Page 45 of Burn With Me

“You know me too well, thanks,” she said, taking the steaming cup. That was funny because I felt like I didn’t know her at all. She was this enigma that had catapulted into my life without even trying, and I was still reeling as I found my footing.

“What are you hoping to gain by talking with Kim,” I asked, as we headed toward the medical building.

“I’m not sure. The death of her mother could’ve been as simple as she caught the arsonist’s eye and when she didn’t die, he felt compelled to complete the job.”

“But you don’t believe that.”

She looked up at me, her intelligent blue eyes focused. “No, I don’t.”

We stepped into the elevator, and as the doors closed, I couldn’t help myself. “I want to push you up against those mirrors and kiss you the way I should’ve outside.”

My eyes were trained on slowly increasing numbers as the elevator moved up, but even so, I could easily see Vi turn her head and look up at me.

“Then why don’t you,” she said, her tone seductive but sweet.

I sucked in a deep breath at her little taunt, and I would’ve done exactly what I said, but the elevator stopped on the fourth floor. With a ding, the doors began to open.

“Because I need a taller building for what I want to do,” I said.

We glanced at one another as we stepped out onto the floor. The heat and tension that had formed were thick between us. If it hadn’t been for the people in the waiting area, I would’ve been tempted to follow through. She tested each and every one of my boundaries.

“Hi there, we’re here to see Dr. Sinclair. She is expecting us,” Vi said to the receptionist working behind the desk. I stared around the office that really could’ve been an office for anything and pondered if all these buildings got their décor from the same supplier, in bulk.

A hand touched my arm, and I jerked, not realizing I’d zoned out. “The doctor is ready for us now,” Vi said.

We followed the woman down a long hallway until we reached an office with a stately-looking woman standing outside. She looked like she’d just stepped out of an old English catalog with her tweed jacket and matching knee-length skirt, and her hair was tied up in a tight bun on her head. This all matched the plain pair of flats and thick glasses she wore.

“Ms. Clarke and Mr. West, it’s very nice to meet you. I asked Kim if she would feel more comfortable with just you, Violet, in the room, and she said yes, but both Mr. West and myself will be in the viewing area.”

Violet nodded, pulled a notepad and pen out of her bag, but dropped the pen back inside. “I’m ready,” she said as she pushed open the door. I could see a girl that didn’t look any older than nine sitting curled up in one of the chairs.

“This way, Mr. West,” the doctor held out her hand, and I followed her into a small room with a two-way mirror for observation. “Are you one of the fire investigators too?”

“No, I’m one of the firefighters that put out the fire that destroyed Kim’s apartment. I’m helping Violet with the case,” I said as the doctor flicked on a switch, and I could suddenly hear Violet’s voice filling the room.

“Hi there, Kim. My name is Violet. I don’t know if you remember me, but I live in the apartment next door to the one you lived in with your mother.”

Kim didn’t say anything, but she nodded her head not making eye contact with Vi. I watched as Vi opened her pad of paper, looked around, and rummaged through her bag.

“Oh darn, looks like I forgot my pen. Do you have something I could write with,” Vi asked, and my brow furrowed, knowing full well that she did have a pen.

Kim lifted her head from her lap for the first time and reached down to a small backpack that had been sitting on the floor and pulled out a pencil.

“I only have a pencil,” Kim said, her voice soft.

“That’s perfect. I actually prefer pencils, thank you.” Vi held out her hand and gave Kim a smile. Vi pointed the pencil at the book sticking out of Kim’s backpack.

“Oh, you’re reading, ‘Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.’ I love that book. I still have it on my shelf,” Vi said, and Kim pulled the book out, showing off the worn edges that spoke to how well-loved the book was.

Vi leaned forward to look at the cover and managed to name off parts of the book that I would never have remembered. As Kim shifted closer and smiled, I understood what Vi was doing. Her genuine warmth was shining through, even through the glass, and she was slowly drawing the girl out of her shell.

“Do you know why I’m here?” Kim nodded. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions, Kim? I know this is really tough to talk about, but there might be something you know that can help me figure a few things out.”

Kim held the book tighter to her chest and nodded before looking down.

“Do you know if anyone was mad at your mom for anything,” Vi asked.

The pencil that Kim had handed over was poised to write.