Page 26 of Slow Burn
“I’m sorry,” Amber said a while later, her tone a bit exasperated. “It was a call from his lawyer, so he wasn’t prepared for that.”
Jocelyn gave her a polite smile. “It’s no problem at all.”
It was another twenty minutes before Ward finally emerged, his face flushed. He caught sight of her sitting there, and a brief flash of anger burned in his eyes before he blinked and looked down at his watch, swearing under his breath.
“Jocelyn, I’m so sorry. Lost track of time.”
“I don’t mind.” She tucked her laptop away, though anticipation rose sharp in her chest, like a match catching flame.
“I don’t have as much time to offer you,” he said, motioning her into his office.
Her face pinched despite the smile she tried to hold in place. “Whatever you can offer me would be incredibly helpful.”
Ward busied himself straightening papers on his desk, releasing a long breath as if her presence itself wore on him. “Even if we had more time, I’m afraid I don’t have much in the way of the information you’d asked for.”
Her heart sank. “Nothing?”
He sat. She didn’t.
“The report says more or less what we already talked about. The candle by the curtain in the master was the origin. Your mama was in that room, but she made no attempt to put it out.”
“Where?” Jocelyn’s voice came sharper than intended.
He blinked, unsettled. “Beg pardon?”
“Where was she found?”
A pause stretched, heavy with calculation. “On the floor.”
“The floor,” she repeated flatly. “Where on the floor? Near the window? The door?”
Ward’s lips went flat and pale. “Between her bed and dresser.”
The words sliced at her. For years, she’d pictured her mother asleep, swallowed in smoke and flame before she ever stirred. But between the bed and the dresser… That meant she had to have woken up, moved, tried to get out—tried and failed. And failed in a place farthest from escape.
“Can I see the report?” Jocelyn asked.
His hesitation was a physical presence. “It’s public. You can request a copy through the usual legal channels.”
Her brows drew together. Shehadrequested it. The copy she’d received held none of this detail. So either he had access to a different version… or there were things he knew that weren’t in the report.
She hated the thought, but suspicion rooted itself anyway.
Ward sighed. “I only suggest it because I’m not legally allowed to release it to you. It has to be through the legal route. For record integrity.”
“I see,” she said flatly.
He checked his watch, already rising. “I’m out of time today. If there’s another day you’d like to come by, you can check with Amber about my schedule.”
He shepherded her out despite her lack of response, and she gripped the strap of her bag tighter to keep the frustration incheck. Without much more than a nod at Amber, he marched out the front door.
Amber stared after him, frowning, before she turned to Jocelyn. “I’m sorry about that. He, uh, is going through some stuff right now.”
Jocelyn tilted her head. “Trouble at home.” She let it fall as a statement, not a question.
Amber’s sharp look confirmed it. “Yes.”
The glimmer of success warmed her, inspiring her to press further. “The chief said I could ask you to make me a copy of the report from the fire.”
