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He filled his palm with soap and turned on the water. Black soot, rusty red blood—her blood. He scrubbed until his cuticles were pink and his knuckles were burning. So much of her had been on the pavement. All the glass inside her.
The tear down her side.
The pane of her window had actually gutted her.
Because she’d been thrown like a ragdoll from the blast.
Zeke tapped him on the arm with a handful of paper towels. “You’re going to turn into a prune.” He grabbed another half dozen paper towels and ran them under the water. “I know I’m the pretty one, but you gotta at least try.”
He took the wad of wet towels and swiped at his face. Freckles and haunted eyes. That’s all he saw.
Deep breath, asshole. She needs you.
He rolled his neck and stuffed the towels into the garbage before he opened the door. The waiting room had filled up while they were in the men’s room. A television was on and images of Izzy’s store engulfed in flames filled the wide screen.
Eight casualties, two of them firemen.
Her store was gone. All that was left was a hollowed out stone husk. A store full of paper couldn’t be more perfect for an accelerant.
The place that Izzy had prided herself on.
That Adam and Nic had help her build.
Where Nichole died.
&
nbsp; Jesus.
Zeke pushed him along, away from the television to the far corner of the waiting room.
“My phone is fucked.”
“I’ve got a new one coming.”
Logan nodded. He felt cut off. He didn’t even know who to call. The police? He dragged in a breath. “I need to call her parents. I know she’s not close to them, but they need to know. Nic will—” He hung his head. “I don’t know who would know beyond Nic. God, this is so fucked up.”
He drilled his fingers into his hair.
“Logan?”
He turned. Shock and an arrow of sorrow sliced into him. “Jacob.”
The older man came forward. Craggy and weathered, steel gray hair military short, Jacob Stack was the first person to accept him in Winchester Falls. Hell, Jacob had practically overseen the building of Logan’s house nearly fifteen years ago.
Without hesitation, he dragged Logan in for a hard slap on the back. “How’s our girls?”
Logan’s lip quivered, but he managed to swallow back a sob. He might not see Jacob much these days, but he was the closest thing to a father that he had on the planet. “We lost Nichole. Izzy’s in surgery.”
“Son of a bitch,” Jacob whispered. “I’d hoped. No one will tell us anything.”
“Adam’s in the ICU. The emergency room is overflowing. So many people were hurt.”
“I’ll find Nichole’s parents.”
“They’re in with Adam, sir.”
Jacob nodded. “Thanks.” He turned his steady gray eyes on Logan. “Anything I can do?”
