Dutch sat across from him, his posture loose in that deceptive way seasoned lawmen managed when they were thinking too hard.
Christian's gaze drifted past the flames, to the bar where Amka stood behind the counter with Daisy, both laughing about something.Her hair was loose again, shiny and silky down her back.She looked lighter tonight, happy, even.The tension that had clung to her last night had disappeared.
Ace had mentioned that they’d formed a business together before he left for the night.The woman did like numbers, so perhaps that’s why she seemed happy?
She wiped her hands on a towel and leaned into Daisy’s side as they bent over the schedule, lips moving fast, both chuckling.
Christian’s throat went tight.He didn’t want to need that smile.Didn’t want such beauty pulling something loose in his chest.But her joy and kindness did.And he felt that need like pressure against his ribs.
She hadn't looked at him once since he'd come in.
Fine.She didn’t need to.
The front door creaked open.
Cold air swept across the floor, and two uniformed troopers stepped in, hats off, coats wet from the still-misting rain.One male in his mid-sixties and a younger female with dark red hair.True red hair.They spotted Dutch and made their way across the tavern.
“Evening,” Dutch said, dragging a chair out with one boot.“Coffee’s hot.”
They both sat.“Evening, boys,” the female said.
Dutch nodded toward Christian.“This is Christian Osprey.”
“Jeb Pontevo.”The older guy extended a hand.His grip was firm.“This is Paige Johnson.”
The woman held out a hand and Christian shook it.“Nice to meet you.”
Dutch grinned.“Christian is working with me as a consultant but will be an AWT by the end of the year.He tracked the killer of the victim we found earlier.Can’t believe we finally can identify one of these victims who’d had their eyes scratched out.Poor bastards.”
Christian gave a short nod.“The trail led to a dead end.”He and Dutch had interviewed every person either living or renting out at that dismal place, and nobody had hit.His best guess was that the killer had stashed a vehicle there and had taken off, but the trail had definitely ended there.
“We’re here for the explosion and arson case.”Jeb leaned forward.“I went over the wreckage next door this afternoon.Rain didn’t do us any favors, but there’s no doubt.Even if the explosion happened by accident, which is nonsense, somebody wanted a fire to spread.”
Christian’s mouth twitched.“You don’t say.”
Jeb nodded, apparently missing sarcasm.“I appreciate the locals sending the fragments from the device to the lab.In looking at the site, I found four pour patterns, and the accelerant soaked into the joists and floorboards.They wanted the place gone fast and didn’t care who saw the flames.”
Dutch exhaled, long and quiet.“We figured as much, and I don’t like that Amka was in there.Did you get a chance to canvas?”
Paige groaned.“We knocked on every door in the town and have the radio station sending out information tomorrow to talk to us if anybody knows anything.Although, I figure they would’ve already found you.”
“True,” Dutch said.“There were enough of those influencers in town with phones recording that I keep hoping someone saw something, but so far, all we have is a hero video featuring Christian.”
Paige grinned, her gaze wandering Christian’s face.“Yeah, I saw that.”
Christian lifted a shoulder.“I heard about it from Dutch earlier, and I don’t want to see it.”At least Nixi hadn’t included his damn name.That’s all he needed.“Have you cleared the scene?”The rain and storms had obliterated any evidence, and they all knew it was arson.
Paige tapped her nails on the table.“Yeah.We secured samples of a few remaining wood pieces for the lab so we can identify the accelerant, but other than that, we didn’t find anything useful.”
Daisy popped up.“Hi, troopers.What can I get you?”
“Two coffees, no cream or sugar,” Paige said a little forcefully.
Jeb frowned.“Come on, Paige.One sugar won’t hurt.”
Paige's chin stiffened.“I promised Louanne that you wouldn’t have any more sugar in your coffee.Your last numbers came up pre-diabetic, you know.”
Jeb rolled his eyes.“You’re not afraid of my wife, are you?”
