Page 12 of Hot For You

“Can I ask what you found out about the fire that burned up my car?” Carilyn asked.

He gave a nod in the direction of the kitchen table. “Let’s have a seat and I’ll tell you what I can. If you don’t mind, I have a couple of questions for you, too.”

Carilyn walked with him toward the kitchen table and sat across from him. “What can you tell me?” she asked when they were settled.

“I’m sorry to tell you this, but we know it was arson,” he said and her skin prickled. “We found an incendiary device and your passenger side window was smashed in.”

An angry flush burned beneath her skin. “Why would someone want to burn up my car?”

“It could have been random.” Cody held her gaze. “But we don’t know for sure what the motive was.”

“I can’t believe this.” She clenched her hands on the tabletop. “It’s all so surreal.”

“Did you see anyone around when you left the café?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I saw people walking up and down the street, but nothing seemed unusual. No one was near the parking lot when I reached it.”

Cody looked thoughtful. “It’s possible that one of the pedestrians could have seen someone coming from the direction of the parking lot. We can hope someone will come forward.”

“I’d sure like to see him caught, whoever it is.” Carilyn ground her teeth. “Do you think this fire is related to any of the others that Leigh told me about?”

“I assume she’s talking about the three cases of arson we’re investigating now,” Cody said. “We do have reason to believe they’re related but I can’t discuss that yet.”

“I understand.” She sighed. “Thank you for telling me what you could.”

“No problem.” He seemed to be studying her. “I promise to let you know what I can as we learn more.”

She pushed back her chair as Leigh and Mike approached the table. “Thank you,” Carilyn said to Cody. “Leigh has a hair appointment and I’m going to get a pedicure, so I imagine we need to get going.”

“Thanks again for the cookies,” Cody said as Leigh and Mike reached them.

Carilyn smiled. “You’re welcome.”

“See you Friday night.” Again he looked like he wanted to say something else, but didn’t.

Leigh and Carilyn said their goodbyes and headed out of the fire station and to Leigh’s car.

“See?” Leigh said with a laugh. “Cody has a thing for you.”

Carilyn rolled her eyes. “You’re incorrigible.”

Leigh grinned. “And I’m right.”

Carilyn shook her head. “Well, it doesn’t matter if he does because I’m not going there.”

But no matter how she tried, she couldn’t get the sexy firefighter off her mind.

* * *

After Leigh and Carilyn left, Cody went to the fire station’s office to find it empty. He booted up the office computer and opened up file folders and documents relating to the arson cases. He pored over information collected from the first three fires, which included interview results, witness statements, scene photographs and videos, insurance inquiries, and forensic testing.

He studied the videos Johnson had taken of each scene. He’d recorded all of the details and had also panned the crowd gathered around, just in case the arsonist was there, perversely watching. No one stood out to Cody, but that didn’t mean anything. He’d caught one arsonist in the past using this method and it could happen again.

Cody and Reese had met with two of the victims earlier in the day and neither woman had witnessed anything strange since the fires. They hadn’t noticed anyone following them or any individuals around who might make them suspicious.

Janice Barnhart, the third victim and owner of the dress shop, hadn’t answered her phone when Reese had tried to contact her and hadn’t returned his call. After the first two interviews, Reese and Cody had stopped by her apartment but no one had come to the door when they’d knocked. Reese planned to continue trying to get hold of her, but for all they knew, she may have gone out of town.

For all they knew, the arsonist could have gotten to her.

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