Page 20 of Burning for the Truth

“I’m at Drew’s house. He was here, Sterling. The arsonist—he attacked me.”

“I’m on my way,” he says before hanging up.

Once the paramedics check me out and deem me okay, Sterling is waiting with a solemn look on his face. I notice Dean is beside him wearing an unreadable expression. When I reach them, Sterling pulls me into him tightly. “What the hell were you doing here by yourself?”

I glance at Dean. There’s pain etched on his face, the color has seeped out of his skin and his eyes are downcast. He knows why I was here. He stares at the ground, unmoving.

“I stop by sometimes. But you’re missing the point. He was here. He’s not done. He told me it wasn’t about me before and it is now, like he was threatening me. I interrupted him I guess,” I recount the memory. Now that I’m thinking more clearly, I can’t help the sensation that crawls over me…that voice. I feel like I’ve heard it before, but he kept it gruff in an effort to disguise it. This is something I’ll be keeping to myself for now while I try to place it. The thought I could know this person is unacceptable.

He pulls back to look at me as Dean’s head snaps in my direction. “You’re not staying alone. You’re packing a bag and staying with us,” Sterling demands.

“The hell I am, Sterling. I’m not running scared. I’m going to catch him,” I fire back defiantly.

“This isn’t the time to let your feelings cloud your judgment, Bree. This isn’t a game.”

I stand directly in front of him. “I’m well aware this isn’t a game, Sterling. This is my life. You’re not going to stop me from hunting him down, and you’re not going to tell me where and how to live.” I poke him in his chest. How dare he try to control me.

“Hey, guys, let’s take a few breaths and calm down.” A voice sounds from a few feet away.Jake Boyd.He’s the owner ofGreendale Press. We all shift our attention to him, as Hart and Chief Trudeau make their way to us behind him.

“What are you doing here, Jake?” I ask suspiciously.

“I’m making sure you’re okay. Sterling left the party in a hurry. And to be honest, I was hoping I could help,” Jake says.

“There’s nothing we need help with right now. Go back home to Zoey and call it a night,” Sterling tells him firmly.

“Sterling, I’m only trying to help. Let me shine a light on this guy for the public. And if he’s reading, maybe he’ll get cocky and mess up,” Jake counters.

Sterling claps him on the shoulder and starts to walk him away. “I promise we’ll talk when there’s something to say which won’t compromise the case…”

As he walks Jake back to his truck, Dean steps closer. “Briella, let us help you. You’re not the only one who needs to nail this guy,” he says through clenched teeth, revealing his own anger.

I stare at him, and for the first time since the night Drew died, I really see him, not just the memories attached to all he is. I’ve been so busy holding my own grudges and working through my own pain, I’ve failed to acknowledge his.

“I’m all for everyone helping with this, but it’s not going to include me being told how to live in the meantime. Do you understand?” I pin him under my stare.

“As long as you understand there’s no way in hell you won’t have someone with you at all times until this is done.” He’s more serious than I’ve ever heard him. The man has balls, I’ll give him that. As I meet his unblinking glare, his stormy gray eyes are swirling and burning with fury.

Chief Trudeau and Hart come over, followed by Sterling. “Are you okay?” Chief asks. I clamp my mouth shut to keep from shouting to them all, if one more person asks me if I’m okay tonight, I’m going to scream. I don’t think I have the words “fragile, handle with care” stamped on my forehead anywhere, but it’s how they see me now.

“I’m fine. Let’s get to work.” They all nod at me as we enter Drew’s house and do a search. After an hour, all we find is a missing picture of me which Drew kept by his bed. It appears the lock was picked, so I’m going to get an alarm set up here until we get to the bottom of this.

Dean hangs back in the bedroom for a moment as the rest of us gather in the living room. This feels so wrong. “He violated something sacred tonight,” I say out loud.

They all exchange glances with each other, keeping quiet about whatever they’re thinking. Hart holds evidence bags and the kit to dust for prints. We all know we won’t find anything, but we’re leaving no stone unturned. “I’m going to get this back to the PD for processing,” he says before leaving and giving me a sad smile on his way out.

Chief and Sterling focus on me. “Briella, your brother is right, you don’t need to stay alone. It would seem his focus has shifted,” Chief says.

“His focus is ruining lives. I wouldn’t say it’s shifted,” I respond.

Chief surprises us all with his next remark. “You’re not to be alone, Briella. You need someone with you at all times or I’ll assign someone to you. That’s an order. You’re too close to this. If you won’t use your better judgement here, I’ll do it for you. I can pull you from the case all together; don’t make me do it. You do this my way so you’re safe and the case isn’t compromised, or I’ll keep you off it.”

I stand in utter shock. I won’t let him pull me off this case, so I say, “Yes, sir.”

He looks at Sterling. “Now that that’s settled, and I trust you’ll let me know how you plan to make sure it happens. Time to get some sleep.” He leaves and Sterling follows. I glance at a picture of Drew and I on the mantel below the television. I silently vow to play by whatever rules I must, to end this.

Dean moves to stand near me. “You can stay at my place if you want.”

I scoff. “Yeah, right. That’s not happening.”

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