Page 83 of Shallow Remains

Mae stroked her baby’s long black and tan fur, swallowing against the lump in her throat. The ticking of her grandmother’s antique clock on the mantel was loud in the silence, each soft click an audible reminder that another second had passed forever. Time slipping by with relentless and alarming speed.

She would have to make a plan. Ensure everything was handled properly and that her house and all her creatures were looked after.

The outline of her phone in her pocket dug into her hip. She’d promised herself not to call him for at least a few days, but in a weak moment she reached for her phone anyway, reminding herself to call Rafe afterward to tell him about the car she’d seen earlier.

“Hi, sweet pea.”

She closed her eyes at the familiar sound of that low voice, filled with bittersweet regret. He wanted more. Wanted their relationship to be out in the open.

She valued her independence too much and wasn’t willing to risk losing it. And yet he’d always been there when she needed him. Through her darkest moments.

“Everything okay?” he asked when she didn’t say anything.

“My doctor called.”

He stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

“It’s what we thought it probably was.”

He shoved out a hard breath. Something jingled softly in the background. Keys? “Shit, honey, I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”

She nodded. Paused for a long moment before saying what was in her heart. “Can you come over?”

“I’m already on my way.”

FORTY-TWO

Rafe tugged the brim of his hat down to shield his face from the rain and headed around the side of the burned-out building in the gray morning light. An old cabin set back in the woods that was now a smoking pile of ash and rubble. Greasy black smoke hung over it like a pall, heavy and acrid.

The fire crew was finishing their work and gathering up the hoses. He spotted Grey talking with the captain near their rig. “Morning. What’s the story?”

“Looks like a small grow op,” the captain answered. “Started in a space heater set too close to the wall. The whole structure’s wood. It went up like a box of matches, even with how wet it’s been lately. Doesn’t look like anyone’s been living in it. Grey’ll show you around if you want to take a closer look.”

“Sure thing.” Grey took him over to the smoking foundation. “This was where the only entrance was. You can see the row of space heaters along the west side. Fire started in the second one from the front.”

Rafe walked over to have a closer look. Everything was charred, the metallic parts of the heaters warped and melted from the heat of the fire. It fascinated him that they could tell exactly where the fire had started.

His expertise was in law enforcement, management, criminal behavior, and he’d become pretty good at reading people. But he loved all the forensics shit and the ever-evolving science behind it. Including what Willow’s friend, Bronwyn studied. Being able to identify and read human bones was so damned cool.

He almost wished another bone would wash up on the beach so he had a good excuse to see her in person again.

The size of the cabin verified this had been a small grow op. “Definitely weed.” Lots of heaters, but no sign of any chemical or scientific equipment that would signal a possible drug lab.

Not alarming in the grand scheme of things—at least if his suspicions about a much larger drug smuggling operation on the island were correct. Weed was legal in Washington State, but to grow it on this scale, a state-issued license was needed.

“Any idea who owns the property?” he asked.

“No clue. Call about the fire came in from a concerned citizen. Maybe someone on one of the neighboring properties. The forest is so dense here, the smoke would only have been visible in the immediate area.”

He nodded. “I’ll have someone check the property records.” Though he didn’t hold out much hope of finding whoever had set up the grow op. A place as isolated as this, that hadn’t been occupied in forever…anyone could have set up shop inside. “You just coming off shift or starting?”

“Finishing. My bed’s calling.”

He nodded. “How’s Maddy doing, do you know? I haven’t talked to your brother since I was up at Willow’s place.”

“She’s okay. Tougher than she looks.”

“Definitely. See you later, man. Get some sleep.” He was anxious to get back to the station. He had a full schedule booked for the day.