No One But You (Silver Springs #2)(54)

“Thank goodness,” Sadie murmured.

“Thank goodness?” he repeated as the two men came toward the house. What did she have to thank goodness about right now?

“Chief Thomas is with him,” she explained.

Apparently, she was even more afraid of Sly, and what he might do, than Dawson had realized. But he couldn’t blame her. They both believed her ex was the one who set the blaze that’d very likely destroyed everything she owned. What regular arsonist would make so much noise, wait for confirmation that she was up—so she could get herself and Jayden out of the house—and then run away?

How he could do such a thing was another issue entirely. What if she hadn’t smelled the smoke? What if she’d gone back to bed or tried to get their things out first? Or the fire caused an explosion he hadn’t anticipated? How could Sly take the risk of killing the woman he supposedly loved and his own child?

He could do it because he’d rather her die, rather Sadie and Jayden both die, than let her follow through with the divorce, which revealed just how proud, arrogant and determined he was. His police uniform meant nothing. He was not one of the “good” guys. But after what Dawson had been through, it was tough for him to look at any law enforcement in a positive light. He’d seen the system up close, had learned that justice didn’t always prevail and even trained officers stretched the law to accomplish what they hoped to accomplish. They could be as small-minded and prejudiced as the general public, maybe more so.

The knock that sounded came off brisk and purposeful. Sadie moved to answer the door; she knew it was for her. But Dawson caught her arm and held her in place for a second to indicate that he would handle this. This was his home. He needed to establish the fact that nothing would happen here of which he didn’t approve. He had rights as a property owner. Remaining in charge, letting Sly and his fellow officers know that he would not tolerate another abuse of power, could be the only way to maintain some vestige of control over what was happening.

He took his time turning on the lights so they’d think they were dragging him out of bed—and that he hadn’t anticipated this all along.

When he swung open the door, he didn’t greet them or invite them in. He saw no point in the usual courtesies. He was beyond that sort of thing with Sly and the Silver Springs Police Department. They would never be friends.

“We’re looking for Sadie Harris,” Chief Thomas announced as a chill wind whipped at his hair and clothes and flooded into the house. “Don’t suppose you know where she is.”

Sly glared at him, so Dawson glared right back. He wanted to be sure Sly knew he wasn’t going to forget what’d happened in the street in front of Sadie’s house.

“I do.” Dawson spoke to the police chief but only after he felt he’d made it clear to Sly that he would not be intimidated. “She and Jayden are here.”

Sly opened his mouth to speak, but Chief Thomas lifted a hand to indicate he not get involved at this point. “Will you please let her know we’re here? We’d like to speak to her.”

“No problem.” Leaving them standing on the stoop in the cold, Dawson shut the door. “You ready for this?” he whispered.

“Do I have any choice?” she replied.

“I can send them away, tell them to come back tomorrow.”

“No, as frightened as I am of the truth, I’d like to hear about the fire—if it’s out, if anything was saved. And if I have to talk to Sly, I might as well get it over with while Chief Thomas is around to keep him in line.”

“Just be aware that Chief Thomas isn’t necessarily your friend,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“His first inclination will be to protect his officer. Any bad behavior on Sly’s part will reflect on him and the department as a whole. So take some time to recall what happened and tell it exactly as it occurred. Keep it simple and don’t deviate from your story no matter what they ask or this could go down as unsolved. I don’t want them to be able to establish any doubt or trip you up.”

Her stomach churned with anxiety as she rubbed her hands on the sweatpants he’d loaned her. “How can they do that when I’m telling the truth?”

He frowned. “All too easily. I was telling the truth, too.”

With a quick nod, she signaled that she understood, and he opened the door, stepping to one side so that she could be seen in the opening, as well.

“Sadie, I’m so glad you’re safe,” Chief Thomas said.

“Thank you.” She hugged herself as she glanced at her ex-husband. The expression on his face seemed to make her even more nervous.

“I hope you’re here with good news,” she told them. “Have they... Have they put out the flames?”

“They have.”

“And?”

“I’m afraid there’s significant damage to the living room and bedroom. What the fire didn’t destroy, the water from the fire hoses might have damaged, so I’m not sure what you’ll be able to salvage from those rooms. But the kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas are all intact.”

“When will I be able to go back?”

“Not for a few days. It’s a toxic mess right now, but if you’ll give me a list, I can have someone grab whatever necessities you need, if they’re still serviceable. Once we’ve finished looking things over, someone will let you know and then you can return and sift through what’s left.”