Michael’s easy acceptance of his fate didn’t surprise Kieran. The efficiency and routine of the hospital seemed to have had a calming effect on him…but not on his mother.
They hung around until Michael was so drowsy he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
Devon fidgeted on her way to the car. “Do you think he’s going to be okay?”
“He’s probably fast asleep right now.”
“What if he wakes up? What if he has another nightmare?”
“Does he have those nightmares every night?”
“No, maybe once a week now.”
“He seemed better today, at least better than yesterday.”
“He did, didn’t he? Talked a little more.” She pulled her phone from her pocket. “Elena called while we were in Michael’s room. It’s probably too late to call her back tonight, but I want to find out how the session went.”
“When I was talking to her-before the explosion-she seemed to think it went great, but if there had been any huge breakthroughs, she would’ve told you by now.”
“Speaking of breakthroughs, since we’re driving past town I’m going to drop by the police station and pick up my purse and license.”
“Good idea. We can see if they have any leads on the fire.”
The cop at the front desk handed over Devon’s purse and license, but had no information about the explosion in the bathroom. “All I know is that we didn’t arrest anyone this afternoon…except a drunk driver on the coast highway.”
“Well, that’s something, anyway.” Devon signed for her belongings. “I suppose you don’t have anything on the guy who stole my purse, either.”
“No. A jogger found it on the side of the road. Could’ve just been a passerby who saw your purse in an unattended car and took his chances.”
“And broke my window and slashed my tires for the fun of it?” When the cop held up his hands, Devon broke off. “Whatever.”
They turned to leave and the cop stopped them with a cleared throat. “You’re Kieran Roarke, right? You’re the one who broke into the bathroom and saved Ms. Reese?”
“I am.”
“You didn’t happen to blow through that lock with a.45, did you?”
“Yeah, I did. The gun’s licensed to my father. I found it at his house.”
The cop looked down and shuffled some papers on the desk. “Uh, the chief might want to talk to you about that. You need a license to carry a concealed weapon.”
“He knows where I’m staying, and I’m a member of the U.S. military. I think I know how to handle a gun.”
They walked into the cool, clear night and Devon stared at his profile. “You had a gun all this time?”
“I found it last night in my parents’ house. Cleaned it and took it with me this morning. Good thing I did.”
“Yeah, but you can’t just run around carrying a gun.”
“Sure I can.” And he had every intention of keeping the weapon handy as long as someone might be after Devon. The army hadn’t discharged him yet.
They got into Devon’s car and she collapsed against the seat back. “Did that hospital food do the trick for you, or are you still hungry?”
“I’m good.” Was she still trying to fatten him up?
“I’m going to call the hospital and check on Michael.” She dug for her cell and placed the call. After a few minutes of conversation, she flashed him a thumbs-up sign. “Michael’s still sleeping and he’s not coughing.”
She cranked on the engine and slipped him a sideways glance. “I suppose you want to head home?”
“No way.”
“N-no way?”
“Someone threw a Molotov cocktail into a bathroom today-you were in that bathroom. We don’t know yet if you were the target, but I don’t want to take any chances.”
Devon’s face brightened, and Kieran swallowed hard. He didn’t want to burst her bubble, but he had to make it clear he wanted to be her protector not her seducer.
“I have to admit, I’d feel safer with you at my mom’s house, but I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”
“No trouble…except, can you swing by my place first so I can pick up a jacket?”
“A jacket? Are you cold?”
Not yet, but he’d be plenty cold keeping vigil out in her car. “Yeah.”
Instead of taking the turnoff into town, Devon continued driving along the coast highway until she took the exit for Coral Cove Drive. She pulled up to the curb and cut the engine. “I’ll wait here.”
He reached across her body and pushed open her door. “Humor me.”
She sighed, but wasted no time scrambling from the car. He felt for the house key in the pocket of his jeans and turned to ask her inside. He didn’t feel comfortable with her waiting on his porch. He didn’t want her out of his sight, as limited as that sight was.
A light across the street caught his attention, and he gazed over Devon’s left shoulder, squinting. Was his good eye playing tricks on him?
“What’s wrong?”
“I saw a light at Columbella House.”
DEVON WHIPPED AROUND to face the street. “That’s impossible. The electricity’s off, right?”
“It was yesterday, even when I went back inside to collect my stuff.”
“So you think someone’s over there with a flashlight or, God forbid, a candle? The cop who came to my aid yesterday said his girlfriend had been seeing lights here, but I figured she’d seen your activity.”
“There’s one way to find out.”
She grabbed his arm as he charged down the steps of the porch. “You’re going over there?”
“What if it has something to do with the explosion in the bathroom? The slashed tires? What if someone is watching you? Following you?”
His words caused a rash of goose bumps to spread across her skin. “You’re not leaving me here.”
“Didn’t plan on it.” He grabbed her hand, and together they crossed the street to Columbella House, which showed a dark, deserted front to the casual passerby.
“How long were you staying here?”
“About a week-and I had the place to myself.”
“Maybe someone took up residency when you vacated.”
He pushed through the side gate and ushered her to the path that ran along the house. She pointed to the sky. “The moon is giving us plenty of light out here, but what do we do once we’re inside?”
“I left candles and matches in the kitchen.”
She shivered. “Just what this place needs…another fire.”
When they reached a side door, Kieran pulled back the piece of plywood covering the window and reached inside to unlock the door. He swung it open and stepped into the darkness first. “Wait.”
A few seconds later, the flare of a match and the scent of sulfur. Then Kieran stepped toward her, the candle’s flame illuminating the sharp planes of his face. He looked more like a pirate than ever in the candlelight.
“Be careful on this floor. Some of the tile is cracked.”
“Be careful with that candle.”
“I’ll lead the way. Hold on to my belt loop or something.” He whispered, and the words made the hair on the back of her neck stand up, even though she knew he was one of the good guys.
Curling her fingers through his belt loop, she shuffled behind him, trusting him to guide her. Just like old times. They turned a corner into the sitting room, where furniture hunched beneath draped white covers looked like squat little ghosts that couldn’t even muster a
Her nostrils twitched at the smell of fire still strong in this area of the house. “Y-you saw the light in the library?”
