Deadly Heat (Deadly #2)(35)

After this much time in the business, Garrison should know the drill. Kenton nodded and stepped back to make room for the chief to enter.

Garrison took his time getting seated. He stretched out his legs and eased back in the chair, letting his arms hang loosely at his sides.

Kenton closed the door and went back to his seat. Monica already had Garrison’s file open.

“I don’t have any secrets,” Garrison said, shrugging. “And I’m not the one you’re looking at for these fires.”

Everyone had secrets. Kenton’s gaze held Garrison’s. “You wanted Lora to bring in the SSD.”

“Lora had a hunch. Her hunches are usually sound.” The deep lines around Garrison’s mouth tightened. “And I didn’t want to run the risk of burying any more of my men.”

Sounded like the truth. Garrison’s gaze was steady and his voice was calm and easy. But Kenton didn’t really think the guy was the calm and easy sort.

Monica’s nail skimmed down the report. “You were the one who gave the order to evacuate at the Skofield scene.” She glanced up at him. “Even though you knew one of your own team members was inside, you told the others to leave Carter behind.”

Garrison’s hands rose only to flatten on the table. Ah, now that relaxed pose was starting to vanish. “Staying in would have risked other lives. I had a job—I had to get them out of there.”

“Lora didn’t listen to your order, did she?” Kenton asked.

Garrison’s breath rasped out. “I thought it was a damn miracle that she managed to get out alive.”

“Shortly after that fire,” Monica said, “you nearly left this station.”

Kenton caught the slight narrowing of Garrison’s eyes. “There were budget cuts.”

“And you were almost forced into early retirement.”

“Almost doesn’t count.” Garrison’s smile held a hard edge. “I’m still here. No one’s taking over my team.”

Interesting. “Do you trust all the men and women here, Chief?” Kenton threw out the question, wondering about the response he’d get.

Garrison’s eyes held his. “I trust them as much as you trust your own team.”

Ah, good answer. No wonder Lora liked the guy so much.

“We’re going to need to verify your whereabouts for the arsons.”

“I was on vacation for the first fire, doing some fishing down in Biloxi.” He shrugged. “For the others, I was here in town. I got to the scenes as fast as I could. Hell, I was on duty for the Skofield arson. I was right there when—” He broke off, swallowing, and he lowered his head.

The moments ticked by in silence before Garrison looked back up at them. “I don’t got a wife. No kids. So I’m not going to have somebody who can step right up and tell you where I was when these damn fires were set.” He leaned toward the table, his body tense. “For thirty years, this job has been my life. The fire has taken me down, but it’s never beat me. I stay here, every day, because this is where I belong. The people here—my team—they’re my family.”

So the station was his life, and he’d almost been kicked out of his only home. Sure would be cause enough to piss off most people.

Garrison stood, and his hands shook a bit. “I’m not the damn arsonist. I wouldn’t put my people at risk. I’d f*cking never do that.”

“Perhaps you’re not putting them at risk,” Kenton spoke slowly. He could see the pulse racing just beneath the skin on Garrison’s throat. “I mean, if the firefighters were good enough, they’d save the victims and escape without injury. Maybe it’s not about hurting them. Maybe it’s about testing them.”

Monica leaned forward. “Are they failing your test?”

“They’re my team! I wouldn’t, I—”

“Since the arsons started in your area, there has been no more talk of budget cuts, right?” Kenton saw the chief’s face redden when he asked the question.

“Folks just realized they needed us,” Garrison snapped out the words.

“Guess they just needed a little fire to remind them,” Monica said, her voice quiet.


Two hours later, Kenton and Monica had worked their way through most of the firefighters at the Bringham station. They’d gotten some answers, some suspicions, and a lot of angry door slamming.

“Why don’t you… ah… let me handle the next one alone?” she asked.

Christ. He’d wondered when they’d get to her. “Lora?”

A nod.

Kenton stalked across the room and yanked open the door. “No, I can do my damn job.” The hallway was clear now as he marched forward, rounded the corner, and nearly collided with Max. “I need Lora.”

Max’s blue eyes narrowed. “I’m not a killer.”

“Neither am I.” Lora’s voice. She stepped into the hallway. “But I guess I’m up, huh?”

She’d changed and put on a light blue T-shirt with a firefighter’s logo on the right pocket. She wore a pair of slim black pants, pants that hugged her thighs. He averted his gaze. “Just a few questions…”

“Right.” She brushed past him. “And when will you guys go after the real killer?”