Page 75 of Exposure of Murder

“Thank you,” Jane replied.

First, Ethan stopped by his house to change into his uniform and catch Tanner up. By the time he reached the station, it was already midmorning. A few deputies were at their desks, including Rosie and Adam. He called everyone into his office.

“I heard about the fire at Jane’s barn. Is she all right?” asked Rosie.

He tapped his fingers on his desk. “As good as can be expected.” He looked around at his staff. “I need you all to investigate if there have been similar fires in the area.”

“Do you think this is the act of a firebug or random?” asked Adam.

Ethan shook his head. “I don’t know, but we’re not leaving any stone unturned. Jimbo, Evan, I want you two to interviewshopkeepers, some of the townspeople. See if they’ve noticed any strangers in town or conflicts.” He put up a hand. “I know it’s a long shot. Also, check with a Mr. Pomeroy in Berkshire, who sold the heater to Jane.”

Evan raised his hand. “Why don’t we put something in the newspaper? It might jog someone’s memory.”

“I’ll call Olivia at theBeaver Creek Newsa little later,” said Ethan. “Rosie and Adam, I need to stop by the fire department. When I get back, we need to go over all the information we have so far and double-check everything.”

“Any questions?” Ethan looked around. Everyone shook their heads and walked out.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, clasped his hands on his stomach, and closed his eyes. He would call Sean in a few minutes but couldn’t help wondering what it was about Jane’s farm that was attracting so much interest. The farm had been there for a good hundred years, and he didn’t remember Mr. Jenkins having problems like this.

David Thornton had to be the impetus for the continuing crime, but why? And who was he working with?

Thirty-Eight

Claire finally left after making Jane promise that if she needed anything, she would call. It was thoughtful of her to stop by and it felt good to know she had friends she could count on.

Jane sat at the kitchen table and stared blankly into nothing.

The quietness of the room overwhelmed her as she thought about everything that had happened. What a night it had been. Fun until it wasn’t. But she was grateful Ethan, Tanner and Leah were with her.

Today she would deal with calling the insurance company, pick Bucky up and … make time to cry. She needed the release, but everything had happened so fast, she hadn’t had time to process it.

Later Ethan would be over, and she hoped Scotty would stop by as well. It would be another stressful day, but at least she was able to sleep last night. Just knowing that Ethan held her until she fell asleep was comforting. She wondered what it would be like to have him in her bed every night, but he probably wasn’t ready for that. Yet.

She wasn’t sure she was either. They were just getting to know each other. While she admired and liked everything about Ethan, in the back of her mind, she wondered if he was ready for another relationship. He mourned Corrine for a year—an incredibly long time to grieve.

She thought about Mike a lot. Not every hour of every day as she had when he first passed away, but fond memories would pop up out of nowhere, and she relished them. Mike would always be in her heart, a part of him that she would carry forever.

But she knew he’d be upset if she wasted her life never loving another person. He would want her to find happiness again, to love again. She was ready. Ready to move forward with someone. Someone like Ethan who made her feel safe and cherished.

Ah. The affairs of the heart. What was that famous quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson? Oh yes, “’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”She believed that with her whole heart, and while that love also caused her pain in the past, she would always be grateful for the love she and Mike shared.

This new feeling for Ethan brought a mixture of fear and hope to Jane’s heart. Loving again meant risking everything, but it was a chance to build something special—a future together. And that was a risk she was willing to take.

Jane looked at her watch. Dang. Eleven o’clock. It was time to check on Bucky. The doctor said he would be ready before noon. He would need some clothes, and they could stop at his apartment on the way back. His car was still at the barn, so he would have transportation home whenever he wanted to leave.

She grabbed her purse, put on her coat and got in the car for the twenty-minute drive to the hospital. She’d check out the greenhouse later. Looking at it now would only cause her more pain. Tanner was outside working. She waved and continued.Luckily, traffic was light, and she found a parking space close to the hospital entrance.

Walking into the hospital reception, she found out which room Bucky was in, pinned on her visitor pass, and took the elevator up to the third floor. The corridor was quiet, with the hum of conversations, the occasional beeping of machines and the scent of antiseptic. She stopped at the nurse’s station to tell them she was here to bring Bucky home, and the young nurse behind the desk told her she’d come right in with the discharge papers.

Bucky was sitting up in bed, flipping through the television mounted on the wall. He still looked pale and had dark circles under his eyes and a smaller bandage around his head.

“Hey, Bucky,” Jane said as she came closer to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

He looked over at her. “Been better,” he replied and gave her a small smile.

“Ready to blow this joint?”

“More than.”

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