Page 47 of The Rainbow Recipe
Evie shouted into her mic. Reuben didn’t reply.
The throng of sightseers around them parted, allowing a six-foot tower of anguish to shove through. Wearing a reasonably sedate but fashionably slim suit in bright azure, Mayor Larraine frantically searched the throng. Seeing Jax and Evie, she shouted, “Reuben?”
Jax caught the mayor’s arm and steadied her on her high heels. “He’s still inside, looking for Jane Lawson.” Or clues. One never knew with the nerd.
Larraine studied the bulldozer as if contemplating climbing into the driver’s seat. Before she could, Roark shouted from the front of the crowd. A fireman joined him to help Roark drag another body from under the crumpled door.
“Jane,” Evie whispered as Larraine yanked away and ran for the man rolling out after the unconscious woman. Dressed in camouflage and black sweatshirt, the soot barely noticeable, Rube straightened just in time to catch her. The mayor in her bright blue hugged and kissed him and came away with black all over her front.
“I don’t think Rube’s used to public displays of affection,” Jax said wryly, watching the prof try to hold off the demonstrative mayor.
“Not that I wish Jane ill, but it’s a good thing our resident bigot didn’t see that hug, or she’d be spewing disgust all over the internet. I think they make a cute couple.”
They both glanced at the ambulance where the medics worked over the blogger.
Jane coughed, indicating she lived. That was all Jax needed to see. Reuben could handle himself, although he might be in over his introverted head with the extroverted mayor. “C’mon, let’s get you out of here before Loretta runs down to join the fun. Text her, will you?”
Holding Evie’s waist, Jax elbowed his way through the crowd while she poked at her phone. Before they reached the first quiet side street, both Reuben and Roark joined them.
“You let Ariel know we’re all okay?” Roark demanded.
“Not yet. She’s all yours.” Jax hadn’t spent a lot of time in his past keeping tabs on family, but then, he’d had very little family who cared. Now, he seemed surrounded by people who mattered—because of Evie. He hugged her again, just because he could. And loved the way she hugged back.
Roark snorted and held up his phone so Jax could see. “Ariel is sending information on all the reasons why Evie and Rube oughta go to the hospital and get checked out.”
His sister didn’t like phone calls so Jax let Roark text her back. Ariel wasn’t much used to caring about people either, but she was learning.
“I told Larraine to head for your office,” Reuben warned. “She doesn’t need to be out there facing off reporters on her own.”
“Good thinking. Shall we all repair there? Evie, do I need to order a milkshake for you?” Jax steered her down an alley as she sent her text.
“Water’s good, lots and lots of water. It’s way too early for y’all to start drinking, so soft drinks all around. Rube, did you see anyone else in that alley besides Nick?” She continued punching on her phone.
“I had the camera directed at the back door. I saw Jane let herself in. Nick walked past it. If there’s a connecting door between the bistro and the shop, he could have used that, I suppose. Maybe it’s not arson.” Dusting uselessly at his filthy clothes, Reuben broke into a jog as they reached the street where Jax had his office.
Larraine’s limo was parked out front.
“It’s arson,” Evie whispered to Jax. “And someone locked the connecting door.”
Twenty-four: Dante
Italy
Dante thankedhis driver and maneuvered his stiff leg up the villa’s stairs. He probably should have gone on to his flat in the city, changed clothes, and got some rest, but for the first time in recent memory, he was eager to be home.
He hadn’t left prepared for two days away. He hadn’t brought his phone charger. He’d worn the battery out keeping in touch with his student’s parents, the hospital, and the crew taking down the dig. He couldn’t endanger students for the sake of a tunnel adulterated as badly as Leo’s. It appeared as if some drunken Roman engineer had attempted to make a sewer of the Etruscan’s tunnel and botched the job. Except Romans didn’t use concrete of that ilk.
It was still early evening, but the villa’s door was locked. He supposed that was a good idea, even this far out in the country where intruders were rare. His empty stomach rumbled as he located his keys and opened the door. He sniffed eagerly to detect whatever scrumptious meal Pris was preparing. He’d slept at the hospital yesterday and only had a piece of pizza for supper last night. He’d hired a car to see his student home after the hospital released him this morning, then had the driver take him directly back here. He’d not had anything except a roll for breakfast.
No delicious aroma greeted him. Neither did the twins. Not that they regularly ran to him on the rare occasions he came home, but he’d thought lately they were getting used to him. He didn’t expect Pris to greet him. She kept a barrier between herself and the world, apparently for good reason.
She hadn’t evenknownhis students but had picked up on their terror. He didn’t think any of his weird relations could do anything similar. He’d spent a lot of the past day pondering how she survived in the real world, but whatever she did was too incomprehensible, possibly more curse than gift, if he was interpreting her correctly.
As he swung his crutch down the hall, the house echoed eerily silent, and a chill coursed down his spine.
The kitchen was dark. Without going farther, he plugged his phone into the charger on the counter and waited for it to boot up.
He had to sit down to read through the flood of messages.
