Liam needed to make sure Samantha’s cover remained intact. “Not officially. You see, Isabella and my niece, Sophia, are quite close.” Not exactly a lie. They knew each other enough to get into trouble together. “Anyone close to my family is close to me.”
Liam was not here on official business. The captain didn’t have to share any information. He could tell Liam to take a hike, and Liam would have to. He just hoped the man would be forthcoming with information.
This wasn’t just about the case—it was about protecting the life Sam had built here and proving to himself he could keep those he cared about safe. Success here meant more than a clean file; it meant trust, redemption, and finally, finding peace.
Captain Bennett studied him. “I understand.” He sat up and pulled a manila file over in front of him. “Since Sam is part of our station, we aren’t handling the investigation, but I can tell you what they’ve told us.” He opened the folder and moved a couple of pages about. “It was definitely arson. There were traces of accelerant all over the house and several ignition points. Whoever did this wanted the house to burn, and with it, the body.”
“Any idea whose body it was?”
Captain Bennett shook his head. “The remains are with the forensic pathologist now. We’re still trying to get in touch with the property owner. Sam said he stopped by a couple nights ago and said he was going out of town. So far, he hasn’t returned any of our calls. She was given a number for someone should she need anything, but unfortunately, that burned with the house.”
Liam pulled a card from his wallet. “I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know if anything happens. As a professional courtesy.”
Captain Bennett accepted it. “Professional courtesy?”
“Yes, gotta look out for my niece’s friends.” Liam stood. “Is Samantha here today?” He rubbed his hands on his pants.
“Of course you do.” The captain gave him a knowing smile. “She’s out today. I’ll let her know you stopped by.”
He probably thought there was something between Liam and Sam, or that Liam at least wanted something to be there. He was going to allow him to think that. If he thought this was a personal thing, it worked in Liam’s favor.
Would it really be so bad if everyone thought they were together? It might actually make his job easier.
As they walked toward the lobby, Dean, Sam’s new roommate, sauntered up.
“Deputy Marshal, nice to see you again.” He stuck his hand out.
Liam shook it. “How’s Samantha doing?”
Dean’s grip tightened. Interesting.
They released hands.
“About as good as one can expect. My wife is helping her get things sorted today.”
“I’m glad she has people around to help her.” Liam tried to gauge Dean’s feelings about Samantha. Yeah, he was married, but that didn’t mean there weren’t feelings there, even if the guynever acted on them. Liam had seen all kinds of things in his line of work, and at this point, he was rarely surprised.
“Yeah, it is. You work with people enough, they become family. She’s like the little sister I never knew I wanted.”
Liam relaxed a little. “I can only imagine.”
He wouldn’t know exactly the relationship firefighters developed, because he didn’t spend the same amount of time with his coworkers as they did. But it didn’t mean he didn’t know what camaraderie was. Marshals might not live together for hours, but they did spend hours together and watched each other’s backs. Shared life-and-death situations. Similar, but different at the same time.
“I’ll let her know you dropped by.” Dean waved as he wandered off.
Liam climbed into his vehicle, relieved Sophia was still in it.
She turned slightly in her seat. “Now where?”
“One more stop and then back to the office.”
“I should have brought a book.” She leaned her head back against the headrest.
“I can arrange that.” Surely there were some books floating around the office. Was she too young to start studying the Marshal manual?
He shook his head and pulled out of the parking lot.
The drive to the coroner’s office only took ten minutes, hardly giving him enough time to figure out how to be a father to a teenage girl.
