That explained the gas station phone, but not why they’d called him.
“Why did you leave your phones at home?” But he already knew the answer.
“So if you checked my location, it would show I was still at home,” Sophia answered.
“What were you doing there instead of being home?”
“Oh no.” Isabella leaned forward and stared out the windshield.
Several fire engines lined the block. Hoses were strewn about, and firefighters were busy doing their jobs. Smoke hung heavy in the air. Bystanders lined the sidewalk, watching the commotion.
Liam pulled his SUV to the blockade, threw it in Park, and turned to address the girls. “Stay in this vehicle and do not leave. Do you understand?” He looked at both girls and waited for them to acknowledge his instructions.
“Yes, sir,” they said simultaneously.
He jumped from the vehicle, pulled his shield from his belt, and flashed it to the officer manning the perimeter. “Deputy US Marshal, where’s incident command?”
The officer pointed to a trio of firefighters gathered on the sidewalk in front of the house. He recognized the commander from the shooting at the motel. This was Sam’s team. They’d been the ones to respond to her house.
He scoured the scene as he made his way to the trio, trying to find Sam, but there was no sign of her. Of course, some of the firefighters were still in full turnout gear, and he couldn’t see their faces through their face shields.
One of the men saw him approach, an older guy with dark curly hair. “Can I help you?”
“Deputy US Marshal Liam Roberts.” He showed the man his badge. “I’m checking in on a situation that may involve people I’m concerned about. Nothing official here—just hoping you can help me out.”
Liam had to dance a fine line. He needed to determine what was going on without alerting anyone to the Williams sisters’ status as witnesses. If people assumed they were personal friends because the teens were also friends, this would be a whole lot easier.
“Captain Bennett. Good to meet you.” He motioned to the house. “Residential fire. There’s a body inside and clear signs of an accelerant used. We’ll know more after the investigation that will confirm whether it’s arson.”
Had Sam come home early from her shift? His thoughts turned to Isabella in his SUV. Were they looking at a murder investigation? He blinked rapidly at the scene in front of him.
“Do we have an identity on the victim?”
It was surely too soon to know for certain, but the question had to be asked.
“Not an official one. One of our firefighters, Samantha Williams, lives here with her fourteen-year-old sister Isabella. Right now, Isabella is unaccounted for.” The man’s voice cracked. “Sam is over there. Devastated.”
Liam whipped his head in the direction the captain pointed. She sat on the curb, wrapped in the arms of another firefighter, who’d shed his coat.
“Isabella Williams is not inside that house.” He turned to go to the duo seated on the curb.
“How do you know?” Guarded hope filled the captain’s face.
“Because she’s in the back seat of my SUV.” He walked toward where Samantha was seated. “Ms. Williams?”
The man looked up and glared at Liam. “Now’s not the time.” His arm tightened around Samantha, whose face was buried in his chest and shoulders, shaking with sobs.
“It’s not Isabella.” The words rushed out of his mouth. He needed to end her suffering. Because he knew what it was like to lose someone. His sister had gone to prison, but it was still a type of grief—Sophia didn’t have her mother in her life, and he didn’t have his sister here with them.
Samantha whipped her head around and stared at him with bloodshot eyes. “What did you say?”
“Bella is in my SUV.”
Samantha pushed herself free of the man and stood up, looking around wildly. She grabbed his forearm. “Take me to her. Now.”
“This way.” He led her to the vehicle.
Before they could reach the blockade, the door opened, and Isabella stepped out.
