Page 9 of Scorched Secrets

“Just at the parking garage,” Colin said. He sat across from Dorian. “You should know Faye is resting in one of the guest rooms upstairs after working several night shifts in a row.”

“She is?” The chief’s eyebrows levered up. “I assumed she went to our home.”

Colin shrugged. “Devon had breakfast ready for us, so it worked out. Besides, I don’t think she was able to reach Claire.”

“Okay, that’s fine.” He didn’t look surprised that Claire was out and about. “Tell me what happened.”

Colin described the morning events in detail, starting with the car fire and then discovering the second fire at her home. To his credit, Dorian didn’t interrupt but waited until he’d explained everything, even the injury to the two firefighters and how Faye herself had jumped in to provide medical care to them.

“She’s an amazing physician,” Dorian said in a low voice. “I’m so proud of everything she’s accomplished.” Then he scowled. “Has anyone found her useless ex-husband yet?”

“No, but you should know Faye doesn’t think setting fires is something Rory Owen would do.” He shrugged. “I’m not saying that clears him, but she has a point. You and I both know that arsonists are a different breed of criminal.”

“They are.” The chief stared down at his coffee for a long moment, before lifting his gaze to his. “I think this is my fault.”

Colin’s gut clenched. “What do you mean?”

Dorian sighed heavily. “How many arsonists are current or former firefighters?”

Colin whistled softly. “Roughly thirty-five percent.”

“Exactly. You need to know, I recently fired one of my captains, Jayson Sanders.”

It was Colin’s turn to be surprised. “You did? When?”

“Yesterday.” Dorian scowled. “I hadn’t made the announcement yet, so this isn’t well known, but I will tell you Jay was extremely upset with me. Told me I’d regret my actions as he stormed out of my office.”

“Do you mind if I ask why you terminated him?”

“There were claims of sexual harassment from the two female firefighters working for him.” The chief’s gaze was grim. “I questioned both women, and while most of the harassment was verbal, he’d groped Julie a couple of times. That behavior is unacceptable. And I told him as much.”

“I agree.” It made Colin angry to think about what the female firefighters had suffered.

“It’s not a stretch to think that Jay would seek revenge against my daughter for my actions,” Dorian said, his brow furrowed with anger. “Especially since I may have mentioned if those female firefighters were either of my daughters, he’d be sitting behind bars.”

No, that was not a stretch. Colin was glad to have a lead, but as he texted Mitch Callahan, he silently prayed they’d find Jayson Sanders before he struck out against Faye again.

Chapter Three

Faye woke to the bright sunlight beaming through a crack in the curtains that just happened to be shining directly in her face. Swallowing a groan, she rolled to the side and blinked at the clock on the nightstand, trying to see. She’d slept for three hours, which was longer than she’d expected.

But not long enough to feel refreshed and energized.

Rolling back, she threw her arm over her face, debating whether she should get up to close the drapes tighter to get more sleep. As much as her body needed the rest, her mind immediately went back to the fires in her car, and her house.

It was still difficult to believe her house was gone. Likely very little would be salvageable. And she still needed to contact her insurance company. She didn’t doubt they’d drop her faster than a hot potato after paying these two claims.

And she needed to talk to her father too.

That thought had her staring up at the ceiling. Yep, it was no use. She wasn’t getting any more sleep. Dragging herself out of bed, she stumbled toward the bathroom. Colin had told her to make herself at home, so she decided to take a quick shower.

Too bad she didn’t have fresh clothes to change into. Her scrubs would have to suffice.

Feeling slightly better, she made her way down to the first floor. It was so quiet she wondered if she was alone in the house. Then her gaze landed on Colin who sat in a small alcove off the main living space.

“Hey, I didn’t expect you to get up so soon.” His sharp gaze didn’t seem to miss a thing. “If you need to change into something else, we can see what might fit you from Elly’s closet.”

“No, it’s fine.” She was self-conscious of the fact that she sported more curves than Elly, at least from what she remembered. “I was just about to call my dad.”

---