Her Only Hero (15 page)

“Not silly at all.” He took a breath, realizing he wouldn’t have
to make up an excuse about her dinner after all. “Look, you won’t want to be
bothered with company tonight. I’m sure everyone will understand if you
cancel.”

She wiped the tears away impatiently. “Cancel? I’m not going to
cancel. Now I really have something to celebrate, and it’s nice to know I have
friends to share it with. You’re coming, aren’t you?”

What could he say? “Sure, sounds great. I wouldn’t miss it.”

Everything seemed to be going well. Laura paused in the doorway
of the kitchen, scanning the living room, crowded now with the people she’d
invited. Flanagans, mostly, but a few others from the church. And Ryan’s friend,
Jerry White, the plasterer. All people to whom she owed a debt of gratitude.

The Flanagans, predictably, had insisted on bringing food with
them. They’d set up card tables to augment her small dining table, spreading
the food out buffet-style. People talked, ate, milled around the building
admiring the changes accomplished in such a short time. The buzz of
conversation, punctuated by laughter, filled the rooms.

It was odd, to be having her first and last party in the
townhouse. Still, this night would be something to re-member—a celebration of
accomplishment and friendship.

Finding friendship had been the last thing on her mind when
she’d come back to Suffolk. She’d thought she didn’t have time, maybe didn’t
even have the capacity for friendship. She’d been proved wrong.

Thanks to Ryan. She didn’t have to search for him in the crowded
room. It seemed she’d developed a sort of radar where he was concerned. He
stood over by the door, a plate in one hand, gesturing with it as he talked to
his father. Or argued with him, maybe.

Those two might not look much alike, but they were, down deep
where it counted, whether they realized it or not. Both strong, outgoing,
passionate about what they did, physically unafraid.

She blinked, turning away, realizing she’d been staring too long.
Her heart might ache with love for him, but Ryan must never know that. It would
be a poor return for all the kindness he’d shown to make him feel uncomfortable
about a love he couldn’t return.

“Nice party.” Pastor Brendan stopped next to her, balancing a
dessert plate filled with two kinds of pie she certainly hadn’t baked.
Siobhan’s handiwork, probably. “Lots of good food, good friends and good
conversation.”

She managed a smile, hoping he hadn’t seen her watching Ryan. “I
can’t take credit for any of those. Everyone’s managing the conversation on
their own, and your family must have brought at least three-quar-ters of the
food.”

“They do enjoy bringing food.” His intent gaze seemed to ask if
that had offended her. “My Aunt Siobhan always figures you express love to
someone by feeding them. She’d be hurt if you didn’t let her help.”

“Yes. Ryan told me once that his mother says God’s hands on
earth are other people.”

Brendan’s brows lifted. “You don’t agree?”

“I guess I hadn’t thought much about it.” And thinking about it
made her uncomfortable. “But certainly Siobhan lives by that, and she’s taught
her family to do the same.”

“We haven’t offered you charity, you know.” Brendan seemed to
read between the lines. That probably was an asset to a minister. “Just
friendship.”

“I know.” That was all Ryan had to offer, and it would have to
be enough. Too bad she wanted more.

“Ryan told me about Mandy’s implant surgery.” He reached out to
take her hand in a firm, warm grip. “I’ll be praying for her. And for you.”

Her eyes filled with unexpected tears. “Thank you. I appreciate
that.” Those moments when she’d cried out in incoherent prayer flickered
through her mind, and she pushed them away.

“Will it be all right if I stop in and see you and Mandy at the
hospital Thursday?”

It would be difficult to say an outright no. “I don’t want to
take you out of your way.”

“I’m there every day,” he said gently. He squeezed her hand.
“I’ll see you then.”

He moved away, apparently having said what he’d intended to say.
She turned, thinking she’d replenish the serving trays, to discover that Ryan
and his father had moved their argument, if that’s what it was, to the buffet.

“Laura, tell me what you think about this stubborn son of mine.”
Joe seized her arm, making escape possible. “You’ve known him a long time.
Maybe you can explain.”

Ryan rolled his eyes, looking as embarrassed as she’d ever seen
him. “Dad, give Laura a break. She doesn’t want to take sides. You’re just
making her uncomfortable.”

“Nonsense.” Joe’s booming voice turned several heads their way.
“I just want to know what Laura thinks about you giving up a job you already do
great to jump into something completely different.”

“It’s not completely different.” Ryan sounded as if he’d said
the words a few dozen times. “I’m still working for the fire department. I can
even work shifts and go on calls when I’m not working a case.”

“Working a case,” Joe scoffed. “That makes you sound like a cop.
All the time you were growing up, being a firefighter was the only thing you
ever wanted.”

“Well, now I want to try something different.”

Ryan wore
the expression of someone who’d been goaded by his father one time too many,
and she suspected she’d better intervene, little though she wanted to get
between two such bullheaded men.

She grasped Joe’s arm. “You asked me what I thought about it.”
She wouldn’t look at Ryan when she said this, for fear of giving too much away.
“I think Ryan can be a success at whatever he decides to do. And I think you’ll
be proud of him, no matter what that is.”

Joe looked startled and speechless for a moment. He flushed, and
she was afraid he was going to explode at her, but he didn’t.

“Well, of course I’ll be proud of him. I already am proud of
him. Ryan knows that.”

Judging by Ryan’s expression, he hadn’t been so sure.

Before he could speak, his mother swept down on them. “The two
of you are blocking the buffet table and monopolizing the hostess. You ought to
have better sense.” She seized a tray. “Either help or get out of the way.”

“Out of the way,” Joe said quickly. He nudged Ryan. “Show me the
plastering job you boys did.” They moved off, apparently amicably.

Siobhan smiled, watching them. “I’m sorry about that. When Joe
gets something in his head, it takes a bulldozer to get it back out again.”

“I didn’t want to interfere.”

Siobhan squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Laura. You handled him
just right.”

She headed into the kitchen with the meat-and-cheese tray, and
Laura picked up the sadly depleted crab-puff plate and followed her.

“I wasn’t really trying to handle him. I just said what I
think.”

“Well, it was the right thing.” Siobhan’s fingers moved quickly
over the tray, arranging alternating slices of ham and chicken. “Will you do me
a favor?”

Laura glanced up at the seriousness of her tone. “Of course, if
I can.”

“Don’t walk out of our lives once the house is sold. We’re fond
of you and Mandy. We don’t want to lose you.”

“Thank you, Siobhan. I appreciate that more than I can say. I’m
not sure what we’ll do or where we’ll go after Mandy’s surgery.”

She blinked back the tears that seemed too near the surface
lately. Much as she enjoyed her friendship with the Flanagan family, she didn’t
think she could go on being close to Ryan, feeling as she did.

“Oh, I know your life might change.” Siobhan tucked a sprig of
parsley under a cherry tomato. “That keeps happening to people. Look how much
Ryan’s changed lately. Taking on a new job, new responsibil-ities—there were
times when we never thought that boy would grow up, but he continues to
surprise us. Even a charmer like Ryan can be serious when he wants it enough.”

She gave Siobhan a sharp look. Was Ryan’s mother implying what
it sounded like—that Ryan would or could change his negative attitude about
being responsible for someone else’s happiness?

If so, Siobhan didn’t know her son as well as she thought she
did. Ryan had made his feelings clear without saying anything directly, and she
had no choice but to respect that. No matter how much her heart might ache.

“S
ounds like
you have quite a defender in Laura.” Seth propped his elbow on the bookcase and
looked as if he were settling in for a long chat.

The last thing Ryan needed or wanted at the moment was some big
brother advice. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He accompanied the
words with a glare.

Seth didn’t seem impressed. “She made Dad back down when he was
riding you about the new job. I’d say that’s quite an accomplishment.”

“I can handle Dad myself.”

“Yeah, right.” Seth grinned. “Like anyone but Mom has ever been
able to do that. I don’t know why that should make you act like you’ve stepped
on a hot coal. Laura was being a friend, wasn’t she?”

Maybe that was the problem. His friendship with Laura was in
rocky enough shape without any further complications.

Mandy ran up to him, arms outstretched for a hug, and saved him
from trying to find an answer. She darted off again, chasing Seth’s Davy. The
laughter in her face touched him. Mandy was opening up.

“That little girl is getting attached to you.” Seth’s
observation carried a faint tone of caution.

“She’s a sweet kid. I’ve been around lately, helping with the
house. That’s all.” Somehow he didn’t think Seth was going to buy that.

“You don’t need to get defensive about it. I just don’t want to
see anyone get hurt.”

“Do you think I do?” He glared at his brother. “Look, Seth, it’s
none of your business.”

That was one protest too many. He knew it as soon as he said it.
Seth would take those words as a challenge, and he wouldn’t give up on the
subject until he’d delivered some big brotherly advice.

But Seth just studied his face for a long moment. “I see. You’re
getting attached to Mandy, too. And to Laura.”

“What if I am?”

“You tell me.”

Usually a good argument with one of his brothers would cheer him
up. Not this time. Not when he already knew he was in trouble.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen. Hey, you know me. I’m not
ready for a serious relationship.”

He expected Seth to agree with him. Instead he just smiled.

“Sometimes love happens to you whether you’re ready or not.”

“Not love.” He shied away from the word with a sense of panic.
“Just—well, more attached than I meant to be. And now the investigation—”

He stopped.

Seth raised an eyebrow. “What investigation? The fire on the
back porch?”

“Yes.” He didn’t intend to say more, but he couldn’t seem to
stop himself. Anyway, Seth was safe. “North got another anonymous call. This
time the caller said more.” He took a breath, hating this. “He said that Laura
started the fire herself.”

Seth let out his breath in a soundless whistle. “Do you believe
that?”

“No. Not a chance in the world. She wouldn’t do anything to put
her child in danger.” He was as sure of that as he was anything in this life.

“I guess someone could argue that she didn’t realize the fire
would take off so fast. And she was on her way out with Mandy when you got
there.”

“You sound like North.”

“Does he think she did it?” Seth’s voice sharpened.

“Who knows what North thinks? He doesn’t confide in me. Just
tells me to use my brains and work the facts.”

He wouldn’t add that North frequently looked at him as if
doubting he had any brains. That didn’t do much for his hope of ever succeeding
at this job.

Seth glanced across the room to where Laura stood in
conversation with their mother. “Does Laura know about the anonymous tip?”

“No.”

“What are you going to do about it?” Seth’s tone was carefully
neutral, as if to avoid the slightest hint of prejudice either way.

If this situation weren’t so serious, he’d almost want to smile.
“Don’t you want to give me some big brotherly advice?”

Seth didn’t move for a moment. Then he grasped his shoulder in a
quick, hard grip. “You’ll do the right thing. I know.”

He blinked. That was a first—a vote of confidence in his
judgment from his big brother.

The problem was figuring out what the right thing was.

“Did you two get enough to eat?”

He hadn’t heard Laura approach, and he started guiltily at the
question.

“I don’t know about Ryan, but I’m stuffed.” Seth slapped his
shoulder. “And I think I’d better stop Davy before he grabs another cupcake.”

Seth moved off quickly, leaving him alone with Laura. He cleared
his throat, wanting to say—what? There was nothing he could say.

“It’s a nice party.” Could he have come up with anything more
banal if he’d thought about it for a week? Probably not.

Fortunately Laura didn’t seem to sense anything wrong.

“It is, isn’t it?” She glanced around the room, looking pleased
and satisfied. “My first and last here, I guess.”

“You have good reason to celebrate.” At least, as far as Laura
was concerned, she did. She didn’t know that another trouble was looming over
her.

“I’d celebrate even more if I were able to get a few last things
done before I discuss a contract with my buyer.” She glanced at him with a
question in her eyes. “Do you have any idea when the arson investigation will
be wrapped up?”

He could only hope his face didn’t give anything away. “I’m not
sure. Why?”

“The insurance company won’t pay for the damage to the back
porch until the investigation is over.”

“I see.” He was conscious of treading very carefully. “I didn’t
realize you were waiting for the insurance company to pay you.”

“Well, that’s why I have insurance, after all. I can understand
why they have to be cautious, but I’d like to have it settled. If my buyer and
I go to contract before that, I’ll probably need to put the money in an escrow
account to cover the damage.”

Luckily she couldn’t see how fast his mind was racing. “I wish I
knew how fast it will go, but I don’t. What company are you dealing with?”

She looked at him a little oddly, as if the question hadn’t
sounded quite right. “Union Casualty. We didn’t exactly agree to begin with on
what the building was worth, but we settled on a hundred thousand. Now that
it’s renovated, the new owner will naturally want to reinsure for more.”

One hundred thousand. Maybe it wasn’t a lot, as city real estate
went, but it would more than cover the cost of Mandy’s surgery. He didn’t like
the direction his thoughts were heading, but he couldn’t help it. Maybe North’s
suspicious nature was rubbing off on him.

“Union Casualty’s a reputable outfit.” He tried to sound as if
he had only a casual interest. “I’m sure they’ll come through for you.”

Once the arson investigation was settled, and depending upon how
it was settled.

He didn’t believe she had started the fire. He couldn’t believe
that.

But the insurance, and the need to pay for Mandy’s surgery, gave
Laura what most investigators would consider a big enough motive for arson.

The sound of the doorbell brought Laura hurrying down the stairs
the morning after her party. If that was the missing contractor, finally
showing up, she’d like to give him a piece of her mind.

She wouldn’t, though. She couldn’t afford the luxury of offending
him, not until he’d finished the project, at any rate.

She flung the door open before the bell could peal again. But it
wasn’t the contractor. Ryan stood there, along with the senior arson
investigator. What was his name? North, that was it.

“Good morning, Lieutenant North.” She glanced at Ryan. He stood
a pace behind the other man on the stoop, as if to give North the lead.

“Ms. McKay.” North smiled, but his eyes were watchful. “May we
come in for a few minutes? There are some things I’d like to go over with you
about the fire.”

“Of course.” She gave a fleeting thought to the window cleaning
that had been her project for the morning. “Come upstairs, won’t you?”

North glanced into the finished front room as they headed for
the steps. “Looks very nice. You’ve certainly accomplished a great deal here.”

“It’s coming along.” Somehow it seemed inappropriate to comment
on how much help Ryan had been. The man was his boss, after all.

She led the way into the living room. “Sit down, please.”

“Mandy isn’t here?” Ryan spoke for the first time.

“She’s spending the day with Nolie.” She hesitated, unsure
whether she should explain further to North. But why would he care where her
daughter was?

She sat down in the rocker, expecting the men to take the sofa,
but North pulled over one of the straight chairs from the table instead,
bringing it to face her. Something seemed discordant about the gesture, as if
he wanted her to know that this wasn’t a social call.

All right, fine. She sat up a little straighter. “You wanted to
ask me something?”

He shrugged. “Nothing too important. Just a few things that have
come up in our investigation we thought you might help us with.”

We.
She glanced toward
Ryan. He wasn’t looking at her. Instead he’d pulled out a notebook and was
jotting something down. Something cold and hard touched her nerves.

“You made a quick recovery from the fire.” North sounded as if
he were making an effort to be casual.

“You were lucky it wasn’t worse.”

“Yes.
Thanks to the fire department.”

And you, Ryan. Why aren’t you looking at me?
The room
that had been such a cheerful place the night before, filled with friends and
laughter, now seemed to have become a battleground.

“Funny thing about that.” North’s eyes didn’t hold any
amusement. “We checked out the accelerant. Turns out it was paint thinner. Same
as we found in your cellar.”

She almost said she’d known that. But probably Ryan shouldn’t
have told her that.

“The paint thinner I had was in the cellar and the outside door
was locked,” she said carefully. “No one could have gotten at it.”

“Only someone inside the house,” he observed.

Someone like you.
He didn’t
say the words, but he didn’t need to. For a moment the room swirled around her.
He was hinting that she’d started the fire herself.

“None of mine was missing,” she said, as if she didn’t grasp the
implication. “It couldn’t have been used to start the fire. And certainly the
can of paint thinner that I found later in the alley wasn’t mine.”

“Yes, that’s what you told us.” Doubt threaded his words.

“It’s true.” She looked from the suspicion in North’s face to
Ryan. Ryan would believe her. But Ryan wasn’t looking at her. Wasn’t defending
her.

A spasm of pain clutched her heart. She fought her way free of
it. She couldn’t let herself be weakened by Ryan’s defection, not now. Not when
she needed every ounce of strength and wit to defend herself.

She faced North. He was her adversary now. “You act as if you
think I started the fire myself. Surely you can’t believe I’d be so stupid as
to start a fire when my daughter and I were on the second floor.”

He leaned forward, hands on knees. “You might not have realized
the fire would spread as fast as it did. You’d be surprised at the mistakes
amateur arsonists make.”

Her breath caught, and she had to fight to keep her voice
steady. “I’m not an arsonist, amateur or otherwise. This building is all I own.
Why on earth would I want to damage it?”

“People will do a lot for a hundred thousand in insurance money,
Ms. McKay.” His voice was as smooth as silk. “You might have wanted the money
more than you wanted the building. It would have paid for your daughter’s
surgery with enough left over to give you a fresh start.”