Page 25 of To Hold and Protect

“Yes! You know what that means, Daddy?”

“I do. Are you having fun with Miss Willow?”

“Oh, yes! I drew pictures for her dragon story. Want to see?”

“I sure do, but it’ll have to be when I get back from work. Brought you something to hold you over until I get home.” He set a jar of pickles on the table.

“Yay! Miss Willow doesn’t have any pickles.”

“Which I’ll correct immediately.” Who would have guessed a five-year-old preferred pickles over cookies?

“I have to go, ladybug. You’re going to stay with Miss Willow until Skylar picks you up.”

“Yippie!”

He kissed his daughter’s cheek, and then Willow walked to the door with him. “We’re having a blast, so she’s fine until Skylar gets here.” It would mean a delay in leaving for Charlotte, but she could go early in the morning if necessary.

“Thanks, I really appreciate it.”

“Like I said, we’re having fun. Your daughter’s delightful.” And unbelievably talented. She wanted to talk to him about showing her agent their story and illustrations, but now wasn’t the time.

“That she is.” He nodded at her, then jogged to his car.

And her daddy is one fine-looking man. Even though she was on a Man Hiatus, her eyes still worked. “Stay safe,” she whispered as he drove away.

Chapter Twelve

After a lecture on the danger of fires and a warning of what would happen if they did it again, Parker turned the two tween brothers over to their father. The twin boys had stolen a few cigarettes and a book of matches from their father, and hiding in the woods behind their house, they’d ignited a wildfire when one of them had tossed a cigarette aside without putting it out first. It hadn’t rained for over a month, which hadn’t helped.

The good news, it wasn’t arson. Maybe their firebug had moved on. One could hope. Parker returned to his crew, who had the fire contained and were close to putting it out. Thankfully the boys had run to their father and confessed as soon as they realized they’d started a fire, otherwise it could have been much worse.

His captain joined him. “The boys in a lot of trouble?”

“Their father wasn’t happy. Said they were grounded for the rest of their life.”

Greg chuckled. “I sneaked a cigarette from my dad when I was twelve. Smoked it and then barfed my guts up. Cured me of ever wanting to smoke.”

“Never had the desire to even try.” And if he had, and Tristan had caught him, he would have been grounded for a month.

“We’ll finish up here in an hour or so if you want to head out, boss.”

The back of Parker’s neck prickled, and he scanned the area. “Notice any strangers around tonight?”

“No, why?”

“Just getting a weird feeling, like we’re being watched.” And not for the first time.

“Huh.” Greg gaze darted around them. “I haven’t seen anyone suspicious.”

“Probably my imagination, but keep an eye out.”

“You thinking our arsonist is hanging around?”

“Maybe. I’m going to take a look.” He walked the perimeter of the fire with Ember at his side. A little over halfway around the circle he was walking, Ember stopped. She looked up at him, then headed toward a nearby stand of trees.

“What is it, girl?” He let her take the lead as he followed her. When she stopped, sat, and peered up at him the way she did when alerting to an accelerant, he paused next to her. “You find something?”

The woods were thick, blocking out the sun. He took his flashlight and shined it on the ground ahead of them. The low brush was flattened, evidence that someone had stood there. Parker turned and, no surprise, he could see his firefighters as they battled the last of the fire the boys had started. The arsonist had watched them from here.

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