Page 24 of Fighting Fire

With amusement and a little teasing of her own, she said, “Actually, all I need right now is a ride.”

“What kind of ride?”

She laughed because she couldn’t help herself. “You are very bad.”

“Let me show you how bad I can really be.”

“Unless you come and pick me up, I won’t be able to let you show me anything.”

“Car trouble?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you?” She was amazed at how his voice changed to all business.

“Tremont Street.”

“What’s the num…Tremont? The site of last week’s fire?”

“Yes.”

He sighed. “Lana, don’t tell me you’re investigating.”

“Just a little bit.”

“We’ll discuss what that means when I get there.”

* * *

Lana was still sitting in her car when Sean arrived about fifteen minutes later. He parked behind her and got out. Walking over to the driver’s side of her car, he bent over. In an instant, he jerked open the car door. He crouched. Her face was soot covered, her clothes filthy and there was blood on her blouse. “Damn, what happened?”

“I was gathering evidence when someone pushed me down.”

“Who?” His tone hardened and anger ran like wildfire through him.

“I think it was Bryant. But he said he didn’t push me and to give him his due, I didn’t really see him. It could have been someone else.”

“There’s blood on your shirt.”

Lana swung her hand around. “When I got pushed, I scraped my hands breaking my fall.”

Sean took her hands and peered at them.

She pulled them away. “They’re not that bad.”

“Let’s get you home. I’ve called for a tow.”

She cupped his face. “Thanks. That was very thoughtful.”

“Lana, promise me that if you’re going to collect samples after dark, you’ll let me tag along.”

“I don’t need a bodyguard.”

“It’s smart and safer to let me tag along.”

“You’re not asking me to stop?”

“Lana, we’ve been friends for a long time. Asking you to stop when you have your teeth into something would be fruitless.”