Page 10 of Betting on Lizzie

“Bingo,” Hugh said. “That’s your gal.”

“One thing,” the agent continued. “It could be that we prompted her into the increase. If we were writing up a new policy, it would make sense that we would have reviewed her current one and probably suggested an upgrade. It hadn’t been updated since she first got the policy several years ago.”

“Huh,” Ben said. “All right. Thanks for the info. I’m guessing you won’t pay out until we resolve this?”

“For sure. Now that we know it was arson, we’ll put a hold on it.”

Ben thanked her for her time and made notes detailing the conversation.

“Sounds pretty cut and dried,” Hugh said.

Ben didn’t like jumping to conclusions, but the insurance angle definitely didn’t help Ms. Parker’s chance of being cleared right away. Insurance fraud was more common than people thought.

“I’ll call her and set up a meeting ASAP. See if she’s got an alibi and take her phone for evidence.”

“You could solve it by Friday.” Hugh stood to go. “Just do everything by the book. If it is her, it will cause the mayor some grief.”

“You know I don’t do it any other way,” Ben said. Hugh gave a thumbs up on his way out.

Ben sifted through the file for a number, picked up the phone, and called Ms. Elizabeth Parker. There was no answer, so he left a message. When she called back, they agreed to meet at eleven o’clock at the coffee shop across from her bar.

In preparation, he contacted the court for an emergency warrant, which they emailed within the hour. He read through everything again, jotted down a few notes of things he wanted to ask her, packed his laptop, and left. Arriving ten minutes early, he ordered coffee and found a table in the back. That would give them relative privacy.

He was unprepared for who walked through the doors at precisely eleven o’clock. The blue-eyed bartender. The dark-haired fan from the basketball game. The first woman to capture his attention in a very long time. Holy crap. She wasn’t just a bartender. She was the owner. And now, she was his arson suspect. Just like at the game and the bar, she was dressed head-to-toe in black. Not that it mattered what she wore. Of course it didn’t.

The barista greeted her as Lizzie and handed her a cup as if she’d been waiting for her. Coffee in hand, she glanced around the room. When she made eye contact, he held up a hand and she started toward him.

“Hey,” she said, sliding off her coat and draping it on the chair back. “Añejo neat guy…Ben, right? I’m Lizzie. Lizzie Parker.”

The hand she offered was still warm from the coffee cup she held. He stood and shook it.

“Ben Mansfield,” he said. “Please, sit down.” He sucked in a breath. This didn’t change anything. So he thought she was cute. Big deal.

“So, what the hell happened?” She picked up her cup and crossed her legs, ready to get right down to business.

“I was going to ask you the same thing,” he said, watching her carefully. She seemed remarkably cool under the circumstances.

“Huh.” Her brows knitted. “I’m not the fire expert. You are. Someone said it was arson. Are you gonna be able to figure out who did it?”

“That’s my job. Where were you Saturday night from two to three am?”

In her eyes, he saw the second she realized the question’s implication. Indignation, then annoyance, flashed over her face.

“Look, if you think I did this, you’re wasting your time. I worked that night. I saw you just a few hours before the fire.”

“That was around ten. It doesn’t account for the rest of your evening.”

She glared. “I was home in bed when I got the call about the fire.”

“I have to cover all angles,” he said, feigning casualness but watching closely for any sign of deception or nervousness. “Were you alone?”

Her eyes widened, then narrowed. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.”

“It actually is my business.” His tone was more curt than he’d intended, but she was pushing buttons he didn’t know existed. “I’m going to need names and phone numbers for all of your employees.”

“I’ll email it,” she said. “Is this why the insurance company says they won’t settle yet? Did you tell them you think I set the fire?”

He ignored her question. “They told me you recently upped the coverage on the bar. And that you’ve had it on the market for some time.” His accusation hung between them.

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