Page 60 of Nora
She doubted it. Not with the racket the alarm and the firefighters were making. But she didn’t know for certain and said as much.
“You need to leave,” the firefighter repeated. She didn’t want to. Not that she wanted to spend time with the victim, but it didn’t feel right to leave.
“Ma’am,” he repeated. In a tone she recognized.
She nodded. “Please try to preserve the scene.”
Another firefighter took her arm and led her out. She wasn’t sure if they were worried about her or if they thought she might be involved and wanted to keep an eye on her. Probably the latter, but she’d deal with that later.
The freezing night air hit her like a brick wall, and she started coughing. Her escort called for oxygen, and she soon found herself sitting on the back of a fire truck with a mask over her nose and mouth.
Pulling out her phone, she tapped the screen and brought up Lucian’s information. Thankfully, he’d turned on his location sharing as well. Based on the little blue dot, he was only a few minutes away and heading in her direction. When she’d asked him to go after the killer, she hadn’t thought twice about it. Lucian was capable and smart and despite having been out of AISE for ten years, some training never faded. But as she watched the firefighters move in and out of the building, she started to second-guess her decision.
He was obviously okay and coming back to her, but what kind of danger had she put him in? And what kind of danger had he stepped into because she’d asked it of him? It wasn’t like her to put someone else at risk. And she couldn’t decide if her decision that night was a sign of how much she trusted Lucian or a sign of her own selfishness, wanting what she wanted without thought for his safety.
“Nora!”
She whipped her head around to see Lucian running toward her. A firefighter stepped into his path, but Nora was up and scooting around him in a flash.
“Are you okay?” Lucian asked, wrapping his arms around her. She didn’t think about anything other than being near him. Burrowing against him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek on his chest.
“Talk to me, Nora. Are you okay?” he asked again, keeping his hold on her, but pulling back enough to look her in the eye. She wasn’t having any of that, and she hugged him tighter.
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
He was silent for a beat. “For what,amore?” he asked, his voice quiet in the night.
“For sending you out there. I didn’t think, I just asked you to go. And you went. He could have come after you. I don’t know what he was armed with—if anything—but I shouldn’t have asked.”
Again, he was quiet, but she felt his chin rest against the top of her head. Finally, he pulled back and raised a hand to her cheek. His fingertips traced a line along her jaw, and he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead.
“I’m fine,amore,” he said, his lips brushing her skin as he spoke. “You, are you all right? Please, Nora. Tell me you are fine.” He stepped back enough to see her and as her arms fell away from his body, he reached for her hands.
She sucked in a breath and yanked her right hand back. With the adrenaline in her system, she’d all but forgotten about the burn. Lucian’s gaze darkened, and he reached for her wrist. Pulling her hand into the light of the fire engine, he tugged her damaged glove off.
“Nora,” he said, his voice just a whisper. “She needs a paramedic,” he suddenly barked.
The same woman who’d given her the oxygen walked over, and Lucian held Nora’s hand out for her to examine. The EMT gave her a look, letting Nora know she should have mentioned the burn earlier, but she said nothing as she led them to the ambulance.
By the time Ben arrived, the EMT was putting the last of the gauze around her hand. Several neighbors had left their houses and gathered around the emergency vehicles. All of them were being polite and remaining a respectful distance away. But as the lights flashed across their faces, Nora could see their concern.
Ben’s eyes scanned the small crowd, and he motioned to one of his deputies. The young woman hurried off, no doubt to gather names.
“Are you ready to tell me what’s going on here?” Ben asked, coming to a stop in front of her. He was a man who could use his height to intimidate. And although she could tell he was pissed off, she respected that he kept his distance.
Nora glanced at the EMT, who told her she was free to go but that she needed to watch her breathing for the next few days. Lucian assured the woman he’d be keeping an eye on her, then together, the three of them walked toward the house.
“Is it clear, George?” Ben asked one of the firefighters.
“Yes. One body. She’s in a bedroom on the southeast side of the house. Although she can show you where,” he answered with a jerk of his head in Nora’s direction. George’s eyes bounced between her, Ben, and Lucian, but he said no more before continuing to the truck.
In silence, they walked through the house and into the bedroom. The firefighters had left the scene mostly intact, although they’d sprayed retardant on the walls and floor around the bed. The body was a blackened form; the places where her eyes, nose, and mouth had been were nothing but small, gaping holes.
“Do you know who she is?” Nora asked. “Or even if it’s a woman? I just assumed.” She gestured to the floral wallpaper and the doilies on the dresser. Lucian’s hand came to rest on her lower back. She wasn’t sure why he felt the need to offer his support or touch her, but she wasn’t going to complain.
“We’ll have to confirm with dentals, but if it’s the owner, her name is Jessalyn Anderson. Her family has been in the area for as long as anyone can remember. Her ancestors built this place,” Ben answered.
“How old was she?”
