Fire Angel

by Susanne Matthews

  “Interesting. Love and jealousy are among the most powerful motives you’ll ever see. I agree he bears looking into. People who care for animals like a vet aren’t usually those we see in situations like these. When will he be back?”

  “Friday, according to his receptionist. He’s guest lecturing at Ottawa University. I’ll arrange to see him first thing on Monday.”

  “Good. That’s three viable suspects,” she said, nodding and helping herself to a can of ginger ale from his minifridge. She handed him one. “So where do we go from here?”

  “We’re still looking for Mack Holden—that name came up in connection with Slaney’s death, and no, I don’t know him—but if we dismiss the drug dealer for a moment and focus on Leroy, Jethro, and bodies at the garage, I can come up with half a dozen people who know the back roads, hunt, and had a beef with the others. There’s Calvin Ketchum, he’s a volunteer firefighter, so he knows his way around fire. He was at Duffy’s, but conspicuously absent the night of the house fire—like so many others, he was whooping it up at that stag. I’ve talked to him. He manages the local sporting goods store and grew up here in Paradise. His beef wasn’t with Duffy but with Father Martin who apparently refused to marry him and his wife because he’s not Catholic. Sonia was heartbroken. The Presbyterian minister married them, but it’s caused all kinds of problems with her family. She’s Cree, by the way, and comes from Atikokan, near Thunder Bay. Cal smokes and the family connection would be enough to let him get cheap cigarettes from the reserve. I’ve known him most of my life and while he can be a bit of a hot head, I can’t see him killing that way. He was in the restaurant that night, but he bowled in the afternoon. Got the high score. If he wanted to kill someone, I think he would just shoot him. Ev questioned him in connection to the Simmons murder, but nothing came of it.”

  “What was his issue with Leroy?”

  Jake shook his head. “I couldn’t find one. Half the town was pissed at the two, the rest had it in for Duffy with his inflated prices and having to wait longer than usual for repairs.”

  “Do any of your suspects drink?” she asked.

  “Just about all of them.” He chuckled. “Why did you ask?”

  She pulled out the report from earlier and pointed to the information printed in a box near the bottom of the page. “The beer bottles at the scene that tested positive for the drug weren’t the same brand as those in the fridge. The tech thinks they were from a brewery called Millhouse. Have you ever heard of it? I’m sure I saw similar labels recently.”

  Jake reached for the page, his heart pounding.

  “It’s the same brand as the one I offered you from your fridge on Sunday, the organic beer from the microbrewery. There’s one in Toronto and another in Ottawa. I wouldn’t say it’s a popular brand. I wasn’t aware it was available locally until I saw those bottles in your fridge.” He gathered the papers on his desk and put them inside his briefcase. “I’m bushed, and it’s been a long day. Let’s pack it in. We can work on the suspect list later tonight, make sure I have all the categories, and we can consider whether or not an accomplice works. You’re the one who’s studied the scenes and you’re the expert. I haven’t heard of too many pyromaniacs who have partners.”

  “I agree. I said it was just a theory. It’s almost dark anyway. I didn’t sleep well last night.” She stood.

  “Then, let’s hope you do better tonight. Make sure you bundle up. It looks really cold out there. My window has frost on the inside, and that’s never a good sign.”

  After a series of prolonged goodbyes, they climbed into the SUV.

  Jake’s gut roiled. He needed to speak to Minette and he couldn’t do it fast enough, but he had to make sure Alexis wasn’t around when he did. If he was right, Fire Angel had not only been at the inn, he’d been in her room.

  Chapter Sixteen

  There was no doubt in Alexis’s mind that Jake was in a hurry to get home. His hands gripped the wheel, his eyes focused on the road, and his jaw was clenched so tightly he could probably break his own teeth.

  What had she said or done that had disturbed him so badly? Was he upset because he hadn’t thought to have the bottles tested for the drug? Somehow, she sensed it was more than that. How she wished she could read people as well as she did fires and those who set them.

  “When we get home, I’ll let you settle into the guest room while I talk to Minette. Then, tonight we can work on the list of suspects, pick out the most critical points, and work from those. We can factor an accomplice into the equation, too. I want to have something to give Everett before this bastard strikes again. Do you think you can take me through how you figured all that stuff out yesterday and today? Maybe explain how you come to the conclusions you do? It feels like we’ve been working together for months, not days, and I still don’t know how you operate. I know you’re used to working alone, so am I, but ... If that full moon is part of this...” he shook his head. “Clouds and rain didn’t stop him from setting the house fire.”

  Alexis licked her lips and nodded. Maybe she could give him a bit more to work with without coming off as a nut job as Bob had called her.

  “I can try. Listen, I need to call Captain Peters and check in. I can do that while you handle the inn’s business, and we can talk about what I figured out and how I did it after supper.”

  “That works for me.” Jake parked the SUV at the front of the inn and led her into the lobby.

  A beautiful dark-haired woman stood behind the desk. She looked up and her face broke into a smile.

  “Jake, you’re early,” she said, stepping around the desk and motioning to Leon, the man who’d served them breakfast, to take her place. “I was afraid Mia would miss you again. If you’ve got a minute, Jim Turner wants to talk to you. He says he has some of that information you wanted. He’s in the dining room.”

  “I’ll do that right now. Can you get Alexis settled?” He turned to her. “I won’t be long,” he said, walking toward the dining room and leaving her alone with the inn’s manager.

  The woman shook her head. “Leave it to Jake. He could’ve introduced us at least. Oh well.” She held out her hand. “Ms. Michaels, I’m Minette McKenzie.”

  Alexis’s hand froze midway and she had to force it the rest of the way to the outstretched one. She leaned against the counter to steady herself. McKenzie? As in Jake McKenzie? She wasn’t just the manager, an employee, or girlfriend. No. She was his wife. Why hadn’t he said so? He’d said family, but she’d taken it to mean business family not the real deal.

  “Pleased to meet you,” she said, grateful her voice sounded normal.

  Minette had long, dark, silky brown hair that hung in a braid almost to her waist. She had beautiful, large, doe-brown eyes, and a clear olive complexion devoid of any type of cosmetics. She appeared to be in her late twenties, younger than Alexis was, but it was sometimes hard to tell people’s ages. She was petite, with an hour-glass figure, and the jeans and peach cashmere sweater she wore emphasized her curves. She had a beautiful, friendly smile, and her welcome was genuine.

  “I’ve unpacked your vehicle and put your car in our garage. Everything is in our spare room, including the emergency lamps. Jake mentioned you dislike the dark.” She opened the door to the apartment. “My daughter Mia’s home. Claimed she had a sick tummy, but after a rest, she seems fine. She’s watching television with Maya. She’ll be glad that Jake’s back. She missed seeing him yesterday.”

  Mutely, Alexis followed her hostess into the apartment, placed her kit on the shelf as Jake had this morning, and hung up her coat.

  “Come inside where it’s warm and dry. I’ve never liked this damp, miserable weather. We have similar weather in Quebec, and I hated it.”

  “You’re from Quebec?” she asked, trying to be polite and not let the sudden jealousy she’d felt at the thought that Jake was married show.

  “Yes. From Quebec City. Both Luke, Minette’s father, and I were born and raised there, although we didn�
�t meet until we served together in Afghanistan. He died four months before Mia was born.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Alexis said, knowing those were the appropriate words. “Why didn’t you go back to Quebec?”

  “I did. I was there with Luke’s mother until Mia was born, but when she was six-months old, David, Jake’s brother, begged me to come back for a few months. I’ve been in the Reserves for as long as I can remember, serving my country to the best of my ability. Losing Luke was hard, but I thought if I could finish what I’d started, I might be able to cope better with the loss. Mia stayed with Luke’s mother. It was what he would’ve wanted. He was a doctor, killed by a roadside bomb on his way back to camp after delivering twins and saving a woman’s life. I was a surgical nurse, and they desperately needed my skills. After I remarried and Jake was injured, I came back here to look after him, moved Mia and my mother-in-law in with us, and now I cook and manage the inn.”

  “I’m sure he appreciates your help, especially since he’s working with the police. Is your mother-in-law here?” Did her voice sound as cold as she felt?

  “No.” She grinned, her eyes filled with anticipation. “Both of them are in Florida, but they’ll all be back in Paradise for Christmas.”

  She stepped into the apartment. A little dark-haired girl sat on the sofa, wrapped in a pink blanket. The gas fireplace was on and the room was nice and warm.

  “Mia, this is Ms. Michaels,” Minette said coming up to stand behind Alexis. “She’ll be our guest for a while. She’s helping Jake and the police.”

  Why hadn’t she referred to him as daddy? The child had never met her real father. Wouldn’t Jake want to take on that role?

  The little girl smiled.

  “Hi.” Her brown eyes, so similar to her mother’s, were filled with curiosity. “I’m Amelia, but you can call me Mia. Everyone does. I’m five. My daddy died in the war. He’s got a medal and everything. Do you have a daddy?”

  “No,” she answered, too surprised by the child’s outgoing nature to do anything but answer in kind. “My dad died in a plane crash a long time ago.”

  Minette walked from behind Alexis. “Mia, enough television for now. Why don’t you go get your coat and take Maya out on the deck while Ms. Michaels settles in? You can ask all your questions later.” She turned to her. “Believe me, she’ll talk your ear off if you let her.”

  “Okay.” The child jumped off the couch and ran to get her coat and boots.

  “If you’ll follow me, Ms. Michaels,” Minette said, turning down the hall that led to the bedrooms. “Will you be ready to eat in about an hour? I know it’s early, but Mia goes to bed by eight.”

  “Call me Alexis. That’s fine. I didn’t sleep well last night and an early night sounds good. I’m sure Jake needs his bed, too. He was limping a lot today...”

  Minette opened the door to a well-appointed room.

  “I’m sure he was. He can be very stubborn. I hope you’ll be comfortable in here. Jake had this room redone for his parents last spring. They come to visit each summer. It isn’t as large as the cabin was, but it has its own bathroom through there. I placed the fruit over there on the dresser and the box of snacks on the shelf in your closet. If Mia sees those, she’ll clean you right out.” She chuckled. “I didn’t want to appear too forward, so I didn’t touch your suitcase or your duffle bag. You travel light. If there’s anything you want washed, just give it to me. With an active five-year-old, I do laundry every day. Is there anything else I can get you now?”

  “No, I can’t think of a thing,” she said, walking over to the desk and examining the photograph laying on it. She recognized Minette and Jake, but the other three were a mystery.

  Seeing her interest in the picture, Minette walked over and stood beside her.

  “I meant to put that away,” she said. “I took out several pictures from Afghanistan for Mia for Remembrance Day—your Veterans’ Day. She wanted a picture of her father to take to school. When she brought it back today, I meant to put it in the trunk, but I got cleaning in here and somehow, with all the Elders and the fires, I forgot about it.” She reached for the frame.

  Curiosity aroused, Alexis asked about it.

  “I recognize you and Jake, and I gather her father is one of the others?”

  Minette smiled, her eyes filled with sadness. She held up the photograph, so that Alexis could see it clearly.

  “This was taken just after I discovered I was pregnant. The man on the end is Luke, Mia’s father. Me, you recognized. The man on my left is David, Jake’s brother, and next to Jake is Irena, his wife. She was killed in a suicide bombing. Sad memories for all of us. I’ll see you at supper.” She took the photograph with her and left.

  Jake and Minette had both been married before and had lost someone in a similar way. Was that grief what had drawn them together? She’d heard rebound relationships didn’t always work, but she hoped this one would. That little girl deserved to be happy.

  “I wasn’t looking for a relationship anyway,” she mumbled, moving to the bed to empty her duffle bag. “For me, they never seem to work out.” Besides, Jake was married and after the fiasco with Bob, she was never going to get involved with a married man.

  Opening her suitcase, she unpacked her better clothes, those she didn’t necessarily wear for work. She would never look as good as the lady of the house, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t make an effort.

  Putting the few garments she’d brought with her in the drawers, she chuckled. It was a good thing she preferred panties, rather than wispy, lacy thongs, especially since Minette would be doing the wash. She probably wore sexy things like that.

  Disgusted with her train of thought, Alexis stripped off her clothes and took a shower. The hot water felt good on her tired muscles, but the scars she felt as she soaped her body, remnants of the past like her psychic ability and the asthma she kept tightly controlled, reminded her of who and what she was—a freak. Wasn’t that what Bob had called her?

  She’d let herself pretend she didn’t care about Jake, but the truth was she did care, had always cared. There’d never been anyone else who’d made her feel pretty and wanted the way he had. For a moment on Sunday night when he’d gotten angry ... but he’d moved on, not once but twice. Discovering he was well and truly lost to her was just as painful as leaving him behind had been all those years ago.

  The tears mixed with the water on her face, and she let them come. It had to be that damn note from her uncle and the Fire Angel’s threat that had her feeling so fragile and alone all of a sudden.

  “Get over it,” she spoke to the water. “You were alone before, and you’re alone now. Nothing’s changed.”

  Turning off the shower, she dried herself off, used the blow dryer provided to style her hair, which she pulled into a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck. Going to the dresser, she took out a lavender sweater and a pair of gray wool slacks. Hoping looking good would make her feel better, she got dressed, but the regret she felt was a sharp pain in her heart. What did it really matter? Once he discovered how her abilities worked, he wouldn’t have been interested anyway.

  * * *

  “There you are, Jake,” Minette said as soon as he entered the apartment. “Ms. Michaels is settling in. Dinner will be ready by six. What did Jim want?”

  “He wanted to know why I’d asked for the report on the fire on Bear Island. I just said it was for the case. Where’s Mia?” He dropped his briefcase on the table near the hallway leading to the bedrooms.

  “She’s out on the deck playing with Maya. Before she comes inside, will you please tell me what the hell’s going on?” She put her hands on her hips. “The two men you hired, the ones who have to have been Special Forces, checked in just after lunch. One’s camped out in the lounge. The other one’s a permanent fixture at the bar—drinking soda water. Why do we have Sylvester Stallone clones on staff?”

  “Before I answer that, I have a question for you. Where did you get the organic be
er you put in the cabin fridge the other night?”

  “What does that have to do with this?” she asked, throwing her hands up in the air in true Gallic fashion.

  “Maybe everything,” he answered.

  She shrugged. “Fine. I had no idea what you were talking about in your note until today when I emptied her fridge. For the record, I don’t know where those Millhouse came from. I didn’t get out to the cabin that night. We were short-staffed and so busy in the kitchen that by the time I was ready to go, Randy said you’d taken her.”

  Jake swallowed the bile in his mouth. “Are you saying you didn’t turn down her bed?”

  Minette nodded. “I know I should’ve told you, but—”

  “Did someone else do it?” He cut her off, his heart pounding.

  “No. I told you, we were short-staffed in the kitchen and I borrowed one of the dishwashers to watch Mia while I helped out. I brought in the rest of the beer if you want one, but I have no idea where it came from. Maybe she brought it with her. Did you ask? Our supplier doesn’t carry it, but he can get some if you insist. Before I forget, where did you get those ultra-bright light bulbs? They’re much better than the ones we have in stock. What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  He chuckled but there was no humor there. “You’re closer to the truth than you think. Minette, I don’t want you and Mia going anywhere without security, do you hear me? I’ve hired those men to look after you and Alexis. If I’m right, the man who set the fires was inside Alexis’s cottage while she was at dinner. He changed the light bulb, put organic beer in her fridge and even turned down the bed and left chocolate mints on her pillow. I should’ve realized you hadn’t done it, but I thought you’d gone the extra mile because of who she was.”