Winds of Fire

by Kira Chase

  “Let's hope he goes home.”

  “Do you think we should start staking out his home all night? I mean we have no way of knowing if he sneaks back out.”

  Frankie squinted. “According to Kendall he usually stays home once he goes there for the night.”

  “True, but by her own admission she can't be certain since they share separate bedrooms and don't always take their meals together.”

  Frankie exhaled loudly. “Okay, tell you what. We can start Monday night.”

  “Good. If he's not sneaking back over to see her, then how in the world will we be able to prove he's having an affair?”

  Frankie pulled on her chin. “If he never leaves his office, she must meet him there.”

  “That's a possibility. In any event, I hope he goes straight home tonight. We need to get everything ready for tomorrow. Besides, maybe Kristin will give us the ammo we need against Thatcher once we talk to her.”

  “Now that would be nice, but I won't hold my breath.”

  Chapter 13

  Frankie sat sipping her coffee as she looked at the bright blue sky. Not a cloud in sight. Johanna came out on the back patio and sat across from her. “It doesn't get any better than this.”

  Johanna breathed deeply. “No, it doesn't. I can't wait to get into the pool.”

  “Go now, sweetie,” Frankie prodded. “I'll come with you.”

  “I'll wait for everyone to get here. Do you think we can coax George to take a dip?”

  Frankie's mouth curled up into a smile. “If we can, you'd better have your camera ready.”

  “Oh, I definitely will.” She sighed happily. “Everything's set. Now all we have to do is wait for everybody to get here. Which won't be for another three hours.”

  “I want to go for a swim now.” Frankie peeled off her shirt, stood, and pulled off her shorts. “Race you to the pool!”

  Johanna tossed her head. “No fair until I get my shorts and top off. She stripped off her clothes.

  Frankie's jaw dropped as she stared at Johanna's beautiful naked body. “No fair to tease me like this,” she called as Johanna sprinted by her on the way to the pool.

  * * * *

  “Hey, sweetie, let me take that,” Trey offered grabbing a covered dish from Johanna. He smiled appreciatively at her.

  “Thank you. I can't get over what you and Will did out here.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “In my wildest dreams I could have never imagined anything like this.”

  Trey set the dish on a table and enveloped her in his masculine arms. “Nothing is too good for you. Frankie insisted on only the best for you.”

  Johanna hugged him. “I love every bit of it.”

  “That's all that matters.”

  Frankie walked to the table carrying a platter heaped high with burgers, hotdogs, and chicken. “Everybody out of the pool!” she called good-naturedly. “Time to eat!” She turned to Johanna and Trey. “This is like old times,” she said. “We need to do this more often.”

  “With your cooking, you know that Will and I will definitely be here,” he teased.

  “Did I hear my name?” Will asked toweling his hair dry as he made his way to the picnic table. “Ah...must be the aroma of this delicious food calling me. I'm starving.”

  Trey put an arm around his shoulder. “He's always hungry.”

  Frankie lifted an eyebrow. “I'll let that one pass.” She grinned.

  “Behave, Frankie,” Johanna warned with a hint of laughter in her voice as they seated themselves around the table and began to pile food onto their plates.

  George smiled as he heaped potato salad onto his plate. “You couldn't have asked for a better day for the barbeque.”

  “It's perfect. Hey, George, why didn't you get in the pool?” Frankie asked.

  He scratched his jaw. “You know darned well I hate swimming, Frankie.”

  “Well, Arlan and I certainly enjoy the pool. Maybe someday we'll get one put in,” Kate said.

  “Until you do, you're welcome to use ours anytime you want to,” Johanna said.

  Kate nodded. “We just might take you up on that once we get settled into our house. I'm sure you'll get sick of us in no time.”

  “Never,” Frankie replied. “Which brings me to an important question, is everything on track for the wedding? Do you need Johanna and me to do anything else? We've already made arrangements for the shower.”

  “So far, so good,” Kate said holding up a hand and crossing her fingers. “Everything is on schedule.”

  “Do you have the dress?”

  A cloud passed over Kate's face as she stole a glance at Arlan. “I do.”

  Johanna looked at George. “I'm sure you've planned the bachelor party.”

  “We're helping him,” Trey said. “We should have a pretty good time.”

  “Just make sure he shows up for the wedding,” Kate replied with a smile.

  “Oh, he definitely will,” George said. He paused. “Isn't it something that every one of us sitting here at this table is in the wedding?”

  Arlan nodded. “It wouldn’t be a wedding without my family.”

  * * * *

  Later Frankie sat at the picnic table with George while Johanna, Kate, and Arlan decided to have another swim. Trey and Will had left a few minutes earlier.

  “How's the fire investigation going?” she asked.

  “Keeping us busy.” He ran his hand through his hair. “The fire marshal and police think they're close to identifying a possible suspect. They've been going through all the surveillance tapes from the businesses over the past few weeks. I'll be meeting with them tomorrow.” He grunted. “You don't know how I dislike the police chief.” He looked at her. “Did I ever tell you that we go way back?” He shook his head not expecting an answer. “We've been rivals since the day we met.”

  “Well, I hope they throw the book at whoever is responsible,” Frankie said.

  He looked uneasy and then flashed a halfhearted smile. “Every day it seems someone is calling a meeting.”

  She sipped at her beer. “You seemed distracted when you stopped at the office the other day. Is everything okay, George? I've got to admit, you weren't yourself.”

  His face slightly flushed as his eyes drifted toward the pool. “Looks like they're headed back.”

  Frankie followed his gaze. He sounded relieved, but seemed tense. What was wrong with him?

  Johanna slid into a seat next to Frankie and took the beer Frankie offered her. “It feels good to get in that pool again.” She began to towel dry her hair.

  Kate and Arlan declined the beers Frankie offered. “I've had more than enough to drink today,” Kate said. “We should get going in a few minutes. My mom is expecting a call tonight.”

  “Well, you'll be able to tell her that everything is running smoothly,” Johanna said.

  “I wasn't so sure. Thank God my wedding dress is safe and sound inside my closet.”

  “When did you pick it up?” Frankie asked. She remembered the look that had passed between Kate and Arlan earlier when she'd mentioned the dress.

  “Yesterday afternoon. All the alterations have been made so I saw no sense in leaving it there. I'm glad I got it when I did.”

  “Having the dress ready must be a load off your mind,” Johanna said.

  “If I hadn't picked it up when I did, I don't know what I would have done,” Kate replied.

  Frankie picked up her beer bottle and took a long swallow then set the bottle back down on the table. “Kate, you still have a few weeks. Plenty of time to put the finishing touches on the dress if it wasn't a perfect fit.”

  Kate scowled. “I wouldn't have had a dress. Not with the fire.”

  Frankie's heart froze. “What fire?” She looked at Kate and then turned her head and saw George staring intently at her and Johanna.

  Arlan rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “You didn’t hear about Eastens last night?” His eyes narrowed. “It was all over the news.”

  Frankie was
momentarily taken aback with his slightly accusatory tone, but assumed it was because he was upset about the fact that Kate could have lost her gown. “No,” she replied.

  “How could you have not heard?” Arlan demanded.

  Frankie shrugged. “We were busy getting everything ready for today. We never even turned on the news last night or this morning. I haven't even gone down to the newspaper box to pick up this morning's paper.”

  Arlan's dark brows drew together. “Eastens burned to the ground last night.”

  “What!” Frankie looked at Johanna, the shock evident on her face. “That's horrible. Do they have a cause?”

  Arlan toyed with an empty beer bottle. “What do you think?” It was more of a statement than a question.

  “Do you have any possible suspects yet?” Johanna asked. “This is getting scary.”

  Arlan didn't answer, but instead turned his head and looked at George.

  George cleared his throat. “We're close...very close.” He immediately pushed his chair back and stood. “I'm sorry to cut this short, but I have to get back to the office.”

  Kate looked relieved as she scrambled to her feet. “We have to go, too.” She held Arlan's arm. “Thank you for today.”

  “You're welcome,” Johanna said. “Sure you can't stay for just a while longer?”

  “Like George said, we're swamped with everything going on. But thank you again for getting everyone together and making sure the wedding is on track,” Kate replied forcing a smile to her lips.

  “That's what your matrons of honor are supposed to do,” Frankie said as she and Johanna walked with them to the driveway and watched them get into their cars.

  They stood at the front of the house and watched as the two cars made their way down the driveway. “It's a beautiful warm sunny day, so why do I feel suddenly chilled to the bone?”

  Johanna chewed her bottom lip. “What the hell was that all about?”

  * * * *

  “Everything's cleared up and put away,” Frankie said. “I didn't know we were going to have the rest of the evening to ourselves.” She peered over Johanna's shoulder. “Find anything unusual in the pre-nup?”

  “Nothing.” She sighed wearily. “Thanks for taking care of the rest of the dishes.” Her lips trembled slightly.

  Frankie laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “What's the matter, babe?”

  Johanna swallowed hard. “I'm just hurt.”

  “I am, too. George was definitely not himself. It seemed like the minute Trey and Will left, George, Kate, and Arlan's mood changed. I wish Trey and Will could have stayed longer.”

  Johanna looked at her with tears glistening in her eyes. “Would it have mattered?” She drew a deep shuddering breath. “I'm trying to be optimistic. It just gives us more time today to work our case.”

  “Do you have a plan?”

  “What if we go to the hotel to talk to Kristin? I thought we could pretend we're working with a production company. Since she's into acting, that would be a good ploy.”

  Frankie nodded. “What if she recognizes us from Kramer Insurance Company?”

  “She has no clue why we were there. We can say we saw her local commercials and since she's so natural on screen, we thought she'd be perfect for a part in our film. We can work out the details later.”

  “When do you want to try to meet with her?”

  “Maybe tomorrow?” She cocked an eye at Frankie.

  “On a Sunday?” Frankie asked skeptically.

  “Hey, in the entertainment business I don't think anyone pays attention to the day of the week. They strike while the iron's hot.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I thought I'd call the hotel to see if we can get her room number.” She frowned. “If we hadn't already given Kramer a phony excuse we could have asked them for her contact information.”

  “If your plan works we need to figure out a subtle way to get her to tell us what her connection to Kramer Insurance Company is without her becoming suspicious.” She took Johanna's hand. “Come on, honey. You need to get out of this office. It's a beautiful night. Let's take a bottle of wine out to the back patio. No more talk of work tonight. I just want to enjoy some time alone with you.”

  Johanna smiled. “Okay. Let me close down in here and I'll meet you out back in a few minutes.”

  Frankie kissed the top of her head then walked back to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. She settled herself in a patio chair and then poured two glasses of wine. She looked up at the star-studded sky. Even though she'd told Johanna to clear her mind of everything work related, she couldn't do it herself. She was numb. She'd been blindsided and didn't even know why. She saw the accusation in Arlan’s and George's eyes even though they hadn't come right out and accused them of anything. But why would Johanna and she even be suspect? She knew the answer to her own question. Another fire at a location they'd previously been at. But then again, Thatcher and Kristin were also at all of the locations. Had the previous fires before she and Johanna were handed this case also been at locations Thatcher and Kristin had visited? In any event, news of the fire had shocked her. She wracked her brain trying to remember anything suspicious. She remembered the car she'd seen exiting the opposite end of the lot. Had it exited or gone around to the back? She hadn't watched it fully exit. She scratched her chin. Johanna hadn't gotten a clear picture of the license plate so they had no idea who the driver was. She was suddenly struck by the realization that George surely knew that they had been there at the strip mall where Eastens was located. He'd obviously been going over the surveillance tapes. But how would he have known it was them? They'd been in a rented car and had stayed parked in the shadows. She doubted that the cameras would have been able to see the occupants of the car as they exited.

  “You're right. It is a beautiful night.”

  Frankie looked up and smiled. She took Johanna's hand and pulled her down into a chair next to her. “And now it's even more beautiful because you're here with me. It doesn't get any better than this.”

  They sat in silence for a few minutes sipping their wine and enjoying the night sounds of the small animals in the woods bordering their back yard.

  Johanna set her wineglass down. “What do you really think is going on with George, Frankie?”

  “I thought we weren't going to talk about any of that tonight.”

  “I think we need to.”

  Chapter 14

  Johanna swept a hand through her tousled hair. She hadn't slept well. This case had certainly taken a turn that didn't bode well for them. Even though George hadn't come right out and accused them of setting the fires, just the fact that he would even believe they were remotely involved caused a pain in her heart so deep she didn't know if things could ever be the same with him again. She was crushed.

  She picked up her coffee cup. She was on her third cup. She'd gotten up at the crack of dawn. When she'd slipped out of bed, Frankie was sleeping soundly, and even though her expression didn't appear peaceful, Johanna hoped that Frankie was at least getting some much needed rest. Today was going to be busy.

  Johanna sat in their home office trying to plan their strategy if Kristin Robbins agreed to meet with them. She stared at Kristin's website. So far she'd read everything posted about the woman, hoping to find a clue linking her to Thatcher or Kramer Insurance Company. A notepad was propped on the desk where Johanna jotted notes. A plan suddenly began to formulate in her mind. She couldn't wait to share it with Frankie. She also made a note to pick up a couple of burner phones.

  A bright flash of lightning followed by a crackling roll of thunder caused her to look toward the window. The steady light rain that had been falling ever since she got up had now turned into a raging downpour. She hoped this wouldn't be an all-day rain. She'd hoped to spend an hour or two in her garden before they contacted the hotel. That was if Frankie was still on board with the plan. Even though she said she was, Johanna had sensed some hesitation. But what else could they do? Kristin w
as the key, the common denominator connected to Thatcher and somehow to Becca Manning. Johanna yawned and leaned back in her chair. She closed her eyes and listened to the rain drumming relentlessly against the window.

  “Hey, baby.”

  Johanna's eyes popped open. Frankie was gently shaking her shoulder.

  “Why don't you go back to bed for a couple of hours?”

  Johanna rubbed her eyes and stretched. “No. I'm fine. I just closed my eyes for a few minutes. Let me get my bearings and then I want to go over a few things with you.”

  “How long have you been up, Johanna?”

  “A few hours,” she answered yawning.

  “If you don't want to go back to bed, then why don't you take a long relaxing shower and I'll make some French toast for breakfast. I haven’t made that in ages. We deserve a leisurely breakfast.”

  “Tempting.” She rose. “And I do believe I’ll take you up on it.” She gave Frankie a hug.

  * * * *

  Frankie had breakfast almost ready when Johanna entered the kitchen fresh from her shower. “Mmmm. It smells delicious in here.”

  “Sit down and breakfast will be served in a minute,” Frankie replied.

  Johanna picked up the newspaper and glanced at it. “I don't know why you still insist on having the paper delivered when you can read it online.”

  Frankie scrunched up her face. “And miss my morning jog every morning to the newspaper box at the end of the driveway?”

  Johanna laughed. “When was the last time you jogged to the box? And don't say this morning,” she said glancing toward the window. “I know you didn't go out in the rain.” She paused, waiting for Frankie to respond. Instead, Frankie cupped her chin as though deep in thought. Johanna laughed again.

  Frankie laughed, too. “Okay, so I drove to the newspaper box. I had to pick up yesterday’s paper too. And as for why I don't like to read it online, it's because I love to sit and hold it in my hands. And I can clip out interesting articles. You have always loved reading on the computer. I only do it when I have to. The Sunday paper always brings back happy memories. Do you remember on Sunday mornings spreading out the comics and lying on the floor reading them?”