Page 49 of Ink and Ashes
My heart rate accelerates and feels like it’s falling into my stomach all at once.
Candle wick tab.
I pull on a pair of latex gloves, then take the tab from Dom. Like the one I found at the barn, there’s some ash on it, and it’s dirty from being out here with the elements. But there’s no question in my mind that this is a candle wick tab.
Finding one in the barn was one thing. There were a multitude of explanations for why it was in there, so it didn’t really prove anything. But finding one out here? That makes no sense. There’s absolutely no reason a candle would be out here unless someone put it here. And that can only mean one thing.
“This town has an arsonist,” is all I say, keeping my eyes trained on the tab.
Dom swallows roughly, clearing his throat. “Yeah. I think you’re right.”
We lock eyes, both of us anxious and frightened, but I’ve also never felt surer of myself than I do right now. Finding this tab is the proof I’ve been looking for, and it shows me that I do still have what it takes to figure this out.
I’m right.
Before leaving, Dom and I take another quick look around and happen upon a second tab, which gives me even more strength and determination. We make the long hike back to the road and I drop Dom off at his place before returning to the inn.
As soon as I do, I get to work on finishing the article I’ve spent the past month working on. The evidence we found today was the final piece I needed before I publish, and now that I have it, I’m not willing to wait any longer. My deadline to have it included in next week’s paper is tonight at midnight, and I’ll just barely make it.
When I finish, I don’t let myself think twice before sending it off to George. Shutting down my computer, I exhale deeply, both out of relief and nerves. There’s a good chance that publishing the article might screw any chance of figuring this thing out. It’ll put a bigger target on myself, and it’ll probably only make the town more wary of me. But it’s a risk I’m willing to take if it means getting to the bottom of all this.
I probably should’ve told Dom I was writing it, but I also didn’t want to give him a chance to talk me out of it. I wasn’t even planning on submitting it for this week, but after what we found today, nothing will convince me this town doesn’t have an arsonist. It may be premature to start spreading the news through the town, but this article is my opportunity to make people listen to me. And with any luck, it’ll pull the arsonist out of the woodwork and give me a better shot of finding them.
I’m sure Colson is going to lose his mind when he reads this, and Dom is likely to question my motives too. But it needs to be said, and this is the only way I can force people to listen. So I try not to dwell on that anxiety—the damage has already been done. I’ve sent it off, and there’s no taking it back now.
Come Sunday morning, everyone will know that this town has an arsonist.
CHAPTER 18
Colson
Ihoped today would be a good day—normal, uneventful. I woke up before my alarm and managed to get in a quick run. I was going to come in early to catch up on some paperwork before shift starts at eight, and then the crew and I were going to spend the day running drills again.
On my way to the station, I stopped at Cedar Lane Café for a coffee and some breakfast. All was going great there too—I walked right up to the counter and ordered my usual, a black coffee and a ham sandwich.
While I was waiting for my order, I spotted Diane Patterson sitting in her usual spot reading the paper. There was nothing unusual about that. Until she turned the page, and the headline on the front of the paper caught my eye.
That’s when things changed.
It readIs Ember Grove burning by design?and the moment those words landed, all I saw was red. Red like the colour of Holland’s hair—because I knew she could be the only one responsiblefor this.
Which made the anger I feel toward her ten times stronger.
I stormed over to Diane, and she smiled up at me.
“Good morning, Colson.”
I shot my best fake smile back at her as I replied, “Hi, Mrs. Patterson.” I gestured to the paper. “Do you mind if I take a look at the first page?”
She handed it right over.
All the blood in my body ran cold as I stood frozen in the middle of the café, reading the article. When I finished, I stormed out of there without a second thought, leaving my coffee and sandwich behind.
That was forty minutes ago. Now, I’m at the station, sitting in the same spot I’ve been in since I got here—in front of Chief’s office, waiting for him to arrive so I can show him the article.
Aside from when I first told him about Holland a month ago, she hasn’t come up at all. Dom has kept the investigation with her quiet, so aside from him, Beau, and me, no one here knows what’s been going on beyond the fact that Holland suspects it might be arson. I’d hoped we’d be able to keep that part under wraps from the rest of the town until Holland either finally gave up and left or found some solid evidence. But given the article currently taunting me, she had other plans.
The tension in my shoulders has only increased in the time I’ve been sitting here, and every time my eyes catch on that headline, the anger burning in the pit of my stomach gets a little bit stronger.
