Wedding Bell Blues (16 page)

Well, two can play that game. If she wanted my cooperation,
she
needed to give as much as she got. Time to take control…at least I
hoped so.

"I understand from Detective Dougherty that you have at least
a
preliminary report about what happened to my house." I leaned back in
the metal chair and crossed my legs, waiting for her to answer.

For a moment, she just sat there. Then she shook her head, a
slight
smile playing at one corner of her mouth. "Dougherty warned me you were
smart and pissed about what happened. Obviously, he wasn't wrong."

"Then why don't you get to the point and tell me why you
wanted to see me?"

"All right. I need to confirm a few things with you to start
with."

"Shoot."

"Have you had anyone threaten you, no matter how minor the
threat might seem?"

"Other than the bastard who tried to take my head off at
Manny's?
No. No trouble with the neighbors, with anyone at school or anyone in
my personal life. Well, let me correct that. I did have words with
Janie Bickerstaff, but that happened at the time the fire broke out."

"What were these
words
about?"

"Let's just say that she did her best to break up my sister's
upcoming wedding and I went to her house to let her know she'd failed
and to tell her to steer clear of the family and the wedding."

"All right." She quickly scribbled a note on the sheet of
paper she'd placed on the table in front of her. "Anything else?"

"No." I shook my head. "Detective Davalos, I can't think of
any
reason why someone would want to do anything like this to me. Truly."

"How about your parents? Do you know if they've had trouble
with anyone recently?"

"You'd have to ask them. But I don't think so. Certainly
nothing they thought might spill over onto Maryanne or me."

"Maryanne's your sister?"

"Yes."

"Do you know if any of your neighbors have had trouble with
anyone?"

"You saw the neighborhood, Detective. We look out for one
another.
If anyone has had trouble, I'm pretty sure I'd know, and I don't."

"Just a few more questions, Ms. Jones. Have you had any
financial troubles recently?"

I fought against the anger that instantly flared at her
question,
reminding myself that she had to ask. Colton's voice, telling me to
keep my temper in check, echoed in my mind. He'd been right. But, damn,
it was hard.

"No." I drew a deep breath and slowly let it out, counting to
ten as
I did. "You can check my finances if you want. I'll sign whatever I
need to, to authorize it. You'll find that I pay my bills on time and
am not overextended on my credit cards. My insurance is taken care of
as part of my mortgage payments. Believe me, I don't gain any financial
windfall from this fire."

"Ms. Jones, I'm sorry, but I have to ask these questions."

"I know. But I don't have to like it. However, I also know you
aren't going to take my word about my finances so, as I said, I'll sign
whatever I need to, to authorize you to look at my financial records,
talk to the mortgage and insurance companies, whatever you want."

Now it was her turn to sit back, surprised. Obviously, this
wasn't
what she expected. Good. The sooner she quit thinking of me as a
possible suspect, the sooner she'd start trying to find out who had
torched my house. Until then, she was wasting time and, from what
Colton had said earlier, the more time that passed, the less likely it
was they would ever find out who was responsible for setting fire to my
place.

"Thank you."

"Now, I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me what you can about
the fire."

Half an hour later, I left the squad room. Anger boiled deep
inside
me, ready to erupt at any moment. Somehow, I managed to get to the
elevator without either snapping someone's head off or grinding my
teeth to dust, but it was hard. Davalos might be good at what she does,
but she was also a hard ass who didn't want to tell me anything. Most
of my questions were met either with silence or with her attempts to
say she really couldn't tell me anything since the investigation was
ongoing.

Well, damn it, it was my house that had been burned
down. My home that had been destroyed. Whether she liked it or not, I
wasn't responsible. She'd better accept that pretty damned soon or I'd
ask my parents for the name of one of their attorney friends who would
help me force the issue.

Bitch.

My temper didn't ease any when the doors opened and I saw the
number
of people already crammed inside the elevator. If I didn't want away
from there as quickly as possible, I probably would have waited for
another elevator to come. But not this time. No, I had to get out of
there or I'd be too tempted to turn around and go back and tell Davalos
exactly what I thought about her and her suspicions.

So I stepped inside, keeping as close to the doors as
possible, and
punched the button for the third floor. With a lurch and a groan, the
elevator began its slow trek down. I did my best to ignore the others,
their conversations and, god, their smells. Someone obviously had an
aversion to soap and water. Hopefully, nothing living would jump from
him to me. Wouldn't that just make a bad day worse?

When the elevator came to a jerking halt and the doors slid
open on
the third floor, I bolted out, not about to risk the doors closing
before I disembarked. I wanted away from the smell, but there was more
to it. In my need to get away from Davalos, I'd forgotten to call
Colton. If he found out I'd left the Arson Squad without letting him
know, he'd kill me. So I had to make the preemptive strike, let him
know I was there and pissed and, despite that, I hadn't done anything
foolish.

Still, the flash of irritation that raced across his
expression as I
pushed open the squad room doors did nothing to ease my mood. But I had
to give it to him; his irritation didn't last long. Colton took one
look at me and was instantly on his feet, hurrying across the yellowed
tile floor in my direction. Without a word, he took my arm and led me
into the break room. He closed the door behind us and then poured me a
cup of cop coffee.

"What's wrong?"

"That bitch thinks I had something to do with burning down my
house!" I spat out and then burst into tears.

I was mortified. Mortified and scared and, yet again, more
than a
little pissed. But then, who wouldn't be in my position? I still
couldn't believe Davalos believed, even for a single moment, that I
might have had something to do with the fire. I loved that house. More,
I still owed on it. Sure I had insurance. But it wouldn't be enough to
pay to rebuild and replace everything lost in the fire. There certainly
wasn't any way I could replace the family pictures, the letters, all
those things that had little material value but so much personal value
to me. So where did that bitch get off suggesting I might have hired
the fire done? I didn't care if she was just doing her job. She was
off-base and she needed to realize it soon, while there was still a
chance of finding out who burned down my place.

Still, angry as I was, it didn't hold a candle to the
mortification
and fear. Bad enough I'd broken down and had all but thrown myself into
Colton's arms, crying like some helpless female. He'd been as surprised
by my actions as I had. Even as I cried, I couldn't believe it. That
just wasn't me. I didn't give in to my emotions in public, and I
certainly didn't throw myself into a guy's arms just because some other
woman had been mean to me.

Maybe it was just reaction. That was it. Between the wedding -
which
had already been pushing me inexorably toward insanity - and everything
else that had happened, it was a miracle I hadn't already run screaming
into the night. Still, how embarrassing that I'd broken down with
Colton. Embarrassing and telling, whether I liked it or not. If I
didn't feel safe with him, didn't know he'd protect me, I never would
have done it. Not that it made me feel any better. Nothing about this
made me feel better.

Then there was the fear. Not of what had happened. Not even of
Davalos's none-too-subtle insinuations that I might be responsible for
the fire. No, it was fear of where Colton and I were currently headed
and what I'd have to face.

Of course, the fact that Colton looked as worried, even as
scared,
as I felt didn't help. At least he also seemed as angry about Davalos
and her asinine suspicions as I was. For some reason that made me feel
better. Still, I'd been surprised when he escorted me outside and to
his car, telling me he wanted to get me somewhere he knew I'd be safe
while he chased down a few leads. What I hadn't expected was to
discover his idea of some place safe was my parents' house. Even more
surprising, he'd already called my mother and she'd be meeting us there.

Damn, could this day get any worse? Maryanne had figured out
I'd
slept with Colton after just a few minutes. My mother would know before
I ever got out of the car and that was one thing I didn't want to have
to deal with, not now.

Not ever.

"Huh?"

I sat up and looked around in surprise as Colton pulled the
car next
to the curb and parked. A quick look confirmed we weren't at my
parents'. In fact, we were still a block or so away from their house. I
swiveled in my seat and was surprised to see Colton swallow hard, his
hands gripping and releasing the steering wheel.

"Colton?"

"Look, I know this isn't going to be easy, Jess." He paused,
licked
his lips and then gave me a nervous smile. "But I know you'll be safe
with your folks while I work."

"Yeah." He was right. My parents would do everything possible
and
then some to keep anything from happening to me or to Maryanne.

"But I also know your mother." He didn't need to say anything
more.

"Colton, you're right. It's not going to be easy. She's going
to
realize something has happened between the two of us and, being who she
is, she'll do her best to encourage it."

"But?" Now it was his turn to look closely at me. As he did,
my face heated and I felt the blush creeping up my neck.

"Look, I can't forget what happened before and, sometime soon,
we
probably ought to talk about it. I just can't right now." I held up a
hand when it looked like he was going to say something. "But I also
have to admit that I don't think I could have made it through the last
few days without you. No, that's not true. I know I couldn't have made
it without you. You've been so patient and so good to me. I've felt
protected and cared for. That's why I came to you the other night. And
that, too, is something we'll need to talk about later."

"Jessie, I wanted to be there and I will do everything I can
to
protect you." He reached for my hand, entwining his fingers with mine.
"It goes beyond my being a cop. I hope you know that."

"I do." That was one thing I had absolutely no doubts about.
He'd
protect me whether he was a cop or not. Of course, being a cop helped.
It let him carry a big gun, which made me feel a whole lot better. But
it went beyond that, it went to who he was deep down. "I guess what I'm
saying is I'm sorry I was such a bitch last night and I'm really sorry
I ran out this morning."

"Well, you're allowed. But don't go anywhere again without
letting
me know." He gave my hand a squeeze and then lifted it to his lips.
"You about scared me to death when I came out of the shower and
realized you were gone. Then I wanted to take you over my knee and give
you a good whipping. Which I will if you pull a repeat performance."

"I'll be good. I promise."

He looked like he wanted to believe me, but he knew me too
well. I
might mean it right now - and I did. But we both knew there was a good
chance I'd pull a repeat performance some time down the road, whether I
meant to or not.

"Just promise not to leave your mother's until I come get you."

"I'll stay put, as long as you promise to be careful."

"Always." Now he did smile and I felt myself grinning in
response. "I need you to make me one more promise."

"What?" I looked at him suspiciously, not sure I liked the
sudden twinkle in his eyes.

"You have to protect me from your mother when she realizes we
slept together."

"Colton." I shook my head, chuckling softly. "The only danger
you -
or I for that matter - will be in once she realizes we slept together
is her obsession with getting me married. And, since she decided a long
time ago that we ought to be together, she will be like a dog with a
bone now."

He groaned and then grinned. At least he wasn't afraid of my
mother - much.

"Well, there's no use putting this off any longer. Let's get
you settled in there and I'll get back to work."

"Colton," I began as he carefully pulled away from the curb.
"Thank you."

He quickly glanced at me and flashed that grin I remembered so
well.
"Just remember that after you've spent the afternoon with your mother."

Well, one thing about spending the afternoon with Mama: I
wouldn't
be worrying about anything as mundane as fires and murders. Oh no. Not
when she would be doing her best to pry every detail about my time with
Colton from me, whether I wanted to share or not. Maybe running up and
down the streets, calling out for those responsible for Manny's death
and the fire at my house to come get me wasn't such a bad idea after
all.

And that foolish thought flew right out the window as Colton
pulled
up in front of my parents' house. Parked at the curb in front of us was
a lime green Volkswagen beetle. Not one of the old ones, the real
Beetles. No, this was one of the new ones. Why couldn't automakers, and
filmmakers for that matter, come up with something new instead of
bastardizing the classics?