Page 64 of Light of Day
Ever since he’d become constable, he’d had to think about certain things in a more responsible way. He kept all his important papers locked in a mini-safe, which he grabbed now, along with his laptop, phone charger, and Izzy’s favorite stuffed seal. She left it at his house to watch over him, she claimed.
Maybe it had done its job, because if they’d arrived a few minutes later, this entire house might have been gone.
He ran out to his truck, where Heather was already strapped into the passenger seat, her cell phone on speaker. “All I know is they sent the fire truck. I’ll meet you there, okay? Be careful, Mom.”
“You too, honey. What is wrong with people? Who’d want to burn down the Bloodshot Eyeball? It’d serve them right if I just closed the place up. Where would those idiots get their morning coffee if I did that?”
“Let’s just take it one step at a time.”
“You don’t understand, kiddo. Even if the insurance company pays for repairs, it’s hard to get anyone to do the work. Everyone’s always busy at the fricking Lightkeeper.”
Heather shot Luke an apologetic glance, but he just shrugged. He knew how the islanders felt about the hotel; it was a love-hate relationship. It brought in money, but most of that money went to the Carmichaels. Meanwhile, it ate up resources and labor and kept property taxes high. You’d never find him defending the hotel.
“One step at a time,” Heather repeated. “Let’s not panic yet.”
“Oh yeah? You going to stick around and help this time?”
Even Luke could hear the anxiety in Sally McPhee’s voice.
“I will. We’ll get through this. It’ll be alright. See you in a few minutes.” She ended the call. “My mom said she heard someone prowling around our house about half an hour ago. She scared them off with her rifle, but…I’m thinking you should call Carrie.”
Jesus Christ. She was right. The Bloodshot Eyeball, his house, the McPhees’ house…there was definitely a pattern. He hit Carrie’s number on his iPhone.
“There’s some weird shit going on tonight. Keep an eye and ear out for anything out of the ordinary. Is Frank still up?”
“Frank’s gone. For good.” He could tell that Carrie had been crying. “Turns out he has a girlfriend on the mainland.”
“Shit. I’m sorry. So it’s just you and Izzy there?” He didn’t like that, not at all. “Listen, why don’t you go stay with your sister for the night?”
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t really know yet. Someone started a fire at my house, and the Bloodshot’s also on fire, and I think me and Heather might be targets, along with people close to us.”
“You’re overreacting. Everything’s perfectly fine here, except for Frank leaving.” She gave a muffled sob. “Besides, people on this island know better than to threaten us. My brothers would just about kill them.”
She had a point; her brothers had cornered him after Carrie had gotten pregnant. He’d barely managed to convince them that he’d already proposed to her.
Heather gestured for Luke to hand her his phone. “Carrie. This is real. We only have one fire truck on this island, and if someone decided to start a bunch of fires, there’s no way they could all get put out. Just be on the safe side and take Izzy to Olivia’s house. Promise?”
“Heather?” Carrie sounded more alert now that Heather was on the line. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, we’re heading to mom’s right now. Please do what Luke says.”
“Okay, but quick question—are you guys seeing each other?”
Heather shot Luke a glance full of laughter. “I wouldn’t?—”
“Because you’d be a great couple, and if you aren’t already considering it, you really should. I’ve been worried about Luke. He deserves someone really smart and fun, like you.”
“Carrie!”
“Okay, I’m going. But we’re still having coffee Saturday, right?”
“Hope so. I’ll text you.”
Shaking his head, Luke started up the truck and sped in the direction of the Bloodshot Eyeball. “Prepare for an earful about Frank. And some matchmaking.”
The dark woods sped past, punctuated by the occasional lamppost and twinkle of porch lights. “I have to ask…with Frank out of the picture, would you and Carrie…?”
