Page 29 of Midnight Clear

“The fire marshal wants to talk to her after he gets through,” Hank said. “I told him I’d bring her here instead of waiting out in the cold.”

“Let me get her some hot tea,” Simone said, leaving the room.

They sat in silence until Simone came back with a cup of hot tea and a thick blanket she’d found somewhere. She wrapped it gently around Sophie’s shoulders, gave Hank a pointed look, and then let herself back out.

“Why were you in town?” she finally asked.

“I was coming to see you,” he said. “I owe you an apology and I wanted to do it face-to-face. I’m sorry. And you were right. I’ve been working out solutions to your problems for weeks, trying to handle them for you. I guess part of me wanted to swoop in like a white knight and save the day. I made things harder on you. I’m sorry.”

She wrapped the blanket around her tighter and then wrapped her hands around the mug. “I ignored your calls and texts,” she said.

“I noticed.”

“I’m not sorry,” she said. “I had to do some things. Had to think. You were right about my dad. I am still angry. And I haven’t forgiven him. But yesterday I tried. I guess it’s going to be a while before it takes root.”

“I think that’s all right,” he said. “Getting started is the hardest part.”

“I wanted to answer your calls and texts,” she said. “I just couldn’t. There was too much swimming around in my brain. I needed space so I could think things through and process. I kind of lost it yesterday. I’m sorry for that. I’m a logical and rational person. I understand business and the way things work. And I’m not usually one to let emotions sway me.”

“I think you’re entitled considering,” he said.

“It’s gone,” she said, repeating the words she’d said while they’d been watching the bookstore burn.

“Yeah, it’s gone,” he said. “Now you have to figure out if you want to rebuild. But there’s time for that.”

“Insurance companies and adjusters,” she said. “I can’t wait. I guess if I’d sold it to you when you first asked this would be your problem instead of mine.”

“Did you just make a joke?” he asked.

She grimaced. “Obviously not a very good one.”

There was a knock on the door and it opened, revealing the fire marshal. Trent Sykes was a good man, and he’d been fire marshal since Hank had been a kid. He skimmed just under six feet and had thick salt-and-pepper hair and a handlebar mustache. He had a thick barrel chest and he was dressed in navy tactical pants and a matching button-down shirt.

“Hank,” he said, coming in and shaking hands before turning to Sophie. “I’m sorry about your store. I used to go there when your grandmamma ran it. I’ve got fond memories.”

“Me too,” she said. “It went up so fast. By the time I got there the whole place was a wall of fire. I couldn’t get inside to get anything out.”

“Looks like there was an electrical short in the wall,” Trent said. “Most likely there would’ve been nothing you could’ve done unless you were inside when it started. Electrical fires start in the walls, and that house is so old its wood was like a tinderbox. The fire ate it right up.”

Hank saw the defeat in Sophie’s eyes and wanted to take the pain away. But this was a battle that was hers to conquer.

“It’s going to be a couple of days at least before you can get in and see if anything is salvageable. There will be hot embers underneath that’ll take time to cool. But you can start taking pictures from the perimeter for insurance tomorrow. We’ll have it cordoned off for a while to keep people away.”

“Merry Christmas, huh,” Sophie said.

“Again, I’m sorry about this,” Trent said, handing her a card. “Give me a call if you have any questions.”

“Thanks, I will,” she said.

“Oh, I do have something for you I think you’ll want,” Trent said. “It’s outside. I didn’t think Ms. Simone would like me dragging it inside.”

“Come on,” Hank said, helping Sophie to her feet.

“I’m not sure I can take any more surprises tonight,” she said, keeping the blanket wrapped around her as they walked past the hostess stand and back outside.

But her steps slowed as she saw the round stained-glass window leaning against the side of the building. The wood was charred around the edges and there was soot on the glass, but it was intact.

“How?” she asked.

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