Page 8 of Scorched Secrets

“It’s not like I can even enjoy another cup of coffee,” Devon muttered glumly. “It’s pathetic how much I miss it.”

“Only sixteen weeks to go,” Rhy teased.

Colin grinned as Devon groaned. It didn’t take them long to wash and dry the dishes. When that chore was finished, Rhy led the way through the living room to the small alcove where he had a desk and computer set up.

“You should really use one of the bedrooms as an office,” Colin said as Rhy sat.

“I would, but it seems like every time I turn around, one of you is bringing someone here to stay for a while. Anywhere from a few days to several weeks.” Rhy turned the computer on.

“I thought Sami and Quinn bought a house?”

“They did, but they don’t close until the end of this month. They’ll move in on September first.” Rhy worked the keyboard for a few minutes. “No pending lawsuits against Faye.” He typed again, then added, “No outstanding warrants against Rory Owen either.”

“That doesn’t mean he’s in the clear.” Colin didn’t normally despise someone he’d never met, but from what little Faye had confided about her ex-husband, Rory deserved his ire. “This may be his first criminal venture.”

“Maybe.” Rhy glanced up at him. “Other than some bad debt, he’s clean. I’m sure Mitch will question him, but you have to admit revenge is not typically a motive for arson.”

“I get that.” He frowned. “Ninety percent of arsonists are white males from twenty to thirty years of age. Owen fits right in there. Maybe he’s been smart enough not to get caught before now?”

“Anything is possible, but you need more than his being an ex-husband to accuse him of a felony like arson.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Considering he was surrounded by cops, Colin understood well enough how the legal system worked. “I still think he’s the prime suspect.”

Rhy checked a few more things, then shrugged. “Nothing else is popping up here as interesting.” He turned in the chair to face Colin. “You know, maybe Faye needs to think back to any patients she may have cared for who suffered minor burns. Could be the arsonist got too close to the flames, then became fixated on her when she cared for him.”

“You’re brilliant, Rhy. That’s a good possibility.” Colin glanced toward the staircase leading to the second-story bedrooms. “I wish I’d have thought of that earlier. Not sure how long she’ll sleep after working five night shifts in a row.”

“Five night shifts? Brutal.”

“Tell me about it.” Colin shook his head, then grinned. “Faye puts me to shame. Makes my schedule look like a cake walk.”

“Your schedule is a cake walk,” Rhy shot back. “You don’t work nearly as hard as the rest of us.”

“Says who?” Colin lightly punched Rhy in the arm.

“All of us, Colin.” Rhy laughed and stood, giving him a playful shove. “We all say that.”

“You’re just jealous because the general public likes firefighters better than cops.” Colin glanced over when the front doorbell rang. He hoped it wasn’t loud enough to wake Faye. “I’ll get that. I’m sure it’s Chief Kimble.”

“How did he know Faye was here?” Rhy asked.

Colin noticed Chief Kimble standing on the porch through the window. “He doesn’t, but he’s here to talk to me anyway.” After punching in the code, he opened the door. “Hi, Chief. Come in.”

“Finnegan.” Chief Dorian Kimble was a tall, imposing man, still physically fit despite his age being somewhere in the midsixties. Threads of gray running through his dark hair gave him a distinguished look. There had been some talk in the neighborhood when Chief Kimble had married Claire, who was fifteen years younger than him, but they seemed happy together. Colin figured it was no one else’s business what their age difference was. “I got your message. What in the world is going on?”

“Please have a seat.” Colin gestured to the kitchen table, realizing Devon had made her escape earlier. Rhy followed him in, so he made a quick introduction. “You remember my oldest brother, Rhyland.”

“Of course.” Dorian Kimble held out his hand to shake Rhy’s. “I’ve always admired how you kids pulled together after your parents died.”

“Thanks.” Rhy always looked uncomfortable when given accolades about how he’d stepped in to keep the family together. To Rhy, it was just something that had to be done, there was no other option.

“If you and Devon want to head out to shop, that’s fine.” Colin wanted to give his brother the opportunity to leave. “I’ll stick around.”

“Okay, sounds good.” Rhy nodded again at Chief Kimble. “Let me know if there’s anything else either of you need.”

“Will do.” Colin crossed over to pour more coffee for himself and Faye’s father. “How do you take your coffee?”

“Black is fine.” Dorian shifted in his chair. “I don’t like hearing my daughter’s car and house were both started on fire. I have a call in to Mitch Callahan, too, but I know you were one of the first responders on scene.”

---