Читать книгу Firestorm - Kelly Riley Ann - Страница 10

“Land sakes, it’s Kitty McGuire,” a voice boomed over the din of the Monday breakfast crowd at Sarah’s Café. “Come give me a hug, child!”

Kitty stood in the doorway and grinned at Sarah Moore maneuvering through the sea of tables. Despite living in an outdoor sports-oriented town in the rugged California Sierra Mountains, the proprietor of the lakeside restaurant consistently wore fashionable business suits and matching designer pumps.

“It’s great to see you.” Kitty hugged the petite, middle-aged woman and breathed in the familiar spicy scent of Sarah’s perfume mixed with citrus from the oranges she squeezed every morning. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“Well, you wouldn’t know it on my end.” Sarah propelled Kitty toward the table by the front window overlooking Main Street and the lake. “Not an e-mail or phone call in months.” Her smile took the edge off the scolding.

“I’m sorry. I meant to call, but I’ve been so busy with work and classes. I finally made it into the arson investigation program.”

“Great news. Your pa would’ve been proud.”

If only that were true. She couldn’t remember the last time Sam McGuire noticed or approved of anything she’d done.

Snagging a coffee pot, Sarah said, “Anyway, never mind my fussing. I know you have your own life. This town isn’t exciting enough for most young people, unless you’re a wilderness enthusiast or ski bum. So, how long are you visiting?”

“A couple days. I have some details to wrap up concerning Dad’s affairs,” Kitty answered, not wanting to discuss her father in such close proximity to so many other ears. She hesitated by the wooden chair her father had claimed every morning during his nineteen years in Pine Lake. She could almost see him sitting there in his worn blue uniform, pager by his plate, drinking coffee while debating local issues with Sarah’s husband, Daniel.

“Are you all right, dear? You’re so pale.”

Kitty’s throat tightened. “It seems so strange not having him here.”

“How thoughtless of me,” Sarah said, her hand pressed over her heart. “Would you like to sit somewhere else?”

“No, no, this is good. I want to sit here.” Kitty eased in the chair. The sooner she learned to deal with the situation calmly and systematically as a professional investigator, the sooner she’d solve this case and leave this town. Permanently.

Sarah poured steaming, fragrant coffee into two mugs and joined Kitty at the table. The older woman sighed and smoothed back a frosted wisp of hair that had escaped her French braid. “Do you know how sorry I am that I wasn’t here for your father’s funeral?”

Kitty’s eyes stung. “Oh, Sarah, please don’t apologize. I got your message and card. You needed to be with your poor sister. Is she any better?”

“Not really, but she’s still able to enjoy the Florida sunshine. That’s something, anyway. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Just tired. I got in after midnight,” Kitty said, almost adding, “and wrestled with the new fire chief,” but preferred to try to wipe the disturbing image from her mind.

“Poor dear, you must be exhausted, and you have to stay in that filthy cabin all alone. Daniel’s been keeping an eye on the cabin for you, but it must be dusty and full of spiders. Why don’t you come stay in my guest room?”

“Thanks, Sarah, but I’m fine in the cabin.”

“Then I’ll send Daniel over with a mop and dust rags. In fact, I’ll go with him to make sure the job’s done properly. It’s the least we can do for you under the circumstances. Clarence is perfectly capable of running things around here.” She nodded toward her part-time cook framed in the kitchen window. “I’ll call Daniel at the hardware store.”

Kitty grabbed Sarah’s hand before she could summon her husband. “Whoa, I appreciate you wanting to help, but I’m not a kid anymore. I can take care of it myself.” She grinned at Sarah’s dubious expression as her gaze swept over Kitty’s faded jeans and blue T-shirt.

“Can you? You’re still way too skinny. I’m going to see that you eat a decent meal.” Before Kitty could protest, Sarah signaled to Clarence. He trundled across the floor and set a plate and a frosty glass of orange juice in front of her. After nodding a solemn hello, he retreated behind the counter.

Kitty smothered a groan as she eyed the mounds of steaming pancakes, scrambled eggs, and Sarah’s famous homemade turkey sausage. “Thank you, but I only stopped in for a quick cup of coffee and toast. I’m on my way to the fire station to pick up Dad’s personal things.”

“That can certainly wait until after breakfast.” She stood. “I’m pretty sure everything got packed up after the new chief took over, but Daniel’s on duty this afternoon. He’ll be glad to help you.”

“Oh, it’ll be okay. I don’t want to cause anyone extra work.” Except for maybe Luke Tanner and the sheriff. Obviously, they needed to start the investigation from scratch. She ran her fingertip around the rim of her coffee mug. Had Tanner sent someone over to fix the broken window yet? “Did you say Daniel has been looking after Dad’s place?”

“Of course, I told you he would when I called you after the funeral,” Sarah replied in an insulted tone.

“But—”

The sound of breaking dishes crashed through the café.

“Oh, that Clarence, now what’s he done?” Sarah said. “He can cook up a storm, but he has such butterfingers. I’d better go see what this will cost me. You eat and I’ll be right back.” She waited until Kitty picked up her fork before marching to the kitchen.

Kitty stabbed at the buckwheat pancakes and took a reluctant bite. The syrupy cake melted on her tongue and despite the knot still in her throat, it slid down, warm and smooth. She sighed and gazed through the lace-edged windows at the sunlight dancing on the deep blue of Pine Lake. She would’ve enjoyed the food and scenery more if her mind wasn’t whirling with disturbing questions.

If the town council had appointed Tanner in charge of the cabin, why did Sarah say Daniel was still looking after it? Didn’t they know the town had repossessed the property? Strange. Sarah hadn’t mentioned the break-ins at the cabin, or elsewhere either. The café was the town gossip hub, and few events escaped Sarah’s knowledge. Maybe she just didn’t want to scare her. Or maybe the council didn’t want anyone to know what they were up to.

The bell on the door jingled. Kitty nearly choked as Tanner entered. His gaze flicked around the crowd, then lingered on her before he strolled across the room and claimed a stool at the counter.

She swallowed her mouthful of eggs, annoyed that her heart thumped faster every time she looked at him. At least Tanner’s entrance affected others besides her. Men exchanged glances and women nearly drooled behind his back as he opened a copy of the local newspaper. Without a word, Sarah shoved a coffee mug in front of him.

Kitty tapped her foot impatiently on the wood floor. Did she dare join him? It’d probably just give him another opportunity to tell her to leave town. She didn’t want to blow her chance of getting into the fire station. Somewhere in there may be a clue as to why her father visited the ravine that fateful day. Maybe he saw something suspicious and decided to check out the area.

She slumped in her chair, drained after the Tanner-induced rush of adrenaline. It wasn’t fair. He certainly appeared fresh and well rested. Her entire body ached, and even though she’d shampooed her hair three times, she still wasn’t sure if she’d gotten out all the flour.

His thick, ebony hair didn’t show a speck of the chalky stuff that turned to paste when water hit it. Brushed back from his wide forehead, the shaggy, unruly waves tumbled down his neck almost to the broad shoulders that strained against the confines of his white T-shirt. The shirt, tucked neatly into black jeans, couldn’t hide the strength in his chest and arms.

Her eyes followed the line of his long legs down to the black boots crossed at the ankles. Nice boots, Kitty thought, tucking her own under the table. Her gaze lifted and collided with Tanner’s dark eyes. He flashed a grin and hoisted his mug in mock salute.

Heat curled in her stomach, and her face flushed. He obviously enjoyed her discomfort at being caught gawking at him. He took a gulp of coffee and raised his eyebrows as if daring her to do something about it.

She stood, ready to wipe the teasing smile off his face with a scathing remark, but her elbow bumped something on the wall. She turned and grabbed a swinging frame.

“Way to go, Kitcat.”

Kitty jumped at the use of her old nickname. Only one person ever called her that. She looked over her shoulder at compelling blue-gray eyes set in a tanned, boyishly attractive face fringed by silvery-blond hair. “Evan Stone, what on earth are you doing here?”

“Eating breakfast?”

Kitty grinned. “No kidding. I meant what are you doing in Pine Lake? Last I heard, you were on assignment in China.”

“Actually, Mongolia, and I left there a year ago.” Evan spun Sarah’s vacated chair around and straddled the seat with his lanky, khaki-clad legs. “So, what do you think?”

“Of Mongolia?”

“No, silly. The photo.”

“This is yours?” She sat and studied the breathtaking shot. Two bald eagles clinging together by their talons, tumbled through the brilliant blue sky above a jagged canyon wall. “What are they doing? Fighting?”

He cleared his throat. “Actually, they’re mating.”

“Yikes. They don’t fall to the ground, do they?”

“Nope. When it gets too risky, they break free of each other. You know, like most relationships.” Bitterness edged his tone, causing Kitty to glance up. He still smiled, but the wariness etching the corners of his eyes hadn’t existed in his younger, carefree days.

She concentrated on the photograph, critiquing it as Evan had taught her when they were kids and Evan was a budding photojournalist. “It’s an awesome shot, well framed, very powerful, but yet a vulnerable feeling comes through.” She raised her head. “When did you start photographing birds? All you ever talked about as a kid was how much you wanted to photograph war zones and other hot pockets in the world.”

“Got tired of living out of a duffel bag.” He shrugged. “Figured I’d try something different.” He tapped the glass on the frame. “I won the Piedmont Award with this one. You’re going to come by my place and see my portfolio, aren’t you? I’d tell you it’s spectacular, except you know how modest I am.”

Kitty laughed with him as she hung the picture back on the wall. She leaned forward on her elbows. “I’m so glad to see you. I’ve missed you.”

“Ditto, kid. I came through L.A. several times but never had time to hook up. I was traveling on location until after your dad’s funeral. Wish I could’ve been here. Don’t know why, but I liked the old grouch. What do you say to dinner tonight? We can catch up.”

The eager tone in his voice caught Kitty by surprise. Was Evan Stone flirting with her? They’d always been just friends, even if her teen-aged heart had yearned for more. What a disaster that relationship would’ve been. She’d learned the hard way how it felt to have her feelings shredded without his help.

“I’d like to visit, but I don’t know if I’ll have time. It all depends on how today goes. I need to get back to L.A.”

“What’s the rush? Your boyfriend waiting for you?” he asked. “Sarah told me about him…”

“Jordan?” She grimaced. “Look, I really don’t want to talk about him. He—”

“Sarah said you’re going to tie the knot.”

Kitty gaped at him. But then why should she expect the gossip to stop just because she’d moved hundreds of miles away. “That was over a year ago. He’s long gone.”

“What happened?”

“It’s boring. Let’s talk about something else.”

“You might as well tell me.” He leaned forward in the chair he still straddled and propped his elbows on the chair back, resting his chin on his hands. “I’m a journalist and I can’t help myself. I won’t stop pestering ’til you spill your guts.”

“Eww, isn’t it considered bad manners to talk about spilling guts in a restaurant?” She tried to joke, but Evan continued to stare owlishly at her. Tenacious as always.

She sighed. “Fine, if you must know. Irreconcilable differences. He wanted kids right away, a picket fence and a wife who wasn’t gone for days pursuing a risky career. He didn’t want to wait for me to go back to school, either.”

“Sounds like a real loser.”

“Told you it was boring. But he wasn’t all bad, or wrong, in fact. People need to be around to make a relationship work. Spend time together. You should know about that.”

“Which is why I stick to my policy of no serious commitments to any woman.”

Kitty rolled her eyes. “I can’t blame Jordan. Look where I came from. Maybe I’m not cut out for marriage. Maybe it’s in my genes. Dad was a workaholic who communicated with me less than my cat, and my mother took off and never looked back. Jordan gave me an ultimatum. Quit the department or quit the relationship. I quit him.”

“Sounds like you made the wise decision.”

“Somehow, that doesn’t make me feel better coming from Mr. Love ’Em And Leave ’Em. I can’t believe I’m talking to you about this.”

Evan grinned. “I am what I am. And since we’re both currently unattached, why don’t you accept my invitation to dinner? We can have some fun.”

At her hesitation, he crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes. “Surely you still don’t hold the window incident against me.”

“What window?” Kitty asked startled, thinking of the glass she’d broken last night. He glanced at the wide picture window beside them. “Oh! Well, of course I do. It was your fault. You called me a city brat and pulled my pigtails. I only tried to defend myself.”

“Yeah, with a big stick.”

“The stick flew out of my hands by accident. You left me to face Sarah all alone.”

“It takes a smart man to know when to retreat.”

“Or a coward!”

“Now, that hurts. As I recall, I was the one in danger.” He laughed and squeezed her hand. “Ah, Kitcat, despite our shaky—or should I say shattering—beginning, we had good times, didn’t we?”

“Yes, we did.” Kitty sighed. Not many thirteen-year-old boys would’ve paid attention to a skinny, shy eleven-year-old tomboy. Maybe he tolerated her because she was gullible enough to believe the sun rose and set by his adventures, which, unfortunately, landed her in trouble more times than she could count. But no matter the reason for their friendship, she’d cherished every moment. Hanging with Evan had been exciting, and in the process, Kitty learned her way down every back alley and dusty trail in Pine Lake. The knowledge had come in handy numerous times when eluding the sheriff.

“How about this?” Evan asked, glancing at his watch. “Let’s shoot for dinner together sometime this week or whenever you’re free. Call me when you know what your plans are. Deal?”

What could it hurt? Time had patched her cracked heart and made her wiser. “Deal.”

“Great, and while you’re sampling my barbecued steak, I want an interview. If you haven’t heard, I own the Pine Lake Tribune.”

Kitty snorted. “You bought that gossip rag? Why?”

“What can I say? It needed me. Really needed me,” he said with a playful smirk. “I have issues coming out weekly now instead of monthly. And it’s no longer just gossip and recipes. I have serious stories in there, plus, of course, exceptional photographs.”

“McGuire. We need to talk.” Tanner’s tone implied now.

Kitty looked up at Tanner’s flinty expression and extracted her hand from Evan’s as irrational guilt pricked.

“I’ll be at the station in five minutes.” Tanner nodded a greeting at Evan. “Stone.”

Before Evan could reply, Tanner proceeded out the door. After a stunned moment, Kitty stood and slapped some bills on the table. “I’m sorry, but I need to go.”

Evan scowled as Tanner passed the window. “He has some nerve. A flatlander who’s only been here six or seven months but already thinks he owns the town. He speaks and people jump, including you.”

Kitty bristled at his tone. “Hardly. We have an appointment.” She grabbed Evan’s arm and pulled him outside into the pine-drenched air. “Spill. What do you know about him?”

“You interested?” He smirked and nudged her with his elbow.

“Not in the way you mean,” she retorted as Tanner climbed inside his pickup. “It’s strictly business.”

“Right. Business.” He slipped on sunglasses and hid the mischievous glint in his eyes. “Tell you what, I’ll offer a trade.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I already said I’d have dinner with you.”

“Not enough.” He shook his head. “I’ll tell you what I know about Tanner, if you’ll give first dibs on news about the Wildcat Ravine Fire. That’s why you’re here, aren’t you? I heard the rumor the sheriff wants to pin the blame on your dad.”

Her stomach twisted. So, it was common knowledge. “Tanner does, too.”

“I’m not surprised,” he said wryly. “Do we have a deal?”

“All right, just don’t print anything until the investigation’s closed. Johnson would love to throw us in jail just for old time’s sake,” she said as Tanner’s truck rolled around the bend and disappeared. “So what are people saying about the new fire chief?”

“You’re so easy,” he teased, and she slammed her elbow into his ribs. “Ouch. Okay. You know how in this town everyone knows the scoop on people before they’ve even been here a full day? Tanner’s been here for months, and no one knows much about him. Not even me, whose job is to be nosey. But then, we don’t exactly run in the same crowd.”

“In other words, he doesn’t hang out at Harry’s Bar and flirt with girls every night?”

Evan snorted. “You think you know me so well. The girls hit on me these days. What I meant is he has a kid and hangs with the PTA and church crowd. His father’s the pastor of the community church.”

“Oh,” Kitty said, suddenly disgruntled at the thought of Tanner having a wife. She hadn’t noticed a ring on his finger the night before. “I didn’t know he was married.”

“He’s not. Widowed, I think. He’s closed-mouthed about it too, although I can’t blame the man. The hens around town are already setting out traps to snare him for their daughters. I’m not sure, but I think there’s a story there. Something to do with his son. The kid has behavioral problems. Been in detention so many times, he has his own desk.”

“That’s all you got?” Kitty asked with exasperation. “I spent a lot of time in detention too. So did you!”

Evan shrugged. “All I know is that the sheriff was pretty determined to have the town council appoint Tanner as fire chief. Not many people were eager for the position after what happened.” He shot her a contrite look. “Oh… sorry, I didn’t mean to imply your dad didn’t do a great job.”

“He did the best he could,” Kitty said, her face heating. “Thinking he’d resort to arson is ridiculous. What motive would he have?”

“Now see, that’s the big question circulating on the grapevine.” He waited until a couple passed by and entered the café before continuing, “Some say he was furious with the town council for cutting funds to the fire department, and he wanted to prove a point. Others think he dropped one of those awful cigars he always smoked in the wrong place. Oh, and my favorite rumor is the speculation that firemen are closet pyromaniacs just waiting for their chance to—”

“You’ve got to be kidding! Dad didn’t give a hoot what decisions the council made. If the fire department needed something, he found other ways to raise money if he had to. And he respected the environment too much to just drop his cigar butts. Besides, the last time we spoke, he said he’d given them up. As for pyromaniacs posing as firefighters?” She breathed out a disgusted sigh. “Sounds like a bad B movie.”

“Hey, I didn’t say I believed any of it. You asked. I don’t know what evidence they found. The sheriff officially told me to butt out, which means they must have something. That won’t stop me from digging, though. I’ll see if I can get more background on Tanner, and you keep me informed on what you find out about the fire.”

Kitty unlocked the car door and slid onto her seat. “I’ll give you a call, okay?”

“Here, take my card. My cell number is on the back.” The lines on his bronzed forehead deepened. He glanced over his shoulder at the café and leaned closer. “Listen, Kitcat, I wasn’t going to say anything, but you know me, I can’t mind my own business. You dad was a decent guy, but sometimes things aren’t as black and white as they appear. Like with a great photograph, there are layers to everything, depending on what angle you’re looking from.”

“What are you saying?” Kitty asked, outraged. “Do you think my father is guilty?”

“No, of course not, but someone set that fire and…I’m just telling you be careful, okay?” He pushed her door shut and then tapped on the window until she rolled it down. “And keep your guard up around Tanner. My instinct tells me the man’s hiding something.”

The heavy metal door slammed behind Kitty as she strode into Pine Lake’s fire station. She pushed her sunglasses onto her head and blinked until her eyes adjusted to the dusky interior. The large bay appeared deserted. Her boots echoed on the concrete as she followed the path of light to the back office.

“Hello? Tanner?” She stepped around a pile of wet, dirty fire hoses, brushing her shoulder on the side of the nearest fire engine. The sleeve came away black with soot, and the air hung heavy with the acrid scent of smoke.

She glanced up at the truck beds. Someone had packed the engines with fresh hose, but the filthy place was a disgrace to any well-run department and certainly didn’t inspire additional faith in the new fire chief.

“Tanner?” Her voice rang out into the bay. Where was the man? He’d demanded she meet him and then disappeared. She shivered, uneasy being alone in the large, shadowy building, which seemed absurd after spending so much of her youth there.

She reached the office and gasped. The battered gray filing cabinets were open, the drawers empty. She maneuvered around mounds of manila folders and paper. What was going on? If Tanner was trying to hide something, his method worked. Finding anything useful to the investigation would be difficult in this mess.

“Tanner!” she yelled for the third time, but only gurgling from the yellowed coffee machine answered her. She sidled around her father’s hefty desk. The painful knot rose in her throat again. This was the last place she’d seen Sam McGuire alive. The last place they’d spoken face to face. And argued.

Files had fallen behind the chair. She squatted and examined the headings. Her father’s bold handwriting labeled some. The two desk drawers hung ajar. She tugged open the bottom where her father used to store his small, spiral-bound notebooks containing records of his activities, mileage and, most important, notes on daily events. Empty.

She pulled on the top desk drawer, but the railing caught. She yanked harder and something fell with a clunk to the drawer below. She lifted out a gray rock embedded with sparkling minerals.

Fool’s gold. She smiled as she rubbed the gold flakes between her fingers. Her father used to take her up to the waterfall and let her pick out pretty specimens to add to their rock and mineral collection at the cabin. Somehow, this specimen must’ve gotten wedged in between the drawers.

She stood up and smacked into someone behind her. “Oh, sorry.” She spun awkwardly and her boots slid on the discarded files. Steely arms caught her as she stumbled, her cheek landing against a white shirt.

“We really do need to stop meeting like this,” Tanner murmured into her hair, his arms tightening around her.