Fire Angel (17 page)

“We're on our way into the station. We have evidence to log and the techs can remove my damaged mirror; I also have the stuffed owl in the back that he left for Alexis this morning. You never know what they might find. We need them on this as soon as possible. Have a med kit handy as well. I'm going to drive directly into town, so if we aren't there in forty minutes, send out the troops. You'll need a team on the hill, but I doubt he left any clues; he's smart enough to have policed his brass.”

“You're sure it wasn't just a hunter and a stray bullet?” asked Everett. “So far, he's only killed using fire.”

“As far as we know, Everett; I told you that I believe he has killed before, and that man is capable of anything. You might want to pull the files on any suspicious deaths or unsolved murders in the area. Whoever fired that rifle is either really lucky or one hell of a shot,” said Jake. “Either way, I think we have to consider more protection before we check out the other sites. We'll talk about it in a bit. Thanks; see you shortly.” He ended the call.

“Are you okay?” he asked turning quickly to look at Alexis. She was very pale, sitting in as close to the fetal position as a seated adult could get, hugging herself. The cut from the glass had left a trail of blood down the side of her face, but it did not appear to be a major injury. He'd check it at the station to make sure there was no glass in it; if he found anything, it would mean a trip to the ER.

He eased the truck onto the shoulder. They were far enough away to be safe here. He reached over and pulled her into his arms; she was shaking like a leaf. He held her tightly, murmuring words of comfort until the quaking stopped. Unwilling to release her, he held her a few moments longer while his own anxiety abated. Reluctantly, he let her go.

“Much as I'd like to stay here like this, we have to get going. Feeling better?” He moved back behind the wheel. At least she hadn't pushed him away.

She smiled weakly and nodded. “You'd think I'd be used to dodging bullets by now,” she tried to joke, but her voice didn't carry any conviction. She took a deep breath and released it.

“I'm a little rattled, but I'm good.” She took her asthma pump out of her bag and inhaled two puffs. She closed her eyes. He watched her closely for signs of stress or that her puffer hadn't eased her breathing.

“Do you think Everett's right? Do you think it might be a hunter?” she asked pleadingly.

“Much as I know you might want to hear me say yes, honey, I can't. I don't think this was a stray bullet and neither do you; I think it's our psycho making good on his threat. I didn't check, but I wonder if the owl was shot before it was stuffed — he has this sense of poetic justice to him; you know, carpenters in a house that's falling down around them, gasoline in a garage … ”

Alexis interrupted him. “The way he wrapped the blanket around the dealer could resemble the way someone rolls a joint — he made him into a joint and lit him!”

She shivered and Jake took her hand in his and squeezed it gently.

“We'll have to wait to see if we can get to the second scene tomorrow. As I mentioned before the bullets started, there's a freezing rain warning in effect; that being said, the roads may not be in the best shape in the morning, and that will make the crime scene even more hazardous. And with someone taking potshots at us, you decide.”

“I don't want to take any risks; if we can't go tomorrow, it'll be the next day. So far, he hasn't struck twice in the same month, so we may have a few weeks before he strikes again.”

She refastened her seatbelt as Jake pulled out onto the highway. For the first time in months, she was afraid. She wished she could have remained in his arms a little longer; she needed that sense of security that only he seemed able to provide, and that worried her. Since the unfortunate affair with Bob, she had kept a tight rein on her emotions, forcing her heart into a dark, cold corner of her soul. It had been her only way to survive the pain of loss that had resurfaced with his betrayal. Getting further involved with Jake would not be wise. She needed to stay focused, to stand on her own two feet, and be the strong independent women she had worked so hard to become.

She could no longer deny that Jake had awakened emotions she had suppressed for years, and after this was over, she would gladly see where it could lead, but for now, anything deeper between them would be a conflict of interest. They could enjoy one another's company as they had the past two days, but if she were too engrossed in him, she might miss something vital.

Her ability depended on her being able to get into the arsonist's mind, and for that she had to remain clear-headed, as uninvolved as possible. With Jake, she was treading on thin ice, and each step seemed to presage a new kind of danger. The more time she spent with him, the more she wanted to bask in his arms and hide from the ugliness of life, but that was unrealistic. She had come here to do a job, and she needed to do it. Her own needs and wants would have to take second place.

The sound of the windshield wipers slapping on the glass echoed in the silence of the vehicle and rubbed her already irritated nerves raw. The quiet made her uncomfortable.

“Jake, while I was in the cabin, I thought I saw a flash, sunlight on metal or glass, about halfway up the hill. I didn't consider it could be him; I should have said something.”

“Yes, you should have, but like you I probably would've dismissed it. It's hunting season; around here, guys with rifles are common. We're a team, Alexis — from now on, we share all information openly, we don't ignore or dismiss anything.”

Jake drove quickly but cautiously, watching the sides of the road for parked vehicles and other signs of danger.

“If he was watching us, he saw you taking pictures and collecting evidence. He must be scared, because shooting at you is definitely out of character.”

“There has to be something there that he didn't want me to find. We'll get the lab to make these samples a priority. I have a lot of information in my notes, and I want to examine them thoroughly and compare it with what I know about Providence House and what I learned at Duffy's yesterday.”

She was beginning to feel more like herself — putting the assignment first as it should be, putting this latest attempt on her life out of her mind. She'd see how things went; if she felt he'd believe her, she would explain to him about her talent.

“I'll file my preliminary report and email it to the station and Captain Peters. My samples are all tagged, so we can just drop them off.”

“Not so fast; we need to have a good look at the cut on your face; it's still bleeding. I have to make sure it's clean and doesn't need stitches. We wouldn't want it to scar,” he said.

“Of course,” she answered, her hand automatically moving to her cheek, the small cut all but forgotten.

Right,
she thought,
the last thing I need is another scar.

The rest of the drive into Paradise was uneventful. Alexis continued to share information about what she had found in the cabin.

“I have to wait for the lab to be sure, but the wax bothers me. I think he used the candle as an offering of some sort, like a candle someone lights in a church. I think it'll be the same way at the other scenes.”

“Maybe you're reading too much into this,” Jake said. “Luke's place didn't have electricity; he probably used candles at night, and this could be one that fell off something and rolled on the floor, melting in that spot. And what you said about him staying inside the burning cabin and watching? That's just too disturbing. I'll bet this candle has nothing whatsoever to do with the arsonist.”

“I guess so,” she said, certain now that he wouldn't understand her ability. “I'll know more when I see the second site because I'm convinced that something unexpected happened at the garage.”

She began to fidget in the seat. The sky was darker, and the rain had started to fall in sheets, the wind blowing it across the road, making visibility poor.

“How much longer before we get there?” she asked, anxiety making her voice sharper than expected.

“Maybe five minutes at this speed,” he replied. “Are you sure you're okay?”

“I'm fine; this weather makes me nervous, and it exasperates me when the puzzle pieces don't fit.”

As soon as they arrived at the station, Jake insisted on attending to her face.

“It's just a scratch after all,” he said dabbing at it with the cotton ball soaked in peroxide. “No bubbling, so it's clean.” He applied a small bandage to it and kissed her cheek.

“Mila always wants me to kiss her boo-boos; she said they heal better that way.”

Alexis blushed and thanked him before hurrying to the lab with their samples, while Jake spoke to Everett about the shooting. She asked that the waxy remains be examined first. Until that mystery was solved, it would occupy too large a portion of her mind and keep her from making other vital connections. She was surprised to find that there had been no Rohypnol in either the liquor bottle or the beer cans, but the results on a small sample from what was left of the card players had detected the drug in his system. So, if he didn't spike the drinks, how had they ingested it?

When she finished at the lab, she grabbed copies of some of her notes from the previous day and went in search of Jake. She found him in the foyer in conversation with Lynette.

“Yeah, Minette goes all out at Christmas; I'm lucky if I can find an inch of space to call my own.” He laughed. “I'll give her your message, but call anyway, just in case I forget.”

“I will.” She turned and saw Alexis standing in the doorway. “It looks like your partner's ready to go,” she said. “You drive carefully.” She waved them through the doors.

Alexis followed Jake out to the truck. As they left the station, he explained that he and Everett had decided that the attempt on her life would not be reported officially just yet. If there was a leak, they needed to plug it fast.

Undercover officers from a neighboring force had been posted earlier in the day at the inn, where they would remain until the killer was caught. The weather system moving in would either be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you looked at it. They might not be able to get a lot of field work done, but the killer would be constrained as well.

“We should be quite safe; if I didn't think so, I'd shut down the inn, and send Minette and Mila to visit my parents in Florida. I'd never put anyone in danger, not if I could help it. We'd better hurry and get back; Minette hates this kind of weather.”

Before Jake could start the car, Frank pulled into the parking lot. He got out of his mobile canteen truck carrying the familiar eighty cup urn. Jake rolled down the window.

Alexis noted that Frank wore hunting clothes.

“Hey, Frank, you're either very early or very late,” said Jake. “I thought Tuesday was your day off, and Junior handled the run?”

“It is, and I'm early,” he laughed. “With the storm coming in, Lynette asked me to bring in more coffee; there'll be a lot of overtime tonight. I was out near Nipising Junction hunting today, and I just got back. Some idiot in a black SUV almost hit me; he came tearing out of a laneway near Luke's cabin. Some people really shouldn't be allowed on the roads,” he grumbled and shook his head.

“I picked up the truck from Junior, made new coffee, and here I am. Sorry, no treats tonight; I've got a ton of baking to do. Are you guys coming or going?”

“Going; you know how Minette gets in this weather. See you tomorrow.”

Jake waved to the man and rolled up his window. He started the engine.

Alexis fastened her seatbelt. Maya was asleep on the back seat, and didn't acknowledge their return to the vehicle. The rain that had started to fall heavily on their way into town had intensified, and Jake drove more cautiously than he had earlier.

“Do you think the SUV could have belonged to the shooter?” she asked. The minute Frank had mentioned it the thought had sprung into her mind.

“I do, and the worst of it is with this rain and whatever else is coming our way, there won't be a shred of evidence to find, even if we did know exactly where he'd parked.”

The sound of the rain on the windshield changed indicating that it had turned to ice.

“I wish this could have held off for another hour,” Jake said. “The rain's freezing quickly; Minette will be worried.”

“You and Minette seem to have a really close relationship,” said Alexis, amazed at the intensity of the jealousy she felt for a woman she had never met. “Her husband died five years ago, right? So, are you guys a couple now?” she asked trying to keep her tone light. He couldn't be married could he?

Not after those kisses,
she hoped.

Jake laughed unapologetically, and Alexis sensed bitterness and regret in his laughter.

“No, we certainly aren't a couple; marriage isn't for me anymore. To answer your other question, yes, Minette and I are very close. In many ways, she saved my life, gave me hope when I had none.” The glowing admiration on his face caused Alexis's stomach to clench. She felt a pang of envy — ridiculous emotion, since she had no claim on him.

She wondered why marriage was off his list. Perhaps it was because, like her, he was married to the job, or maybe he simply hadn't found the right person. Her heart hoped the second answer was correct.

Jake continued to discuss Minette. “She's been through a lot too, but she never complains. She and her husband were part of a volunteer group. Andre was an ophthalmologist, helping out at the hospital in Kandahar and she was his nurse. We had gone to pick up supplies he'd ordered in Kabul; he was in the first truck to hit the bombs.”

Jake was quiet as he relived his part in that tragedy, the guilt raw and unyielding.