Page 388 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“Tell them to hurry.” Addie’s voice shook. “If he’s out there, I want him in cuffs. There’s also a white pickup in the parking lot. I want an officer to take a look at it.”

“Copy that.”

It hit Jacob that there existed a shorthand between them. Some connection they had because both were cops.

Jacob wasn’t jealous. He didn’t envy the job they did.

He was just out of sorts, and this situation was far too weird. It made no sense. He liked his life, and he understood what’d happened to him by processing it through his camera lens.

The quicker Hank could get help here, the better.

“See you soon.” Hank hung up, and Jacob stowed the phone. “Anyone else you want to call? Russ, maybe?”

Addie shook her head. “I’ll call him later. I don’t want him to worry.”

Jacob nodded.

“What about your parents?”

He frowned. “Later is good. Not sure I’ll actually tell them, though. They live in Florida.” He shrugged, antsy for the fire department to get there already. “They moved there a few years ago.”

They also hated each other, and even though they were back together they’d made a point to ensure he knew he was the reason they broke up. Now he was out of their lives, they could make a go of it.

He was destined to be a point of contention between people he cared about. His parents. Hank and their coach. Addie and her mom. Hank and Addie.

“Have you been?” she asked.

Jacob blinked.

“To Florida?”

“Once, for Christmas.” He shook his head. “Eighty-two degrees on Christmas Day? That’s just wrong. It’s unnatural.”

She grinned, not lost in it but he’d succeeded in distracting her at least.

“Thanks for being here with me.”

“You like being in this situation?” She shot him a look.

“Of course not.” Did she really think that? “What I’m saying is being here with you is better than being alone.”

The truth was, he’d felt like he was alone for a long time. Years. Maybe ever since she left town, and took a piece of his heart with her.

Addie moved to him and hugged him. It was a surprise, but it warmed him that she closed the gap between them.

In the distance he heard approaching sirens. “I guess the cavalry is here.”

She stepped back with her cheeks flushed. Probably from the heat and the gathering smoke rather than any other reason. “I’m glad I’m not alone, either. Even if it was planned that I came here.” She shook her head. “Though that sounds crazy. I’m not sure anyone will believe it, even if it is true.”

Jacob nodded. “I’m sure you and the police can figure out what happened.”

He watched between the gap between the boards. When he heard a couple of firefighters come around the corner, Jacob kicked out a board in the middle of the wall. Not enough for them to get out, but it was enough to get the firefighter’s attention.

“Hey!” The two of them rushed over, and Jacob recognized one. “Zach, we need help.”

Zach Peters was a fire department lieutenant. He grabbed his radio right away. “Chief, they’re on the D side, halfway down. We can get them out.” To Jacob, he said, “Either of you hurt?”

Jacob shook his head. “How did it go with your sister and the doc?”

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