Forget Me Not: A Novel (Crossroads Crisis Center) by Vicki Hinze

looked back at the woman.
No change. Silent tears
.
    If she had been working with someone else to pull a scam, then obviously that person had turned on her. Frankly, though, that didn’t fit. She’d acted to protect his property and her shock now wasn’t faked. No one was that good an actress.
    She could be the real thing.
    And he’d treated her … He didn’t even want to think about how he’d treated her. He didn’t want to think at all. Sweating profusely, he swiped at his brow and then turned to Mel. “Did you get through to the fire department and sheriff’s office?” They’d need both for the insurance reports.
    “On their way.” She swiped her nose.
    He was tempted to do the same. The stench of burned fabric and paper permeated everything. “Thanks.” Ben gave Mel a pat on the shoulder. She was young and unorthodox and she dressed a little funky, but she was one of the center’s best success stories. On her own and trying to make something good of her life, she had earned everyone’s respect and admiration. “Good initiative.”
    She responded with a wobbly smile.
    “Here you go.” Peggy passed Lisa the supplies, then joined Mel and him.
    “You okay?” Peggy asked while conducting her own visual inspection.
    Since Mel had shown up at the center nearly two years ago, they’d all pseudoadopted her. The kid didn’t have anyone else. Even before she had run away from her drug-addict mother and stepfather, she’d been on her own. For all intents and purposes, she’d had to be self-reliant since she was eight years old and her real father died.
    Mel stood with her hand soothing her abdomen. “Yeah, I’m okay, Mrs. Crane.”
    “Everything in order back there?” Ben asked Peggy, motioning toward the exam rooms.
    “Yes. Damage is restricted to just the reception area. It appears from the glass shatter that they tossed something burning through it. A little fire and smoke damage right in here and up through the attic, but otherwiseit’s just the glass and foam mess to clean up. Harvey ran a perimeter check, but he’s taking a look outside as a precautionary measure.”
    Ben surveyed the damage. If someone wanted to cause damage, this was a poor effort. “Better alert the cleaning crew. They can get started right after the sheriff and fire chief are done.” He motioned to the plate-glass window, half of which now lay in soot-stained shards on the floor. “Better get Clyde Parker to come in and board up that window. I’m assuming he still does handyman repairs.”
    Peggy tilted her head. “Would that be the Clyde Parker you couldn’t place a couple hours ago?”
    Caught red-handed, Ben confessed. “Yes, that would be the one.”
    “Ah. Good.” Peggy smacked her lips. “Your memory is returning.”
    His memory hadn’t left. It just hurt too much to recall things once normal in his life with Susan and Christopher—a fact Peggy knew well, and she still attempted to shove Ben through the past into a future. What she failed to understand was that he had no incentive. The past was rich and full, the future bleak and empty. Why stretch for a bleak and empty future?
    He slammed the door shut on his thoughts. “Mel, did you see anything?”
    “The car stopped right out front.” Hand at her jutted hip, she pointed through the window near the center of the reception area. “The guy in the front seat on the passenger’s side was straining his neck to see in here. He glanced left, like he was talking to the driver. A second later, he sticks this thing out the window, lights it on fire, and then hurls it at the window.
Boom
, it explodes, and glass and stuff flies everywhere.”
    Mel sucked in a shuddery breath. “Then the fire and smoke—I didn’t see where he went. I just had to try to put out the fire.” She pursed herlips, looking spitting mad and remorseful. “I should have yelled sooner or checked for his tag number or something, but it never dawned on me he’d actually throw a bomb