Page 62 of The Fire

“Oh.” Marlon frowned at Parker. “So youdidn’tburn your bar down?”

“Marlon, we came by to tell Jamie the electric crews would be coming soon just to verify that everything’s all set with his utilities,” Silas said, in a tone that brooked no argument. “Did you set some traffic cones outside?”

“Cones? No, sir. Why would—”

“Marlon, the streets are narrow thanks to the snow,” Silas insisted. “Anything could happen. Go set some cones.”

“But you didn’t tell me—”

“This job is about showing initiative, Marlon!”

“But I —”

“Now, Marlon.”

“But we don’t have any cones!”

Silas sighed. “Then you need to go stand out in the street and wait for the electric crew yourself. In the interest of public safety.”

“Oh. Right.” Marlon blinked. “O-okay.” He turned to Parker. “Um. Thanks. You know, for the chicken wings.”

“Yeah,” Parker said, his shoulders slumped. “You’re welcome.”

“A-and yours were really good too.”

“Thanks.” He tried summoning a smile that seemed incredibly false to me, but apparently not to Marlon.

“You know, you could maybe try adding a little honey to your—”

“Go, Marlon,” Silas commanded, pointing toward the kitchen door.

And without another word, Marlon fled.

“I have a feeling,” Silas said, rubbing the back of his neck, “that our employment search isn’t over. Don’t suppose you know anyone who’s dreamed of being an underpaid, overworked, small-town public servant?”

Parker hoisted himself up so his ass was on the counter. “Hey, at this point, I’d consider anything that pays the bills. Does it come with accommodations?” he asked ruefully.

I walked back into the main area of the kitchen and took up a spot as far from Parker as I could get in the small space.

“You need a place to stay?” Silas looked back and forth from me to Parker again, but this time he frowned.

“If I’m gonna stay in town for the duration of this hundred-year investigation, I do. I gave up my apartment to move into the loft over the bar, and we know how that turned out.” Parker knitted his fingers together, seeming fascinated at the sight. “But apparently there’s a freakin’population boomin O’Leary, because I can’t find a new apartment either.Aaaand, I was staying at the Crabapple, but they’re overbooked. Literally no room at the inn.” He glanced up at Silas. “Seemed like a sign that it was time to get out of Dodge.”

“Looking for signs is a little bit like trying to pick out shapes in the clouds,” Silas said. “Trust me on this. If you stare hard enough, everything looks like a bunny.”

Parker laughed.

“If you need somewhere to stay, there’s room at my place,” Silas offered.

“Oh, I couldn’t—”

“Sure you could. Ev would be ecstatic to have another cook.Apparentlycooking is not my forte.” Silas smirked. “Fortunately, I have other talents.”

Ugh. No way did I want Parker anywhere near Silas’sother talents, whether Everett was around or not.

“He can stay here,” I heard myself say. Then I repeated, looking directly at Parker, “I mean, you can stay here. If you want. There’s plenty of room, clearly. And your plants are already set up… and shit.”

Parker stared at me like he was trying to see through my flesh and bone and maybe figure out what I was thinking. I could have told him not to bother. Half the time I didn’t know, myself, and this was most definitely one of those times.