Page 82 of Primal Urges

“And then what happened?”

“I threw the blanket onto the floor, but the damn thing fell on some books Lucas had piled on the floor, and those, too, caught on fire.”

“Did you put out the fire upstairs?”

“No, I didn’t have time to. Lucas was screaming downstairs. The walls around the bathroom were on fire.”

“What about the rest of the barn?”

“What do you mean?” Caden asked, confused.

“Were there other areas of the barn that were on fire as well?”

Caden stopped to think about the questions. Come to think of it, the fires had been on the bedspread and then around the bathroom—nowhere else.

“Just those two areas.”

“So there were just the two fires going? The bedroom and the bathroom?” Sheriff Burke asked as if reaching some sordid conclusion.

“What aren’t you telling us?” Marcus asked, taking a step forward and glaring at the sheriff.

Sheriff Burke turned to face his old friend.

“The fire marshal has deemed the fire arson. The fires were started at two points of contact. The first was started on the bed where Caden was sleeping. The second was later started outside the bathroom where Lucas was taking a piss.”

Caden looked over at Marcus.

“You said in your report that Lucas was trapped in the bathroom and couldn’t get the door open?”

Caden nodded.

“Well, it’s a good thing you were there. Otherwise, he would have burned to death in that bathroom.”

“Arson? You think that someone came into the barn while we were sleeping and set those fires deliberately?” Caden asked, his fist tightening into a ball.

“That’s what it’s looking like.” The sheriff turned his focus back on Cade. “Look, I’ve known you since you were a little tyke. I know that you’re incapable of killing someone so sweet.”

Caden noticed that the sheriff limited his comment to “someone so sweet,” not that he was incapable of killing people in general. Did that mean that the sheriff believed that he was capable of killing people only if they were bad?

He wasn’t quite sure whether he should take that as a compliment or an insult.

“Can you think of anyone who would want to do you or Lucas any harm?” the sheriff asked, flipping through his notepad and reading through his notes.

Caden glanced at Marcus. There was no way in hell that he was telling Burke who he suspected might have been behind the fire. But if his suspicions were right, he wanted the Shadow Vipers to deliver their justice.

Someone had tried to kill them. Someone was about to die.

“None that I can think of,” Caden finally said, giving Marcus the “we need to talk”look.

“Do you have any further questions, Sheriff?” Marcus asked, standing up straight and getting ready to leave.

The sheriff studied Caden’s face for a few moments before lowering his gaze and shaking his head. “No. I think we’re done for now.”

“Thank you, Sheriff,” Caden said, standing up and shaking Burke’s hand.

After exiting the building, they watched as Ms. Evelyn hopped into her BMW, waving as she drove off.

“Okay, spill it,” Marcus snarled once they were alone on the street.

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