Page 70 of Scorched

When they broke for lunch, all they had left to decorate were the rafters. Tara wanted lights strung through them. She also had some large floral arrangements to put on the support beams. But for the moment, it was break time.

Maggie piled a plate high with a ham sandwich, chips, and a pickle before sinking into a chair at a table with a groan. It felt nice to sit. She picked up her sandwich and took a bite, glancing up as Declan came up beside her. He put a bottle of water down in front of her, then sat down.

She swallowed. “Thanks.”

He nodded and picked up his own sandwich. Maggie crunched a chip and looked around at all their handiwork. The space looked great. She could imagine how it would look once they finished. It would be amazing and definitely reflect her sister and Jace.

“How are your ribs?” she asked Declan, looking at him.

“Sore, but not too bad. I’m good.”

“Did the doctor say when you could return to full duty?” She didn’t ask that question yesterday when she took him to see his surgeon. He walked out of the clinic with a big smile and demanded to drive.

“At least two more weeks. I am allowed to do some light exercise now, though. He gave me some strengthening exercises to do.”

Maggie was about to ask if he tried them yet, when Seb’s phone rang. It was likely nothing, but she got nervous now any time his phone chirped.

Everyone else must have felt the same way, because all conversation stopped as he answered.

“Yeah, Katie?”

Maggie held her breath. She hoped Katie found something to point them toward whoever blew up her car.

“Okay, thanks.”

He hung up and looked around at everyone before zeroing in on her. “No usable fingerprints or DNA, but she was able to piece together a detonator. It was a cellphone. And she found an intact SIM card. I need to go put together a warrant to give to the phone service providers in the area for phone call data from the time of the explosion.” He stood, bending over London to give her a quick kiss.

“Do you need me to come?” Jace asked.

“No, I should be fine. I’ll pull in Wilder and Gentry if I need help. Unless the world crashes down around us, you are off until you get back from your honeymoon.”

London smacked his leg. “Hush. Don’t jinx us!”

He grimaced. “Sorry. I’ll see you guys later.”

They waved and murmured goodbyes as he dashed out of the barn. Maggie pushed her plate away, her appetite gone now with the mention of her car. She knew her mood should be buoyed that he had a lead, but it just brought back the fear. That someone could get to her so easily was unsettling. She still didn’t know why she wasn’t dead.

Needing to do something, she got up.

“You didn’t finish your lunch,” Declan said.

“I wasn’t as hungry as I thought I was. I’m going to get back to work.”

“That’s bullshit. You eat more than some men I know.” He stood next to her and took hold of her elbow, ushering her away from the others.

“Deck, what are you doing?” she hissed.

“You’re going to tell me what’s bothering you.” He dumped both their plates in the trash on the way out of the barn and led her around the side where it was quiet. “Talk. What’s wrong?”

She huffed and stared past his shoulder at the pasture beyond. “Nothing. We had a big breakfast, so I didn’t want as much lunch.”

“Try again, Mags.”

She crossed her arms and cocked a hip, glaring up at him. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. I can read you like a book, remember?”

Dammit. He was right. It was annoying. She dropped her arms and looked at the sky for a moment. “Fine. Talk of the bomb brought back all the fear, okay? I thought I was past it, but it’s all come flooding back. It’s scary how close someone came. How close I came to—” She broke off, unable to voice the thought aloud.

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