Before the Dawn

by Gail Chianese

He held out a bottle of water to her. She ignored it, kind of like how he ignored the fact that he’d blown her off for the past five days. The guys at the table didn’t even pretend not to be listening.

  He stepped toward her. Kat stepped back. “Let’s go somewhere where we can talk in private,” he said.

  Tossing his coat at him, she shook her head. “There’s no need. I came by to give this back to you and tell you thanks again for your help on the case. Have a safe drive to the other coast. I hope you find what you’re looking for in Seattle.”

  She turned to leave and Shawn grabbed her arm. “Kat, wait, let me explain.”

  Kat whipped around and pulled her arm out of his grasp. “Explain what? That you don’t have the balls to tell me it’s over? It was just a fucking fling, Randall. Grow a pair already. If you’re going to play in the big boys’ club, you’ll need a set.”

  A few of the guys chuckled until she shot them a look that would have shut up Satan.

  “We both went into the affair knowing what it meant, knowing it was going to go nowhere. That you were leaving. We were a couple of friends enjoying ourselves. I think your ego’s getting ahead of itself, because I don’t know about you, but really all last weekend was, was a good time. One that I’ll think about fondly for a few weeks until the memory fades. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date to get ready for. Ciao, babe.”

  Head held high, Kat walked out like the debutante her mother raised. She didn’t give a damn what any of those men thought of her, she’d never see any of them again. Come Monday, this life might be history. Rodriguez made a step in her direction. Kat blew him a kiss and kept walking. He was sexy as all get-out and she was sure he’d show her a good time, but she was done with men. First Paul, now Shawn. She was ready to hang up her dating card, focus on her career and putting herself back together. And there were more important things to deal with right then. Lexie would be home tomorrow and Kat needed to prepare herself to tell her best friend and business partner that she was bailing on her. Well, sort of.

  Going home didn’t sound appealing. She thought about heading over to the office, but work didn’t hold much appeal right then either. There was no way she was going to her parents’ house—not that she didn’t love them and enjoy their company, but explaining to her mom and dad she’d had her heart broken after a weekend-long sex affair made her stomach clench and bile rise in her throat.

  Instead she found herself at the River Run Bar & Grill, where at least she could get some food and be surrounded by people, even if most would be strangers. Inside, she took in the cozy atmosphere, a sort of pub and sport bar combined into one. Should she sit at the bar and look like a lonely, desperate woman trolling for a hookup? Or go sit in one of the booths and look even more pathetic? Not liking either of those alternatives, she changed her mind and turned to go.

  She heard her name called over the noise of the music and televisions.

  “Kat!” Bounding from across the room, with pale skin that made her freckles stand out and dark black hair, was her good friend Devin. She ran up and grabbed Kat, swirling her around in a hug until both were dizzy and laughing.

  “I thought you were traveling again!” Kat exclaimed.

  Devin dragged her by the hand to her booth. “Just got back in town today. I was supposed to meet my mom, but she had to work late. Join me. Don’t make me sit here by myself looking like some pathetic wallflower. What’s new? Is Lexie back from her honeymoon? You’re coming to my art show, right? Any new hot guys in town?”

  Typical Devin, a million thoughts flashing across her mind in a millisecond. Kat laughed and checked out her friend. Dressed in knee-high boots, skin-tight jeans, a cami and sheer black shirt, she looked like she’d blown in from a day in New York or Boston. Everything she put on looked fabulous and uniquely her. “Let me order some food and something to drink and then I’ll catch you up and you can do the same.”

  A young waitress dressed in black jeans and a tee emblazed with the grill’s name showed up with a menu as if on cue. Kat gave a quick look through the offerings and told the waitress her choices, only to turn back to find Devin staring at her wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

  “What? Can’t a girl indulge a little?” Kat tried to ignore the look, instead concentrating on a water stain, tracing it over and over with her finger.

  “Sure, if your name is Lexie Smith and you’re the queen of junk food. Kat Jones, she’s the health food addict. You just ordered fries and mozzarella sticks and an Alabama Slammer. What is going on? You haven’t touched fried food since we were in middle school and you never have anything stronger than wine.”

  Tears lit fires behind her eyes. Counting to ten, she concentrated with everything she had to hold them back. She refused to cry again over some guy. Even if that guy was Shawn and he’d seemed different.

  Devin took hold of her hand, stopping her endless tracing of the stain. “I know I’m not Lexie, but I swear whatever you tell me, it’ll be just between us. And if you need me to go kick somebody’s ass, I’m up for it.” The smile she flashed was pure evil and there was no doubt she’d follow through with her offer. “I’ll even bring the shovel and stand watch while you dig the grave if you need me to.”

  Kat laughed. “Ready to kick butt, but not get dirty, huh?”

  “You got all the rage. It’ll go faster if you dig.”

  The waitress dropped off their food, placing a huge basket of fries and a plate of fried cheese sticks in front of Kat while she set a salad in front of Devin. She followed that up with an ice tea for her friend and handed Kat a lovely, red, fruity drink.

  Something was very wrong with this picture and she didn’t care.

  A tentative sip made Kat wonder if she’d made a mistake. All she tasted was fruit punch, which was probably for the better anyway. The last thing she needed was a hangover. Picking at the fries and cheese, she answered Devin’s original questions before opening up about Shawn. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her friend. Telling her the intimate thoughts, the hopes she’d harbored, the crushing way it had ended brought forth unbearable pain and embarrassment.

  Flagging the waitress down, Kat ordered another drink. “You’d think I’d know better by now than to let some guy get to me. That I’d learned my lesson with the last one, right?”

  “I hope not, because that would mean that’d you closed your heart off to love. We can’t live without love. People were meant to be with other people. Kat, it’s as simple as that.”

  “If it’s so simple, why is it so hard to find the right one?” She thanked the waitress for her drink and took another sip, still doubting there was any alcohol in there.

  “I’m still working on getting all the answers.” Devin pushed the basket closer. “You might want to eat a few more fries and slow down a bit on those. They’re more potent than they seem.”

  Waving her off, Kat munched on a fry. “I’m fine, they’re like drinking Kool-Aid. So, we met a year ago, flirted a little, didn’t think much of it, just another pretty face and a great bod. Besides, I had Paul. Then he shows up on my crime scene a couple of weeks ago and it’s like BAM!” She smacked her hands together to emphasize her point. “It was like being hit with the chemistry express at full speed ahead. Yanno what I mean?”

  “Instant attraction.”

  “Wanted to jump him right there in the middle of an investigation. And oh man, he’s got the cutest dimple when he smiles. Even the old ladies at the insurance agency were drooling over him. He’s great with kids. Funny. Fun to be with. Can take a punch and kick some ass, too.” She twirled her fry, gathering her thoughts. “He gets me like no other man ever has.”

  “Sounds like every woman’s dream come true. Tell me more, like does he have a twin for me?”

  Kat threw the fry and grabbed her drink, taking a long pull on the straw. Devin had no idea how right she was. Shawn was definitely Kat’s dream come true. Well, right up until he dropped her like a case of STD. She studied her empty glass. H
mm, guess I’m pretty thirsty. She waved to the waitress to bring another.

  “Yeah, you know when I told him I was leaving the agency, he didn’t pass judgment. And man, the sex was incredible.” She took another sip of the fresh drink the waitress dropped off.

  Devin held up her hand, making Kat jerk her head back. “Wait. You’re quitting? Why? I thought you loved being a private eye?” She shoved the basket back in front of Kat, but Kat pushed it away. “Okay, wait, we’ll get back to that in a minute, finish telling me about Shawn. So far, he sounds perfect. What happened?”

  “He’s leaving,” Kat said quietly, fighting the return of the burning sensation behind her eyes. “I knew that. Knew before I got involved with him. Next week, he’s moving to Seattle. That’s not the part that’s got me upset. Well it is, because stupid me, even knowing he was leaving and that what we had, what we were getting into could never be anything, I still fell for him.”

  “And he doesn’t feel the same?”

  “Not even close. Agreed we’d enjoy the time we had together until he left. All very grown up. We had this amazing weekend together.” She had to look away as the tears slipped one by one from the corner of her eyes to slide silently down her cheeks. “The captain took him off the case, no big, it was to be expected, but he couldn’t even call and tell me himself. Not even a ‘hey, we had a great weekend, but it’s over’ call. He left me thinking we were friends and lovers, that I’d hear from him, and then he tossed me out with the trash.”

  Devin slid over to Kat’s side of the booth, wrapped her in a big hug and let her cry it out. “Tell me where to find him and I’ll go teach him some manners.”

  Her head resting on her friend’s shoulder felt good, a reminder that while she’d made bad decisions in some areas of her life, when it came to friends she’d chosen wisely.

  “Why do I always pick the wrong guy?” She really thought this time she’d found the right one, didn’t matter that he was leaving. Things could have worked out. People moved for jobs all the time. Instead he decided to treat her like she was nothing more than last week’s takeout leftovers.

  The bar had grown crowded with the combination of Friday night revelers and families. Music competing to be heard over the conversations at the table and the bar suddenly pinged around in Kat’s head. The room rotated to the left. “I need to leave.” She tossed several twenties on the table, grabbed her purse, and ran outside.

  Devin caught up to her outside, where she was leaning against the building taking great big gulps of air. “So hot. Thought I was gonna toss my cookies. Home.”

  “Good idea, I’ll drive you home in your car and then go home myself. We can come pick my car up in the morning.”

  “Kat, wake up!” Vinnie yelled in her ear.

  “Go away.” Coughing, Kat threw the blankets off, rubbing at her eyes. Either a haze hung in the air or her eyes were covered in sleep slime, she wasn’t sure which, but blinking didn’t help clear her vision. Moonlight peeked through the split in the curtains giving her just enough light to make out the room: big king-size bed, dark-colored comforter, stack of books on the nightstand, bushy thing in the corner, and what looked like the outline of a chair in another corner. She was in her own bedroom.

  “Kat, you need to get out of here. You in danger, girl.”

  She ignored the ghost and fought to get her bearings. She was in her room, not Shawn’s—that had been a dream. But why did the air press down on her and reek of smoke? She hadn’t lit a fire when she came home. Right? Wait? How did she get home?

  Thinking back, she remembered confronting Shawn at the station and flinched at the memory. She hated public scenes yet hadn’t thought twice about giving him a piece of her mind. When she saw him, memories of their weekend and how tenderly he’d loved her had flashed across her mind—and how quickly he’d dropped her sent her temper sky high and out of control.

  Okay, she remembered going to the bar. The bar! Those drinks should be outlawed. One minute she was fine and the next her whole world was spinning like crazy. Thank goodness Devin had been there to take care of her and get her home. “Man, is it hot in here. I must have really cranked the heat up when I came in.”

  Shoving the blankets and sheets completely off, Kat stumbled to her feet. “Whoa there, Nellie. Guess those drinks really did have liquor in them.”

  “Great, you’re drunk.”

  “And you’re annoying.”

  Using the wall for support she reached the door. Taking a few breaths, she tried to clear her head but came up coughing again. She planted her feet wide to stabilize her balance. After a few moments the room settled in place and she was no longer afraid she’d tumble down the stairs, so she reached for the doorknob. Heat seared the palm of her hand, jolting all of her senses wide awake.

  At the same time, Vinnie yelled, “No, not that way!”

  Now alert, she turned toward the window and noted the mist hanging on the air in the moonlight. Her bare limbs felt exceptionally warm for the middle of October, when they should be chilled. She slept with the house set at sixty-two. Glancing down to the door, she saw wisps of smoke curl under the door to drift up toward the ceiling. Fire.

  “Oh God. Pyewacket.” Her precious kitty wasn’t on her bed. Where was she?

  “Forget the cat and move,” Vinnie said.

  “Vinnie, find her. Please!”

  Dropping to her knees, she made her way to her night table and grabbed for her phone, but it wasn’t there. Crawling all over her room she searched for her purse. She had to find her cell phone! Her bedroom was on the second floor and didn’t have a balcony, but the porch was covered. “Where did I leave my purse?” Her voice bordered on the edge between panic and anger.

  “She’s not in the house. Kat, you’ve got to get out of here. The fire department is on the way,” Vinnie said before disappearing.

  Yanking on a pair of jeans, a tee, and shoes, Kat crawled over to the window. If she couldn’t get out through the front door, she’d simply slip out the window, drop the few feet to the porch roof, and then make the ten-foot drop to the ground. Easy peasy.

  Right.

  Pulling back the curtains, she was met with a wall of red and blue flames licking the side of the house and dancing merrily across her window. Mesmerized as a symphony of colors painted a harsh landscape before her, bittersweet acceptance settled over her.

  This was it—her final moments would be spent alone. No growing old with the love of her life. No kids or grandkids for her parents to spoil. No second chances. If she’d listened to Vinnie and stayed somewhere else, she wouldn’t be about to become a crispy Kat.

  Thick smoke burned her eyes, nose, and throat, yet surprisingly also kicked her stubborn streak into gear. She wasn’t going down without a fight. She pulled her tee shirt over her mouth and nose and crawled to the master bath. She grabbed towels, soaking them in toilet water since the faucet wasn’t working. Once they were stuffed in front of the bedroom door, she crawled back over to the window, took a quick peek outside and, seeing people standing on the lawn, she jumped up and waved her arms back and forth to get their attention. Mrs. Krepke from a few buildings down, bless her, was holding Pyewacket, as she waved back. The woman grabbed the person next to her, pointing in Kat’s direction.

  “Thank goodness.” Dropping again to the floor, Kat pulled her tee back over her nose, praying the firefighters arrived soon. The miasma of gray smoke filled her room now, leaving only a few inches of clear air down low. She’d heard the cry of the town’s alarm go off, the blare and honk of the fire trucks’ sirens as they made their way down the short few blocks from the station to her condo. Any minute they’d bust through the door or window and she’d be safe. People shouted outside but the snap and crackle of the flames as they ate at her bedroom door drowned out their words, lulling Kat’s eyes closed. She didn’t want to sleep, afraid she’d slip into an eternal rest, yet the agony from the burn on her hand subsided just a hair when she did, easing some of th
e pain.

  To keep alert, she made a mental list of everything she’d have to do this weekend. Tell Lexie she was quitting. Buy new clothes. Meet with the teacher she was subbing for to go over the lesson plans. Find a new place to live. Eat Miss Elsie’s chocolate cream pie.

  Find the SOB who tried to kill her.

  Because she knew in her gut, this fire wasn’t an accident. Sounded like a good plan to her. And then, after she kicked his ass for destroying her life and victimizing so many people, she’d start listening to her friends and family. Start making better choices with her life. If she got out of this alive.

  Nobody saw him sitting in his car. It had been that way all his life. It’s why he was able to sit across the noisy bar and not be seen while he watched Katarina Jones as she drank with her friend. It’s how he’d walked into her apartment after she stumbled inside, drunk, and was able to paint her apartment with gasoline. Without a single witness.

  Maybe he should have been a spy. He would have made the perfect covert operative. Invisible to all the beautiful, important people. He could have slipped into the Tower of London and stolen the Crown Jewels and nobody would have remembered him.

  Nobody ever did. Last in school to be picked for anything. Forgotten by his own parents. Even the people whose job it was to look out for children, hadn’t seen him. He had been invisible to all that mattered. Except that one time, which had altered his life and sent him down a new path. A much more interesting, bright, scorching path.

  A path that had brought him here, to this moment. It could have gone differently. She’d had a chance. In the bar. He’d smiled. Waved. And she’d looked straight through him, just like the rest. He’d taught her a lesson though. Fed his desires. Satisfied his beast, for now. He’d proven he was smarter than the rest, and as he watched the flames lick and crawl up the walls of Katarina Jones’s apartment, he smiled. He wanted to laugh and dance with glee as he watched the people scramble out of the apartment buildings while the firefighters raced to the rescue.