Page 93 of Playing With Fire

Bonnie’s face whitened. She looked away.

“You planted enough clues to point straight to the twins, and then you frightened them into running. Because nobody in their right mind is going to believe a couple of bad-ass kids with a reputation, and they knew where they’d end up. New York City. In juvenile detention or back with their father. Josh and Judah have been sleeping on the floor here, because you promised to get them out of town.”

Bonnie’s gaze returned. She took a breath. Ricky watched a smug smile creep across her face.

A warning chill ran down his back.

“That’s a fine theory, Ricky Sharp. And you think yourself so clever. Coming home to little Temple Mountain and playing the big hero firefighter. Here to look after your folks, like the good son you are, and to try and find the backbone you lost so’s you could go back to being a hero.” She shook her head. “So sad. Your team at Far Rockaway...everybody knows you lost your nerve.”

Ricky stared back. He nodded thoughtfully. Yup, it stung to hear the truth from Bonnie’s lips. But every word was true. He felt Jodi’s warm shoulder against his, the light pressure of her hand.

Bonnie’s head tilted towards Jodi, and Leroy Browning, who had been looking more and more uncomfortable as the conversation unfolded, cleared his throat. Whatever the Chief was about to say faded before the glittering malice in his daughter’s eyes.

“But wait there’s more...does Ms. Acting Editor know why you’re really here, Ricky?” Bonnie pouted. “I thought not. Ms. High and Mighty wouldn’t be letting you sniff around her if she did know.”

She threw Jodi a cool smile. “It’s my job, you see, to look out for all these dear old folks. And my door is always open to share their problems.”

An icy hand squeezed Ricky’s chest, but he couldn’t speak. There was no point, anyway.

“And you have been stirring up trouble, upsetting people, haven’t you Ricky?” Bonnie continued. “Looking for that sweet little baby that your drug-addled girlfriend gave birth to in some nasty squat, and then gave away like an unwanted puppy. You came home to find your little girl.”

Chapter Fifteen

Jodi poured boiling water over her cranberry and pomegranate tea bag and tried to remember where she had stashed her emergency dark chocolate.

Ricky had dropped her home, speeding off with barely a word.

The fog of numbness which had allowed Jodi to make a dignified exit (at least she hoped it had been dignified) had lasted long enough to get home, shower, and change into her most comfortable pajamas before hitting the laptop. These fleece beauties (a joke birthday gift from Jaylee) were adorned by frolicking hippos, and were baggy around the backside, fraying at the cuffs, and in desperate need of new elastic at the waist.

“Where did I put that damn chocolate?” Jodi growled. She hitched up her pajama bottoms with one hand. “What’s the point of hiding something that you need in an emergency? It’s like hiding the bloody fire extinguisher!”

Two things happened simultaneously. The small tag snapped off the tea bag, and the doorbell rang.

“Shit!” Jodi said loudly. Her eyes filled with tears, and she tasted salt. She fished around with a teaspoon. Hot red tea dripped on the bench.

The knock on the door was soft, persistent. She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the automatic impulse to go sort whatever it was. To be the fixer, the family peacemaker.

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