Firestorm. Kelly Riley Ann

see the McGuire cabin. Despite the tranquil setting, something sinister brewed in Pine Lake, and he couldn’t shake the feeling Kitty McGuire had bulldozed her way into the middle of the mess surrounding her father. How deeply she was involved, he didn’t know. Someone wanted her to come back. But why?

      “Jack, go inside,” Luke said, releasing the dog to his post. Except during school hours and an occasional night run, Jack stuck close to Michael.

      Luke moved indoors and caught a whiff of the McGuire woman’s light flowery scent on his arms. Her courage and determined loyalty to her father stirred something inside him. A longing he thought he’d buried with his wife. A longing he didn’t dare indulge in. Not now. Maybe never again.

      Luke sighed and locked up the house. As usual, his timing stank. Who would’ve guessed after he’d turned in his badge and moved to Pine Lake, he’d be fighting crime again? When Sheriff Johnson, the only person in Pine Lake other than family who knew Luke was ex-FBI, asked him to temporarily assume the fire chief position to assist in the arson investigation, he couldn’t refuse. If the town wasn’t safe, then neither was Michael. Protecting his son consumed his whole life now.

      He headed to the shower. The steamy water washed the intriguing woman’s scent away, but an edgy feeling lingered as he toweled off and crawled between the cool sheets. Exhausted, he tried to sleep, but Kitty’s parting words, “You won’t regret it,” kept echoing through his mind.

      Luke groaned, rolled over and punched the pillow flat.

      Regret it?

      He already did.

      TWO

      “Land sakes, it’s Kitty McGuire,” a voice boomed over the din of the Monday breakfast crowd at Sarah’s Café. “Come give me a hug, child!”

      Kitty stood in the doorway and grinned at Sarah Moore maneuvering through the sea of tables. Despite living in an outdoor sports-oriented town in the rugged California Sierra Mountains, the proprietor of the lakeside restaurant consistently wore fashionable business suits and matching designer pumps.

      “It’s great to see you.” Kitty hugged the petite, middle-aged woman and breathed in the familiar spicy scent of Sarah’s perfume mixed with citrus from the oranges she squeezed every morning. “I’ve missed you so much.”

      “Well, you wouldn’t know it on my end.” Sarah propelled Kitty toward the table by the front window overlooking Main Street and the lake. “Not an e-mail or phone call in months.” Her smile took the edge off the scolding.

      “I’m sorry. I meant to call, but I’ve been so busy with work and classes. I finally made it into the arson investigation program.”

      “Great news. Your pa would’ve been proud.”

      If only that were true. She couldn’t remember the last time Sam McGuire noticed or approved of anything she’d done.

      Snagging a coffee pot, Sarah said, “Anyway, never mind my fussing. I know you have your own life. This town isn’t exciting enough for most young people, unless you’re a wilderness enthusiast or ski bum. So, how long are you visiting?”

      “A couple days. I have some details to wrap up concerning Dad’s affairs,” Kitty answered, not wanting to discuss her father in such close proximity to so many other ears. She hesitated by the wooden chair her father had claimed every morning during his nineteen years in Pine Lake. She could almost see him sitting there in his worn blue uniform, pager by his plate, drinking coffee while debating local issues with Sarah’s husband, Daniel.

      “Are you all right, dear? You’re so pale.”

      Kitty’s throat tightened. “It seems so strange not having him here.”

      “How thoughtless of me,” Sarah said, her hand pressed over her heart. “Would you like to sit somewhere else?”

      “No, no, this is good. I want to sit here.” Kitty eased in the chair. The sooner she learned to deal with the situation calmly and systematically as a professional investigator, the sooner she’d solve this case and leave this town. Permanently.

      Sarah poured steaming, fragrant coffee into two mugs and joined Kitty at the table. The older woman sighed and smoothed back a frosted wisp of hair that had escaped her French braid. “Do you know how sorry I am that I wasn’t here for your father’s funeral?”

      Kitty’s eyes stung. “Oh, Sarah, please don’t apologize. I got your message and card. You needed to be with your poor sister. Is she any better?”

      “Not really, but she’s still able to enjoy the Florida sunshine. That’s something, anyway. Are you sure you’re okay?”

      “Just tired. I got in after midnight,” Kitty said, almost adding, “and wrestled with the new fire chief,” but preferred to try to wipe the disturbing image from her mind.

      “Poor dear, you must be exhausted, and you have to stay in that filthy cabin all alone. Daniel’s been keeping an eye on the cabin for you, but it must be dusty and full of spiders. Why don’t you come stay in my guest room?”

      “Thanks, Sarah, but I’m fine in the cabin.”

      “Then I’ll send Daniel over with a mop and dust rags. In fact, I’ll go with him to make sure the job’s done properly. It’s the least we can do for you under the circumstances. Clarence is perfectly capable of running things around here.” She nodded toward her part-time cook framed in the kitchen window. “I’ll call Daniel at the hardware store.”

      Kitty grabbed Sarah’s hand before she could summon her husband. “Whoa, I appreciate you wanting to help, but I’m not a kid anymore. I can take care of it myself.” She grinned at Sarah’s dubious expression as her gaze swept over Kitty’s faded jeans and blue T-shirt.

      “Can you? You’re still way too skinny. I’m going to see that you eat a decent meal.” Before Kitty could protest, Sarah signaled to Clarence. He trundled across the floor and set a plate and a frosty glass of orange juice in front of her. After nodding a solemn hello, he retreated behind the counter.

      Kitty smothered a groan as she eyed the mounds of steaming pancakes, scrambled eggs, and Sarah’s famous homemade turkey sausage. “Thank you, but I only stopped in for a quick cup of coffee and toast. I’m on my way to the fire station to pick up Dad’s personal things.”

      “That can certainly wait until after breakfast.” She stood. “I’m pretty sure everything got packed up after the new chief took over, but Daniel’s on duty this afternoon. He’ll be glad to help you.”

      “Oh, it’ll be okay. I don’t want to cause anyone extra work.” Except for maybe Luke Tanner and the sheriff. Obviously, they needed to start the investigation from scratch. She ran her fingertip around the rim of her coffee mug. Had Tanner sent someone over to fix the broken window yet? “Did you say Daniel has been looking after Dad’s place?”

      “Of course, I told you he would when I called you after the funeral,” Sarah replied in an insulted tone.

      “But—”

      The sound of breaking dishes crashed through the café.

      “Oh, that Clarence, now what’s he done?” Sarah said. “He can cook up a storm, but he has such butterfingers. I’d better go see what this will cost me. You eat and I’ll be right back.” She waited until Kitty picked up her fork before marching to the kitchen.

      Kitty stabbed at the buckwheat pancakes and took a reluctant bite. The syrupy cake melted on her tongue and despite the knot still in her throat, it slid down, warm and smooth. She sighed and gazed through the lace-edged windows at the sunlight dancing on the deep blue of Pine Lake. She would’ve enjoyed the food and scenery more if her mind wasn’t whirling with disturbing questions.

      If the town council had appointed Tanner in charge of the cabin, why did Sarah say Daniel was still looking after it? Didn’t they know the town had repossessed