Page 59 of Saving Her Heart
She finally looks at me directly. "Only if you stop trying to wrap me in bubble wrap."
"I can't promise that."
"Then promise to try."
"Okay. As long as you promise to stay out of buildings full of gasoline."
A small smile tugs at her lips. "I think I can manage that."
I pull her into my arms, relief flooding through me when she doesn't resist. "Good. I didn't want to have to use my cuffs on you."
She laughs against my chest. "You wish, Officer."
My phone rings, breaking the moment. Captain Ramirez.
"Brad Hutchins wants to make a deal," he says without preamble. "Full immunity for testimony."
"Let me guess—he's rolling on Morrison and Valerie?"
"Like a bowling ball. Get back here. This is getting bigger by the minute."
I look at Building 3, now surrounded by crime scene tape and fire trucks. "We need protection on Kendall. Morrison's in custody, but Valerie's still out there."
"The FBIs volunteer!" Gladys shouts from where she's obviously been eavesdropping.
"Absolutely not?—"
"We have walkie-talkies!" Betty pulls out a Fisher-Price toy with Dora the Explorer on it.
"I'll stay with her," Eli says, finally appearing with coffee. "Sorry about the delay. Morrison told me you needed me at the station. I made it halfway there before dispatch confirmed you hadn't called. I doubled back, but..." He looks frustrated. "I should've verified immediately."
"He played you," I tell him. "Could've happened to anyone."
"Not happening again. From now on, I verify everything directly with you or the Captain."
"Classic misdirection," Florence nods sagely. "We saw it on NCIS. Or was it Criminal Minds? One of those shows with the attractive people solving crimes."
Two hours later, I'm watching Brad sweat through his cheap suit in interrogation. He's nervous, fidgeting, ready to spill everything to save his own skin.
"Morrison approached me two years ago," he says. "Promised me the property management contract if I helped push out Kendall. I didn't know about the development plans until later."
"When did Valerie get involved?"
"Six months ago. She and Morrison started their affair. He convinced her that getting rid of Kendall would solve both their problems. She wanted to divorce her husband, take his money. Morrison wanted the properties. Match made in hell."
"And the fires?"
"That was all Morrison. I did the vandalism and the flooding, but not fires. I'm not insane." He shifts uncomfortably. "I just wanted the job, not to kill anyone."
"You put cameras in my apartment." I remind him.
He has the decency to look ashamed. "Valerie's idea. She wanted dirt on Kendall." He pauses. "I didn't watch the personal stuff. Much."
My fist clenches, but I maintain control. “How did you get them in there?”
“Valerie said she’d handle it. I think she hired a professional surveillance company to install them. Used a maintenance master key she provided them.”
“How did she get the master key?” I ask, trying to piece the pieces together.
