Page 75 of The Voices are Back

The table took even less time, since I’d found them all made from repurposed barn wood.

The stuff was dry, original, and it went up like kindling.

The arsonist watched the paper towels burn, and then once he was sure that they would catch the other tables, he left.

“Babe, what is it?” Aodhan asked.

Stomach in knots, I watched a mini version of the man standing in front of me run out of my shop, then turned my eyes up to him with my heart shattered.

I did not want to tell him what I just saw.

But I showed him anyway.

He took the phone from my hand, his eyes wary, and looked at the video that was now on repeat.

At first, he watched.

I knew he saw the man leave, pissed as hell for not getting any service in the five minutes that he’d been standing there—that would be something I was going to talk to Martine and Theresa about. That was ridiculous. Nobody should have to wait five minutes for someone to show up.

There was no way in hell they were back there “not hearing anything.”

They were either not in that back room at all, or they were very preoccupied.

My bet was they were back there having sex.

Martine and Theresa thought that I didn’t know about their relationship—which was quite hilarious because even if I didn’t have cameras in the private areas, I did have eyes in my head. I saw the way they interacted when they were around each other.

Aodhan’s stiffening had me closing my eyes and dropping my head to my chest.

“What…” Aodhan paused, his voice ragged. “God, no.”

I clenched my hand into a fist in my lap, then slowly blew out a breath and stood from the bed.

While he was looking at the screen, I moved to get dressed, knowing that this was about to be bad.

Aodhan’s son, Bowie, had set my store on fire.

• • •

“No, the cameras weren’t working,” I said, voice firm and absolute. “I was having issues with my internet last week.” And I was. I even had documented proof that they’d come out. “And never got the cameras up and running again.”

I’d just lied to a cop.

I was going to look horrible in orange.

Sunny’s eyes looked at me, really taking me in, and I knew he knew I’d just lied.

His head tilted, and he said, “There’ve been some youth setting fire to some things lately. Porta potties, woodpiles at construction sites, playground equipment. I don’t want to say that this was them, too, but it wouldn’t surprise me.”

I gave him a solid look.

One that definitely portrayed my stance. I wouldn’t be backing down.

I wouldn’t be turning Bowie in.

I wouldn’t…

“It was Bowie,” Aodhan said.

---