Jessica let her thoughts drift back to the Halloween party. Rita's face suddenly appeared in her mind's eye. The party's hostess had been dressed as a beautiful zombie, a long scar down one cheek. Scar! There was a man at the last fire with a distinctive scar!
"Worth!" Jessica sat straight up, only the tension of the seatbelt holding her back. "Maybe it was Todd who started the fire. Maybe he started them all."
Chapter 13
Change of Plans
As soon as they landed and had the go-ahead to take phones out of airplane mode, Jessica called Chet. "Chief! I mean, Chet. It's Jessica Daniels," she said breathlessly.
"Is your mother all right?"
"Yes! Oh, I'm sorry—I didn't mean to alarm you," Jessica said in a low voice. "I'm calling about the fires." The first-class cabin was still fairly quiet as the plane taxied to the terminal, but she knew that any minute, things would be much more hectic. "I can't go into it right now, but I may have information about who set the fires. All of them."
"All? We've been under the impression the arsonists died in the fires, by design," Chet said. "Where'd you get the idea that—"
The plane came to a stop. People all around the cabin began moving and talking. Jessica put a hand over one ear so that she could hear better in the commotion. "I can't talk right now, Chie-Chet. I could come into the office Monday maybe? I'm in Boston now."
Arrangements tentatively made, the call ended as the first-class passengers began the shuffle out. Jessica felt she'd done all she could at this time, and now all of her focus was on Worth as they walked arm in arm. Carried along by a little sea of people, Worth and Jessica made their way through Boston Logan International.
Since they had no luggage to claim, the couple walked directly to where the hotel's limousine was waiting for them. As the driver navigated through the busy Boston streets, Jessica was not even tempted to look out the windows, despite the fact that it was her first visit to the historic city. Worth had her complete attention, and she had his.
"Monday, don't even come to the office," he murmured between kisses. "We'll get back late Sunday night, so sleep in before you go to the fire department. Tell the chief what you know—maybe there's security camera footage of the fires and you can look for the man with the scar. Maybe it's Todd, maybe not, but it's possible." He grimaced. "I just can't believe he purposely killed the only people to be kind to him as a child, though. Maybe it was all an accident and he was so distraught and felt so guilty, he—"
Jessica squeezed his hand, interrupting, "It's probably nothing. Lots of people have scars. I hate to waste Chet's time, but it will keep nagging at me if I don't at least try."
Worth took his hand from hers to make a "time out" gesture. The sight of it thrilled her heart, reminding her of their first lunch and all the missteps and misunderstandings along the way since then. All "worth" it, she thought with a grin as he kept talking.
"Monday, you can let it nag at you all you want. For the next few days, I request—nay—I demand," Worth made a flourish with his hands and Jessica giggled, "that there can be no more talk of fires or fire chiefs or scars. We have other things to concentrate on." He grinned, wiggling his eyebrows up and down.
Jessica laid her head against his shoulder. "Absolutely." I've been waiting all my life for this weekend, she thought. I guess he has been too. It was nothing short of miraculous, to know that this man wanted her as badly as she wanted him. They had called each other "love" and talked about love, but the important three words had never been spoken. Assumed. Exhibited, but…
"It won't be long now, Jessica," Worth whispered. "You know I love you, don't you?"
Jessica's heart leapt. She was about to respond in kind when she felt her purse vibrating against her leg. She wriggled a little distance from Worth and sat up. "Phone call. I forgot to turn the ringer on."
"Can't you let it go?" Worth asked, playing with her hair, stroking her neck.
Jessica nodded at the delicious feeling, but her brain nevertheless sent the message to her mouth to say otherwise. "It could be my mom. I'll only be a second. Hello?"
Worth watched as the color drained from her face. He mouthed a question, but she waved a hand to stop him, suddenly all business. "Oh. I understand. Yes. Yes, of course."
When she ended the call, she tapped the driver on the shoulder. "As soon as you can safely turn around, please head back to the airport."
"Yes, ma'am," the driver said with a chuckle. "Did you forget something? 'Happens all the time."
Before she could answer him, Worth jumped in, "What's going on? Was it your mother? Is she okay?"
"Oh, Worth," Jessica said miserably as she sank back into the plush seat of the limo. "There's been another fire. Like right now. Between the plane and here, it's happened that quickly. That was Chet. And he wants me to come as soon as I can. I'm so sorry to spoil things. Your surprise. Everything—"
Worth said nothing but pulled her to him, holding her close. The two of them held each other in stunned silence all the way back to the airport. Neither could believe the turn of events, not this weekend. Jessica was close to tears. Worth texted first the hotel, then the airport, canceling here, booking there. When she noticed, her heart sank even lower. "You could stay, and I could try to get here later. I just—"
Worth shook his head. "The idea of being in a hotel room without you is intolerable. I've done it plenty of times and
