Read Online Playing with Fire by Debra Dixon - Free Book Online Page B

laughter. Probably talking to Mother Nature and snickering, “Have you heard the one about the arson investigator and the pyromaniac?”
    Rubbing her arms, Maggie tossed a question at him. “Why’d you have to play this game? Why couldn’t you have just said you had the test back when you knocked on the door?”
    Because you wouldn’t have let me in. Because I wanted to kiss you first. Because I’m a fool.
    Beau couldn’t say any of that. He could barely admitto himself that he’d put an investigation in jeopardy because he was thinking with hormones. He’d never done that before. Never
ever
come close to being this stupid.
    “I didn’t mention the polygraph because it’s not admissible, and after I came inside … I thought you had enough to deal with.”
    Instantly her eyes narrowed. “Enough to deal with? Grayson, I don’t need you or anyone else looking after me.
    “You need a lawyer. You’re facing an arson charge.”
    “I’m not facing anything. You can’t arrest me. You don’t have any evidence. You just said that a polygraph isn’t admissible. You can’t even mention it in court. You haven’t got anything.”
    “Yet.”
    “Then why don’t you come back when you do? Be sure and wear a coat because hell will be freezing over.”
    Beau snatched up the towel he’d dropped on a stack of books and handed it to her on the way to the door. When she took it, he didn’t let go. He leaned over the dog to whisper a warning. “I’ll leave, but I’m watching you, Maggie. I don’t want to see so much as a match go up in smoke if you’re in the vicinity. You got it?”
    He felt the change in Gwendolyn before he heard the soft rumble of displeasure. Maggie did nothing to calm the wolfhound. “She doesn’t like your tone of voice either.”
    “I’m sure she doesn’t,” he said softly, easing away. When he reached the archway to the vestibule, he took out one of the cards with his home number written on it and tossed it on a chair. “Who’s going to take care of her when you’re in jail?”
    Maggie held her ground until the door clicked shut behind him. Then all her toughness evaporated, and her knees gave out. Gwendolyn joined her on the floor, putting her big head on Maggie’s thigh. The long tail thumped twice on the floor, and big brown eyes looked up to promise her it would be okay.
    But all Maggie could see were dark, intense eyes that would haunt her for a long time.
    No harm done.
    Beau stood in the doorway of his office and gestured for Russell. The man was a clown, but a smart clown and eminently suited for this task. He handed him a copy of Maggie’s statement.
    “Run this over to the hospital for me, and don’t come back without Ms. St. John’s signature. Better have someone over there witness it too.”
    “Say it ain’t so, Beau,” he begged as he took the statement. “Tell me she’s not our girl.”
    Shaking his head at the pretended anguish on Russell’s face, Beau outlined it. “She’s the primary, but the charge won’t stick. Not without hard evidence. So we’re going through the motions on this one and closing it up. I cleared your visit with a Dr. Bennett. They’re advising her you’re on the way and to afford you any and all cooperation.”
    “Okay, boss,” he agreed, but turned back before he’d gone two paces. “I thought you took care of this yesterday.”
    “I got tied up at the Littleton trial.”
    Russell rolled his eyes at the mention of the case.“Riddle me this, Beau. If a woman’s pissed at you for fooling around,
and
she tells you that she’s going to set your bed on fire,
and
she’s sprinkling gasoline on the covers, are you gonna get out of that bed?”
    “He didn’t believe her.”
    With a snort, Russell said, “Game, set, and
match
to Mrs. Littleton.”
    “Game, set, and match,” Beau echoed flatly, and flicked his eyes at the envelope. “She’s waiting.”
    “I’m on it.”
    As Russell left, Beau closed his office door.