picture of her and his son, Ethan, on his desk. Once again, I felt that stab of jealousy that was really starting to make me nervous.
“I'd had a thing for her for years. When I finally got her, it was incredible. With her, sex wasn't just physical. I cared about her. Stopped wanting anyone else.”
“If you're trying to say I'm gonna marry this chick...”
“No, I'm not. I know you always say you don't want to settle down, but maybe give dating a try, huh?” He frowned. “I just don't like seeing you alone. The right woman can make your world a much better place.”
The thought of dating, of getting close to someone again, terrified me. I'd tried that once long ago, only to regret it in the end.
“You know how I told you I'd never been in love? That's not exactly true,” I confessed. “There was a woman once, years ago. I let myself fall for her. She took advantage of that.”
“I'm sorry. I had no idea.”
“She lied. Stole from me. Treated me like crap because she knew she had me under her spell.” I laughed at my stupidity. “Only after I caught her cheating for the second time did I end things. Ever since, I decided it would be far easier to stick with flings and one-night stands.”
“But not all of them are like that. Sure, you take a risk opening up, but it can be worth it.”
I could hardly believe I was listening to Jayce, former playboy of the year. He had a real talent for picking up any woman he wanted back then. He probably still could, too, but he loved his wife.
He and the rest of the gang didn't go to the club anymore, like we all used to. Max was several hours away in Bastrop and blissfully married himself. They had no time or desire to go out partying, drinking, smoking pot, and sleeping around.
Myself, I hadn't gone out in a long time. I missed it, but... Maybe the wild days of youth couldn't last forever.
The clanging fire alarm shook me out of my thoughts. Finally, some work to do. It just might help me get Madison off my mind.
Ha, yeah right. Who was I fooling?
“What's the situation, chief?”
Hank, generally a calm and collected man, yelled at us to get our asses moving pronto.
“Got several calls about a big fire down at Forest Hill trailer park,” he announced. “Reports say that something in several of the trailers has exploded.”
“Damn,” Jayce muttered. “A bomb? We're not equipped to handle that kind of thing.”
The arsonist's letter popped into my mind. He was going after a place that dealt in drugs next, he said.
Could this be his handiwork?
“No, not a bomb,” I said as I threw on my gear. “Forest Hill's in a bad part of town. That trailer park's been associated with drugs for ages now.”
“A meth lab, you think?”
“Possibly. Let's just get down there and take care of it.”
I hopped in the driver's seat of a wailing engine, along with Jayce. A couple of other guys, Oliver and Billy, followed behind in their own truck.
I fumbled with my phone as I raced through the city. If the arsonist had struck again, Madison would want to know.
But I felt weird calling her. We hadn't spoken in days, since that unforgettable night. Why not? Why the hell didn't I ask for her number?
“Man, watch where you're driving.” Jayce gestured to a car I'd almost sideswiped. “Max got canned for wrecking his truck. I'd hate for you to go next.”
“Sorry. I was just thinking about calling Madison. She's supposed to be investigating this stuff.”
“You're saying you believe it's arson again?”
“Won't know until we get there, but my gut's saying yes.” I dialed the Kingston police department and prayed she was working today. “C'mon, pick up.”
The lady in the office had to transfer me to Madison's desk. The phone rang for a while, but she finally picked up just as we turned down the road toward Forest Hill.
“Officer Madison Finley speaking.”
“Madison, it's me.”
She hesitated. “Brett? I'm surprised you're calling.”
I should've told
“I'd had a thing for her for years. When I finally got her, it was incredible. With her, sex wasn't just physical. I cared about her. Stopped wanting anyone else.”
“If you're trying to say I'm gonna marry this chick...”
“No, I'm not. I know you always say you don't want to settle down, but maybe give dating a try, huh?” He frowned. “I just don't like seeing you alone. The right woman can make your world a much better place.”
The thought of dating, of getting close to someone again, terrified me. I'd tried that once long ago, only to regret it in the end.
“You know how I told you I'd never been in love? That's not exactly true,” I confessed. “There was a woman once, years ago. I let myself fall for her. She took advantage of that.”
“I'm sorry. I had no idea.”
“She lied. Stole from me. Treated me like crap because she knew she had me under her spell.” I laughed at my stupidity. “Only after I caught her cheating for the second time did I end things. Ever since, I decided it would be far easier to stick with flings and one-night stands.”
“But not all of them are like that. Sure, you take a risk opening up, but it can be worth it.”
I could hardly believe I was listening to Jayce, former playboy of the year. He had a real talent for picking up any woman he wanted back then. He probably still could, too, but he loved his wife.
He and the rest of the gang didn't go to the club anymore, like we all used to. Max was several hours away in Bastrop and blissfully married himself. They had no time or desire to go out partying, drinking, smoking pot, and sleeping around.
Myself, I hadn't gone out in a long time. I missed it, but... Maybe the wild days of youth couldn't last forever.
The clanging fire alarm shook me out of my thoughts. Finally, some work to do. It just might help me get Madison off my mind.
Ha, yeah right. Who was I fooling?
“What's the situation, chief?”
Hank, generally a calm and collected man, yelled at us to get our asses moving pronto.
“Got several calls about a big fire down at Forest Hill trailer park,” he announced. “Reports say that something in several of the trailers has exploded.”
“Damn,” Jayce muttered. “A bomb? We're not equipped to handle that kind of thing.”
The arsonist's letter popped into my mind. He was going after a place that dealt in drugs next, he said.
Could this be his handiwork?
“No, not a bomb,” I said as I threw on my gear. “Forest Hill's in a bad part of town. That trailer park's been associated with drugs for ages now.”
“A meth lab, you think?”
“Possibly. Let's just get down there and take care of it.”
I hopped in the driver's seat of a wailing engine, along with Jayce. A couple of other guys, Oliver and Billy, followed behind in their own truck.
I fumbled with my phone as I raced through the city. If the arsonist had struck again, Madison would want to know.
But I felt weird calling her. We hadn't spoken in days, since that unforgettable night. Why not? Why the hell didn't I ask for her number?
“Man, watch where you're driving.” Jayce gestured to a car I'd almost sideswiped. “Max got canned for wrecking his truck. I'd hate for you to go next.”
“Sorry. I was just thinking about calling Madison. She's supposed to be investigating this stuff.”
“You're saying you believe it's arson again?”
“Won't know until we get there, but my gut's saying yes.” I dialed the Kingston police department and prayed she was working today. “C'mon, pick up.”
The lady in the office had to transfer me to Madison's desk. The phone rang for a while, but she finally picked up just as we turned down the road toward Forest Hill.
“Officer Madison Finley speaking.”
“Madison, it's me.”
She hesitated. “Brett? I'm surprised you're calling.”
I should've told
Similar Books
