Page 236 of Waiting Game

“—and why would someone commit arson if there was?—”

Before Garcia can finish that sentence, Rachel inserts, “Isn’t that your job, detective? To figure out the means, motive, and opportunity behind a crime before unfairly accusing an innocent victim of committing arson and insurance fraud on a bar thathas been a part of her family for decades?” Rachel taps her nails against the table. “I’m curious as to why you haven’t investigated Ms. Charles’s statement. Or was it easier to look no further than a woman trying to make her own path in the world?”

Garcia rolls his eyes. “Oh, yes, this random man in a crowd who held a grudge against her. Because that makes sense.”

“It makes more sense thanherdoing it.”

“Jason isn’t well,” I insert, earning myself a glower from Rachel.

Garcia demands, “Could you explain what you mean by that?”

I tap my temple, cowering as Rachel’s scowl darkens. “Everyone in the bar knows that he used to play college ball and was supposed to get drafted to the NFL until he got hit on the head too many times.

“He’s always been aggressive. Me throwing him out, humiliating him in front of his cronies, maybe it tipped him over the edge?”

“How did you humiliate him?”

“I kneed him in the balls,” I mutter.

“You have no other known enemies?”

Rachel murmurs, “You don’t have to answer that.”

Contemplating the question, I slowly shake my head. “No one that’d dislike me enough to destroy the bar.” I swipe a hand over my eyes. “Everything went up in the flames. A single jersey is all that survived.

“My uncle was beloved. Even if I’m not, it’s a big leap and I can only imagine that Jason has lost the damn plot. But he’s a macho man. I-I guess I should have expected retaliation.” My mouth twists into a grimace as I accept that I did expect it. Subconsciously. “I figured it’d be in a different way.”

“Different how?”

“I thought he might have cornered me one night. Might try to hurt me. Physically.” I fiddle with my cuff. “Maybe sexually. I never left the place alone. I was either heading out with one of my staff or Cole came to pick me up.”

Silence fills the small room until Rachel breaks it with: “And there you have it, detective. My client was taking steps to protect herself from this man who she clearly felt threatened by. So unless you have any real evidence against her, which we all know you don’t, you need to either arrest her or leave her alone.”

Garcia studies me for so long that nerves crawl up my spine, making me feel like ants are roaming the expanse. Then, at long last, he states, “You’re free to go, Ms. Charles. We’ll let you know of any updates.”

“No, you’ll letmeknow,” Rachel retorts.

Garcia concedes that with a nod as his chair scrapes back and he clambers to his feet to guide us from the room.

When the door opens and we’re led into a short hall, Cole strides over to me.

In less than ten seconds, I’m wrapped up in his arms and finally, I feel safe again.

Sagging into him, I hear him and Rachel converse over the top of my head about how either her paralegal, Susanne, or her executive assistant, Parker, will keep him regularly updated, but I’m too busy focusing on how differently that would have gone if he hadn’t brought Rachel in.

It’s only when we’re in his car on the ride home that I press myself deeper into his side, entwine our hands, and whisper, “You put book boyfriends to shame.”

He stills. Considers my words. Then, he surprises me by not gloating. Instead, he presses a kiss to my forehead. “You make it easy, Mia.”

Dionne: The bar was on fire?!

Larry: What the fuck

Beanpole: No way!

Jarvis: Mia? Are you okay? I tried calling but you didn’t pick up.

Dionne: I can’t believe this!

---