Page 70 of Perfect Harmony

“It’s fine.” Gideon sat up and swung hislegs over the side of the bed and then glanced at his alarm clock. It was justafter one in the morning and he scrubbed a hand through his hair as Tank paddedinto his bedroom. The big dog had his own twin mattress on the floor in theguest bedroom, but it didn’t stop him from sneaking into Gideon’s room wheneverhe was feeling lonely.

Tank made a low huff before backing up andsitting in Gideon’s lap. His front feet were still braced on the floor, but itdidn’t make him any less heavy. Gideon grunted as a hundred and seventy-five poundsof dog landed in his lap.

“You okay?” Sophie said.

“Yeah.” He rubbed Tank’s side beforeresting his hand just behind Tank’s front leg. He could feel the steady thudof Tank’s heart below his palm. “What’s up, Sophie?”

“There’s a fire in town. Not, like, a massiveone, but you always say to call if there are any big emergencies in the night.”

“Where’s the fire?” Gideon rubbed Tank’s sideagain, and the dog’s tail thumped solidly against Gideon’s ribcage.

“Over at the Whispering Heights complex.Right now, it’s just the one townhouse, but Darryl says the one beside it islooking like it might go up too.”

Panic infused every molecule of Gideon’sbody. The Whispering Heights complex was Gracie’s complex. His hands already shakingfrom adrenaline, he pushed on the Great Dane’s flank. “Tank, move!”

“Sheriff? You okay?” Sophie said. “You sound…weird.”

“Tell Darryl I’m on my way,” he said.

“Okay,” Sophie said slowly. “But, the firedepartment’s there already, Sheriff. I don’t think you need -”

“I’m on my way,” he repeated and ended thecall.

He called Grace’s number, pacing hisbedroom with long jerky strides as Tank hopped onto his bed and laid down.

“C’mon, baby,” Gideon said. “Pick up. Pickup, baby.”

It continued to ring and when it went to voicemail,he cursed and grabbed his jeans from the hamper. He dressed in record time,calling Grace’s cell phone again as he did. The panic was eating at his stomach,making him feel like acid was leaking into his gut.

“She’s fine,” he said as he grabbed his keysfrom the hook by the door. “Just because she didn’t answer her phone doesn’t meanit’s her place that’s on fire. It’s late and she probably has her phone onsilent.”

Or, she’s ignoring your calls because she’spissed at you.

He slid into his SUV and backed out of the drivewaybefore speeding down his street. Fuck, he hoped so. Gracie could ignore hiscalls for all of eternity if it meant that she was safe.

* * *

“Hey, Gideon, you didn’t have to comedown. I told Sophie the fire -”

Gideon ran past Darryl without saying a word.The complex’s shared parking lot was full of emergency vehicles and he dodgedaround the firetruck. He skidded to a stop, staring in mute horror at the townhousesin front of him. It wasn’t Gracie’s townhouse on fire but the one next to hers.

Firefighters almost had the blaze out, but thickblack smoke poured out of both townhouses. Gideon charged toward Grace’stownhouse, his heart a racing, jittering beat in his chest while horrifying imagesof Grace’s blackened and burned body flickered in a reel in his head.

He hadn’t even gotten close to hertownhouse before a firefighter was stepping in front of him and shoving himback. “Sheriff, what are you doing?”

He shoved the firefighter away and surgedforward, snarling angrily when two other firefighters appeared and grabbed hisarms. “Get the fuck away from me!” He strained to free himself, shouting Grace’sname.

“Sheriff! Hey, stop! Jesus, what thefuck?” One of the firefighters shouted.

He tore his right arm free and when the initialfirefighter stepped in front of him, Gideon cocked his arm back to hit him.

“Gideon, enough! Grace is okay!”

He paused, the adrenaline still making hislimbs tremble as he stared blankly at the firefighter. “Daniel?”

Addison’s brother was in his full firefightinggear and soot covered his sweaty face. “Grace is fine, Gideon.”

“She’s fine,” Gideon said.

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