Playing with Fire (16 page)

“We think whoever it was took the items as
souvenirs. More or less to prove the crime. Possibly a gang
initiation.”

“So it probably wasn’t personal.”

Jake shook his head. “Most likely not.”

“Liberty will be glad to hear that.”

“Where is she anyway?”

“She and Maddie are cleaning her office.”
Shane exhaled hard. “What a mess.”

“What about the fire?”

He narrowed his eyes at the suspicion buried
in Jake’s tone. “What about it?”

Jake shifted in his chair. “Look Shane, you
know as well I do, as soon as you ruled that fire arson, it became
my case. Under the circumstances, you may want to assign another
investigator.”

“Under the circumstances?”

Jake cocked an eyebrow. “You’re sleeping with
her.”

Dylan cursed as his cell phone interrupted
the tension. “You two play nice,” he told them as he glanced at the
screen. “I have to go.”

“Carmichael,” Shane drawled, “don’t lose the
key this time.”

“Kiss my ass,” Dylan mumbled as he left the
office.

Jake stood and shut the door behind Dylan. “I
got some interesting news today.”

Shane felt an uneasy tingle at the base of
his neck. “About Liberty?”

Jake lowered himself back into his chair and
folded his hands. “Her background check came back.”

Shane’s knuckles whitened as he leaned
against the back of his chair and grasped both arms. He nodded for
Jake to continue.

“Just before Liberty left Minneapolis, there
were a rash of arson fires. As soon as she left, they stopped.”

“Minneapolis is a big city.”

“True,” Jake agreed. “It’s probably
coincidence. I just thought you should know.”

“Any evidence from Pete’s fire?”

“Not yet. The lab’s taking its own sweet
time. Budget cuts.” Jake sat silent for a brief moment. “She’s good
for you, Hartwell.”

Shane chuckled. “She is.”

“Do you want to give her the report or should
I call?”

“I’ll tell her.”

“Find out where she wants her car towed and
we’ll take care of it.”

“Thanks, Jake.”

Jake stood and opened the door. “Not a
problem. Civil service is my specialty.”

He felt a grin crease his lips. “Get your
own, Rawlings.”

Jake’s hearty laugh followed his down the
hallway and out the door. Even with exhaustion nagging him, Shane
decided to return to the station. Maybe he’d missed something in
the reports.
Unlikely
. He exhaled a long breath. At least he
could keep himself occupied until he saw Liberty again.

***

The moment Dylan walked into the house Maddie
hurled herself into his arms and wrapped her legs around him so
tightly he had to grasp her waist to prevent them both from
toppling to the floor.

“Dylan,” she said breathlessly, “we did
it!”

Obviously curious by her full frontal attack,
he frowned. “Did what?”

“I’m pregnant!”

She wobbled in his arms as he shifted. “Are
you sure?”

“Positive.”

He hugged her close, swung her in a circle,
and then gave her lips a loud smack with his. “How do think that
happened?”

“I’m sure the handcuffs had something to do
with it.” She giggled while he lowered her to the floor.

“Have you told Liberty?”

“No, you’re the first.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Wanna celebrate?”

“Do you have time?”

“Not really.” He groaned. “I’ve got to get
back to the station.” He placed his hand over her stomach before he
pecked her lips. “I love you, Maddie.”

“I love you too. We’ll celebrate
tonight.”

As soon as Dylan left the house, Maddie
dialed Liberty.

“Sorry I ran out on you.”

“No problem.” Liberty coughed. “I’m still
playing in the ashes.”

“Put your broom down for a minute.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m pregnant!” She screamed before giggling
hysterically.

“Oh Maddie!! I’m so happy for you! How’s
Dylan?”

“Walking on air. You were absolutely right,
once we started having fun, it just happened.”

Liberty giggled. “You were distracted.”

“Was I ever! I’m on my way back to help you
finish.”

“No need.” Liberty sneezed. “I’m calling it
quits. Neither one of us needs to breathe this junk.”

“Why don’t you go home and nap for a few
hours?” Maddie suggested.

“Why?”

“Don’t you have a late night rendezvous?”

Maddie caught a slight pause before Liberty
answered. “What makes you think that?”

“Really, Liberty,” she scoffed. “Did you
honestly believe you could keep that secret?”

“It’s not really a secret,” Liberty
hedged.

“Besides, Jake lives to expose secrets.”

“Jake?”

“Yes.” She giggled again, still so giddy
about her pregnancy. “It’s a game between all five of them. The
object is to keep yourself out of the hotseat. It’s Dylan’s turn
now over the whole handcuff fiasco.”

“Does waxing the fire truck count?”

She laughed harder at Liberty’s confession.
“You better keep that to yourself and watch your back,” she warned.
“Call me later.”

***

Once back at the fire station, Shane propped
his feet on his desk and watched Dylan shuffle through engine bays,
his footsteps slow and uneven. Apparently dazed and confused, Dylan
haphazardly zig-zagged around the parked fire trucks and over the
spare hoses, barely negotiating the obstacles.

Amused, Shane watched him miscalculate the
distance to the office and kiss the fire pole in the process.
“Carmichael!” he barked through his laughter.

Dylan bounced off the steel rod, rubbed his
forehead, and finally fell into a chair on the other side of
Shane’s desk.

“Didn’t see that pole?” Zombie eyes met his
in response. His smile faded. “Dylan?”

“Maddie’s pregnant.”

He grinned, relieved by Dylan’s dismay, and
rolled a Fireball across the desk. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” Dylan’s voice was still weak.

He shifted his feet to the floor. “How’s
Maddie?”

“Back to her old self now that she’s found
something else to occupy her mind.”

“Playing with your toys finally paid
off.”

Dylan smirked. “Just remember, Hartwell, we
followed your girlfriend’s advice.”

He spun Dylan’s comment in his brain.
Girlfriend. Somehow that wasn’t the word to describe Liberty. No,
she was his soulmate, the valiant soldier who protected him from
the evil forces plotting against him. However, as happy as that
made him, he would not share that piece of information with his
best friend.

He stood and stretched. “I’m going home to
sleep.”

Dylan snorted.

“Alone. Call me if anything comes back from
forensics.”

***

Sometime later, the glowing numbers on his
alarm clock blinded him when Shane awoke from what he’d thought to
be a short catnap.
Two thirty a.m.
Sitting up in bed, he
shook the fog from his brain and attempted to organize his
thoughts.

Even though Liberty wasn’t his therapist
anymore, their early morning dates provided escape and relief for
both of them. That explained why he’d awakened so early, anxious
and hard as a two by four.
Down, boy
. What he planned for
tonight did not require his libido. At least for the first part
anyway.

He flipped on the bedside lamp, swung his
feet to the floor, and reached for a t-shirt draped over the arm of
the chair next to the bed. As soon as he pulled it over his head,
he inhaled the soft, subtle scent of sunshine and fresh, clean air
with a hint of lavender and vanilla. Liberty.

A sense of overwhelming peace seeped into his
pores. Where would he be without her? No one understood the
chokehold the demons in his head had on him, except her. She
understood. She knew how the inescapable evil taunted him and she
challenged it head-on until it subsided.

He stood and pulled on his sweatpants before
padding barefoot down the hallway to the living room. No sooner had
he hit the lamp switch, his cell phone rang from beside the
couch.

“Hartwell, you up?”

He glanced out the bay window at the squad
car parked across the street.
Curtains
.

“You know I am, Rawlings.”

Jake chuckled. “I’ve arranged for a patrol at
the park.”

“Thanks, Jake. Give me about an hour.”

“Will do. Let me know if there’s anything
else.”

Shane tossed the phone on the couch and
headed for the shower. Standing beneath the water, he reviewed his
game plan and hoped to hell it worked. Rather than heal herself,
Liberty concentrated on everyone else. That was about to change. He
smiled in satisfaction as he turned off the water, wrapped a towel
around his waist and ran his fingers through his hair.

Returning to the bedroom, he glanced at the
king-sized bed as he dressed. With her help, maybe someday he would
sleep peacefully there again. He exhaled a skeptical sigh. Only if
she slept beside him.

Although inky darkness swallowed him as he
left the house, the streetlights winked a promise of safety in the
sleeping neighborhoods as he drove. Once parked, he paused to
appreciate the still, calm atmosphere. His heart ached for
Liberty’s inability to enjoy the serenity. With a hopeful shrug, he
left the truck and stepped onto Liberty’s porch.

He barely had time to knock before she
whisked him inside and shut the door. “What do you want to do
tonight?”

“Something new.”

She placed a hand on one shapely hip. “Toys
again, Shane?”

“No.” He laughed. “No toys. I want to take
you somewhere.”

Her brow wrinkled. “Where could we possibly
go at three o’clock a.m.?”

“You’ll see.” He extended a hand as he opened
the door. “Trust me.”

She regarded him silently for a moment then
slipped her hand into his, stepped out onto the porch, and
shuddered in the warm, evening air. Sensing her hesitance, he
tucked her into his warmth and steered her off the porch.

She stopped when they crossed the yard and
walked past his truck. “Where exactly are we going?”

“To the park.”

Her grip tightened on his hand. “We’re
walking to the park? Now?”

“Relax, sweetheart. I’m here and Jake
arranged a patrol.”

Although extremely unsure about the whole
adventure, Liberty was impressed by Shane’s technique. With a tight
hold on his hand, she walked bravely beside him while her eyes
darted in and out of the shadows of the night.

“How long has it been since you’ve been out
after dark?” Shane’s low, husky voice drew her further into the
night and away from the house.

“Years.”

She began to relax when they approached the
city park and the bright spotlights over the basketball court
encompassed the area in blinding white light to offer a sense of
daylight and safety. As they walked across the blacktop, Shane
waved at a black and white police car as it passed.

He led her to a swing and motioned for her to
sit. Chains of fear finally released her when she pushed against
the ground with one toe and began to sway.

He stepped behind her and pushed her hips.
“Tell me if you need to go home.”

She giggled as she began to soar higher,
amazed at the freedom she felt. Free from fear. Safe, here in the
unforgiving pitch-black night with Shane. Her light of
salvation.

Somewhere along the way, their roles had
reversed. While she attempted to heal his pain, he played an
integral part in her attempt to put the past behind her and move
on. She trusted him. Her heart skipped a beat. She loved him.

Relief flooded her as the walls around her
heart crumpled and all remaining feelings of fear and inadequacy
dissipated on the gentle night breeze.

When she finally slowed and stopped the
swing, Shane stepped in front and folded her into his arms. “Having
fun?”

She burrowed further into his embrace. “Yes,
thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Her body heated as she placed her hands
against the corded muscles of his chest. “I might have to
incorporate some of your methods into my therapy.”

“I just wanted you to relax.”

“We could go back to my house.”

“Think we’ll relax?”

“Eventually.”

He threaded her fingers through his and led
her back into the night as he gazed skyward. “Have you ever counted
the stars?”

She lifted her eyes to the faint lights
above. “Only when I was a kid. There aren’t too many out
tonight.”

“Easier to count.” He paused for several
seconds to count the stars, she assumed. “How many did you
count?”

Her top lip quivered. “Twenty five.”

“You miscounted. There’s forty two.”

“No there’s not!”

“Liberty, there are more than twenty five
stars in the sky.” His teasing accusation moistened her panties.
“Count again.”

She rolled her eyes and tilted her head to
the sky. “Forty two,” she answered after a few seconds.

He chuckled and drew her against him. “You’re
just being agreeable.”

She responded with a muffled giggle against
the base of his neck. Then as if it had a mind of its own, her
tongue snuck out of her mouth to draw lazy circles on his skin.

“Liberty,” he whispered, “Jake is one of my
best friends but he won’t hesitate to haul us in for indecent
exposure.”

She stepped back to trace her finger around
the hollow his neck. “Might be worth it.”

“Minx.” Her scalp tingled when he kissed the
top of her head. “Dylan said Maddie’s pregnant.”

“Isn’t that great?”

“Yeah, they’ll be awesome parents.”

She tilted her head to one side. “Do you want
kids?”

His upper lip twitched. “I’d like to have a
wife first.”