Page 43 of Too Much Heat

“No.” Maisy spoke up vehemently. “They love Jackson. I’m sure it wasn’t them.”

Jackson held Joe’s gaze. “Joe, remember when you told me about the odd things that happened to you? Tell Mick.”

“I already know. Joe filled me in the night of the explosion at Engine 1.” The chief’s face was taut. “I put Lieutenant Donovan on it, but there isn’t much evidence to go on except for the incendiary device.”

Joe felt like the top of his head was going to come off. “Are you saying that you think Jackson’s accident was the work ofmystalker?” His hands fisted. “It can’t be that. It can’t be.”

The chief stared at him.

“My stalker tried to hurt Jackson because he’s myfriend? Good God.”

Thomas leaned over and braced his arms on the chair. “I’m sorry, Joe, but the pieces fit together. Now, no matter how horrified you are, this has larger implications. First for your family.”

“I have ideas about that,” Jackson said. “Your parents can go to Syracuse to visit your aunt and uncle. Your sisters and husbands can go to Disneyworld. I’ll cover their expenses.”

Joe sat back and scrubbed his face. “That would be a relief.”

“Somewhat. But Joe, I’m not your only friend.”

“You are—” His eyes widened. “Oh, my God, Lara! You think she could be in danger?”

“I’m afraid so.”

His heartbeat thrummed. “You can’t send her and Sammy away?”

“No.” Mick answered. “She has to work and Sammy can’t hang out at a pool in Orlando.”

Jackson said, “You could send an officer to be Sammy’s aide. He’d have to live in, though.”

“There’s no extra bedroom.”

The chief said, “We can figure that out.”

Joe swallowed hard. “What about Lara?”

“We’re putting a guard on her. You and she will share the same one. You’ll be inseparable.”

Oh, great, Joe thought.Just what they needed!

* * *

“They’re sending your whole family out of town?”

Still in his uniform, as she was, Joe had followed Lara home after their shift.

“Yeah, compliments of Jackson. I can’t object when it comes to their safety. And the kids will have a ball in Orlando.”

“What about us?” Sammy asked, fully alert now.

“You need a new aide.”

“L-Lara found one she liked.”

“You can’t use him yet. An undercover guard will stay with you here, posing as your aide.”

Frustrated, Lara raked back her hair. “We don’t have any extra room.”

Joe gestured to the porch. “We’ll turn the porch into a bedroom. We’re going to replace the screens and windows today and put blinds on them. Hopefully, they’re in stock. If not, Jackson will find them.”

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