Rainier Drive (Cedar Cove #6)(105)

“They want Bobby to throw a chess match,” James explained.

That was when Teri started to laugh. “They don’t know, do they?” she said.

“Don’t know what?” James asked.

Teri shook her head. “Don’t they realize how much my husband hates to lose?”

Forty-Six

Justine had arranged to meet Warren Saget at D.D.’s On the Cove. Even now, several days after the shocking revelations, she had difficulty believing he’d set the fire. It tore her up to think he could hurt her like this, and yet in a strange way, it all made sense.

Warren already had a table and was waiting for her when she arrived. He stood as she entered the room and held out a chair for her. This meeting hadn’t been her idea, but she’d agreed to it, although neither Sheriff Davis nor Seth fully understood what they were asking of her.

“I can’t tell you how happy it made me to get your phone call this morning,” Warren said the moment she was seated.

In an effort to hide her uneasiness, Justine reached for the linen napkin and smoothed it across her lap. “I appreciate your willingness to have lunch at the last minute like this.”

“Could I refuse you anything?” Warren asked gallantly. His gaze was warm and appreciative. “I want to be your knight in shining armor—you know that.”

“I do,” she said, and in a flash she understood what had led this man to do the things he’d done. Later, she’d discuss her insight with Seth, but right now she had a role to play.

“What can I do for you?” Warren asked.

Justine mentally reviewed the tips Sheriff Davis had given her to guide the conversation. “I talked with an architect about building the Victorian Tea Room,” she began.

“Fabulous. You do want me to look over the plans, don’t you, and give you a construction bid?”

“That would be wonderful.” She pretended to glance at the menu. “By the way, Seth met with the insurance people this morning, and there’s been an interesting development in the case.”

“Really?”

As she suspected, Warren’s interest was immediately awakened. “It’s all rather complicated.”

“Complicated? How?”

Justine shrugged. “I don’t want to discuss the fire—it upsets me. I still can’t believe anyone would do something like that deliberately.”

Warren nodded. “It’s a cold, dark world out there.”

“There doesn’t seem to be a logical reason anyone would want to hurt us. It just seems…irrational. I mean, there’s no financial gain to be had.”

“So, you think it was personal?” Warren asked.

“What else can I think?” she responded. “Whoever did this must hate me. Whoever did this must’ve been looking for a means to hurt me and my family.”

“Not you, Justine,” Warren said quickly. He glanced down at his own menu.

“Hurt Seth, then?”

“He’s the one who laid off that dishwasher, isn’t he?” Warren muttered.

She leaned toward him and placed her elbows on the table. “That’s the interesting thing about all of this, Warren. Apparently it wasn’t the young man we assumed. We have positive proof that Anson Butler wasn’t involved in the fire.”

Warren frowned. “I thought I read that his cross was found in the ashes.”

“No one ever said it was his cross.” Justine met his gaze.

“Perhaps I’m wrong, but it seems to me I heard that somewhere.”

“You might have,” Justine agreed. “All the evidence certainly pointed to Anson.” Outwardly she remained calm, in contrast with the wild pounding of her heart. Turning to the menu again, she added, “Some other evidence has recently come to light. That’s why Sheriff Davis contacted Seth.”

“What evidence?” Warren asked sharply.

Playing her role to the hilt, Justine looked away and then sighed. “Unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to discuss the details, but from what I understand, it’s pretty damning.” Step by step, she was leading him on, leading him to an admission of guilt.

Alert now, Warren leaned close and lowered his voice. “You can tell me, Justine. I can be trusted.”

“Can you, Warren?” she asked softly. And then, because this was so much more painful than she’d realized it would be, she stopped and swallowed hard. Tears clogged her throat as she thought about the day of her panic attack and how Warren had seen her through it. His kindness had seemed genuine, and yet all along he’d been the one responsible for bringing this sadness and stress into her life.

As best she could, she remained calm and set her menu aside. “I’ll have the crab cakes.”

Warren nodded, but he didn’t appear willing to drop the subject. “Tell me,” he coaxed. “You’ve always been able to trust me. What information does the sheriff have?”

Justine met his gaze. “You honestly think I should tell you?”

“Ah…” He seemed taken aback by that blunt question. “Of course.”

“Really?” She had a hundred other questions she wanted to ask him. More and more she doubted she’d ever have the opportunity. This conversation might be her only chance.