Page 23 of Wildfire (Owl Creek #1)

The call comes in the early hours before the sun rises. My body alerts at the sound, but I don't wake Renée somehow. She is passed out from exhaustion, and I hope she gets hours more sleep before I return.

I dress quickly and slip out the door after leaving a quick note to let her know I am responding to a fire. As soon as I am out the front door, I run to my truck and put my light on the top so any random person driving at this hour knows to get the hell out of my way.

The call is for an address on the other side of town, which isn't far. But damn if it was too far for comfort. I want to be on the scene to meet Seth and the volunteers as soon as possible.

I see the crew pulling the hose off the truck when I arrive. Seth is hauling someone out of the house, and it looks like they've gotten burnt. It is a woman, and the right side of her is blackened, her clothes charred. She walks out with his help, so I am hopeful she isn't too badly injured.

I run up to help him guide her to safety when I notice that it's Georgia, the singer of the band Frayed Edge. She is crying and choking, and I sit her on the edge of my truck to tend to her until the ambulance arrives.

"Is there anyone else in the house?"

She shakes her head. "I’ve lived alone ever since Jensen left."

"Did you see anything or hear anything before the fire started?"

Her eyes slice to mine, and then she looks away and shakes her head again.

I pull out the first aid box and cut away the loose, burnt cloth. It looks like none is sticking to her skin, which is a relief. Then, I wrap it with gauze and give her a mask connected to an oxygen tank. It is all we are equipped to do.

Once she is breathing a little more calmly, I try again.

"Georgia, you guys had a big night, and I'm sure you are tired. Is there anything that you can think of that might help us?"

She shakes her head again, and the ambulance rolls up.

They hop out with a gurney and take her away, so I help the crew finish putting out the fire.

It burned the back of her house—the side that faces Owl Creek—our town's namesake.

There is a ton of smoke damage, and the patio section is destroyed, but the house was saved.

As I am out back, something catches my eye.

It's the logo I'd seen before, but this time, it's printed on a t-shirt hanging on the clothesline.

Recognition and a little shame come in a wave through my brain.

It's the band's logo, and it was plastered across the drum kit last night, but I was too wrapped up in Renée to notice.

I grab the shirt off the line and walk it to my truck.

I am going to need to talk to the Sheriff about this.

What is the connection between the band and all the fires?

The first several were brush fires near some campsites and along the roadside.

Then, there was the abandoned house at the end of Smith Lane and the alley behind Sam's Grill was a potential target.

Now Georgia's house. She is the only real connection to that logo.

Was this about her? What connection, if any, is between her and the other burn sites?

Georgia doesn't seem to know anything, so I am doubtful I will get more information from her, but it won't hurt to try. She looked like she was in a bit of shock. Maybe when that and the adrenaline wears off, she'll remember something.

Anything .

When I get to the firehouse to write my report, Serena comes in wearing sweats with her hair tied up in a bun. Damn if I know how she heard about it so quickly, but I wasn't surprised to see her.

"Tell me no one was hurt."

"I wish I could."

"Was it Georgia? Anyone else?"

"She was the only one on-site. She has third-degree burns on her hand and arm.

Smoke inhalation. They took her to the hospital in Port Stratton.

I asked her if she had seen anything, and she said no.

I'm relieved we got her out and the fire was contained quickly. This guy is escalating. And she might…"

"She might what?"

"I probably shouldn't tell you this because it's about the evidence."

"I think as Mayor, I have some privileges."

"Not a word to anyone."

"Not a word."

"I think Georgia is somehow connected. A target even."

"Why do you think that? What does she have to do with the other fires?"

"Well, that's what I, or rather the Sheriff, have to figure out. But I saw something at two other fires, and now I saw it at her house."

"What's that?"

"An image. It was the one I sent you a photo of that you didn’t recogize. I’ve seen the same image on two lighters and a piece of paper, and now I saw it on a shirt on Georgia's clothesline."

"An image."

"Not just any image. Her band's logo."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"So…someone must be targeting—"

"Let's leave that to the Sheriff. But I suspect you're right. It seems like too much of a coincidence."

Serena nods her head in agreement and then starts out the door before turning back.

"How did the volunteer crew do?"

"Great. Including Avery."

"First fire for the first woman on our firefighting crew. Just wanted to see how it went."

"She was great, and the guys worked well with her. I'm confident we're a capable team."

She nods and walks out the door.