Read Online Fire Angel by Susanne Matthews - Free Book Online Page B

morning — what was the time difference? Three hours? Four hours? Maybe email would be better. She would have to hope that he would understand why she had to complete the assignment. This was her chance to prove herself not only to her colleagues, but to those who doubted her years ago. She was not ready to leave Paradise just yet.
    Before Jake could put on his coat to leave, someone knocked at the door. “Jake?”
    â€œI told the desk clerk that I’d be here,” he explained at her raised eyebrows
.
    So much for anonymity and a sterling reputation,
Alexis thought.
    She opened the door. A young man stood beside two police constables in full uniform — black jackets with the gold and blue crests, open to reveal Kevlar vests, black shirts, and black pants, and on their heads, they wore black peaked caps with blue bands. Each had on the typical black belt that held flashlights, nightsticks, handcuffs, a Taser X26, and the standard issue SIG Sauer P226. They looked very efficient and somewhat intimidating.
    â€œGood evening. I’m Constable Leduc and this is Constable Howard.” He pointed to the older man standing beside him. “Sorry to bother you; is Jake here?”
    Jake had moved aside to allow her to open the door and had come to stand behind her at the sound of the officer’s voice.
    â€œThanks, Randy,” he said to the young man who stood with the police officers. “Pierre, Patrick, meet Special Agent Alexis Michaels; she’s here to help us find the arsonist. What can I do for you, Pierre?”
    â€œGrab your coats. There’s been another one.”
    â€œWhere?” asked Jake.
    â€œProvidence House on Spruce; the firefighters are on the scene, but it’s bad — apparently there were twenty-six residents plus five staff members in the building. I don’t know how many got out. The chief sent us to get you.”
    Jake turned to her. “It looks like we’ll be starting work sooner than we expected. I’ll take Maya back to my place and meet you at the front door. Dress warmly; it’ll be cold out there, despite the heat from the fire.”
    He grabbed his coat and left the cabin with the officers. Alexis realized that it was going to be a long night.
    She put on a pale blue wool cardigan over her navy turtleneck. She grabbed her camera, a flashlight, and a notebook out of her duffel bag. After she made sure that it worked, she stuffed the complementary pen into her coat pocket. She exchanged her leather boots for a pair of flat-soled winterized rubber ones that would keep her feet both warm and dry. At least she’d been smart enough to remember those. She slipped her jacket on, regretting once more that she had no hat or gloves. Jake was right about one thing; it was cold now, and it was bound to get colder still. She turned off the fan, lowered the thermostat on the fireplace, and headed out the door. Jake had promised that Minette would not turn off the lights, but Alexis doubted that they’d be back here much before sunrise.
    As she walked quickly across the parking lot, she realized that she hadn’t considered her stalker, but then again, if he were the arsonist, as Jake suspected, then he was probably a little too busy with other things right now. She looked up and noticed that clouds had drifted in and the wind had dropped. Thank God for small mercies. Something Jake had said earlier nagged at her, but she could not for the life of her figure out what it was. There were too many things to consider, and the sooner she was able to concentrate on the case, the better. No doubt the death count here was going to be high. A shelter, of all places — this definitely wasn’t a man with a hero complex.
    She was grateful that she would not be the one driving since speed was of the essence. The three men stood just inside the reception office doors waiting for her and came out as soon as she was in sight.
    Jake held out a