Page 109 of Vain

“I get it, I do, but you’ve just gotta ride it out. Because I suspect this thing will get worse before it gets better.”

Rubbing a hand down my face, I look to the bedroom before I stand up. “I can’t just sit here. I’ve gotta do something. I’m going to catch a cab up to the house and see what I can find out.”

“You sure that’s a good move? She needs you.”

“She needs answers more. I won’t be long. Guard her for me.”

“With my life.”

I catch the elevator downstairs, and as luck would have it, there’s a cab dropping someone off. I hop in and give him Matilda’s address.

It’s fucking chaos when we pull up. I bail out after paying the driver and walk over to the guard shack.

Davey is talking to one of the firefighters. When he sees me, he waves me over. “How’s Miss Carson? She must be worried sick. Mr. Marley says Mr. Greyson is going to be okay, yes?”

“That’s what he told me too. They’re keeping him in for a couple of days due to smoke inhalation. Matilda, well, she’s wrecked, to be honest. And it’s not because her house is on fire.”

“I know. Her family got hurt. That will, of course, make her sad.”

“What the hell happened, Davey?”

“I have no idea. I was telling that guy the same thing.” He points to someone over his shoulder wearing the navy blue firefighters’ uniform, before continuing. “I didn’t see anything unusual. I didn’t let anyone in who wasn’t on the list.”

“No Daniel?”

“No, sir. None of his team, either. Her mother turned up yet again, but like always, I never let her through the gates.”

I see the fireman making notes, so I walk closer and hold my hand to him. “Aiden Church. I’m Matilda’s bodyguard and fiancé.”

“I’m James Dawson, the fire marshal. I’m trying to piece together what happened. There will be an investigation, but I’m comfortable saying this fire seems suspicious.”

“Somehow, I knew you were going to say that,” I say, running my hands through my hair. “Fuck, Matilda is going to be gutted. How bad is it?”

“I don’t know for sure yet. The kitchen, dining room, and rear office are all gone. My guys are checking the stability of the structure right now before we head in to look for more answers.”

“Will I be able to grab anything?”

“Probably not for the next few days. There will be many things the fire didn’t burn that the smoke will have ruined regardless, I’m afraid.”

“Shit. Okay, that’s tomorrow’s problem. Anyone know where Marley might be? He lives in one of the outer properties. Will he be able to go home?”

“Not until we have the area clear. I have the techs coming, and the police will want their own unit here to investigate,” James answers as Davey taps me on the shoulder.

“Mr. Marley is fine. Like you, he came to see if he could grab something for himself and Mr. Greyson.” He points to an area just beyond the gate where I can just see the top of Marley’s head. I put my fingers between my lips, like Tilly did only hours earlier, and whistle.

Marley whips his head around and hurries my way when he sees me. “Tell me she’s okay,” he yells when he reaches us.

I pat his arm. His hair is sticking up all over the place, as if he’s done nothing but run his hands through it. “She’s okay. Shaken up, worried about Greyson and you, but she’s alright.”

He blows out a ragged breath, his body slumping with relief. “I was visiting my brother. I don’t get to see him much, even though we live in the same city, because we are both so busy. I was gone most of the day, and then Greyson called me and told me what happened.”

“Do you know if he saw anything or anyone?”

Marley shakes his head. “I didn’t ask. When I got back, the house was burning, but the fire department seemed to be containing it. I went straight to the hospital to see Greyson, but he was pretty out of it.

“We have an excellent response time out here,” James adds. “Too easy for fires to spread in this area. We try to get to them and extinguish them as fast as possible. All it takes is for the wind to change, and suddenly a small fire becomes a raging inferno.”

I nod. I’ve seen wildfires on the news over the last couple of years, and I know the complete destruction and chaos they can cause.