Read Online What Burns Within by Sandra Ruttan - Free Book Online Page B

go to the police?”
Alex’s face turned redder than a vine-ripened tomato. “I…I don’t know.”
“What was Nicholas wearing when you found him?”
“A white shirt, blue jeans, white sneakers an—” Alex stopped.
Tain waited, then tried to prompt him. “And?”
“That’s it.” The squeak was back in Alex’s voice.
“Could I get your cell phone number again, just for the record, please?”
After a false start, Alex corrected himself and finally rattled it off. “I don’t see why this is so important. The boy was lost. I brought him here. It’s not against the law.”
“You don’t understand why we’re interested in Nicky Brennen?”
His blond head shook, and then his finger reached for the glasses again.
Tain pulled out the newspaper he’d had folded underneath his note pad, the one with the headline about Taylor Brennen missing and Isabella Bertini’s body being recovered. He tossed it down in front of Alex Wilson. His red cheeks blanched.
“Do you understand now, Mr. Wilson?”
     
“You’re beginning to look like a permanent fixture around here.”
Ashlyn mustered enough energy to smile back at Adrian Vaughan, who was clearly recognizable in his jeans and T-shirt today, unlike the night before when he’d been wearing his turnout gear at the fire scene.
“I thought you were on nights,” she said.
“Yeah, I’m actually just messing around with cars. My cousin, Aaron, he’s got a bit of a classic he brings by sometimes. Lots of good shop tools around that we can use for free.” He flashed her a smile. “Fringe benefits.”
“You like old cars?”
“Some. Mostly, I just like working on them. Aaron and I have been making modifications to his old Corvette for years.”
She nodded. He’d turned toward her, giving her his full attention, not looking like he was in a hurry to go anywhere. She stifled a yawn. “I’m still on the clock.”
“Since yesterday?”
Ashlyn nodded. “Still smelling like I’ve been caught inside a chimney, too. Is Chief Quinlan in?”
“Should be in his office. Maybe we’ll see you later.”
“I hope not, if you know what I mean.” Ashlyn walked away.
     
Paul Quinlan looked up at the figure leaning against his doorway. Her typically bright eyes and vibrant smile were overshadowed by dark circles and pale skin. Her mouth was drawn in an unusually hard line. “I hate to say this Ashlyn, but you look like how I feel.”
“That bad, huh?” She sank into a chair.
“Pretty hard night,” Quinlan said. “Rough call.”
“We really need to get into that building.”
“I doubt you’ll find much there.” Quinlan tossed his pen down on the desk, turning around in his chair to face her fully.
“You’re probably right.”
“But you still want to take a look?”
“You know we have to.”
“Technically, the building’s a complete write off. I can take you in, but just you.”
“Constable Tain needs to come with us.”
“So this isn’t about the arsons anymore, is it?”
“I’m still investigating the arson cases,” Ashlyn said. “I’m not giving up on that.”
“But the girl takes priority.”
“Right now, the girl is our best lead to solving the arsons.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Why? Because that other girl was found at the scene of one of the earlier fires?”
“It’s a link we can’t ignore, Paul.” Ashlyn rubbed her eyes. “It’s also a link we can’t have everyone knowing about.”
He nodded. “I understand that.”
“Not even your men, Paul.”
“Don’t you want me to ask them to keep their eyes open on future calls? I saw the paper this morning. If there’s a link we’re going to have another fire on our hands soon.”
“You can’t say anything to anyone.” Ashlyn sighed. “Every firefighter you have who’s been on these calls is going to have it figured out. But right now, we don’t want the press catching wind of this. The last thing we need is distraught parents showing up at fire scenes thinking their child