Scott looked at Officer Locum. “Could we investigate inside real quick? The chief had some evidence, and I’m just wondering...”
“The VCR tapes?” Locum asked.
“Yeah.” Scott placed his dirty bucket on the battered ground.
The officer shook his head. “Usually all evidence has to stay at the station, but the chief wanted to go through those tons of tapes on his own time. I can’t let you into the house because it’s a crime scene.” He looked around and his jaw firmed. “But I’ll run inside and look for you. I’ll be right back.”
“Be careful,” Millie said.
“No problem.” Locum jogged around the back of the structure where it appeared the fire hadn’t spread too badly.
“Are you burned?” Scott asked, brushing more debris off her cheek, being gentle with the bruises on her face.
She panted. The acrid and invasive smoke singed her lungs. “No. I just...I mean we can’t assume somebody shot the chief because of my case. It’s just that he doesn’t have a lot else going on right now.”
“This could be personal or it could have something to do with an older case,” Scott said. “Although my gut instinct says your feelings are probably correct. I don’t like the coincidence of him bringing those VCR tapes home and getting shot the same night.”
Locum returned in about ten minutes, shaking his head. “I couldn’t find the box containing the VCR tapes.”
“Are you sure?” Millie asked, her heart thundering.
Locum nodded somberly. “Yep. I found the VCR, which he’d set up in the living room, but there’s no box of tapes anywhere. Whoever shot him took that evidence.”
* * * *
Dawn slowly illuminated the horizon as Scott drove away from the ruined building. He and Millie had worked furiously to finish extinguishing the flames and every bone in his body hurt. He couldn’t imagine how sore she must feel right now.
His phone vibrated in his back pocket and he yanked it out and tossed it on the dash, clicking the button. “Terentson, and you’re on speakerphone,” he said.
“Hey, it’s Wolfe. Where are you guys?”
“Long story. We’re on our way home,” he said, surprised that he’d called the place home.
The sound of movement came from Wolfe and a door slammed. “Is Kat with you?”
Scott paused and looked at Millie. “No, why would Kat be with us?”
“You never know. He’s independent.”
Millie’s eyes widened and she leaned toward the dash. “You can’t find Kat?” Her voice, still rough from smoke inhalation, rose sharply.
“No, and there are several open windows. Usually he just crashes somewhere in my room, but I think he is gone. He doesn’t know this area.” Normally unflappable, Wolfe’s voice had deepened with emotion.
Scott sped up. “We’re on our way.”
“We’ll help you find him,” Millie said, clicking off. “Has he ever lost Kat before?”
Scott shrugged. “I don’t know enough about Wolfe to answer that question, but my guess from the sound of his voice is no. I figured Kat was a free spirit.”
“I thought so too,” Millie said, scrubbing both hands down her face. Streaks of soot from the fire covered the already faded green stripes in her hair. She sneezed.
“Bless you.”
“Thank you,” she said. “He wouldn’t jump in the river or anything, would he?”
That cat could’ve gone anywhere. Scott eyed June’s still well-lit house. “Did you want to pop in and tell June about the fire?”
Millie hesitated. “No, I need to have a longer talk with June and now’s not the time. Let’s help Wolfe. I’ll text her real quick and give her the lowdown, but that’s as far as I want to go right now.”
