Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Christian gave a short nod. “The trail led to a dead end.” He and Dutch had interviewed every person either living or renting out at that dismal place, and nobody had hit. His best guess was that the killer had stashed a vehicle there and had taken off, but the trail had definitely ended there.
“We’re here for the explosion and arson case.” Jeb leaned forward. “I went over the wreckage next door this afternoon. Rain didn’t do us any favors, but there’s no doubt. Even if the explosion happened by accident, which is nonsense, somebody wanted a fire to spread.”
Christian’s mouth twitched. “You don’t say.”
Jeb nodded, apparently missing sarcasm. “I appreciate the locals sending the fragments from the device to the lab. In looking at the site, I found four pour patterns, and the accelerant soaked into the joists and floorboards. They wanted the place gone fast and didn’t care who saw the flames.”
Dutch exhaled, long and quiet. “We figured as much, and I don’t like that Amka was in there. Did you get a chance to canvas?”
Paige groaned. “We knocked on every door in the town and have the radio station sending out information tomorrow to talk to us if anybody knows anything. Although, I figure they would’ve already found you.”
“True,” Dutch said. “There were enough of those influencers in town with phones recording that I keep hoping someone saw something, but so far, all we have is a hero video featuring Christian.”
Paige grinned, her gaze wandering Christian’s face. “Yeah, I saw that.”
Christian lifted a shoulder. “I heard about it from Dutch earlier, and I don’t want to see it.” At least Nixi hadn’t included his damn name. That’s all he needed. “Have you cleared the scene?” The rain and storms had obliterated any evidence, and they all knew it was arson.
Paige tapped her nails on the table. “Yeah. We secured samples of a few remaining wood pieces for the lab so we can identify the accelerant, but other than that, we didn’t find anything useful.”
Daisy popped up. “Hi, troopers. What can I get you?”
“Two coffees, no cream or sugar,” Paige said a little forcefully.
Jeb frowned. “Come on, Paige. One sugar won’t hurt.”
Paige's chin stiffened. “I promised Louanne that you wouldn’t have any more sugar in your coffee. Your last numbers came up pre-diabetic, you know.”
Jeb rolled his eyes. “You’re not afraid of my wife, are you?”
“Hell, yes.” Paige leaned back in her chair. “That woman is terrifying.”
Jeb sighed. “All right. A coffee with nothing good in it.”
Apparently Jeb was afraid of his wife as well. “How long have you been married?” Christian asked, shocking the shit out of himself. He didn’t ask personal questions. Why was he asking about marriage?
“Almost forty years,” Jeb said as Daisy walked away. “My wife’s a sweetheart, she is. We raised five kids with me on the road a lot, and I’m lucky.” He lifted one shoulder beneath his uniform. “Except for the sugar part. I like sugar.”
“Stop being a baby.” Paige looked at Dutch. “About the body. Did you do the notification?”
Dutch rubbed his face. “Yeah. Talked to the wife. She wants to come up here since we won't be able to transport her husband's body to Anchorage for a couple of days. It’s taking time to arrange a helicopter. She plans to accompany him when the transport happens. So sad. Though it’s a good thing we installed that morgue cooler in the hospital basement a few years back.”
Amka’s laugh floated across the bar again—soft and warm and cutting right through Christian. Then she disappeared back into the kitchen. He stared at the mug in his hand, grip tightening slightly. The idea that somebody wanted to cut off that sound, to hurt her, spiraled a fire inside him he didn’t recognize.
The door opened and Jarod Teller walked in, wearing dark jeans, a button-down shirt, and a newish-looking black leather jacket. He strolled behind the counter and poured himself a beer, his gaze moving to the dark-haired gal reading through ledgers at the end of the counter. The insurance adjuster. Christian figured she was probably pretty, but not Amka pretty.
Man, he had to get a grip on himself.
Amka walked out of the kitchen with plates in her hand, caught sight of Jarod, and lost her smile. That quickly.
Christian narrowed his gaze.
Amka walked around the bar and delivered the dishes to a table of influencers over by the dartboard. Christian figured that’s what they were, considering they were all talking into their phones. Then talking into each other’s phones. He couldn’t quite get used to this new world.
Jarod opened the till and pulled out some bills. Just how often did he do that?
Christian didn’t spend a lot of time indoors, and he was about at his limit, but someone needed to cover Amka right now. He wished he could also cover Wyland, but the old guy could take care of himself. It was still possible that the attacker wanted to hurt Wyland and not Amka, but Christian’s instincts whispered otherwise. Of course, his instincts might not be on track when it came to that woman.