Page 70 of Never Forget
Jamie walked him to the door.
When she came back into the kitchen, I was waiting.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
She didn't sit down. "I was going to. The next morning. I just—" She shook her head. "You were at work. I didn't want you distracted. And I didn't think it was serious. I thought it was just words."
"Someone threatened you, Jamie."
"I know that now."
I wanted to be angry. I couldn't be. She was standing in my apartment, her childhood home reduced to ash, a four-year-oldwatching cartoons ten feet away. She'd been carrying everything alone for weeks. Of course she didn't call.
"I want you to tell me these things, Jamie. Even if I'm on shift."
She was quiet for a moment. Then she nodded. "I will."
The way she said it made me realize I must have sounded like I was scolding her.
I exhaled. Ran a hand through my hair. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—" I shook my head. "I just worry."
Jamie looked at me. A small smile crossed her face, the first real one I'd seen since the fire.
"I know," she said softly.
She stepped closer and pressed a kiss to my cheek. Brief. Warm. Gone before I could react.
Then she turned back to the kitchen, already reaching for her phone. She had a list of calls to make—insurance, the lawyer, Rosie's school.
I stayed where I was for a moment longer.
I tried not to think about the warmth of her lips against my cheek. The way she'd looked up close, the freckles across her nose, the tired softness in her eyes.
I didn't let myself think about any of it.
Megan arrived in the late afternoon with grocery bags in both arms and Danny trailing behind her carrying a casserole dish.
"Don't argue with me," she said before Jamie could open her mouth. "I brought food. You're going to eat it."
She swept into the apartment like she owned it, setting bags on the counter, pulling Jamie into a hug that lasted longer than acasual greeting. Danny caught my eye and tilted his head toward the door. I followed him into the hallway.
"How bad?" he asked, voice low.
"Arson. The fire marshal confirmed it this morning."
Danny's jaw tightened. "Jesus."
"There was a note too. Before the fire. Someone told her to go back to New York."
He was quiet for a moment. Processing.
"You think it could be someone in the department?" I asked. "Someone who doesn't want the reforms moving forward?"
Danny exhaled. "I'm not going to lie to you, Sam. The guys aren't exactly lining up to support this thing. But arson? With a kid inside?" He shook his head. "I can't see it. Guys might grumble about change, but they're not killers."
I wanted to believe him. I mostly did.
"You holding up?" he asked.
