Against the Fire by Kat Martin

sweeping the building with dense sprays of water, he unclipped his cell phone and called Sam with the bad news.
    “You ready to go to work?” Gabe asked as Sam’s sleepy voice came on the line.
    “Actually, I’d planned on another hour of sleep. What’s up?”
    “McKinney Court is turning into ashes as we speak.”
    “What?”
    “I’m there now. The fire has completely destroyed the building. We won’t be needing the crew today, at least not here.”
    Sam sighed into the phone. “I’ll take care of it. I’ll call the guys and tell them what’s going on. Dammit, I can’t believe this.”
    “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
    Gabe hung up the phone. He stayed until the fire was brought under control, which took well into the morning. By then, the news cameras were rolling. He kept mostly out of their way, checked to see if there was anything else the fire department needed from him, then headed over to the Greenwood Apartments site.
    He needed to talk to Becky, tell her what had happened and arrange for around-the-clock security.
    He thought of his projects, the theater in Deep Ellum, the Greenwood Apartments, and the warehouse he owned he hadn’t started remodeling yet. Unlike the first two fires, he owned those pieces of property himself. They were insured, but he would still lose a bundle of money. And there was always the chance of someone being hurt or even killed.
    And he hated the thought of the beautiful old Egyptian being destroyed after all of the years it had managed to survive. To say nothing of the work everyone had done to restore it.
    Gabe sighed as he turned off his engine, climbed out of the truck and headed for his office in the construction trailer.
    Ten
    Mattie sat at her kitchen table, sipping a cup of strong coffee, Tigger winding his way back and forth through her legs. She reached down and lifted the big cat into her lap, stroked his back and felt the soft rumble of a purr.
    “Such a pretty kitty,” she cooed, nuzzling her nose in his deep yellow fur. “Mama’s sweet baby boy.” She hoped no one ever heard her talking to him the way she did. They would probably think she was crazy. But she loved animals and Tigger was her dearest companion. A playful rap-tap-tap sounded at the door and Tigger jumped out of her lap. Recognizing Tracy’s familiar knock, Mattie pulled her terry-cloth robe a little tighter around her and answered the door.
    Tracy breezed past her. In a narrow brown skirt and turquoise silk blouse, her feet in a pair of expensive low-heeled pumps, typical business attire for Tracy, she waved a hand as she walked into the living room.
    “I know it’s Saturday but I figured you’d be up. I wasn’t sure if you’d be home instead of at work, or over at the center.”
    “It’s the weekend, remember?”
    “Since when has that mattered?”
    Touché, Mattie thought. “I worked late last night. I figured I’d give myself a break, though I am going over to the center this afternoon. What’s up?”
    Tracy sailed toward the kitchen, went over to the coffeemaker and poured herself a cup.
    “There’s half-and-half in the fridge,” Mattie said.
    “Great. Thanks.”
    “So what are you doing here? I thought you had a showing this morning.”
    “I’ve always got an appointment. I just thought I’d drop by.” As she leaned into the fridge, grabbed the cream and poured it into her cup, she tossed back her straight blond hair. “I haven’t talked to you since Club Rio. I saw that hunk you left with. His friend said his name was Gabriel Raines. I’m dying to know what happened. Was he as yummy as he looked?”
    Mattie returned to her chair at the kitchen table. Propping her elbows on the top, she cradled her coffee mug in her hands. “I don’t suppose I could convince you nothing happened.”
    Tracy just smiled. “You could try, I guess. If you really don’t want to talk about it—”
    “I don’t.”
    “So something did happen! I knew it!” Mug in hand, Tracy