“Grace, I understand you’re missing your parents and it seems as of the wheels of justice aren’t working as fast as you would like. But we do know what we’re doing and are exploring all avenues.”
“Including the fire at the store?” I’d caught a glimpse of another fire on the news, although the fire department had put it out quickly. That had prompted me to put in the call.
I turned toward the kitchen, half expecting to see Viper standing there watching me, but he wasn’t. Yet the front door was open with only the screen door in place and there was no sign of my fur baby.
“Including the fire at the store. Stop worrying. We will find the guy.”
Yeah, maybe in the next century or not before more dead bodies showed up. “Fine. Thank you.”
“Grace, before you go. Darlene told me you’re… angry about what happened at the park the other night.”
Now I bristled. “You could say that.”
“Perhaps I should tell you what I know.”
“You know what, Chief Taylor? I know all I need to know about Viper Locke, including he is a hardworking, decent man who is trying to live his life. And he’s making mine that much happier by being in it. So while I appreciate your concern, I’ve got it covered. And I would very much hope that you would stop hounding him. Because if you don’t, you’ll have me to deal with. Thank you for your time.”
I was on a roll, so angry with everything and everyone that I was willing to shut them out of my life. Maybe I’d needed to doso before. I held the phone to my head, squeezing the plastic. Maybe I was hoping I could break the damn thing. Oh, I was furious, even stomping my foot. Men were pains in the ass.
“You’re early,” I said without turning around.
“I can fight my own battles, Grace.”
As usual, Viper’s voice held a tinge of anger, but not nearly what it had days before. Still, I felt like a shit. “I know you can. Believe me, I know. You’re one of the strongest, most talented men I’ve ever met. More so than the damn chief of police. I can tell you that.”
I found the courage to turn around and face him. As always, he was way too handsome. He was still in his training uniform, and I could tell he’d had a rough day by the dirt and soot on his face. Which was sexy along with the typical smirk he should trademark.
He had a box in his hand, which made me cringe. “I’m sorry about the box. I was looking for something in your room and I wasn’t snooping. I promise.”
With a look of consternation on his face, he pulled out the dirty ballcap that had been my father’s before the knit cap he always wore when it snowed, the strings of yarn indicating it had seen better days. “Are you really keeping these?”
Moving closer, I snatched the box from his hands. “I don’t know yet.”
“Grace, you have boxes everywhere. Until you decide what to do with everything, you’re never going to be able to make this place your home.”
“Said from a man with no home.” Groaning, I glared into the box. He was right. Keeping the twenty-year-old hats was silly. “I’m sorry and before you say anything, you have a home here. I’m just… on edge.”
“Let me guess. The chief thinks I’m a bad influence.”
“You are.” I caught him off guard with the admittance, although my thoughts were entirely different than anything the chief had on his mind.
I was rewarded with a split second of a smile. “Glad you understand that I am.”
Since the night we’d shared our fears and tragedies, there hadn’t been another awkward moment.
Of course until now.
“What did he say about the fire?”
My laugh was as bitter as I felt. “Nothing new. No new connections because there were no fingerprints, which pisses me off since someone was in the clinic with my father. I can feel it. There’s also no connection to the fire at the sporting goods store, yet the fire burned hot in the same way. Not that the fire marshal has come out and provided a full statement on what happened, but three people lost their lives. How many more will die?”
“From what I heard, the fire marshal is good at her job.”
“Yeah, so I heard as well. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll do a little sleuthing of my own.” I was shocked at his reaction, the angry vehemence catching me off guard.
“No, you will not! I forbid it!”
His chest was puffed out, his entire brow furrowed and the cords on the sides of his neck at full attention and throbbing.
