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“She wasn’t here and that isn’t great.”
“Why would she do something like that?”
Cole’s face was expressionless. “One way to get the remodeling done.”
“She loves this house. Remodeling because she’s making more money now is far different than just torching it to get a quick buck. Besides the fact that it was sloppy as fucking shit.”
Cole stayed quiet.
“How could anyone think she’d do this? She doesn’t even have it in her to fight with the crazy people in our band. She’d never do something like this.” I pointed to the room. “Do you see her in there?”
“Could be a good actress.”
I took a step toward him, my hands fisted at my sides. “She isn’t that kind of person. She’d rather go hungry than commit insurance fraud. And believe me, she doesn’t have any need to. We do damn well for ourselves.”
“I agree.”
“What?” The tight rubber bands strung between my shoulder blades were officially going to snap. Then I was going to strangle this dude.
Cole folded his arms and gave a half-shrug. “Devil’s advocate.”
“I’m going to beat you unconscious.”
Cole’s mouth twitched. “I’d like to see you try.” He held up a hand. “Look, I’m not going to insult you because I know you’ve seen some shit, same as me.”
I gritted my teeth, but I nodded.
“I’ve worked more than a few arson cases, and this feels more like a statement than personal. The sloppy angle could be used against her too. Maybe she hired an idiot to light it up.”
When I opened my mouth, he shook his head.
“I don’t believe it either. Neither does Noah or Lila. But there’s a smug-like setup to all of this. The way I see it, if they’d wanted to make it personal, they would have lit her bookcase. That’s where you hurt a person. In the memories and the sentimental things.”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
“Instead, they just haphazardly did it this way, like they couldn’t be bothered to do it right. And yet it’s not the kind of thing a firebug would do. Not enough flames.”
“You’ve thought a lot about this.”
Cole gave a curt nod. “I’m a bit more than just hired muscle.”
I frowned. “Is that right?”
He ignored that question. “Lila’s people are going to take care of gathering up her things and putting them in storage for her while you guys are on the road. Teagan can get with Lila about what they want to do with all the insurance stuff. Once the arson investigator has the report I’m working up for Noah, I think things will work out in Teagan’s favor. But I really don’t think it’ll be quick.”
“Great.”
“Now the last bit.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “More?”
“I noticed a few of the structural beams were burned.”
“Shit. I didn’t catch that.”
Cole gave a slight shrug. “You’re too worried about her. That’s why you have me. But I’d be more comfortable with us getting out of here sooner rather than later.”
My shoulders stiffened. He was right and I hated it. I should have noticed. I should have been looking for the trouble spots, not watching her.
