Page 91 of Love Again

“You gonna actually do this? You? After what he just did to me, attacking me for no reason.” He spits. “Fuck you,” he says to Luke.

Luke wipes a shaky hand over his forehead and turns to Carlson. His voice cracks. “I saw him a few minutes ago, up along the ridge at the top of the hill.” He winces, takes a step back, and continues. “He was taking a good look at his work.”

Luke holds his breath for a minute. His color is way off. “He’d been there a while. There’s a bunch of toothpicks up there.”

“I lost him for half an hour,” says Carlson to both of us, as if in apology. “Keller says the devices were on timers, so he didn’t even have to be here.”

“You can’t prove a thing,” chimes in Kevin.

Carlson’s voice is quiet. “Jim Whitehead will testify against you.”

Kevin says nothing for a moment, but then his “Doubt it” isn’t so cocky.

“He’s alive, Kevin. Trying to make it look like he did all this and killed himself in the process isn’t going to fly.”

Kevin Barr smiles, which is a horrible thing. I shiver and Luke holds me closer.

“He and I aren’t friends anymore. He’s going to say crap about me because he’s pissed.”

“Really?” says Carlson, turning him to face the hill and go back up the trail. “You are responsible for all these fires, four deaths, and two attempted murders.”

“So that’s it then, isn’t it? You’re after me for revenge because of your boat? Fuck you. That oughta look good in court. I had nothing to do with that fire or the pipe in the door.”

This is the only moment when I think Carlson might actually hit Kevin Barr. But Carlson straightens his shoulders, glances at the two of us, and says grimly, “Got him.”

΅

I shower first but quickly, using the strongest perfumed shampoo I can and Irish Spring soap—it’s the only thing that gets the acrid smell out of my skin. I pull the towel tight around me, my hair still dripping wet, and exit leaving the heater on with the fan.

Luke sits on the sofa, unmoving.

“Your turn,” I say. “Carlson’s going to want to see us, and you in particular, very soon. Have you ever given a police statement before?”

Luke glances up. “Not like this.” He stands slowly and makes his way stiffly to the bathroom. The shower runs.

I’m worried about him. He pushed himself way too hard today, and he seems really out of it now, sluggish. I call Keller to have him bring down some clothes, and he arrives within five minutes, fully showered and shaved.

One thing about firefighters is that we can dress fast.

He doesn’t want to come in, but he hands me a large box full of clothes. “Carlson told me what Luke did,” he says, handing it off.

“Any news on Jim Whitehead?”

“He still needs to give a statement, but he was found tied to a support timber with hemp rope. That hemp stuff would have gone up with the barn and everyone would have assumed he set it and died. He’s damn lucky to be alive.” As he turns to go, he points at the box. “And there’s some personal items in there too.”

The way he says it makes me think he means condoms.

“He is staying here tonight, right?”

I know Keller is trying very hard not to be the big brother. If I had only one sibling left in my entire family, I’d be the same way.

I nod. “Yes.”

“Good, ’cause I’m on shift tonight.”

“After today?” Keller must be exhausted.

“Comes with the territory,” he says, waving. He leaves, and I hear the truck engage as he pulls out to roll back up the mountain.