’t want to take up too much of your time. For that reason, I’m going to get right to the point.”
Her heart beats wildly.Please, please don’t say you suspect Townsend of doing anything wrong,she thinks.
“How well do you know Meera Ratnam?”
This isn’t at all what Talia expected to hear. “Meera? We’ve worked together for over three years.”
“Would you consider her a friend?”
“I’d consider her my best friend.”
“Okay.” Harris takes a deep breath. “You’re probably not going to want to hear this, but we think Meera might be responsible for what happened tonight.”
