“Jesus,” he said, stopping short when he saw the damage. “What the hell happened?”
Mia turned slowly. “There was a fire.”
Roy stared at the blackened wall, shaking his head. “I don’t get it. This place is brand-new.”
“Exactly,” the marshal said.
Roy blinked. “You think someone did this.”
Caleb watched him closely. Roy’s eyes flicked to the floor. Just once. Then away. Caleb filed it away.
“Looks that way,” said the marshal.
Roy let out a breath. “That’s messed up, really messed up.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “You okay, Mia?”
She nodded. “I am.”
The marshal finished up and stepped outside to make calls.
Silence settled in.
Roy shifted his weight. “If there’s anything I can do…”
“We’ve got it covered,” Caleb said.
Roy’s shoulders eased, but his mouth tightened. Relief, maybe. Or irritation that he hadn’t been asked first.
As Roy walked away, Caleb leaned closer to Mia.
“Did you see it?” he asked quietly.
She nodded. “The print.”
“And Roy.”
“Yes.”
They stood there for a moment longer.
Mia exhaled slowly. Steadying herself.
She turned to him, her eyes steady now. Focused. “The van. The cancellations. The rumors.”
“And now this,” Caleb said.
She let out a breath. “Someone wants to stop me.”
Caleb didn’t argue. “Or scare you,” he said.
“I can’t imagine anyone hating me that much to do this.”
He pulled out his phone. Decision made. No more waiting.
“I’m calling the guys. Cameras go up today.”
Her shoulders tensed. “Isn’t that overkill?”
“No,” he said. “It’s prevention.”
