Part 37 (1/2)

Natalie c.o.c.ked a brow. ”Ry, I really think you need some sleep.”

”No question about that.” Rubbing the back of his stiff neck, he blew out a breath. ”But that's how it went. He came out of the wall.

First his arms. I was standing a foot away, and I saw arms come out of the wall and grab Clarence. Then he was just there- Nemesis. Clarence took one look at him and fainted.” Enjoying the memory, Ry grinned. ”Folded up like a deck chair. So Nemesis hands him over to me and I haul him over my shoulder. Then he's gone.”

”Clarence?”

”Nemesis. Keep up.”

She blinked, trying to. ”He-Nemesis-just left?”

”He just went. Back into the wall, into the air.” He flicked his fingers to demonstrate. ”I don't know. I probably stood there for five minutes with my mouth hanging open before I carried Clarence to the truck.”

Brow knit, Natalie spoke slowly, carefully. ”You're telling me the man disappeared. In front of your eyes. Just vanished?”

”That's exactly what I'm telling you.”

”Ry,” she said, still patient. ”That's not possible.”

”I was there,” he reminded her. ”You weren't. Clarence came to and started babbling about ghosts. He was so spooked he tried to jump out of the car while I was driving.” Ry sipped at his coffee. ”I had to knock him out.”

”You... you knocked him out.”

It was another memory he couldn't help but relish. One short punch to that moon-shaped jaw. ”He was better off. Anyway, he's in custody now. He's not talking, but I'm going to interview him in a couple hours and see if we can change that.”

She sat silently for a moment, trying to absorb it all, and sort it out. The business with Nemesis was fascinating, and not so difficult to explain. It had been dark. Ry was a trained observer, but even he could make a mistake in the dark. People didn't just vanish.

Rather than argue with him about it, she focused on Clarence Jacoby. ”He hasn't said why, then? If he was hired, or by whom?”

”Right now he's claiming he was just out for a walk.”

”With several gallons of gasoline?”

”Oh, he says I must have brought the gas with me. I'm framing him because I got burned saving his worthless life.”

Insulted, Natalie lunged to her feet. ”No one believes that.”

Her instant defense amused and touched him. ”No, Legs, n.o.body's buying it. We've got him cold on this one, and it shouldn't take long for the cops to tie him in with the other fires. Once Clarence realizes he's looking at a long stretch, he's likely to sing a different tune.

n.o.body likes to go down alone.”

Natalie nodded. She didn't believe in honor among thieves. ”If and when he does name someone, I'll need to know right away. I'm limited as to the steps I can take in the meantime.”

Ry rapped his fingers on the desk. He didn't like the possibility that someone in her organization, someone who might be close to her, could be behind the fires. ”If Clarence points the finger at one of your people, the cops take the steps. And they're going to be a lot tougher on them than just firing them or taking away their dental plan.”

”I'm aware of that. I'm also aware that even though the man who held the match had been caught and my property is safe, it's not over.” But the tension that had knotted her shoulders was smoothing away. ”I appreciate you looking out for what's mine, Inspector.”

”That's what your tax dollars are for.” He studied her over the rim of his cup. ”I missed being with you last night,” he said, before he could stop himself.

Her lips curved slowly. ”Good. Because I missed being with you.

We could make up for it tonight. Celebrate seeing my tax dollars at work.''

”Yeah.” If he was sinking, Ry thought, he just didn't have the energy to fight going under for the third time. ”Why don't we do that?”