a
brain. “A firebug, on the other hand, might resent the fact that his talent was
overlooked.”
The firebug. Ryan had been a rookie in the department then, but
he remembered only too well the tension of knowing an arsonist was on the loose
in his town. Every shift he’d been keyed up, worrying that this time the
firebug might miscalculate and kill someone.
“You think something’s set the same guy off again?” Ryan
couldn’t help but ask the question, even though North wasn’t likely to answer.
“I think we don’t overlook anything.” North’s tone suggested
that he wasn’t going to speculate with a junior officer.
“Right.” What did North think they’d overlooked to begin with?
It really bugged Ryan that they hadn’t even suspected arson that morning.
North pointed with his pen to the buildings that lined the
opposite side of the alley. “The first thing is we talk to everyone who might
have seen something.”
“The police already—” Ryan began.
“We don’t accept someone else’s investigation, Flanagan. The
fact that you probably personally know the investigating officer doesn’t mean
anything to me. We do it again.”
“Yes. Right.” He wasn’t exactly doing a sterling job of
impressing the man on his first morning on the job. “I’ll get started on that.”
The back door of the house creaked open. Laura looked out at
them, her eyes wary at their presence. “Ryan. What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry if we disturbed you. We’re checking out the scene of
the fire.”
“I see.” Laura’s gaze was guarded as she glanced at Lieutenant
North.
He took a step closer. The shadows under Laura’s eyes were
darker today, her stance more tense. The news he’d given her about the arson
investigation had probably kept her up most of the night.
“You look like you had a rough night of it.”
She
grimaced. “Jumping at every sound, I’m afraid.”
“I’m
sorry.”
“Not your fault.”
No point in saying he wished he hadn’t had to bring her the bad
news.
“I did get the lights you recommended,” she said. “And someone
from the church called to say he had an alarm system he could put in for me at
cost.” Her eyebrows lifted. “I take it you’ve been interfering again.”
“Hey, don’t blame me because people want to help you. Just
accept it.”
“Not when I can’t repay them.” Her jaw tensed. “That’s not
right.”
“Has anyone even told you that there’s a difference between
being independent and being just plain stubborn?”
Anger flared in her face, but he just shook his head.
“I don’t have time to fight with you, Laura. I’m on duty. If you
want to get to know the people from church who helped you, just go to service
on Sunday. They’ll be glad to know that their friendship brought you there.”
She still looked ready to argue, but apparently she realized
this wasn’t the time. She swung the door partly closed.
“I’ll let you get back to work.” There was a snap in her voice.
Right. She didn’t like his advice. Well, fine. The best thing he
could do for Laura was to accomplish this task and find the arsonist. Let her
make her own decisions about accepting help.
He spun on his heel. North stood several feet away, notebook in
his hand. But he wasn’t looking at the notebook. He was looking toward Laura
with a cool, almost inhuman assessment in his eyes.
A wave of emotion swept over Ryan, so strong it almost rocked him
back on his heels. He wanted to step between that look and Laura. Wanted to
protect her from anything and anyone that might threaten her.
Whoa, back off. He wasn’t interested in commitment, remember?
Besides, Laura had made it only too clear that she didn’t
appreciate his interference in her life. Feeling anything stronger than
friendship toward her could only lead to complications neither of them wanted.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Seth shot a glance at Ryan
as they turned down Laura’s street that
brain. “A firebug, on the other hand, might resent the fact that his talent was
overlooked.”
The firebug. Ryan had been a rookie in the department then, but
he remembered only too well the tension of knowing an arsonist was on the loose
in his town. Every shift he’d been keyed up, worrying that this time the
firebug might miscalculate and kill someone.
“You think something’s set the same guy off again?” Ryan
couldn’t help but ask the question, even though North wasn’t likely to answer.
“I think we don’t overlook anything.” North’s tone suggested
that he wasn’t going to speculate with a junior officer.
“Right.” What did North think they’d overlooked to begin with?
It really bugged Ryan that they hadn’t even suspected arson that morning.
North pointed with his pen to the buildings that lined the
opposite side of the alley. “The first thing is we talk to everyone who might
have seen something.”
“The police already—” Ryan began.
“We don’t accept someone else’s investigation, Flanagan. The
fact that you probably personally know the investigating officer doesn’t mean
anything to me. We do it again.”
“Yes. Right.” He wasn’t exactly doing a sterling job of
impressing the man on his first morning on the job. “I’ll get started on that.”
The back door of the house creaked open. Laura looked out at
them, her eyes wary at their presence. “Ryan. What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry if we disturbed you. We’re checking out the scene of
the fire.”
“I see.” Laura’s gaze was guarded as she glanced at Lieutenant
North.
He took a step closer. The shadows under Laura’s eyes were
darker today, her stance more tense. The news he’d given her about the arson
investigation had probably kept her up most of the night.
“You look like you had a rough night of it.”
She
grimaced. “Jumping at every sound, I’m afraid.”
“I’m
sorry.”
“Not your fault.”
No point in saying he wished he hadn’t had to bring her the bad
news.
“I did get the lights you recommended,” she said. “And someone
from the church called to say he had an alarm system he could put in for me at
cost.” Her eyebrows lifted. “I take it you’ve been interfering again.”
“Hey, don’t blame me because people want to help you. Just
accept it.”
“Not when I can’t repay them.” Her jaw tensed. “That’s not
right.”
“Has anyone even told you that there’s a difference between
being independent and being just plain stubborn?”
Anger flared in her face, but he just shook his head.
“I don’t have time to fight with you, Laura. I’m on duty. If you
want to get to know the people from church who helped you, just go to service
on Sunday. They’ll be glad to know that their friendship brought you there.”
She still looked ready to argue, but apparently she realized
this wasn’t the time. She swung the door partly closed.
“I’ll let you get back to work.” There was a snap in her voice.
Right. She didn’t like his advice. Well, fine. The best thing he
could do for Laura was to accomplish this task and find the arsonist. Let her
make her own decisions about accepting help.
He spun on his heel. North stood several feet away, notebook in
his hand. But he wasn’t looking at the notebook. He was looking toward Laura
with a cool, almost inhuman assessment in his eyes.
A wave of emotion swept over Ryan, so strong it almost rocked him
back on his heels. He wanted to step between that look and Laura. Wanted to
protect her from anything and anyone that might threaten her.
Whoa, back off. He wasn’t interested in commitment, remember?
Besides, Laura had made it only too clear that she didn’t
appreciate his interference in her life. Feeling anything stronger than
friendship toward her could only lead to complications neither of them wanted.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Seth shot a glance at Ryan
as they turned down Laura’s street that
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