Page 2 of Shadowed Rubies
We raced up Blueberry Cove Street to the center of town and skidded to a stop in front of the restaurant. It was already engulfed in flames. Thick, black smoke billowed from the building. With one look, I knew the historic brick building that housed the diner was a goner. The best we could hope for now was to get everyone out safely and to keep the fire from spreading to the adjacent buildings.
A significant crowd had already gathered to watch the fire. They stared solemnly as the orange flames devoured one of our town’s major landmarks. I quickly scanned their faces, looking for Mimi, but didn’t see her. This diner was practically the woman’s entire life, outside of her niece, Josie, and Josie’s baby boy. This fire was sure to devastate the busybody that loved to take care of us all by feeding us delicious food.
Jogging toward the building, I shouted at the crowd. “Is anyone inside?”
Blank stares greeted me as the other members of our crew got the firehose situated and began working to control the blaze.
Finally, Mr. Clock, one of the regulars for breakfast at the diner stepped forward. In an important voice, he said, “We cleared out the diner. Everyone made it out.”
Relief surged through me that we wouldn’t be dealing with anyone trapped inside the inferno, until Dean arrived. His face was sheet-white and he was out of breath from running as he looked directly at me and asked in a desperate tone, “Did my sister make it out okay? She’s staying in the apartment upstairs.”
Shit. I had forgotten that Mimi sometimes rents out the small studio above the diner.
When I began to bolt toward the stairs behind the building, a woman shouted, “Wait!”
I turned to see what was up and discovered Meg Stark’s pleading gaze. “Dani’s not in there. I just talked to her on the phone.”
Just as I began to relax into the knowledge that no one was inside the inferno that was quickly consuming this building, Meg continued. “But her dog’s inside. His name is Bruiser, and he doesn’t like other males.”
“Great.” I muttered as I turned to go save the mutt. Climbing the stairs two-at-a-time, I second-guessed my life choices that had brought me to this point.
Dogs were notorious for becoming terrified and hiding during fires. I was getting ready to run into a building that was engulfed in flames to save an animal that would likely bite me, if we somehow managed to make it out without the floor caving in and sending us falling to our fiery deaths.Good times.
3
Dani
Istared with wide eyes at our town’s only known criminal and fugitive. Of all the rotten luck, Kevin Durley was the last person I would want to run into alone in the woods.
Hoping for the best, I took a deep breath and plastered on a smile. Working to keep my voice from betraying the panicked fear that had iced my veins at the sight of him, I said, “Hi, Kevin. I seem to have gotten myself a bit lost.”
Forcing my eyes to drink in his appearance, I realized he was beyond filthy. His clothes were covered in dark stains that appeared to be blood. Involuntarily, I took a step back as I wondered if the blood belonged to him or someone else.
Kevin’s glazed eyes seemed to look right through me as he said, “Claire?”
Horrified, but trying my best to remain calm, I said, “Claire is fine. She’s back with Alex and their daughter, Hannah.”
My brain knew that I should stop talking, but my nervous mouth wouldn’t cooperate. “In fact, they recently had a baby.”
Gah! Why am I telling him all of this?
Forcing my mouth closed, I stared back at him. He was looking in my direction, but it was obvious that he truly didn’t see me.
Knowing that it was in my best interest to get away from him, even if that meant I got myself lost deeper in the woods, I said, “Well, I better get back into town because people are probably already starting to worry about where I am.”
As soon as I turned and started to head away from Kevin, he said, “Claire.”
“I’ll tell her you asked about her.” It was a dumb thing to say, but my mind didn’t seem to be firing on all cylinders.
I just wanted to get away from this man. My instinct was to run, but I sensed that wouldn’t be smart. He was injured, but he was also tall and had very long legs. I doubted if my out-of-shape body could get away from him, and the last thing I wanted was to turn this into a challenge.
Speed walking away from him, I listened for any indication that he might be following me. I didn’t hear any, but knew I wasn’t in the clear just yet. For that, I needed to put as much distance between me and Kevin Durley as possible. Once I was safely back in town, I could send the police out here to search for him and let them know the general area where they could find him.
When Kevin grabbed my arm and said, “Claire,” I nearly jumped to the treetops. It was especially alarming that he could move so quickly and silently.
“Claire isn’t here,” I told him before firmly yanking my arm out of his grasp.
The move startled him, so I used the element of surprise to make a break for it. I only made it a few steps away before he caught up with me, and this time he wasn’t at all gentle.
