Maybe she’d go back to my house to finish what she started. At least if she was at the festival, I had some time before she struck again.
I needed to use that time to talk to the guys. I didn’t know if Jackie was the suspect that the police had in their sights, but if she wasn’t… Well, I could be wrong. If I was right, though, and I didn’t do anything, I didn’t think I’d ever get over the guilt.
Ahead of me, I noticed a familiar uniform with a familiar hairstyle, and I found myself running toward him.
“Ash!” I said loudly, but my voice was lost in the noise. I almost ran over a teenager in my way, but I made it to him and grabbed him by the shoulder. He swung around with a look of surprise on his face, but when he realized it was me, a small smile formed on his face.
“Thought you were coming with your parents today,” he mentioned, crossing his arms; but his teasing expression changed quickly. “What’s going on?”
“We need to talk, in private, it’s important,” I rambled the words off and watched him pull his lips into a tight line. Hereached for my hand and started leading me toward the middle of the festival where the giant carousel stood. I wanted to point out that I wasn’t in the mood for a ride, but I assumed that he had some kind of plan.
We passed the carousel and he pulled me into a hidden room beneath it that I hadn’t realized existed. It looked like this was where all the mechanical stuff was housed. Inside, Calder and Beck were looking over things, probably checking that it was all in order and up to code.
They both looked up curiously when they noticed us, but Calder immediately frowned when his eyes landed on my face.
“What’s going on?” he said, dropping what he was doing to walk over and put a protective hand on my shoulder. “Is everything okay?”
“I think I know who the arsonist is,” I announced, and three sets of eyebrows were raised around me. “I don’t know if the police are focusing on her, but the coincidences are just too much for me. I really think I might be on to something, and I thought you should all know.”
“Okay,” Beck nodded slowly, the first to speak in return. “Focusing on who? What coincidences?”
“Jackie,” I breathed, and the three of them shared a glance. I knew that they wouldn’t believe me just like that, but I was ready to substantiate my thoughts and I hoped that I could convince them.
“Really?” Ash asked, disbelief evident in his voice. “What makes you think that?”
“I’m not sure that she’s the type,” Beck added.
Calder stayed quiet, simply watching my face as if he was deep in thought. He seemed most willing to at least listen to me,and that was a good thing. I started my explanation quickly and urgently.
“Listen, she’s had access to my place before, when I was at work and when she visited me. She could’ve found my spare key. She passed by the ice cream parlor when Ash and I were there. Calder, you and I ran into her right before the kiosk fire broke out. I’m pretty sure the other house and the apartment complex are both on her route, it’s possible that she has a connection to those people, too. I’m telling you, it’s all too much of a coincidence.”
They all listened and bit at their lips, each thinking about what I said.
“I’ll admit,” Calder finally spoke after what felt like an eternity. “That does seem very suspicious. But it’s not exactly conclusive evidence. I need more than that to take your hunch to the police.”
“She could’ve an excuse for every one of those things,” Ash added. “She’s a mail woman, and she probably walks her dogs often. But I agree with you that it’s worth looking into.”
“Yeah,” Beck agreed. “If it’s her, then we need to get ahead of things before she goes after her next target.”
“She might decide to return to your house,” Calder pointed out with concern in his voice. “Especially if she figures out that you’re suspecting her. I mean, it still isn’t enough evidence to fully pursue her, and we can’t be sure that you’re right. But your safety is more important to me right now than anything else.”
“Me, too.” The others both nodded.
“If you really believe she could be involved, then we’ll investigate it with you,” Calder said, stepping forward and taking both of my hands in his. “Because, well… We care about you.And… Frankly, I don’t know if I’m speaking for Ash and Beck as well with this, but… I’m in love with you.”
Beck and Ash looked at one another, then Beck nodded. “I think I am, too.”
Ash quietly turned toward the door that led outside, before locking the deadbolt on it. When he looked back at me, he was smiling. “As for me, I like it when you’re all worked up like this.”
31
~
Rhea
My heart was racing at this point, but Ash stayed by the door, and he continued to talk. “And I’d like to meet your parents, actually. I think Beck and Calder would, too.”
“I don’t know,” I said immediately, holding one arm with the other hand shyly. “I don’t think they’d be open to our… dynamic.”
