Page 22 of The Deputy's Secret Double

The man smiling at her through his open truck windows could not have surprised her more.

“Deputy Collins?”

Price looked like he was about to say something clever but in another unforeseen twist of fate, JJ’s plans of staying beneath everyone’s radar went up in smoke.

Literally.

A small explosion tore through the small neighborhood around them.

JJ covered herself in reflex.

It was only after Price was out of the truck and yelling at her that she realized whatever had happened was far enough off that she was fine.

But the same couldn’t be said for the two-story home five houses away from them.

JJ couldn’t believe it, even as she saw the newly erupted flames at its side.

It wasn’t just someone’s house.

It was Jamie Bell’s.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Something blew up. Not large enough to destroy the house but enough that flames were already lapping at the wall on one side.

Price had felt the impact in his truck. At JJ’s side, he could easily see the chaos.

“Are you okay?” He used one hand to pat her back and arm, even as she nodded. That was all the confirmation he needed. Price pushed his phone in her hand and started to run.

“Call this in and get back,” he yelled over his shoulder.

He didn’t know if she responded. There was no time to talk about anything.

A car was in the driveway of the affected house.

Someone was probably home.

The heat from the fire met Price as his feet hit the driveway. The front porch wasn’t on fire, but it was close enough that Price didn’t slow down until he was rounding the side yard and tearing through the back. He tripped in his haste but started yelling out for the homeowners before he was at the back door.

“Sheriff’s department,” he yelled in reflex. “Is anyone inside?”

Glass was breaking somewhere, probably from the heat, but no other sound came through. Price tried the door. It was locked. He called out again but nothing. He took a few steps back and checked the only window next to him. It was also locked.

He was going to have to break either the door or the window.

Price ran the fastest math he could and decided the window would be the best option. No sooner than he went for the flowerpot he intended to use to break it did someone push past him.

JJ had something in her hands and set to the door without a word.

“What are you doing?” he yelled out. “You need to lea—”

The door opened. JJ cut him off with her own shout.

“Jamie Bell and his boyfriend might be in here!”

Then she turned and ran right into the house.

Price’s lack of time, once again, kept him from reacting the way he wanted to. Instead, he followed her.