What Happened to the Bennetts(24)

“I have a question,” Lucinda interjected. “You have the house burning on video, so you had to know it was happening. Why didn’t you stop them? Did you let them burn it down?”

I blinked, confused. “Dom, you’d stop them, right? Even if it means showing your hand?”

Dom recoiled. “Of course we would.”

Wiki spoke up. “Just so you know, we’re the ones who called it in. We cooperate with the locals. No one will know how the fire was discovered.”

I didn’t understand. “But how did they set the fire, if you were watching? You have a team on the cameras, don’t you? How did this happen?”

“We don’t know. To be clear, this isn’t our jurisdiction. The investigative team has someone on the cameras, not us. They’re investigating, as we speak.”

“The investigative team is investigating itself? Great. When did the fire start? How did it go up so fast?”

“We assume they used an accelerant.” Dom paused, chastened. “We will sort this out financially. I will do my best to make sure you get a fair settlement.”

“What about the businesses? Everything we owned is gone.”

“Jason, Lucinda, there’s something you need to understand. Our job is to protect you and your family. Your property isn’t our charge—”

“Something else we weren’t told,” Lucinda interrupted. “But what about my mother? What if they do something to her? She’s a person, not property. Will you protect her?”

Dom hesitated. “No, I’m sorry, truly, but extended family is not in the budget. We don’t have the manpower—”

“Are you serious?” Lucinda raised her voice. “You protect my mother or I won’t testify to a single thing!”

I understood her anger. “Dom, my mother-in-law is family. Move her here, then you don’t need extra manpower.”

“We can’t do that in her condition.”

“I’ll take care of her,” Lucinda shot back, agitated. “I did it before, I can do it again. And what if they figure out who my friends are? All they have to do is look on my Facebook page. Are they going to go after them, too?”

Dom put up his hands. “Okay, I hear you. I’ll share your concerns with my boss. We did not anticipate they would go this far.”

“You should have,” Lucinda snapped.

I didn’t pile on. I could tell from Dom’s expression he felt bad enough.

“Listen, I promise you.” Dom raised a finger. “I will defend your lives and Ethan’s with my own. You have my word.”

Wiki nodded, his young face solemn. “Mine, too.”

Lucinda fell silent, and so did I. They had just made a vow to take a bullet for us, and I gave their words the weight they deserved. My wife and son were all I had left, all that mattered now. Losing everything clarified my priorities on the spot. If the FBI could keep my family safe, that was all I really needed. My anger ebbed away.

I thanked them both.

Lucinda said nothing, folding her arms.





Chapter Thirteen



I tried to sleep but couldn’t, thinking about the house, the office, Lucinda’s studio. I didn’t know how the government would value my business or hers, but it paled in comparison to one thing.

Allison.

I opened my eyes and checked the clock. Its glowing digits read four-fifteen a.m. The bedroom seemed oddly bright, and I realized the glow was coming from Lucinda’s side. I turned over to see the covers over her head and light coming from underneath, like a girl reading with a flashlight.

“Honey?” I lifted the covers, dismayed to find her on the laptop.

“I didn’t want to wake you.” Lucinda closed the laptop, but not before I glimpsed the screen, groaning.

“Facebook?”

“Don’t worry, I’m on my summer intern’s account. Remember her, Rebecca Robertson? I made her an account so she could contact my clients. I never bothered to close it.”

“What if Rebecca realizes you’re using her account?”

“She forgot about it, I’m sure. She hasn’t posted since July.” Lucinda’s expression darkened. “I checked Melissa’s page, and it’s awful. She knows about the house fire, and the fire trucks are still there. Our street is cordoned off. They saw on the news that your office burned, too.”

“Oh no.”

“So she drove over to my studio, and cops told her that it was vandalized. You should see what she posted.” Lucinda reopened the laptop, pressed a key, and the screen woke up Melissa’s Facebook page. The header showed her and her husband, Seamus, with their daughter, Courtney, in Avalon.

I shifted up on my elbows and read the glowing screen.

    I’m sending all the love in the world to my dearest friend Lucinda and to Jason, Allison, and Ethan.



It jarred me to see Allison’s name, and I had to remind myself that Melissa didn’t know. I read on.

    I don’t know where you guys are or what happened and I am worried sick. I know you will see this and I am begging you, please please call me, Lucinda. Any time of day or night, I just need to hear your voice and know that you’re OK. I know that you are a wonderful loving family and these rumors cannot be true.