Page 59 of Rescued Heart

Eddie failed to completely cover his yawn with his elbow. “There’s plenty of breakfast left. Want me to go grab another bowl?”

Macon waved him forward. “That’s okay, you can give mine to the chief. Natalie cooked me biscuits and gravy before work. I can’t say that I’m hating this nesting period she’s in.”

Eddie handed Conroy one of the bowls.

Conroy sat. “Thanks. I actually haven’t eaten yet.”

Eddie took his seat, and the sunlight beaming in through the window wasn’t the only thing that made him feel like he was in the spotlight. There was only one reason why both chiefs would need to talk to him. Well actually, two. “Have you made any connections to the set collapse or the fire?”

The news had been strangely quiet about the events.

Conroy rested his ankle on top of his knee and scooped another spoonful of oats. “I hoped you were the one with some more news.”

Eddie set his bowl on the edge of Macon’s desk in front of his framed photos. “I sent you everything I’ve gathered. Besides Thad, the security officer who likes to talk to me about his grandkids, there hasn’t been anything that seemed promising. Other than a few of the crew members asking me to meet up for some wings. I can use that invite to ask more questions if you think it would help.”

Conroy took a deep breath. “The mayor’s not going to like it, but I’m going to have to put even more cops all over that set.”

Eddie shrugged. He had warned Bryce and Olivia and Grace that he was no undercover officer. “I’m no cop. I talked to those who had been around the set during the day of the collapse and before. Theories and speculations. Gossip. But nothing seemed to be worth repeating.”

Macon leaned his elbows on his desk. “Surely someone on that set didn’t have an alibi for the days leading up to the collapse of the set build.”

Conroy steepled his fingers. “There’s someone without an alibi all right. Far too many of them. There are ten separate contracted-out businesses, including food, beverages, cleaning, construction, and massage personnel with multiple employees each that arrived on set just within a two-hour window. Not counting the rest of the days. So far, we’ve got no motive unless the protestors have stepped up their game. Nothing connecting to the Jane Doe or the hit-and-run car incident either.”

Eddie tightened his grip on the chair. “Thankfully Bianca didn’t actually gethitin that incident. Though she did mention her ex has been texting her, and she didn’t seemed thrilled. Not sure if there’s anything more there.” Eddie folded his arms over his chest. “What about the fire at the mayor’s event? Any ID on the arsonist? Maybe I could sit with a sketch artist again.”

Not that it had led to a very clear resemblance the first time. Eddie could remember exact conversations from when he was a teen, but he couldn’t remember what color eyes the arsonist had from only a little more than a week ago.

He had to be missing something. Something simple. But he hadn’t even heard anyone yelling.

Eddie sat up straight. But he had observed whispers. “This might not help, but I overheard two people in construction uniforms. They had been whispering. One was short, and the other had narrow shoulders from behind. The taller one had shoved the shorter one, who said it hadn’t been his fault. I asked them if everything was okay. They tipped their hard hats and got into a truck with a construction label on its side.”

Conroy set his bowl next to Eddie’s. He pulled out his phone and typed out a note. “At this point, we’re looking into everything.” He rested his phone on his thigh. “We may have a small lead. We’re bringing a suspect in for questioning who’d been seen with a lighter at the event. However, my crew has to locate him first.”

That wasn’t exactly comforting.

They were really pinning too much hope on Eddie’s investigative abilities. “All the props and storage areas are locked every time I check them. The security guys make their rounds. There’s an unofficial smoke break area by the tree beside the parking lot. Leo survives on coffee and jellybeans. There never seems to be enough assistants when one is yelled for. The only people who usually raise their voices are Leo and Carter. But nothing points to why a set could have been sabotaged. I’m sure I could ask more questions and run by the debris again, but there are only so many hours in the day that I can be there.”

Macon’s chair squeaked. Then the two chiefs shared a look. One Eddie had a feeling he wasn’t going to like.

“What are you not telling me?”

Conroy thumped his knuckles against the armrests. “Every time my men show up, it’s like the entire crew turns the other way. The mayor gets phone calls. Which means I get phone calls.”

Eddie leaned forward in his seat. “They’re probably worried you’re going to shut down filming. I’ve heard grumbles of production money issues.”

Conroy nodded. “I read that in your notes. And I’ve also heard that from other sources.”

“So what I’m hearing is you don’t need me there anymore.” Why did his chest suddenly feel tighter? He should be happy to be done at the set.

Except, done at the set meant he’d see Bianca less. Which shouldn’t be a big deal.Shouldn’tbeing the key word.

Macon picked up a pen. “Perhaps when you’re on call, you should stay on set instead of waiting here.”

Eddie’s back straightened and his healing road rash clung to his shirt. “You want me to go to a film set and not do my job?”

He understood they needed to find answers, but it didn’t make sense for him not to go on fire runs. “No disrespect, but I’m a firefighter. Chief, if I’m not on a run, I leave rescue squad a man down. That’s too dangerous.”

Macon glanced to Conroy. “The mayor requested it, and unfortunately, he holds the funds for all of our paychecks. You’re still going out on calls. You’d meet up with the crew. You’ll just be waiting for any calls while at the set instead. That will give you more time there to find anything that might help Barnes find a lead. This town seems to be getting hit from all sides, and we’re going to have to think outside the box to get everything accomplished.”

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