Bad Boy’s Bridesmaid(109)

“Millie is winning.”

“Ah, but Jean-Baptise has the heart of a champion.” He frowned. “So, what’s on your mind?”

I cautiously picked through my words. “I don’t remember much from that night.”

“You hit your head inside the shop and sucked down a lot of smoke, if I recall.”

“I think so.”

“You’re very lucky to be alive.”

“Maddox saved me.”

Chief Craig grunted. I took my shot.

“You were the first one on the scene, right?”

He nodded. “That’s right.”

“Did you write up the accident report? Could I get another copy?”

“Of course.” He turned to his computer, banging a few keys to bring up the official report. His receptionist had to unjam the paper in his printer, but he handed me the report within minutes. “Any questions you have in particular? The insurance giving you problems?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“Is it Maddox?”

I scanned the document and shook my head. The fire marshal said the fire started at approximately 10:15 PM, but Chief Craig was on scene at 10:23.

And I knew from the insurance investigation Bob Ragen didn’t call 911 until 10:28.

“I just…” Something didn’t sit right with me. Maddox’s paranoia didn’t belong in my head, but the chilled web of fear strung from one side of my mind to the other. “It happened so fast that night.”

“Went up like a tinderbox.” Chief Craig’s voice hardened. “It was intended to burn quick.”

“I’m just lucky you were there so quickly.”

“It’s my job, sweetheart.”

I bit my lip. “How did you get there so fast?”

Chief Craig leaned back in his chair, the leather squeaking. “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t think you’d be on duty so late at night. You’re usually out to tennis with Councilman Grossi by five on the dot.”

“Delta’s been snitching on us.”

“Nothing’s secret in this town.”

His smile faded. “Well, to be honest, I wasn’t dispatched.”

I didn’t react, but my stomach flipped like a pancake.

“I was in the neighborhood,” he said. “Doing a patrol. I thought something felt odd that night. You learn to trust your instincts in the line of duty.”

“And…what was your instinct?”

“That something bad was going to happen.”

He wasn’t wrong. Or was he? Would something bad have happened if he weren’t there?

Chief Craig sipped his coffee. He smacked his lips with a frown. “This town was relieved when you ditched Maddox. He left, but I knew he’d come back—a man like that wants what’s his, and most of the time it’s ill-intentioned. That boy was looking for revenge.”

I stiffened. “Revenge?”

“He’s the type. Only satisfied with blood. He came after you, Josie.”

“There’s more to the story than that.”

“Of course there is, but he’s not talking, is he? Josie, I wasn’t the first man at the scene. He was. I was at your shop in time because I was following him.”

Oh, that thought just made me sick—the kind of clammy discomfort from eating too much sugar or drinking too much wine at once. Sometimes both in my house.

“Did he ever tell you where he was before the fire?” Chief Craig asked.

I shook my head.

“He didn’t tell us either. Said he was out of town and just got in when he saw the flames. But Josie, that ain’t his real alibi. He’s got no one to collaborate his story, and he had all the motive in the world to start that fire.”

I took a steadying breath. It didn’t help. “Why were you following him?”

His lips curled, revealing teeth. “Instinct.”

“What did you hope to find?”

“A reason to put him away for good.” An unmistakable pride poisoned his words. “And I got it.”

I didn’t recognize this side of Chief Craig. His words, the hatred contained in the bite of the syllables, was new. He and Maddox always had a feud. Our dates were often delayed because he was hauled in for questioning about every problem in the town. It happened so much Maddox joked that two pepperoni pizzas and a six pack of beer became our very own “Chief Craig Date.”

This went beyond an innocent rivalry. Chief Craig wanted Maddox gone. I believed him when he said he searched for a way to jail him for good. But would he have set fire to my shop over a vendetta? There was more to the story. Chief Craig had a better reason than a hunch for following Maddox that night. And Maddox didn’t arbitrarily hate a man the entire town respected and loved.

I had no idea who was telling the truth or what they kept hidden, but I deserved an answer.

The chief’s receptionist rushed into the room, apologizing with a smile. “Chief, we have a…situation brewing on Main Street.”

“The dogs?” Chief Craig asked. “Millie tearing into Jean-Baptise?”

“No…” The receptionist blushed. “The other way around.”

I gasped. “Jean-Baptise attacked Millie?”

She hedged again. “Not…how you’d think. They’re uh…very friendly now. And Benjamin is having a hard time…” She made an unfortunate motion with her hands. “Extracting the poodle. And Mrs. Greentree has fainted.”

“Oh, Christ,” Chief Craig said.

“Also, the elementary school bus is stuck in the traffic jam caused by their activity. We might have to field a couple calls from some very irate parents of the first through third graders who are learning a lot about the world right now.”

Chief Craig pushed from his desk. “Sorry, Josie. Sounds like we have a situation. Call me if you have any other questions about that night.”

“Sure. Thank you.”

He led me to the door, glancing outside only to catch sight of Maddox. “And be careful around that man. He’s a liar, more dangerous than you realize. See you at the town meeting tonight.”

I followed only to ensure Maddox didn’t jump the chief as they crossed paths on the sidewalk. Both men looked at each other with vile contempt, but no blood was shed.

No matter how much Maddox wanted it.

This was impossible.

The chief hurried to the cluster of half the town shielding the Westminster-wannabes. Maddox grinned.

“You missed the good part.”

“I heard about it.”

“I’d be glad to reenact it for you.”

I swatted his arm. “You better behave before I put you in one of their choke collars.”

“Think I wouldn’t like that?” His voice deepened. “Think you wouldn’t look beautiful in one?”

I shuddered. Oh, this day was off to a marvelous start. I led Maddox away from the police station, and his playful side shaded once more. Maybe one day, it’d stay.

“What’d he say?” Maddox asked.

I lowered my voice. “You were right. He was following you the night of the fire.”

“Why?”

This wouldn’t go over well. “He said he was looking for a reason to put you away.”

“I knew it.”

I expected him to rage. Instead, he looked vindicated, like I confirmed everything he already suspected.

But why did he think the Chief was the arsonist in the first place?

And why did they hate each other so much?

I didn’t look at Maddox. “Chief Craig was adamant. You had no alibi for that night. Nothing you told him that would prove your innocence.”

Maddox turned. His expression twisted, confused.

No.

Defensive.

“So?” he asked.

Why was I even asking the question? “Where were you the night my store burned?”

“What’s it matter?”

“You were doing something that night—or the chief of police wouldn’t have been following you.”

“He always followed me.”

“That wasn’t my question, Maddox.” My stomach trembled. “What were you doing out that night?”

This wasn’t the time or place for this dark of a conversation. I demanded answers from Maddox in the middle of a bright and sunny day, surrounded by the entirety of the town responding to a particularly vulgar leash crisis. These secrets deserved an interrogation room, where we insulted each other with accusation, not dreaded curiosity.

Maddox exhaled. “I wasn’t doing anything, Sweets. You know that.”

I wasn’t so sure. “You were out.”

“After you broke up with me, I was out every night.” His words stung. “I didn’t do a damn thing. Chief Craig had it out for me. He set fire to your shop. That’s why he was there so quickly, the first on the scene, making sure no one but me got hurt.”

I didn’t answer. It didn’t go unnoticed.

Maddox edged me away from the street and around the corner, hiding us from view. I let him bump me into an alley, trying to suppress that quick and dangerous shiver that passed over my body. My back struck the brick.

He hid me here deliberately.

“Know where we are?” Maddox whispered. A rare smile touched his lips. “Remember?”

“I remember,” I said. “But that was a long time ago.”

He glanced over the alley…at least, what constituted an alley in Saint Christie. The underused sidewalk connected Main Street with Highland Road. It seemed darker when I was first pursued by him, a dangerous and naughty place where a good girl like me didn’t belong and bad boy like him lurked to take advantage of innocent virgins.