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When he heard me come in, Logan turned off the TV. “You don't have to do that," I said. “Put it back on; watch your show.”
“It's okay. I've seen that episode before.” He had, in fact seen all the episodes, multiple times.
“Where's Ember?”
“She went upstairs a little bit ago.”
“I should probably go talk to her. Apologize for my rude behavior.”
“Don't worry about it. She's cool. I explained some things to her. She actually felt really bad for you.”
“Thanks.” I wondered just how much he had told her. “I'll still apologize to her in the morning.”
“Did you go to the park?”
I nodded, and said he figured as much, “What gives? Why are you so stressed?”
“When you got home from work, you said we needed to talk.” I couldn't meet his eyes.
“Is that what this is all about? Dude relax, what did you think I was going to say? That I was moving out?”
“It may have occurred to me.” I studied the mud on my shoes. “We both know I'm not the easiest person to live with. I just worry I'm going to lose you.”
He stood and wrapped his arms around my waist. “You aren’t going to get rid of me that easily. I'm not going anywhere, I promise.” He kissed me lightly on the lips and I wanted to believe him. Then he pulled back and said, “But we do need to talk.”
We sat on the couch and I looked at him expectantly. “I went back to the Baxter Street scene today. Ember’s apartment building. The fire was intentionally set. I had my suspicions, but now I am certain. The fire started at the rear of the building where the utility room was located. When I found the gas can last night, it was in that area, so I thought it was possible somebody had stored it there.”
“That would have been stupid on their part.” I said.
“I agree, but how many times have we responded to fires caused by stupidity?”
“Far too many to count.” I agreed.
“Exactly. But this time, that wasn’t the case. I talked to all the tenants and the landlord. None of them had ever seen a gas can in the building. The landlord told me he'd been in there earlier in the day to change the furnace filter and he would have noticed the smell if it had been there.”
“So it was deliberately set. Could the landlord done it for the insurance money?”
“Not according to his insurance agent. The terms of his policy state that he only gets the money if he rebuilds. I sent what was left of the gas can to the state crime lab to see if they can recover any prints, but they're so backed up it is going to take at least a couple of weeks.”
“Any suspects besides the landlord?” I knew he was thinking the same thing I was.
“Yeah, one. That loser Reggie. Ember’s ex-boyfriend.” He did not hide his disgust.
“Ember said he was trying to convince her to move back in with him.” I pointed out. “Maybe he thought losing her job and having her house burn down would help that along.”
“Not to mention having her car stolen.” Logan added. Neither of us were big believers in coincidences. “But we can't prove anything without fingerprints or an eyewitness that puts him at the scene.”
“I think it's best that we stay close to her as much as possible.”
“I agree, but she didn't seem to think Reggie was capable of something like this when I asked her about it last night.”
“Yeah, I get that, but people can surprise you no matter how well you think you know them.”
“Speaking of surprises, I've got one for you.” Logan was grinning.
“What is it?” I asked, ask if I had not already heard the answer dozens of times.
“It’s in my pants. Let's go upstairs so I can give it to you.” At that point, neither of us realized Ember was already developing feelings for both of us. Nor how much danger she was really in. If we had, things might have turned out differently.
