Colin snorted out a laugh. “Little though I wish to find myself in agreement with Elias Moreno, in this one instance…” He shrugged. “Fuck Lexi. If he didn’t outrightarrangefor what happened to us—andto Sarah—you can bet he at least encouraged it.”
“For what it’s worth—which is probably nothing—Elias also offered to compensate Sarah’s family.”
Colin shook his head. “He thinks his damned money can buy anything.” He turned away, voice low and bitter. “But it can’t buy back Sarah’s life.”
His words hung in the air. No one spoke. Even the office noise surrounding them seemed to quiet.
“No,” Esther murmured at last. “It can’t.”
“So, what does this mean forus?” Joshua asked, his hand reaching to grasp Colin’s wrist.
Esther folded her hands. “It means the investigation into Sarah Mitchell’s homicide is closed. You can go home, or at least your possessions are yours again. The house will be released tomorrow. After that, you’re free to start rebuilding—restoring your life.”
For a moment, no one spoke. Colin fumbled for Joshua’s hand, feeling the words settle into the ache at the center of his chest—relief, sorrow, and something like a glimmer of anticipation all tangled together.
“Well, we’d better call David,” Joshua murmured with a soft smile. He leaned close and pressed a kiss to Colin’s cheek. “He’s been foaming at the mouth for over a week to introduce us to his favorite contractor.”
The following morning,they stood at the edge of their yard watching as city police, ATF agents, fire marshals, and other law enforcement agencies packed up their equipment, preparing to leave. The insurance inspectors had finished their quiet sweep and disappeared, leaving behind a list of next steps neither of them had the heart to read.
David appeared around the side of the house and ambled toward them. By his side was a tall man with weathered hands and the lined face of someone who’d been building things outdoors since he was strong enough to swing a hammer. Broad-shouldered, with a thick neck and a quiet intensity, he walkedwith the confidence of a man who knew exactly what he was doing.
As they approached the tape, one of the officers moved to intercept him. David stopped and stared. The officer hesitated, then tore the tape off and stepped aside.
“Told them your contractor had to see what he’s working with.”
“It’s not their jurisdiction anymore,” Colin told him. “It’s ours.”
David had spoken to them about Graham Kingsley over dinner.
“He doesn’t rush a job, and he doesn’t cut corners. He’s the guy people call when something’s gone horribly wrong—when a house needs saving or a family’s trying to rebuild more than just drywall. When the building means something… that’s the kind of job he looks for.”
He approached them now, at David’s side, an easy smile softening the lines of his face.
“Colin? Josh? This is Graham Kingsley. He’s done important work for me in the past. I wanted him to see your home before anyone else because where other contractors might shrug and give up, this man rubs his hands together and says, ‘Let’s get to work’.”
Kingsley stood silently observing them both. They looked terrible, he thought—the smell of smoke still clinging to their clothes, eyes haunted, filled with the pain of everything they’d lost. Yet there was something in the way they leaned into each other. Something in the way they touched. Not broken. Maybe knocked sideways a bit, but still standing.
He’d seen people lose homes before—watched marriages fall apart before the drywall even cooled. But these two? They were still holding on. Built of something fire couldn’t burn.
He turned to Joshua, who was clinging to Colin’s arm and biting his lip to hold back tears as he stared at the ruins of his home.
“Relax, son. We can save it.”
Colin took a half step back, clearly stunned. “Saveit! You’rekidding, right?”
Kingsley nodded and gestured toward the house. “Looks like hell right now, but looks don’t matter.Foundationmatters. And your foundation is strong.” He shrugged. “The rest? Cosmetic.Expensiveas all get-out. But totally cosmetic.”
“Oh my god, Colin!” Joshua wept, clutching him close. “Oh my god!”
Colin swiped at his own tears, then let out a shaky laugh. “Sounds a little like us, doesn’t it?” he whispered. “We look like shit, but our foundation’s strong.” He released Joshua, then pressed his fingers to his eyes until the burn faded.
“Not saying it’ll be easy,” Kingsley said, resting a hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “And it sure as hell won’t be quick. We’re talking weeks of work, possibly months, before she’s even livable. I’ll know more once I’m allowed in to inspect.”
He looked from one of them to the other. “You have a place to stay?”
“They’re with me,” David said before either of them could answer. He turned to Graham. “And Graham? I get the bill.”
“No, David!” Colin blurted out. “That’s just not going to happen.”
