Erin felt like she’d seen a ghost. She sprinted to the office, slammed the door and locked herself inside. Had she seen what she thought she’d seen or was it her mind playing tricks on her.
It was the hat first. Navy blue with red writing. She was sure she’d seen that in the woods. It said SWFD with the fire badge. On the back Chief was written in the same red embroidery.
There was no way that the chief had set that fire. Maybe he’d seen it and run for help? What would prompt a fire chief to set one or possibly more fires in his town?
The questions came fast and furious. She glanced out the window toward the station. No one was out front. They were most likely still trying to put out the fire. What was the chief saying to Seth?
She coughed up some black phlegm from the fire. She looked down at her sweat stained clothes smeared in ash. She could have been killed, burned to death on top of that mountain, not even one of the best mountains on the island.
She did what she did when she was stressed, she sat at the computer and started writing. A few paragraphs in she pulled out the notes she’d been taking on the fire department. When she finished the article, she looked around the office. It was dark. She hadn’t turned on a light or realized that the sun had set.
She was pleased with the story, talking about the men who worked so hard to keep Serenity Harbor safe from stampeding sheep to putting out fires and saving lives. The article was very personal and although she had questions about the chief and there were no quotes from him, the article was fair and complimentary.
She opened another document and started typing questions.
Who is the Serenity Harbor fire chief?
When did he start working here?
Where was he before this?
She Googled Mark Morris. Nothing of interest. He was divorced just before he came to Serenity Harbor. Irreconcilable differences, which could mean anything. A picture of him in the navy blue hat with the red writing sent a chill through her body. She snapped on the light sitting on her desk vanquishing the darkness.
Her phone rang.
Startled, she glanced at the caller ID. Seth.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?” he demanded.
“I’m at the office. I’ve been writing.”
He huffed. “I’m at your apartment, actually in it, since you didn’t lock it. I thought we talked about that. Never mind that. Stay where you are. I’m coming to you.”
Why did he have to make it sound like she was in danger? Did he know something she didn’t? Had the chief said something that concerned him, something about her safety?
Her heart gave a hard thump, then started galloping.
She pressed the end button and looked at her research. Nothing suggested that Chief Morris was dangerous and she hadn’t ticked anyone off recently, other than him.
It took Seth 10 minutes to start banging on the locked office door. “Erin! Let me in.”
With Seth in the office, she relaxed a little.
“What’s going on? You’re scaring me? Am I in danger?”
He wrapped her in a hug.
“Of course not. I was worried about you. You had quite an ordeal today. I wanted to make sure you weren’t having any trouble after being trapped by the fire. Why would you be in danger?”
She collapsed in the chair. He scooted up on the counter.
“I saw a man in the woods today.”
“You said that, but you probably didn’t really.”
“He was there. He had on a navy hat with red writing, a white T-shirt and navy cargo pants. Like BDUs that you guys wear.” She pointed at the exact pants he was wearing. “I think I know who set the fire today.”
The room grew heavy with the weight of his silence. She didn’t know what she expected him to say, but she continued on. “I think it was Chief Morris.”
“Come on, Erin. I know you don’t like him and you guys have your differences of opinion, but he’s a fire chief for goodness sake. He’s not setting fires.”
Erin joined him at the counter. She stood in front of him, not quite between his legs, but close enough that she could read him.
“Was he on scene today?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Was he on scene for any of the recent fires?”
“Yes.” He answered, then thought about it. “He came late to some of them, but he has other responsibilities, he doesn’t have to go to every fire. That’s what he has us for.”
“I think you need to consider that it’s possible that he’s setting the fires around town. There’s a town council meeting Thursday night and they are talking about the fire and police departments. They’re looking to cut positions to make up for a budget short fall.”
“So?” He looked frustrated with her.
“So? How do you make yourself indispensable to the community? Save them from wildfires again and again. No one wants to cut services if there is an arsonist in town.”
Seth pushed off the counter knocking her backwards. “I’ve heard enough. The chief is not the one starting these fires. Your active imagination is working overtime. I’ve got to go. It’s obvious that you’re fine. If I were you I’d keep this ridiculous theory to yourself. Oh, and your friend the chief said for you to stay away from the station or he’ll call the police on you.”
She let a loud laugh out. “Really? He can’t keep me off Serenity Harbor property. And you think I’m being ridiculous. Get out.”
“On my way. Oh and Erin. Stay away from fires. You could get killed without me to save your ass.” He slammed the door the sound reverberated in the room.
She fell to the floor, bracing her back against the counter. He hadn’t believed her. He had sided with the company, not her. She was dismissible in his mind. Hot tears pricked behind her eye lids. She didn’t want to cry, she wanted the anger and frustration to take over. Her heart was breaking. With sudden clarity she realized that she’d come to rely on Seth and not only to save her from burning to death, but in her life.
She was in love with him.
Damn.
That was inconvenient.
Swiping at her eyes, she pulled herself up and went back to her desk. If Seth wouldn’t believe her, she would find someone who might. She needed proof that the chief wasn’t the fire saint he pretended to be.
Chapter 11
Wednesday morning Erin awoke with a determination that she hadn’t felt in a while. She hadn’t felt much like doing anything after the fight she’d had with Seth. She hadn’t seen him or heard from him and her heart ached. She’d cried at a commercial on TV for goodness sake. She was still frustrated with Seth’s total disregard for her theory, but she knew she was right and she was going to prove it before the council meeting.
She knew she wasn’t going to find answers at the fire station. She was persona-non-grata there, the chief would find out that she was there and stroke out over it. She arrived at the office at six so she could spy on the station, watching for the chief.
She wrote a little, watched for his car, edited some, glanced out the window, laid out the beginning of next week’s newspaper, then at five before eight he pulled into the lot the firefighters used. She narrowed her eyes.
“You’re going down,” she mumbled.
“Erin?”
Erin sat back from the window. “Sandy, I didn’t hear you come in. I’ve got to go out for an hour. If I’m not back by eleven, call the police and tell them I’m missing.”
“Where exactly should I tell them you went?”
“Never mind, I’ll be back.”
She grabbed the black sweatshirt she brought to work. It didn’t make a lot of sense considering it was daylight, but she felt stealthy with it on. She got in her car. The chief lived outside the Serenity Harbor limits and she knew once he got to work, he’d be there at least an hour. Even if she drove faster than she normally would she’d have time to look around. The chief’s house was set off by itself in the woods. The long dirt dr
iveway had major potholes which she figured was to keep people away unless they had a Jeep or were very nosy, which of course she was.
The house was more of a cabin. It was obvious no women had been within 10 miles of the place. There were no flowers out front, no curtains in the window. It had bachelor pad written all over it. Behind and to the right was a large barn. She headed there first after parking the car facing back down the driveway.
Her hands were shaking and she felt a little nauseous. She had never done this kind of thing. She was a journalist who interviewed people, did research and tried to keep it positive. Breaking and entering wasn’t on her resume.
Luckily it was just entering, since the door was unlocked. She stuck her head in to the building. The garage was expansive, dark, moldy and had a strong smell of earth and gasoline.
She clicked on her phone flashlight to get a better look. Rusted tools, tables, spiders and other junk littered the entire space. There was no way he was parking a car in here. She moved quickly from table to table snapping photos with no real idea what she was looking for. One table toward the back corner had been used recently. It wasn’t dusty and the tools weren’t rusted. Here there was a fine black powder coating on the table. There were also five model rockets in various stages of being put together. Nine volt batteries still in the package were off to the side. The table looked like it had been burned at some point. Erin took pictures of that, swiped a rocket off the table as well as a sample of the black stuff and a battery.
She figured that someone would know if she was on to anything. With no other clues in the garage, she headed for the house.
The doors were locked as were the windows. She had tried them all before peeking in the window and not seeing anything unusual other than a few guns, a cat, which surprised her that he would have a pet, and a framed picture of the men in the department hanging on the wall.
Not wanting to take any more time, she got in her car and drove back to town.
Though cell reception was spotty, she tried to call a man she knew who was involved in model rockets.
“Ray? It’s Erin. I was hoping we could meet for a few minutes. I’m researching a story and could use your expertise.”
In no time she was pulling into the small bungalow that her source rented. It took moments to explain what she was doing, minus the theft part or the part where the fire chief was starting fires…so she told him nothing that was true.
“I’m working on a story about model rockets. What do you know about the propulsion? Could these start a fire accidently?”
She pulled out the envelope where she’d put the black powder. “Do you know what this is?”
“Sure do. That’s black powder,” he said, sniffing and rolling it between his fingers.
“I know that, what’s it for?”
“Shooting. It really doesn’t have anything to do with the rocket.”
“Can you start a fire with any of these? A good fire?”
He gave her a dirty look. “What are you considering?”
Erin gave a laugh. “It’s research, nothing I’m doing anything with.”
He shrugged. “I guess you could use the igniter and the battery to burn the black powder. It would burn hot and fast. Does this have anything to do with the fires we’ve been having in town?”
Erin paused. “It’s best if you don’t know anything.” She swept the items into her backpack. “Thanks for the information.”
“Be careful out there,” Ray commented before showing her out.
Late Wednesday, Erin finished her first set of stories, shut off her computer and left locking the door behind her.
The weather was getting to the point where she was no longer going to be able to walk home. It was getting dark and the black sweatshirt she’d worn today wasn’t keeping the chill out of her bones.
“Miss Ridge,” a deep mysterious voice said from behind her. No one had been behind her when she’d left the office and the hair rose on the back of her neck. She turned around slowly.
“Chief Morris. How can I help you?” Even to her own ears, she sounded calm, but her anxiety spiked.
“I understand you have your concerns about me?”
Erin’s brain kicked into gear. Had Seth gone to him with her suspicions? Was the chief going to threaten her? Was he going to keep her quiet? Had he found out she was at his house?
She had to stop watching so many cop shows.
“Concerns? The story I wrote is done. It will be on the newsstands this week.”
“Not the story about the department. Concerns about me and my relationships to the recent string of fires here in town.”
Seth…she thought. How could he have betrayed her? Even if he didn’t believe what she’d said, he shouldn’t have gone to the chief. “I’m not sure what you are referring to. I mentioned that there was a meeting tomorrow night where the police and fire departments are going under the microscope for possible job reductions? Was I wrong?” she asked sweetly.
“No, not wrong. I think I’ve proven over the last week especially how important our department is for the safety of this town. I would think you would be the most thankful one of all, since your life has been spared two or three times just this week.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I’m late for an appointment,” she said, ready to bolt. It didn’t matter that her appointment was with her TV.
“I don’t want to keep you, but remember that the fire department and I keep you safe. Have a good night.” He walked away before she could be afraid that he would follow her to her mysterious meeting.
She sucked in some deep breaths of cool sea air and tried to relax. She patted the folder in her backpack, which contained the photographic evidence she had found. Tomorrow night, she was going to put an end to the fires in Serenity Harbor once and for all.
Chapter 12
Erin was ready with her research, her items and a body full of repressed anger. She sat in the council chambers at the town hall. No one had arrived yet. She checked her phone for the time. Seth still hadn’t called or texted. She chalked it up to different priorities. She felt he should have at least heard her out and not sold her out to the chief. He felt he should screw her and ditch her.
The first people trickled in to the meeting room. It must have looked like she was there to cover the news. Little did they know, she was going to make some news tonight. The chief walked in narrowing his eyes in her direction. She smirked at him and nodded her head. Behind him was a contingent of firefighters. Ones she had interviewed, friends of Seth’s and then the man himself. He was in uniform, which made her heart jump even though she wished it didn’t. She had to get over him. He frowned when he saw her, then made a beeline for her.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m the media. I cover these meetings. I see you’re here to support the criminal.”
“Erin,” he warned his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t start.”
“Go join your team,” she said, holding her hand back from reaching out to him.
The council members took their places and the meeting started.
Blah, blah, she thought, tapping her foot. The chief was sitting two rows in front of her. She glared at the back of his head. Seth sat directly in front of her, giving her the opportunity to kick his chair or jab him in the back with a sharp pen, but she didn’t.
On the other side of the room was a good representation of the police force of Serenity Harbor. Six or seven officers as well as the chief sat in uniforms, armed and ready to back her up at a moment’s notice. Sure they were there to fight for their jobs, too, but she could show how valuable they are.
“Chief Morris, please come forward to make your case for keeping all of your men,” the chairman of the council said.
“Thank you,” the chief said, approaching the podium and microphone. The camera zoomed in on his face.
“One of the most important parts of Serenity Harbor is keeping its residents safe. Recently, as
you are aware, we have had many fires locally. We have needed all of the men and gear that we have to fight those fires. Losing any of them would directly affect public safety.”
Erin took a deep breath. Now was the time. “I have a question for the chief,” she said not waiting for permission. “Was it ever determined how the fires started?”
He shot daggers out of his eyes at her. “No, Miss Ridge. It’s too soon to know.”
“Have you ever used model rockets, chief?”
“No. This has nothing to do with what I’m talking about here. There are lives and jobs at stake, including your boyfriend’s, so sit down.”
She approached the podium her bag in hand. “I don’t think so. Have you ever shot a black powder gun, chief?”
His teeth ground together audibly. “No.”
“They make a loud noise when they are fired.”
The council members stared at them their mouths open, but no one stopped her.
“So?”
“Did you know you could burn black powder without the bang if you don’t put it in a rifle?”
Seth stood and approached her from behind. “Come on, Erin. You’ve said enough. You’re making a fool out of yourself.”
She pursed her lips. “Sit down, Seth. I’m not done here.” She pulled out the rocket, batteries and the envelope of black powder. The chief’s face went white. “Would you care to explain why these things were found in your garage? Chief?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about? Those aren’t mine.”
“Erin, what’s going on here?” one of the councilors finally asked.
“I’m sorry. Let me explain. When I was hiking the other day, there was a fire set in the woods on the path I was on – “
“Why are we listening to this garbage?” Chief Morris boomed. “I’m here to save fire jobs.”
“Yes you are chief,” Erin said calmly. “So much that you were willing to set fires, endangering the lives of those you are sworn to protect and destroying forests in the park and in three different locations on the island.”
Welcome to Serenity Harbor Page 23
