“Your house caught on fire.That has to mess with your head.”
“Nah, I’m fine.”
Her eyes thin, like she doesn’t believe me, when her apartment door opens, revealing Jagger.
He stops short.“Oh, hey.You ready to go?”
I hold June’s gaze, hating how I don’t really have a choice despite Jagger’s question.No.I’m not ready to go.But I’m also used to not getting what I want, and when duty calls, Hardens are the first to answer.Well, unless you’re my dad.But I digress.
“I’ll talk to you later, okay?”I offer.
Her lips purse ever so slightly, and I know she wants to call bullshit.She probably would, too, if Jagger wasn’t standing two feet away.“Goodnight, Ford.And, uh, if you need anything, let me know.”
“Will do.”
37
FORD
It takes another two hours and an escort so we can grab a change of clothes before we’re finally left alone.Thankfully, our family held down the fort while we dropped off June and Violet before returning to the scene.Good news is the fire didn’t spread the way it was supposed to.Cobie noticed long before it could really catch and do some major damage, thank fuck.Even so, the place is under active investigation.So where do we wind up?Why, Uncle Judge’s of course.The irony isn’t lost on me.
I scrub my hand over my face as Judge sits behind his desk, leaving the rest of us scattered throughout his office.
There’s plenty of seating.A couch.A window seat.A wingback chair.Hell, if I didn’t know the owner better, I’d say it’s almost…cozy.Now, if we could get the party started, that would be great.The carpet beneath my feet flattens to a pancake as I pace the massive office back and forth.
“What’s taking him so long?”I demand.“Hawke said he was on his way over an hour ago.”
Jagger sighs.“Violet said Lexie’s shift didn’t end until about thirty minutes ago.”
The front door opens, and Hawke appears.Grabbing the chin bar of his helmet, he comes into the room, sets it down on the desk, and shrugs off his jacket.“What’d I miss?”
Everything.
“We were waiting for you,” Jagger announces.
“Thanks.”He tosses his jacket on the back of the wingback chair and sits down.“All right, what do we know?”
Glancing at Judge sitting behind his desk, I wait for him to fill in Hawke.No use playing telephone by regurgitating what little he told me at the house when he’s here to tell it firsthand.It doesn’t hurt if I catch him slipping up and proving he’s not as on our side as he’d like us to believe, either.Not that he would.I don’t think.Honestly, the jury’s still out, but only just.
Judge holds my gaze, waiting for me to answer Hawke instead of diving right in the way I expect.The way any normal person would?Or maybe not.Maybe he’s trying to be respectful.He knows this is one of the few, if not only, times we’ve included him on a brotherly meeting.Maybe he’s trying not to step on any toes.Or maybe he’s full of shit.Again, the jury’s out still.Regardless, it’s an interesting choice.
I wave my hand.“Floor’s all yours, Unc.”
With a sigh, he rests his elbows on his desk and dives right in.“All right, then.The fire department is opening an investigation as to what started the fire.”
“Yeah, and June’s ex is heading it up,” I clarify.
What a dick.
Jagger’s nod is slow as he urges Judge to continue.“They’re going to look at each of your alibis?—”
“Alibis?”Hawke repeats.“Wait, do they suspect arson?”
Judge stares back at him.“Let’s just say it’s not off the table.”
“Why would we want to light our house on fire?”Hawke pushes.
“Why would anyone want to light their house on fire?”I correct him, broadening the scope in hopes of proving to the world that this is ridiculous.
