Page 39 of Flashback

She was proud? Of him? After everything she’d witnessed?

The question must’ve shown in his face, because Allie reached up, her small hand brushing his jaw, her eyes alight. “There’s a lot more to you than a badge or your résumé. You’re a good man, Dakota.”

Her words stoked something deep inside, feeding a hunger he’d tried so hard to ignore. How did she do that? They barely knew each other.

But he wanted to know her. He wanted to help her, show her that not every guy was like her ex. He wanted something true, someone to build a life with, a family. Maybe God had brought him all the way out to Montana just to reconnect with her.

His gaze fell to her lips. Everything inside screamed to kiss her.

Maybe someday, but not yet. He still had a ways to go to be the kind of man she deserved, not to mention he had a job to do and a couple of boys to protect.

Dakota cleared his throat. “Thanks. What do you say when things calm down a bit we go out and get dinner? Maybe not barbecue though.”

Allie laughed. “I’d like that.” She grew somber, her grin fading. “But what do we do now?”

Right. Back to the task at hand. He relaxed his clenched jaw. “I need to talk to the boys. I want to see if they recognize this Paulson guy.”

“Yeah, but Ray?—”

“If I know guys like Ray, he’ll be drinking by now. If we’re lucky, he’s doing it somewhere else other than home. So why don’t we drive by the house. If we see his truck, we’ll think of something else. But if it’s not there, we’ll see if Jen will let us ask Ethan some questions.”

“Okay,” she said with a quick nod. “Let’s go.”

Her confidence rubbed off. It was nice to have her believe in him at least this much. Maybe she was right and he had some things to figure out with his career, but for now, he had a case he very much wanted to close, official or not.

The sun was setting as they turned onto the Haroldsons’ street.

Allie pointed at the house in the distance. “Is that smoke?” A tree on the corner of the lot blocked their view of the back of the home, but the columns of gray-black smoke marring the sherbet-colored sky couldn’t be missed.

“Hurry.”

They pulled up to see flames consuming the corner of the roof. Ray’s truck was nowhere to be seen. As soon as Allie parked, Dakota sprinted to the front door and pounded. “Anyone home?” He jiggled the knob. Locked. “Ethan! Jen!”

The boys came from the side of the house. Ethan limped still. “We’re here!”

Allie rushed over to them. “Where’s your mom? What happened?”

Tears coursed down Nolan’s face. Ethan kept a strong arm around his brother’s shoulders. “We just came back from a bike ride and Ray was gone. We saw the fire, but we can’t find Mom! And the door is locked.”

“Call 911,” Dakota told Allie. She ran for the car and came back with her phone. “I’m going to find a way inside, but I need you to keep these guys safe. Maybe they should wait in the car?—”

Ethan pulled away from them. “We need to find my mom!”

“We can’t do that if you and Nolan aren’t safe,” Dakota tried to explain.

Allie said, “Can you stay here on the sidewalk?”

“Please, just find her.” Ethan hiccupped, sending a shudder through his whole body.

Fine. He didn’t have time to argue. “Allie, make the call. I’m going in.” Dakota rushed back to the porch. The fire seemed to be in the back of the house somewhere. After a quick touch to make sure the handle wasn’t hot, Dakota sent a swift kick to break the locking mechanism. The front door swung open and smoke poured out.

“Jen! Jen Haroldson?” Dakota pulled his shirt up over his nose and walked in.

He stayed low to the ground and searched the living area. Nothing. The steps leading upstairs were already on fire. The kitchen was engulfed in flames.

Dakota got as close as he could and didn’t see anyone. Heat seared his skin and pushed him back.

Jen was nowhere to be found, and if he stayed in here much longer, he could die.

---