Page 47 of Her Ohio Old Flame

Zane held his gaze, searching for any sign of deceit, but all he saw was raw emotion. “If it wasn’t you, do you know who it was?”

Saxon hesitated, lowering his gaze to his hands. “No, but I wouldn’t blame them if they did. He deserves it.”

Lou let out a long breath. “Saxon, this is serious. If you know anything, now’s the time to tell us.”

“I swear this is all I know.”

“All right,” Lou said. “We might want to talk to you at a later moment. Please, don’t leave town.”

“No, sir, I won’t.” The kid rose from his seat and left the room without a backward glance.

“Damn it,” said Zane, “I like that kid. I really hope he isn’t our arsonist.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

The door clicked shut behind Saxon, his casual stride disappearing down the corridor. Tense, Zane leaned back against the desk, arms crossed. He shot a glance at Lou, who was frowning down at his notepad, the silence between them heavy with frustration.

“Well,” Zane muttered, “that was as insightful as it was confusing. If Saxon didn’t set the fires, then who did?”

Lou raked his hand through his hair. “I don’t think the kid was lying, though. I think—” Lou’s phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, glanced at the screen, and answered briskly. “Yeah?”

There was a brief pause as he listened, his face hardening into a more focused expression. “Understood. We’ll be there.”

He ended the call and slid the phone back into his pocket, turning to Zane. “Maddy wants us to head over. One of the girls has something to share.”

Zane nodded, the tension in his chest tightening further. Without another word, they left the classroom, their footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway.

They headed down the school’s hallway, passing a few students seated on a bench outside the classroom, their quiet chatter and nervous glances betraying their anticipation. When they reached the door, Lou knocked rhythmically, waiting for Maddy to call them in before turning the handle and entering.

Lou stepped inside first, with Zane close on his heels. He immediately sought Asha and found her standing near Maddy and a beautiful young woman with skin a shade darker than Asha’s and colorful beads in her hair. The girl was seated, her shoulders slumped as she gripped the desk so hard her knuckles were white. Asha’s face was tight with concern, and she glanced to Zane before returning her attention to the distressed young lady.

“What’s going on?” Lou’s question cut through the tension.

Maddy turned to him, resting her hand lightly on the woman’s shoulder. “Latoya has something to share. Something important.”

Zane went to lean against the wall, folding his arms as he watched Lou pull out a chair to sit across from the girl. Asha’s presence was steady but quiet, and Zane caught the subtle encouragement in her expression as she nodded at Latoya.

Lou’s said, “Take your time, Latoya. Just tell us what’s on your mind.”

Zane studied the girl closely. She was a tall, striking young woman with intelligent eyes, but right now, she looked small and fragile, her confidence shaken. Asha’s hands twitched at her sides, as though she wanted to reach out but didn’t want to push the girl too hard.

Latoya’s next words were hesitant. “It’s about the wildfire. Saxon and I… we were out by the trails. We had a campfire, and it got out of control.”

Zane’s jaw tightened as he listened, his focus unrelenting. Lou scratched across his notepad with his pen, the only sound in the room other than Latoya’s trembling voice.

“What happened when it got out of control?” Lou asked, still calm.

Latoya’s lips quivered, and her eyes brimmed with tears. “Saxon tried to kick dirt on it, but it just spread more. Fires started popping up everywhere. I wanted to call for help, but he—he wouldn’t let me. He said we’d get in trouble.”

The room felt heavier with every word she spoke. Zane clenched his hands at his sides, his frustration building. The guilt was etched into the girl’s face, the weight of the secret she’d been carrying.

Lou’s pen paused, and he cocked his head, his focus completely on the young girl. “What about the other fires? The dumpster, the car, the lodge?”

Latoya dipped her head and hugged her arms around herself before she whispered, “He didn’t admit to those… but…”

“But what?” Lou prompted.

She sniffled, her tears spilling over. “He said he wouldn’t blame whoever did it. That they probably had a good reason.”

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