An hour later, she convinced Charlotte and Faith to go home. The flames were out, and firefighters picked through the debris looking for little flare-ups. The danger was past.
“We’ll leave two men on duty during the night,” the chief said when he came to speak to her. “They’ll make sure it doesn’t reignite—and stand guard.”
“Guard?” she questioned.
“To make sure nothing gets moved before the fire inspector arrives in the morning.”
“Can I go in?” She wanted to see how bad the damage was for herself.
“Not tonight, miss. We have to make sure the building is safe to enter. You can go closer, though, and look in.”
With Zach at her side, she approached the store and stood on the sidewalk. Mucky water still ran from the building, soaking her hiking shoes. Zach shone a flashlight into the building. Water dripped from the ceiling. The shiny chrome display cases were twisted wrecks. An upholstered chair near the cashier’s desk still smoldered. The screen that disguised the vault had been burnt away, exposing it. It was charred on the surface but appeared undamaged.
“We should go home. There’s nothing more you can do here tonight,” Zach said from next to her. “And you’ll need some sleep to face this in the morning.”
She nodded, knowing he was right, but it felt as though she were abandoning her responsibility by leaving. After another look, she let him lead her away.
Zach wasn’t surprised to see his brother Colin, as well as Alex, in Carolyn’s living room when they arrived back there. The three of them had always banded together during rough times, and this seemed to be one.
“Thanks, guys,” Carolyn said to them. “Was Austin okay for you?”
“We gave him beer and chips for dinner, and he passed right out,” Alex said, causing Colin to punch him lightly in the gut, but Carolyn gave them both a wan smile.
“He ate mac and cheese with applesauce,” Colin clarified.
“Good choice,” she said. “How’d you…?”
“I’ve had some recent experience with a kid that age,” Colin said. “We haven’t heard a peep.”
“I’ll look in on him and be back down,” she said.
“Go to bed,” Zach said. She was dead on her feet, although her exhaustion was more emotional than physical. “I’ll be up in a few minutes.”
“I need a shower first,” she said, but she didn’t argue. They both smelled of smoke after standing at the scene for hours. “Thanks again.”
“No problem,” Colin replied.
As soon as Carolyn went up the stairs, Zach turned to his brothers. “What are you hearing?” Colin and Alex were well connected in the community, with friends on the police and fire departments.
“I made a couple calls.” Alex kept his voice low. “There’s nothing official yet, but the sense is that the fire was deliberate.”
“Charlotte said she heard a crash and an explosion.” Her words had given Zach plenty to think about as he’d watched the store burn.
“Molotov cocktail through the front window?” Colin suggested.
“Maybe. Those windows are pretty thick, though.” Because of the nature of the store, the plate-glass windows were extra strong. He didn’t think someone could throw hard enough to shatter them.
Alex picked up on his idea. “You’re thinking it had to have been propelled through in some way.”
“Yeah.” Zach considered the type of weapon necessary for the job and didn’t like it.
“That’s dangerous shit,” Alex commented.
“No kidding,” Zach said. Whoever was behind this was accelerating his game. “I may need you guys.”
“Always ready,” Alex said.
“We’ll take a look around outside before we leave,” Colin added. “Maybe hang out a bit. You take care of Carolyn.”
He said good night and let his brothers out. After that, he checked the doors and windows before going upstairs. The shower was just shutting off, so he looked in on Austin. Out in the yard, he recognized a dark shadow as Colin and knew his brothers had his back. That gave him a little breathing room, but he was about to pick a fight with Carolyn. Nobody could help him with that.
He went into the guest bathroom he’d been using and took a fast shower. He flashed the guest room light, sending a message to his brother that all was well. He saw a return message via flashlight from Colin’s truck parked down the street.
Assured they were safe for the night, Zach went to Carolyn’s room and slid into bed next to her. She immediately curled into him, and he felt the dampness of her tears against his skin. All he could do was hold her for the night and request a promise from her.
“I just want to know why,” she murmured, her voice hoarse from crying. She hadn’t cried at the scene. Instead, she’d comforted others and been a tower of strength. “Why is this happening?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart, but I’ll find out.” And when he did, he’d take care of whoever was behind it.
“You’ll find out?” she echoed. “Then you don’t think it was accidental either?”
“Not a chance.” He admitted to her what he’d refrained from saying in front of her family. “Which is why you have to promise me you won’t pursue this any longer.”
“But now that we’re sure someone is targeting me or the store, it’s time to move on it,” she argued.
“I agree, and I’ll put together a team tomorrow and get an investigation in motion.” He had his brothers and other buddies he could rely on. “The police will probably take it seriously now, too.”
She huffed at that. “I’m not going to sit around while you swoop in and play hero.”
At that, he rolled them both over, pinning her beneath him. He framed her face with his hands, gently rubbing his thumbs over her cheekbones. He couldn’t deny that his body wanted her, but not until they came to an understanding.
“This situation is far too dangerous, sweetheart. It probably was before, but arson shows that the perp has escalated his attempts. I know what the business means to you, but your life means a lot more to your family and to me and Austin than the store. Promise me that you’ll leave it alone.”
Her eyes were dark and sorrowful. He wanted to kiss away the pain he saw there, but not until she promised to drop her investigation. He hadn’t admitted fully what was on his mind. He loved her, even more than he had two years before. It wasn’t the right time to say those words, and he wasn’t good at expressing his emotions. He was good at eliminating threats, though, and that he could do for her.
“If you put it that way, I promise,” she whispered. “You’ll get him, won’t you?” He nodded, making a silent promise of his own. “Good. Make love to me, Zach. I need you tonight.”
He kissed her then, slow and deep until her body relaxed under him and her arms wrapped around him. Taking his time, he trailed kisses down her neck and shoulder, working his way to her breasts. She sighed when he flicked his tongue over a nipple and gasped when he took it in his mouth.
“That’s so good.” Her voice was a soft purr. “More.”