Page 78 of Spark
Simon clenched his teeth so hard, his molars were in danger of cracking.“Do not toy with me.Your last report on that investigation was that it had been shelved as a cold case due to lack of evidence.I want to know what has changed.”
“Just a swing in the dark, but I’m guessing they found evidence,” Runner said, and Simon mentally upped the body count on his To Do list.
For now, though, he needed the information.“As we’ve established before, I don’t pay you to guess.”
“You don’t pay me to set fires, either.I got you in the door and killed the containment systems.Thatwas my job.”At Simon’s silence, Runner let out a slow sigh, followed by the tapping of keys in the background.“Fine.I’m looking.”More tapping, then, “Huh, that’s interesting.”
Simon gripped the phone to his ear.He did not have the patience for this.“What?”
“Okay, it looks like the Arson Investigation Unit reopened the case after a search of the inventory from the fire scene turned up a HazMat suit.Or what was left of one, anyway.It was pretty badly damaged by the fire.But that’s not what has my Spidey senses tingling.”
Putting a pin in the HazMat suit, Simon prompted, “I’m listening.”
“The guy who had the case reopened is one of the rescue squad firefighters who responded to the call.The same one who was poking around at the scene a couple of weeks ago with that redhead.”
“Tyler Gates.”Simon never forgot details, especially not ones that could cause a threat.Damn it!He’d known Gates might try to play hero after he’d gone sticking his nose where it didn’t belong.But he hadn’t counted on the firefighter actually being smarter than he looked.
Not that he was as smart as Simon.There had been dozens of HazMat suits in the lab, and Simon had placed his where he’d been sure it would be destroyed, just like Leo’s DNA.This wasn’t anything to worry about.Gates might have had a lucky idea, but it wouldn’t get him or the Arson Investigation Unit anywhere.Simon’s plan had been perfect.He didn’t make mistakes.His suit had been destroyed.
“That’s him,” Runner said.“I’m assuming you want me to keep tabs on him?”
“For now,” Simon said dismissively before changing tack.He could deal with the firefighter if he had to, but right now, there were more pressing matters at hand.“Where are you on the witness?”
Runner’s pause was not a good sign.“I told you, it’s going to take time.”
“And I told you I don’t care,” Simon said in reminder.
“Look, this isn’t like an action movie, okay?I can’t just hit, like, six fucking keys and then tell you in a creepy hacker voice, ‘I’m in.’Real access to a highly secure database is like brain surgery, only with higher stakes, especially if I need to get in and out undetected.I can’t make it go any faster.”
You absolute weakling.His mother’s voice was cold in his ear.You think you’re smarter than Leo?Please.You can’t even get this one thing done.You’re worthless.You’ve always been worthless.Worthless.Worthless.WORTHLESS.
Just like that, Simon’s calm disintegrated.
“You have forty-eight hours to figure something out.I don’t care what it takes.I want the name of that witness, even if it kills you.”
25
Chloe fastened the last button on Addison’s wedding dress and started to cry.The tears weren’t unhappy, of course, but in less than twenty minutes, her best friend was going to marry her brother, and now that she was in her dress and veil, beaming into the dressing room mirror with her flowers in hand, Addison had never looked so beautifulorso happy.
“Ugh, no crying,” Addison said, tears forming in her eyes, too, despite the warning.“If you cry, I’ll cry, and then we’ll both have to fix our fake eyelashes.It’ll be a nightmare.Seriously, think of something that makes you happy, like baby giraffes or making the perfect Swiss roll or Tyler making goo-goo eyes at you last night at the rehearsal dinner.Right freaking now.”
Chloe laughed, her tears (momentarily) vanquished.“Tyler did not make goo-goo eyes at me,” she argued, making triple sure she had a tissue tucked neatly into the white satin ribbon holding her bouquet together.
Detective Isabella Walker looked up from the baby she was nursing on the couch, both caramel-colored brows lifted and a smirk on her face.“Uh, I don’t even need to be a detective to tell you that he most certainly was.”
“I know goo-goo eyes when I see them,” Chloe’s sister, Grace, agreed.“And, sweetheart, let me tell you, Tyler was definitely making them at you all dinner long.”
Giving in felt far better than it should have.“Fine.There may have beensomegoo-goo eyes,” she admitted.After Tyler had told Ryan they were a couple and Chloe had told Addison she no longer needed to keep the news under wraps, word had spread to their family and friends like wildfire.No one had seemed particularly surprised at the news, and Carleen and Miss Beverly had even shared a very conspiratorial look that said “we knew it all along” when Tyler had spun Chloe in for a kiss after the rehearsal.
Isabella righted the top of her pastel pink bridesmaid’s dress and tucked a milk-drunk baby Marisol into her infant stroller before turning back to Chloe.“You know what, girl.You two are adorable together.If you’re happy, I say bask in it.”
“That’s the truth,” said Frankie, her wedding band sparkling in the soft light as she rested her hand on the tiniest of baby bumps just barely beginning to show beneath her dress.“Take every ounce you can get.”
Chloe nodded, stepping back as the photographer got some last-minute photos of Addison and everyone did one last makeup check on their way to go line up for the processional.The last four weeks had come with more than one reminder of how scary life could get.But it could also be amazing, full of joy and happiness and—okay, fine—goo-goo eyes.Right now, Chloe’s heart was full to bursting.She had Tyler, and he had her.The HazMat suit that had been recovered as part of the arson investigation had the potential to put Leo Navarro away forever.Esme was safe, with a whole host of Dempseys, firefighters, and Intelligence detectives on her side.Chloe refused to think about murderers or arsonists or hackers today.
“I don’t mean to interrupt,” Sergeant Sinclair said, giving up a rare smile as he appeared in the doorway, his charcoal gray suit crisp.“But I heard there’s a bride here in need of an escort.”
“Hey, boss,” Addison said, her smile taking over her whole face as Sinclair came into the room and held out his arm.
