Part 22 (1/2)

23.

Dunbrooke Drive, Friday, August 27, 4:55 a.m.

”Jess!”

Her eyes opened but she didn't want to wake up. ”What time is it?” she murmured.

What was that smell?

”We have to get out of the house!”

She sat up or he was hauling her up, she couldn't say for sure which. ”What's that smell?”

”Smoke. We have to get out!”

Smoke?

Jess came wide awake. Adrenaline rocketed through her veins. Smoke was thick in the air. She coughed. Her eyes burned.

What happened? Where was Dan? She reached out... tried to get her bearings. She couldn't see. Why didn't he turn on the lights?

The roar of flames whispered through the darkness. Fire. Oh G.o.d! They had to get out of here. She stalled. The baby. She shouldn't be breathing all this smoke. She tugged the neck of her nights.h.i.+rt up over her nose and mouth. ”Dan!”

Hands clutched at her. She jumped.

”Right here. I've got you.”

His arms went around her. He picked her up and held her tight against his chest. She blinked repeatedly, trying to see. Suddenly they were at the window. He helped her climb out and get her feet on the ground.

”Go,” he ordered. ”Get away from the house.”

She ran bare foot across the dew-dampened gra.s.s, Dan right behind her. At the far side of the backyard she stopped, she doubled-over coughing. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

”You okay?” Dan asked between his own bouts of coughing.

She nodded. What the h.e.l.l had happened? The sun wasn't up yet and the stars and the moon were doing little to light the sky. It was eerily dark around the house. All the exterior security lights were out.

The house was on fire. She saw flames through the kitchen window. The reality shook her all over again. ”Oh my G.o.d.”

Where were the sirens? Why had no alarm sounded?

Dan dragged in a big breath. ”I need to call for help.”

The house-and everything in it-was going up in flames. Jess groaned. ”My bag is in there.” She whirled toward Dan. ”My Glock. My phone.”

”Oh h.e.l.l.” He ran his hand through his hair. ”Mine too.”

There was nothing they could do... they couldn't go back inside.

Dan's home, all his things, including the pictures of them he'd kept from all those years ago, were being destroyed as they watched.

A memory clicked into place. Ten years ago, the farmhouse outside Ruckersville... the cages and those young women.

Spears.

The epiphany hit with such impact that she swayed. He'd been digging in her past again. The night before she'd come home for Christmas ten years ago, she'd solved a case involving five missing women. They had been held in cages, just like the three he'd held captive in Tennessee only days ago.

Ten years ago that old farmhouse had burned down with Jess and one other survivor barely escaping.

He was taunting her with all that he knew about her, breaking her down bit by bit and giving her a preview of things to come.

She turned to the man at her side.

Spears intended to destroy Dan just to get to her.

7:50 a.m.

The fire was out.

Jess stood in the middle of the backyard staring at the smoldering rubble that had been Dan's home. Lori had brought Jess a change of clothes and a ponytail holder for her hair.

Her bag was gone, along with the world she carried inside it.

She sucked in a breath, swallowed against her dry, sore throat. But they were okay. The paramedics had checked both her and Dan and they were fine. She'd asked the paramedic about the baby. He'd suggested she see her obstetrician as soon as possible but didn't believe she had any reason to worry since they'd escaped the house basically unharmed.

Chief Black and Dan were having words. Judging by the body language it wasn't a casual conversation. The crime scene unit was here. Cops were everywhere. Dan's parents had showed up but he'd ushered them away.

”What do you suppose that's all about?” Lori asked, following Jess's gaze.

”Doesn't look friendly,” Harper suggested.

Jess turned to the two detectives who were far more than just members of her team. ”They found Captain Allen's wedding ring when they were looking for spy stuff in Dan's house yesterday.”

Lori expression showed the shock she felt. ”You're not saying they believe Chief Burnett had anything to do with his disappearance?”

Jess just wanted to cry. ”I honestly don't know.”

”Unbelievable.” Harper shook his head.

”Tell me about it.” Part of her wanted to share the other news with her friends, but just now she needed everyone focused on the case. ”Anything from the brother in Boston?” she asked Lori.

”I have a call into him. I'm hoping he'll agree to a Skype interview.”

Jess didn't hold out much hope but it was worth a try.

”No hits on Selma or Olive Vance's pa.s.sports,” Harper reported. ”If they've left the country they used an alias. We've checked with the bus station, AMTRAK and rental car agencies. No hits there either. Same goes for Ellis. They either had some other form of transportation or they're laying low right here in Birmingham.”