To the Grave by Carlene Thompson

lot of damage, but we were still able to retrieve enough material to be almost certain someone threw Molotovs at the cottage.”
    â€œWhere would someone around here get Molotov cocktails?” Catherine asked in shock.
    â€œPeople usually think of Molotovs in connection with riots, or terrorist attacks, but it only takes one person to make and launch one. That’s why experts often call Molotov cocktails makeshift incendiary weapons, meaning they aren’t manufactured in arms facilities. All it takes is one person to prepare them,” Eric explained.
    Catherine said, “I always imagined them as being a complicated mix of chemicals.”
    â€œMost people do, but Molotovs can be made of a few simple chemicals.” He smiled at her. “With a few instructions, my grandmother could probably fix up one in her kitchen.” Eric’s smile faded. “But, Catherine, just because they can be simple doesn’t mean they can’t be deadly.”
    â€œLike the ones last night.”
    â€œYes, I’m afraid so.”
    â€œWhat makes you think someone used Molotov cocktails on the cottage?” James asked.
    â€œEvidence. We found a lot of what the fire marshal thought was soda-lime glass and flat metal lids and screw-on rings used in home-canning jars like Mason jars or Ball jars. He said they’re often used to hold Molotovs and a quart jar would be easy for even a woman to throw quite a distance.”
    â€œAbout how many of them were there?”
    â€œWe couldn’t tell for certain, James, but we found four lids. More could have been lying in the debris. Also, the marshal used to train chemical-sniffing dogs in the Armed Forces. He has his own now. The dog led us to several pieces of wood that must have had traces of the chemicals used. The fire marshal took them in for analysis.”
    Catherine sat rock still, horrified. Then she leaned forward. “Have you ever come across anything like this before, Eric? I mean, do you think there’s any possibility that someone just threw the Molotovs as a prank?”
    â€œI’ve never seen anyone go to so much trouble for just a prank.” Eric paused. “I think whoever made and threw those Molotovs did so out of pure hatred and rage.”
    3
    â€œI know you’re not crazy about spending the night when Marissa is here,” Catherine said.
    â€œTonight I’d stay if fifty people were here. I should have stayed last night instead of going to the damned cottage.”
    They lay in Catherine’s bed, their naked legs twined together, his strong arms holding her gently, pressing the side of her face against the warm skin of his chest. “You didn’t tell me last night that Patrice had been at the cottage with you.”
    â€œWell, you and I didn’t exactly have a long conversation. Besides, she just stopped by. She said she knew where I’d be.”
    â€œAnd I thought that’s the last place you’d be. She must know you better than I do.”
    â€œYou sound like you’re implying something,” James said lightly. When she didn’t answer, he put his hand under her chin and raised her face, looking into her eyes. “You’re not, are you?”
    â€œImplying something about you and Patrice? Not anything romantic. Just what I said—she knows you better than I do.”
    â€œMaybe in certain ways. We’ve worked together for years and she could know some of my behavior patterns better than you do. Oh, and she’s madly in love with me, too.”
    Catherine gave him a playful tap on his cheek. “With that huge ego of yours you think every woman in town is madly in love with you, but I know of two exceptions—Marissa and Patrice.”
    â€œDo you really think I have a huge ego?”
    Catherine giggled. “If you did, I wouldn’t be in love with you. Huge egos are a gigantic turnoff for me.”
    â€œIs gigantic bigger than huge