by Dakota Rebel
“Alright,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Don’t act like Abby didn’t call you.”
“Well, we know how private you are,” Todd said.
“Whatever. If you didn’t know where I was for three days y’all would have canvassed door to door looking for me.” I dropped into my chair at my desk and turned away from them, hiding the smile that I couldn’t wipe off my face.
“So, when are you two getting hitched?” David asked, walking over and spinning me back around.
“Thursday,” I said, shrugging nonchalantly but ruining it with a grin. “We’re just going down to city hall. Something quiet.”
“Of course,” David agreed, clapping me on the back. “The four of us, mom and dad, the girls…minus Corrine.”
“Yeah, well, no,” I corrected him. “Her and I.”
“Fuck that,” David argued. “I’m not missing your wedding.”
“Yeah, fuck that,” Kyle echoed.
“Guys. Corrine is still in the hospital. If she can’t be there, none of you can be there. She’ll be so pissed as it is.” I shook my head. “Please.”
“Fine,” David groused. “But when she gets sprung, at least let us throw a party.”
“I’m a little over parties in this town,” I admitted. “Let’s catch the bug first. Then we’ll talk about letting my entire family gather in the same space again, okay?”
It was fucking awful that I had to even consider things like that. The past three days with Abby had been the best of my life. But walking back into the real world had reminded me what the town was dealing with. And none of us had any answers.
“Excuse me,” a woman’s voice said from the doorway. “I’m looking for Todd Montgomery.”
“That’s me,” Todd said, walking over holding out his hand. “How can I help you?”
“I’m Claudia Phillips,” she said, shaking his hand. “From the state arson investigation unit.”
“I wasn’t aware anyone had called you?” Todd said, shooting a glare at Kyle.
Kyle shook his head, raising his hands in a defensive motion.
“No one called us,” she said, raising an eyebrow at Todd. “I understand you’ve been looking into the prison fire that occurred a few years ago.”
“Yeah,” Todd agreed. “Come on in, sorry. Have a seat.” He ushered the woman into the office and offered her his chair, then hopped up to sit on the desk. “So, how can I help you?”
“You can help by leaving the issue alone,” she said.
“It’s public record,” Kyle said, interjecting himself into the conversation. “We have every right to those files.”
“The files are not public record,” Claudia corrected him. “It’s still an open investigation, and therefore files are classified.”
David and I inched closer to them, both trying to be inconspicuous.
“What do you mean the investigation is still open?” Todd questioned her. “It was deemed an electrical fire.”
“No, it was publicized as an electrical fire,” she said.
“Is that why I can’t get at Bill Critch’s autopsy report?” David asked angrily, stepping forward and glaring at Claudia.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” she asked, tilting her head and staring up at my brother.
I stared at David. I had no idea he’d been trying to get Bill’s autopsy. I was flattered that he’d cared so much about my worry that he’d go to such lengths for me. Of course, knowing him, if he’d managed to get his hands on it, he probably would have given it to me as a late birthday present. Just what every guy wants.
“David Montgomery,” he introduced himself to her. “Pleasure. Please answer the question.”
“You can’t get at the autopsy files, because there wasn’t an autopsy. Each inmate died, alone, in each cell. They didn’t need to do autopsies because the cause of death was clear. What’s not clear, still, is the cause of the fire.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what you boys are thinking digging into this mess. But the state is requesting that you cease inquiries immediately.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen,” Kyle said firmly. “We have our own investigation happening in Montgomery Valley, and that case may have clues we need to catch our perp.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked sharply, her gaze snapping to Kyle.
“We have an arsonist plaguing our town,” he admitted. “And we’re starting to wonder if it’s connected to the prison fire.”
“And you didn’t feel the need to report this to the state?” she asked, getting to her feet, her gaze blazing.
“We’re not required to check in with you about local matters,” Todd snapped.
“How bad is the situation?” she asked, ignoring Todd.
“Bad enough,” Kyle admitted.
I was suddenly sorry I’d even come into the office today. One more day and I could have avoided standing there like a moron, with nothing to contribute, while my family battled a bureaucrat in the middle of the office.
Though, it was more like Todd and Kyle were battling her…and my brother was practically drooling. I reached over and pushed his chin up, making him shut his mouth.
He shot me a glare and I laughed, which drew everyone’s attention to me.
“Sorry,” I said, holding up a hand in apology. “I just got a joke David told me last week. Please, continue yelling at each other. It’s super helpful.”
“And you are?” Claudia asked.
“Daniel Montgomery, paramedic, recovering alcoholic. Nice to meet you.” I shook my hand in a wave. “Also, leaving. Y’all have fun.”
“Wait,” she said, walking over to me. “You’re Daniel Montgomery?”
“Yes ma’am,” I confirmed.
“You wrote to Bill Critch in prison,” she said.
“I did.” I raised an eyebrow. “How do you know that?”
“All mail coming into the prison is logged. The letter arrived the day of the fire. I’ll need to know what you wrote to him.”
“Well, I actually have the letter. It never made it to him. It was returned stamped deceased. I have it at home.” I looked at her suspiciously. “Did Bill Critch really die in that fire?”
“Records show he did,” she said cagily before turning back to Todd. “I’m going to need to see your reports on your local fires. And I’ll be staying for a few days, so if you could point me in the direction of a hotel?”
“You can stay at my place,” I offered with a shrug.
She turned back and raised an eyebrow at me.
“No!” I said quickly, laughing. “I’m not living there. I can have it cleaned up and ready for you this afternoon.”
“Would you excuse us?” Todd said, stepping around her and grabbing my arm, pulling me outside. “What the fuck, man? You’re just going to offer the narc a place to sleep?”
“Dude, we need help. And if she’s got information about that fire, about Bill, I want to know it. So be nice. I think there’s a lot more going on here than we realized.” I looked over his shoulder and saw David still staring at Claudia. “Besides, I think David might be sweet on her.”
“Jesus,” Todd hissed. “You get back with Abby and suddenly you want to play matchmaker with your brother and the statie. God help us.”
“Todd, this may be our best chance to stop these fires.” I put a hand on his shoulder. “This one can’t be about who solved the case. It needs to just be about getting it solved. So swallow your pride and go make nice with her. Please.”
He shook his head, but went back inside while I headed for my truck so I could go home and clean up for my guest.
I called Abby on the way and filled her in on what was going on, and she had news of her own for me.
“Corrine’s awake,” she said. “They still don’t want too many people inside the room, but she’s doing well.”
“That’s fantastic,” I said, breathing out a sigh of relief. “What time do you work tonight?”
“I’m leaving in about tw
o hours,” she said.
“Okay, I probably won’t make it home before then, but I’ll come up to the hospital tonight to see Corrine and I’ll track you down there.”
“Sounds good babe,” she said. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
We hung up and I started to wonder if Todd was right. Was I finally so happy that I wanted to see everyone else around me happy too? Probably.
After all, hadn’t we been miserable long enough?
Sure, we were still dealing with the fire bug, and Corrine wasn’t out of the woods yet. But she was awake, and we finally had some help on the case, even if the guys weren’t sure they wanted it yet.
And best of all, Abby and I were getting remarried.
So no, we weren’t out of the woods yet. But I could finally see the sun shining through.
And that wasn’t nothing right now.
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About the Author
Dakota Rebel is a bestselling author and a very slow distance runner who dreams of racing Badwater.
She lives in a perpetual state of exhaustion with her happy husband and two incredibly spoiled children.
Dakota loves to talk to her readers and can be found at www.dakotarebel.net
