Page 36 of Close Up

She ignored him to slam a fresh film holder into the camera.

Chapter 14

Twenty minutes later she used the last film holder. She swung around to look at Nick.

“We need to get to the night editor at the office of theAdelina Beach Courier,” she said. “My car was in the garage. It’s a burned-out hulk by now. We’ll take yours.”

“You want to go to a newspaper office? At this hour?”

“With luck Eddy will let me use his darkroom.”

Nick took one last look at the scene. The fire crew had the flames under control but it was clear there would be nothing left to salvage after things cooled down. The crowd was starting to dissipate. He had tried to get a look at every face but in the end there had been dozens of people milling around in the street. Several had arrived by car, drawn by the fiery light in the night sky. They had all watched, fascinated, as the beach cottage burned. The raw power of fire never failed to awe and fascinate.

“We’ll have to give a statement to the fire chief first,” he warned.

“I’ve barely got time to make the morning edition,” Vivian began. She broke off when a man in a uniform strode determinedly toward her.

“Chief Bridges,” he said by way of introduction. “I understand you were renting this place, Miss Brazier?”

“That’s right,” she said.

“Any idea what happened here tonight?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Vivian asked. “Someone tried to murder me.”

The chief glanced at Nick.

“She’s right,” Nick said. “Someone lit a fuse, stuck it into a bottle of gas or some other flammable liquid, and tossed it through the living room window.”

Bridges scowled. “You sure about that?”

“Positive,” Vivian said.

“I hear you’re a photographer,” Bridges said. “That means you had a lot of film and chemicals around, right?”

“Yes,” Vivian said, “but I assure you, I’m very careful. That fire did not start in my darkroom if that’s what you’re implying. Mr. Sundridge is right. Someone threw a homemade firebomb through my front window.”

“We’ll take a look in the morning,” Bridges said. He sounded doubtful. “Nothing we can do tonight. How can I reach you? The cops will probably want to talk to you, too.”

“We’re going to find a hotel,” Nick said. “Tomorrow I’ll give you and the chief of police a call.”

Vivian looked at Bridges. “I’ve got a great shot of you fighting that fire. It will be on the front page of theCourierif you let us leave now. But time is of the essence here.”

“Me? On the front page?”

“It’s a very powerful shot,” Vivian promised. “You’re going to look terrific.”

“Huh. My wife will love that.”

“It will also impress the mayor and the city council,” Vivian said.

Bridges hesitated and then waved one hand. “All right, on your way. Don’t forget to call headquarters tomorrow.”

“Right,” Nick said.

He took Vivian’s arm and steered her through the crowd to where the customized Packard was parked at the curb. When he opened the door on the passenger side, Rex leaped into the front seat and took up his usual position.

“It’s the back seat for you tonight, pal,” Nick said.

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