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“She was with me the whole time.”
“Oh, yeah? Then I guess that makes you a suspect, too.”
“Did you even check the security cameras in the neighborhood?” Mateo asked testily.
“We’ve requested the footage, but I don’t see how they would help, since the fire started inside the house in multiple places. The neighbor said they saw flames in both the kitchen and upstairs. I don’t need an investigating team to tell me an accelerant was involved. I can smell it.”
“What you smell is sulfur. You know, brimstone? It’s a sign of bad magic.”
“Nope, smells like carbon disulfide to me. And the home’s sole occupant just happened to be safely away at her boyfriend’s house when it happened. How incredibly convenient.”
“Where’s Officer Cooley, and Officer Hayes?” Mateo demanded. “They usually work on crimes involving magic and monsters.”
The cop glowered. “What’s it to you, pal? Who are you, anyway?” Mateo’s mention of the other two officers had finally caught his attention.
“Former EA Enforcer. I have worked with Cooley and Hayes many times.”
The officer pressed his lips in a thin line, clearly not liking it. “Well, arson and possible insurance fraud isn’t their department. I’m Officer Biffi. You’re stuck with me.”
By the time we got back to Mateo’s place, I was beyond exhausted. Officer Biffi asked me so many similar questions phrased in so many different ways in an attempt to catch me in a lie that nothing made sense anymore.
I was glad Charlene had been there with me. She insisted she saw three guys leave the scene. It made it easier to sort out the officer’s trickily worded questions.
I typed out a quick message to the cat rescue, explaining that I would no longer be able to help them groom new arrivals, because I’d lost all my gear in the fire except a few brushes. Too bad. Grooming cats was what I did to de-stress. I didn’t get paid for it, it was a labor of love.
I was more stressed than I had ever been and now I couldn’t even fall back on my hobby. Sriracha meowed, bumping his head against my leg as if to remind me he was still there. I bent to pick him up.
“I know, Sriri. We still have each other. I’m so glad you weren’t there when it happened.”
If I’d lost my baby in that fire, they really would have a crime to investigate, because I’d be murdering whoever was involved.
“What are we going to do, Sriri? We’re homeless. I can’t believe that asshat thinks I did it.”
“Don’t worry: Desmon will vouch for you. If they try to make a case of this, we’ll get it thrown out.” Mateo gave my arm a comforting squeeze before sitting me down on his couch with Sriri in my lap. “Also, I don’t like this Officer Biffi guy. Something about him feels off. He immediately accused you without even waiting for the results from the fire investigation team or going through the available security footage. It’s not normal protocol, and he knows it.”
“Was that why you mentioned you’d worked for the EA?” I ran my fingers through Sriracha’s soft fur, letting the sensation calm me.
“For sure. It was my way of telling him that something smelled fishy to me.” Mateo sat down next to me, and Sriracha butted his head against his arm, asking him for pets too.
“Do you think he’s working with our wizard?”
“Maybe. Or our wizard friend paid him off when he arrived. But, honestly, he could just be a prick.”
I held Sriracha up so we were face to face. “What the hell are we going to do, Sriri?”
He looked back at me, without a care in the world. At that moment, I very much wanted to be a cat and have nothing to worry about except dinner.
“You can stay here with me until you can get back on your feet,” Mateo offered. “You’re here with me now anyway.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to overstay my welcome.“
“I have a solution. Move your stuff out of the guest room and into my room, and we’ll call it even. Deal?”
“How is that a deal?” His “solution” reminded me of when I’d claimed he owed me dinner, a thinly veiled excuse to spend more time together.
“It’s not like I’m not going to get anything out of it.” He winked at me.
I giggled. “I think the benefits go both ways.”
