Page 76 of Scorched

“Seriously?” Seb leaned closer to the screen. “How did he get hired? Don’t you guys screen for firebugs?”

“Yes. I don’t know how he passed the psych test.”

“If he’s a sociopath and highly intelligent, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to fake it well,” Maggie said. “I read several case studies in law school on arsonists and serial killers. Those who were sociopaths fooled even those closest to them for years.”

“This means you have his home address, right?” Seb said.

Declan nodded. “It’s in my office at the fire station.”

“Good. Let’s go.” He looked around at the others, his eyes stopping on Tara. “I need to borrow Jace.”

She sighed. “I figured.” She turned around to look up at her fiancé. “Be careful, please? I really would like to get married tomorrow.”

“Babe, the only way that won’t happen is if I’m dead. And I don’t plan on dying.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I love you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Maggie felt tears swim in her eyes as she took in the look of love on her sister’s face. Not only was it a beautiful sight, but one she never thought she’d see on Tara again. Jace had really opened her up and helped her heal.

“Bring him back in one piece, Sebastian,” Tara said.

“I will.”

Declan touched Maggie’s shoulder, gaining her attention. She nodded as he silently said goodbye. The three of them left, taking some of the energy in the room with them. They were in waiting mode now.

Jenny clapped her hands, getting their attention. “All right. Now that we have that handled, it’s time to move on to how we’re going to salvage this wedding. Obviously, we can’t have it in the barn now. The weather’s going to be nice, if a bit chilly, so how about we set up out back of the main house? We have all those canopies we take camping. We can set them up and put the space heaters we use in the barns under them.”

“What about tables and chairs?” Lee asked. “They were all in the barn.”

“We can use our dining sets, and I’m sure our friends and neighbors won’t mind bringing their own.” She looked at Tara. “What do you say, honey? I know it’s not the wedding you dreamed of, but we can still make it beautiful.”

“I say we go for it. It’ll be memorable, that’s for sure.”

Jenny beamed. “Let’s get busy.” She ushered them all out of the room and took control, issuing orders better than any drill sergeant ever could.

In moments, Maggie held everyone’s house keys. She and Macy climbed into Declan’s truck to retrieve chairs from their homes. Thomas and Brady would go back for the tables later. There wouldn’t be a dining chair left in any of them once they were done.

Despite the late hour, a renewed vigor filled her. They would do what they could to make Tara’s wedding the best it could be under the circumstances.

After visiting all the homes, they drove back to the main house and offloaded their loot. Thomas and Brady had several canopies set up, and Jenny was on a ladder, stringing her Christmas lights around the first one.

“You have the house keys?” Thomas asked, coming up to her. “Brady and I are going to go get all the kitchen tables now.”

“They’re in the center console.” She picked up two more chairs and walked toward the canopies.

Tara sat on a chair, untangling more lights.

“This is going to look great,” Maggie said, depositing the chairs. “Maybe not what you dreamed of, but still amazing.”

“I know.” Tara looked up with a smile. “I have Jace and my family. That’s all that’s important.”

Maggie stepped over and wrapped her in a hug. “I love you, T. You’re going to have the best wedding ever.”

Tara snorted. “I love you too, but no, I won’t. It’s going to look like a redneck shotgun wedding.” She pulled back to look up at her. “But it’s going to be a blast.”

Maggie laughed. “That it will.”

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