Hot for You (4 page)

Why would someone be torching businesses,
homes, and vehicles of women? Were they random acts by someone who
was a stranger to the women? That was possible considering Carilyn
had just rolled into town today and the arsonist likely wouldn’t
have had the time to establish any kind of relationship with
her.

Were these women in danger? Each one would
need to be interviewed again to see if anything suspicious had
happened since the time each woman’s property had been torched. He
could be wrong, but he didn’t think he was. Not at all.

He pulled his cell phone out of the holster
on his belt and dialed his cousin, Detective Reese McBride, who was
the lead detective on the case.

“Cody,” came Reese’s voice when he answered.
“It’s been all of two days and you already miss me?”

Cody couldn’t help a grin, but it faded as he
got to the point with Reese. “I need to discuss the arsonist case
with you.” He explained the theory he’d come up with.

Reese sounded grim when he replied. “I think
you’ve got something there. It’s late, so tomorrow we’ll arrange to
interview all four women again, right away.”

“Before someone gets hurt,” Cody said. “Or
worse.”

“Agreed,” Reese said.

“I want to go with you,” Cody said.

“You’ve got it,” Reese replied. “I’ll talk
with you tomorrow.”

After disconnecting the call, Cody shut down
the computer. The chair’s wheels rattled as they rolled across tile
as he pushed back, away from the desk.

This just might be the break they’d been
looking for.

***

Nathan Morris watched the news with rapt
attention. He grinned as the newscaster reported that police
officials had no new leads in the arson cases. They did, however,
believe that today’s car fire was related to the three other arson
attacks, but they didn’t give any details.

The fact that there was still no mention of
the dolls annoyed him, however, and his grin turned into a scowl.
It was one of his better ideas. The damned police were keeping that
evidence to themselves.

No matter. He’d leak the information himself
if he had to. He wanted the world to know how smart he was. Rather
than just having kept the information from the public, the police
were probably too stupid to have made the connection between the
dolls’ hair color and the women.

He glanced at a duffle on the floor and the
half a dozen or so Barbies and glass wool tubes resting inside. He
had plenty of both on hand because he would be searching for more
victims

Today he’d screwed up, though, and had almost
forgotten the doll. He hadn’t had time to stuff the Barbie in the
tube and would be lucky if the doll had survived. Although,
considering the police believed the arson fires were linked, the
doll had probably made it. He never left any other clues behind—he
made sure of it.

The redheaded bitch he’d seen today was
beautiful. He hadn’t actually met her, but she was so fucking
gorgeous that she was probably like the rest—a slut who wouldn’t
give him the time of day. Like the girls in high school had, women
still ignored him and refused him. Well, he was getting his revenge
now, wasn’t he?

Nathan used the remote to turn off the TV and
pushed himself out of his recliner and walked to his kitchen table
where the scrapbook rested. He started flipping pages, grinning to
himself as he did.

Pictures of every woman before and after the
fires headed each section. He took pictures of them with his camera
phone before researching their property and other belongings. Today
was the first time he’d picked a woman and had started a fire
without investigating her first. He didn’t know why, but hadn’t
been able to help himself.

He’d printed out color photos of each woman
on his printer and taped them into the scrapbook along with
pictures of their business or home, or car—before the fire. Then
he’d taken pictures as they began to burn before fleeing the scene.
He’d printed out news articles he’d looked up online and taped them
into the albums, too.

People were starting to get scared, and they
should. He wasn’t going to stop and he knew the police would never
catch him.

He ran his finger over the picture he’d taken
of the pretty redhead. He’d managed to avoid her attention and had
taken her picture before melting away where she’d never see
him.

The news had said the redhead’s name was
Carilyn Thompson and she was from Kansas. He’d figured as much from
her license plate. He’d thought she was probably a new transplant
who hadn’t had a chance to change her plates. According to the
news, though, she was here visiting.

He wondered who she was here to see, where
she was now, and how long she’d be here. He’d have to make it his
business to find out. He was good at tracking people down. Real
good. After all, that was his job—to find people. He wasn’t one of
the world’s best hackers and trackers for nothing.

Money had never been a problem—he’d always
made enough to get by. He got paid very well just sitting on his
ass at home and working his magic for his clients.

As he closed the scrapbook, he smiled. This
was so fucking fun he could barely keep from telling his online
buddies about it. Although he covered his tracks so well that he’d
never be found, he was still careful. Maybe he
would
tell
them. He’d have to give it some thought.

For one brief moment, he thought about his
mother. What would she think of what he was doing? Would she even
realize it was her fucking fault? All of those cigarette burns had
only been the start of what she’d put him through.

He shoved aside the thoughts. This was his
time to glory in his brilliance.

Humming to himself, he went into the kitchen
and grabbed bread, peanut butter, and grape jelly, along with a
carton of milk. He was famished after his successful day. Being an
arsonist of his caliber was like being an artist. It took talent,
time, and patience. Not to mention a lot of hard work.

Rather than waiting a few weeks to strike
again, he was hungry for more.

And he was hungry for it now.

***

Thursday morning the kitchen was filled with
the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip pecan cookies. Carilyn
popped another nugget of cookie dough into her mouth as she spooned
globs of it on the baking sheet. “Do you always bake cookies for
the firefighters?” she asked Leigh as she set the spoon back in the
batter bowl.

Leigh took the filled cookie sheet.
“Sometimes I make muffins, Rice Krispy treats, or brownies. Treats
easy to cut up that can be picked up with your fingers.”

Carilyn grabbed a smaller bowl and plopped a
spoonful of chocolate chip cookie dough with no nuts on a new
banking sheet. “The guys must love you.”

“The feeling is mutual.” Leigh opened the
oven and slid the sheet she was holding inside before closing it
again. “They risk their lives every time they go out on a fire and
they don’t get paid or appreciated nearly enough.” She gave a sly
grin. “Besides, it gives me an excuse to see all of those sexy
firefighters when I deliver the goodies.”

Carilyn laughed as she finished another row.
“I hear you about them not being appreciated enough. Firefighters,
police officers, and teachers. Three of the most important
professions, yet they don’t get paid what they’re worth.”

“Amen.” Leigh shut the oven door. “That’s the
last sheet?”

“Yep.” Carilyn scraped the bowl with a rubber
spatula and then scooped out the last of the dough to make one more
cookie. “This is the batch with no nuts for Cody.”

Leigh returned to the table and grabbed the
now full sheet and set it beside the stove to wait its turn. “He’s
going to appreciate that you made cookies just for him.”

Carilyn shook her head. “You would have done
it anyway.”

Leigh grinned. “I’ll make a point to tell him
that you made those special.”

“Stop playing matchmaker.” Carilyn shook the
rubber spatula at Leigh. “I’m only going to be here a month so
there’s no point in it.”

“Sure there is.” Leigh picked up the empty
batter bowls from the table and carried them to the sink. “It would
be awesome if you moved here, Cari.”

“I’m not moving here.” Carilyn gave her an
exasperated look. “I’ve lived in Kansas all my life.”

“So.” Leigh rinsed out the bowls in the sink
before putting them in the dishwasher. “You could do with a change.
You’ll love it here.”

Carilyn couldn’t help a smile. “Give it
up.”

A mischievous look was in Leigh’s eyes.
“Never.”

Carilyn helped Leigh put ingredients away in
the pantry, clean the counters, and straighten the kitchen as the
cookies baked and then cooled.

“I talked with Mike about you not having
transportation now that you don’t have a vehicle.” Leigh leaned
against the counter. “So that you don’t have to rush out and buy a
new car, you can use mine while I’m in Europe. He’s going to take
me to the airport Saturday.”

“Thank you.” Carilyn rested one arm on the
breakfast bar. “Are you still up for some shopping before we take
the cookies to the fire department?” She looked down at the
too-long, loose jeans she was wearing that belonged to Leigh who,
at five-ten was a good five inches taller than Carilyn and a size
bigger. “I can’t keep wearing your clothes.”

“You look cute with the jeans rolled up like
that.” Leigh grinned. “But yes, you know I love to shop, whatever
the excuse. Plus, maybe I can find a cute dress to take on my trip.
You should find something a little dressy too.”

Carilyn smiled then sighed. “I need to
replace so many things. At least I have a toothbrush,” she added.
They’d gone to the corner convenience store last night to get a
toothbrush and toothpaste. “But replacing my laptop is the most
important thing I need to do.”

After the cookies were finished baking and
had cooled, they headed out to look for a laptop, clothes, and
other things that Carilyn would need during her stay in Prescott.
It was always fun shopping with Leigh who was bubbly and
enthusiastic and had a great eye for style and for what looked
great on Carilyn.

When they finished shopping, they unloaded
the bags at Leigh’s house and put them all into the guest bedroom,
including the box with the new laptop. Carilyn sighed. It was going
to take forever to upload everything and get it all back into
working order so that she’d be ready to work come Monday.

Leigh had a hair appointment scheduled later
in the afternoon, so they planned to take the cookies to the fire
station and then go to the salon and spa. Carilyn had made an
appointment to have a pedicure while Leigh was getting her hair
cut.

They grabbed the containers filled with the
freshly baked cookies and left. It was a short drive to the
firehouse, which did turn out to be close to the location where
Carilyn’s car had caught fire.

Or was deliberately set on fire,
she
thought with a frown as they passed by the businesses along the
street that hid the parking lot from view.

Leigh parked her Mitsubishi near the fire
station and they each grabbed a container of cookies before
climbing out of the car. Carilyn’s stomach flip-flopped as they
walked toward the station. She had no reason to be nervous, but for
some reason the thought of seeing Cody again made her feel jittery
inside.

The bay was open and the red fire truck
gleamed in the afternoon sunlight. A firefighter was polishing the
chrome bumper, his back to them. She would know that muscular back
anywhere, not to mention that nice ass. Cody’s backside was the
first thing she’d seen of him yesterday, and she didn’t mind
getting another look at him from behind.

“Hi, Cody,” Leigh called out.

He turned to face them and flashed a grin.
“Hey. Good to see both of you.” Carilyn’s belly flipped again as
his gaze met hers. “How are you doing, Carilyn?”

“Good.” She managed a smile. “Went shopping
earlier so I’ll be back in business in no time.”

He was holding the rag he’d been using to
polish the fire truck and he set it on the big chrome bumper. “I’m
glad to hear that.”

“We made chocolate chip cookies.” Leigh held
up the large plastic container she was holding. “Carilyn made some
for you with no nuts.”

Carilyn wanted to elbow Leigh but she
extended the smaller container to Cody.

He smiled at Carilyn and she swore she was
going to melt as he took the container from her. “That was really
nice of you.”

Carilyn returned his smile. “Leigh said you
don’t like nuts, so it’s pure chocolate chips for you.”

“Thank you.” His gaze held Carilyn’s a moment
before he nodded toward a door leading into the firehouse. “Come on
in. The guys are gonna be happy to see what you’ve brought.”

They headed inside and into the kitchen. Soon
Carilyn and Leigh were surrounded by some of the best looking,
sexiest men that any woman would feel blessed to be around. There
was definitely something hot about a man in uniform, even if the
uniform was simply a T-shirt and pants.

“Cari,” Leigh called out. She was standing
next to an exceptionally handsome sandy-haired man who was just
over six feet and had an athletic build. Leigh gestured to Carilyn
to come to her. When Carilyn reached her, Leigh said, “Mike, this
is my best friend, Carilyn Thompson.” She turned to Carilyn. “This
is Mike Lawson.”

Mike held out his hand and Carilyn took it.
“Great to finally meet you,” Mike said, a spark in his blue eyes.
“Leigh has told me some stories.” He shook his head as he released
Carilyn’s hand. “Hard to believe someone as cute as you could have
gotten into so much trouble.”

Leigh gave an impish grin as Carilyn put her
hands on her hips. “Just what did you tell him, Leigh?”