Page 57 of Playing With Fire

New angle re firebug. Do a print (yes I mean actual newsprint from down in the basement archives) and online search about minor arson last year in Temple Mountain. Around spring?

Jodi paused.

Also, check out Bonnie Browning and her connection to Josh and Judah.

She inserted “subtly” into the second sentence. She could feel Ricky’s eyes on her back and the warm pressure of his legs. She was about to hit “send” when she added, You get anything interesting, put together a piece for Monitor Online.

Jodi put down the phone. “Done. We’ll be able to rule the twins in or out, because I happen to know that they arrived in town last summer, with another foster family. Didn’t work out, because the boys went to the Beechams almost as soon as Hattie and Silas arrived.”

“Okay.” Ricky’s breath sent goosebumps over the back of her neck. She turned her head and wriggled sideways so she could see his face.

“I’ll look through department records,” he said, absently twirling a lock of her hair, as though that was the most natural thing in the world. “And I need to go out to the retirement village again. I sealed the crime scene straight away, but some officious—I mean, well-meaning resident—is no doubt organizing a volunteer crew to throw everything into a dumpster. I want to go through it first with a fine-tooth comb.”

He clambered to his feet, and Jodi scrambled up. A strong arm snaked around her waist, and he pulled her gently towards him.

Alarm bells clanged in her ears. Standing thigh-to-thigh, feeling the hardness of his chest against her breasts—and recognizing the same intense expression in his eyes—was all so delightful that she never wanted it to end.

A deep hum of pleasure vibrated down her spine, sparking long-dormant sensations. She trailed a finger along his jaw. His dark gold skin was warm and slightly prickly under her feather-light touch.

All too soon, Jodi remembered that Ricky was not hers to dream about. Not only was the local-hero-turned-firefighter heading back to New York City some time real soon, but there was that tiny matter of trust...

She still had no idea, not really, why Ricky Sharp was back in town. And his silence spoke volumes.

Jodi was about to slide, reluctantly, from his reach when Ricky kissed her softly on the mouth. A brief, unsettling touch that was gone almost before she knew it.

He stepped back. Smiled. The physical distance between them yawned.

That was nice, his expression seemed to say. You do an okay cheese and fruit platter, and I like kissing you. Now, back to business.

“So, can I come with you?” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Jodi wanted to pull them back.

“Ummm?” He shot her a wicked grin.

“I mean to the retirement home. I could...help sort the stuff...”

She looked down at her manicure, this week a stunning sunset orange. Okay, so getting down and dirty in what was essentially a soggy, charred mess wasn’t Jodi’s superpower. But she did know how to drill down on a shifty witness and how to squeeze the truth from an uncooperative interviewee.

“I could interview Bonnie about the incident. And visit Pops. Pick his brains. He’s very observant.”

Ricky’s laugh was a rumble in his chest. He kissed her on the nose.

Jodi blinked, not sure whether to be charmed or insulted.

“Appreciate the offer.” He threw her a conciliatory smile. “But the Chief has told me to keep away from the media, aka Ms. Jodi Ruskin, and I think I should chat with the charming Bonnie myself.”

He laughed at her outraged expression. “I’ll be sure to keep the door wide open.”

A few minutes later he was gone. Jodi glared at the closed door.

She began cleaning up. Almost all the cheese was gone. She grabbed a couple of raw carrots and a half-eaten tub of hummus and switched on the oven. Those Girl Scout cookies needed eating.

Good meeting, she told herself finally, enjoying the salty crunch and then the sweet warm flavor of comfort food at its best. Got some good leads. Got kissed on the nose.

It was only when she was slipping into bed that Jodi remembered her text to Dougie.

No matter, she decided, banging her pillow into shape. It wouldn’t hurt Bonnie to have to answer a few questions from the media about her relationship with the twins. It wasn’t like the daughter of the fire chief was excused from the scrutiny of the press.

And Jodi could always do a little massaging of the text tomorrow morning before the story went live.

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