This was some kind of psychological mind fuck someone was doing to her. “We’ll figure this out.” He held her trembling body close as they waited for Jase and the fire department to arrive.
It didn’t take long for their cars and trucks to line the road and draw attention.
He and Lucky sat on the bench on the porch and answered Jase’s questions, taking him through their arrival and going into the house.
Jase closed his notebook. “The fire inspector and I will collaborate on the arson report and investigation. I’ll take the knife and send it for fingerprints. We can add vandalism to the list of charges stacking up.”
“Did you speak to Neil?” Hawk wanted that guy back behind bars and far away from Lucky.
“I did. He has an alibi for the night Lucky went missing. It’s a weak one. Said he was home with his parents. They corroborated.”
“Doesn’t mean he didn’t sneak out,” Hawk pointed out.
“Any other leads?” Lucky’s solemn face held little hope.
“Not right now. I’m waiting on tests to come back, but they take weeks in some cases.”
Lucky brushed her feet against the worn deck boards. “Can I go inside and pack a bag?”
“Yes. All the evidence has been collected. They should be done.”
The wood floor, area rug, and her quilt were the only casualties of the fire. Her dresser and closet weren’t affected, except for the smoke. It could have been a lot worse.
Lucky got up on unsteady legs and rubbed at her thigh that had the stitches in it and the knee brace. “I’ll just be a fewminutes.” She hobbled inside, looking dejected and just plain worn out.
“Take your time. Let me know if you need help.” Hawk called after her.
Despite her injuries, she turned back to him, reached out, and put her hand on his shoulder.
It felt so good to have her soft touch, to know she welcomed his in return. He wanted her to let her guard down with him. This small sign that she was bolstered him. They were getting closer.
He waited for her to go back inside before he spoke to Jase. “The knife.”
“Yeah. That’s personal. I wonder if the person who used it knows its significance.”
“They could have taken a knife from the butcher block in the kitchen. It was right there. Instead, they took it from the drawer beside her bed.” It creeped him out that they were in her room, by her bed, going through her personal things.
“I’ve always believed the person doing this was close to her.”
“She thinks it’s Neil.”
“He’s my lead suspect, even for the stuff that happened to her while he was behind bars, but I’ll be talking to him about this. It had to have been done after Desiree came by to pick up her things to take to the hospital.”
Hawk paused for a second. “So she has a key to get in. Neil doesn’t. You said there’s no forced entry.”
“Whoever knows about the knife probably knows about the key under the bench?” Jase didn’t sound sure, especially since Lucky had said only she and the crew who worked for her knew about the key, since Desiree had her own set.
“What about Desiree?”
Jase pursed his lips. “They’ve been friends forever. I’ve heard the sheriff say they’re more like sisters, since they grew up across the street from each other.
Hawk didn’t want to even entertain that her best friend would hurt her. Not when the guy who murdered her family was on the loose and probably looking to finish what he started after his jail stint. “So Desiree, the women who work for her, and anyone who got lucky while searching the porch could have gotten into the house.” Every lead took them to a dead end.
Lucky appeared on the porch again with a rolling duffle bag and two totes stacked on top of it.
Hawk stood and took all the bags from her. “You’re going to exacerbate your injuries.”
“It’s not that heavy with the wheels. Can we go?” Her tired eyes pleaded with him.
