Page 10 of Scorched Secrets

“He stopped by while you were sleeping.” Colin stood and came over to stand beside her. “Does the name Jayson Sanders mean anything to you?”

She frowned. “No, should it?”

“He’s our main suspect, right behind your ex-husband.” Colin took her hand and led her to the computer. “Take a look, see what you think.”

Her dad had been there? They had a suspect? She’d only slept three hours but apparently had missed a lot. She sat behind the computer, looking at the firefighter’s face on the screen. He wore his full dress uniform, and of course, he gazed unsmiling at the camera. Her father’s picture was much the same, so that part wasn’t surprising.

“I’ve never met him.” She glanced up at Colin. “Why is he a suspect? Firefighters put out fires, they don’t start them.”

“Not necessarily true, you’d be surprised at how many firefighters turn arsonists. Mostly so they can play the hero running in to put the fire out, but some just like to watch things go up in flames. Or are simply fascinated with fire.” He gestured to the image. “He’s a suspect because your father fired him yesterday for sexual harassment.”

She arched a brow. “Okay, I can see why he’d be upset with my dad. Seems like a flimsy reason to come after me. He can’t be the first guy to get fired for something like that.”

“Your dad specifically said he’d be tossed in jail if he’d have done anything like that to his daughters.” Colin held her gaze. “Trust me, he could be lashing out at you to get back at your dad.”

When he put it that way, it made more sense. She looked back at the man on the screen. “I don’t know, Colin. He’s big and broad across the shoulders. The person on the video didn’t appear to have that same build.”

“He could have changed, and the video may be deceiving. The image isn’t as clear as we’d have liked. Either way, Mitch Callahan is heading over to have a little chat with him.”

“That’s good.” She realized that if this Jayson Sanders guy was the one who set the fire, this entire mess would be over relatively quickly.

Except from the insurance company’s perspective.

“I need to make some calls.” Since she was sitting behind the desk, she used the computer to bring up her insurance company’s website.

“Would you like some coffee?” Colin asked as she punched the numbers to their claims line into her phone.

“Sure, that would be great.” She may as well have some, she’d be up now for the rest of the day.

The insurance agent who answered her call was nice enough, despite the fact that she would be costing them a significant amount of money. They promised to send an adjuster to both scenes and would be back in touch.

“What I need to do is find long-term housing.” She looked up as Colin returned with her coffee. She’d heard the coffee maker brewing, so it was clearly a fresh pot.

“I think you should wait on that.” Colin gestured for her to join him in the living room. “We don’t know that Sanders is guilty or that Mitch has him in custody.”

“I can’t stay here, Colin.” She tried to smile. “Your family is wonderful, but I can’t impose on Devon in her condition.”

“I’ll stick around, too, to help out.” Colin leveled her a stern look. “You can’t risk being found somewhere new, Faye. Not while this guy is on the loose.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Are you asking or telling?”

“Telling. Because if you did go somewhere else, and this guy finds you and ends up hurting innocent people, you’ll feel responsible.”

She scowled because he was right. “You’re pushing it, Finnegan.”

“Yeah? Sue me. I only care about keeping you safe.”

Rolling her eyes at his attitude, she sipped her coffee. The caffeine wasn’t working as quickly as she needed it to. “I can’t just sit here all day.”

“You were supposed to be sleeping.” Colin paused, then reluctantly added, “Your father made it clear you’re welcome to stay with him.”

She wrinkled her nose before she could catch herself. A flash of mirth crossed Colin’s features as she quickly added, “That’s very nice of him, but I’d rather not.”

“I thought you got along with your stepmother and half sister?”

“I do, but that’s mostly because we don’t live together. Once I left for college, I never moved back home. I was only there for a couple of holiday breaks, but even those visits were only a day or two.” She shrugged. “I’m happy for them, really. But I think my being there cramps Claire’s style.”

“We would really like you to stay here, then.” Colin’s tone was low and gentle. She didn’t doubt the offer was genuine. “At least until we know this guy has been arrested.”

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