Page 60 of Crash and Burn

“It is funny. So many things about Abbie were just about comfort. She was one of the first adult women I knew who fully understood that she was pretty, but that wasn’t her value. Right down to that she never married and she ran this boarding house.”

Maggie seemed caught in her memories for a moment, then she cried out, “Oh shit. I found it!”

Chapter Forty-Eight

Maggie felt the brick wiggle under her fingers. But it wasn't enough to pull it out.

Turning to Sebastian, she told him, “We need a chisel and a phone to document it.”

She pushed at the brick again. Jeez, she was such a lawyer. Over her shoulder, she called back, “Abbie’s toolbox is on the shelf in the laundry!”

Then again, he might already know. He probably knew her aunt better than she did. Maggie pushed that thought away as she continued to work at the brick with her bare fingers. But nothing happened.

When Sebastian returned, they began diligently snapping pictures, chipping at the paint, and trying to break it loose.

Sure enough, when it came out, it wasn't just a loose brick. It was ahalfbrick, leaving a space behind it. Sebastian was already reaching in for the folded paper they could see when Maggie gently pushed his hand aside.

“Can’t touch. There may be fingerprints or other evidence. Let’s photograph it like it is.” She sighed. “And we have to call the fucking FBI again.”

The last thing she needed was more fingerprint dust and more investigation. But that seemed exactly like what she was going to get. Though her fingers were dirty, she scrolled through her contacts looking for Watson or Decker.

“Let's call Marina,” Sebastian suggested softly. “Marina’s much more likely to share information. So if it goes to her first … I think it's perfectly reasonable for two average citizens—” they were not, not now, but Maggie didn’t argue it. “To call 9-1-1 rather than the local Bureau of Investigation.”

“Smart.”

Five minutes later, a knock came at the door. Expecting to find Marina Balero, Maggie swung the door open and was saying, “Wow, that was fast.” But instead, she looked directly into a broad chest. When she allowed her eyes to move upward, past the dark t shirt to the dark skin and broad smile, she found her friend.

“Kalan!” she exclaimed as she spotted Luke, Rex, Patrick Kelly, and his son Ronan standing behind him. Ronan was on A-shift, and the patriarch Patrick was an interim Captain. Two other Kelly sons were on units in Lincoln and Sacramento. Even in Nebraska there were Irish firefighter families. She loved them all.

“You found a sitter?” she asked Rex. It was a huge task for him to be here. Her eyes flitted from him to Sebastian, but there seemed to be no animosity.

“My first free day.” He grinned at her.

And he was here?She saw Luke motion to a pile of supplies on the porch beside them. There was a janitorial mop and bucket, a box of various cleaning sprays, paper towels, shop cloths, and more.

“We’re your cleaning crew.” Patrick announced proudly.

Why?Her head whipped around to look at Sebastian.

“You volunteer for us,” he said it as if it were no big deal. “So we volunteer for you.”

She couldn't help it—happy tears rolled down her cheeks. The house was so big that even just the task of just putting the furniture back seemed daunting. She’d thought cleaning the fingerprint dust was going to take days … except now it wouldn’t.

She opened the door and five large men blew past her, carrying all their supplies with them.

“Holy crap,” she whispered. These guys were no slouches either. The fire station and the engines shined. Their lives depended on the cleanliness and functionality of their trucks’ instruments.

Though she was still in shock, Sebastian was not.

Apparently, he had called them. If she hadn't already been tumbling head over heels for him, she was now off the cliff for this guy. With no parachute. And she didn’t care.

He’d taken charge, organizing them into pairs. Then he paused and asked Maggie what needed to be done first.

Before she answered, she caught his eye over the backs of their shoulders and mouthed the words,Thank you. His smile warmed her as much as if he was touching her.

“The kitchen needs to be first. Weneedthe kitchen. If we can't cook and eat, we're in trouble. Next probably the dining room. The living room, then upstairs. Then my office,” she said. There were so many rooms!

She was following them into the kitchen when another knock came at the front door. This time, when she opened it, she found detective Marina Balero.

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