“We’ll have to go shopping. Maybe I can help you choose a new wardrobe.”
“Just calling my clothes a wardrobe tells me I need to turn down your magnanimous offer.”
“Okay, okay,” River said. “Go change. I’ll have your bed ready by the time you get back.”
“Thanks, but I can do it. I’m tired, not feeble.”
River pointed her finger at him. “Maybe not, but you are an idiot. Go. Now.”
Tony grinned. “Yes, ma’am. On my way.”
Once Tony was headed toward the bathroom, River went to the linen closet and fetched clean sheets, a blanket, and a couple of pillows. She carried everything into the living room, moved the coffee table back, removed the couch cushions, and then pulled out the bed. She’d just finished getting it ready when her phone rang. It startled her. Who could be calling this late? She picked up the phone and saw it was a local number. She almost let it go to voice mail but decided at the last moment to answer it.
“Hello?”
“River, this is Arnie. I just heard about the fire and realized it happened at Tony’s address. I tried to call him, but it just went to voice mail. Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s fine. Lost a lot of his stuff, but it could have been worse. He’s staying here until his apartment is fixed. Do you want to talk to him?”
“Yeah, well, I guess I want to talk to both of you.”
River turned to see Tony walking into the living room. He gave her a questioning look.
“It’s Arnie,” she said. “He wants to talk to us.” She turned on her speaker.
“Okay.” Tony walked up next to her. “I’m here, Arnie.”
“Look, the main reason I called was to see how you were. I called you first, but your phone kept going to voicemail.”
“Sorry. I need to charge it. I usually do it before I go to bed, but I was a little busy earlier tonight. How did you hear about the fire? You’re not running the STLFD now too, are you?”
“No, but the chief is a friend of mine. I called him to get more information after I saw the report on the news.” He hesitated a moment before saying, “Look, this isn’t to be repeated, Tony. An investigator needs to confirm it, but Garrett—the chief—thinks someone threw a Molotov cocktail through your window.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised,” Tony said. “I kind of expected something like that.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Arnie said. “It’s possible you might not be a target.”
“But it’s also possible he was,” River said. She’d tried to convince Tony that the fire could have been a random incident, yet even as she tried to reassure him, her gut told her something different.
“Of course, anything is possible, but let’s hope that’s not the case.”
“The chief made me feel as if he suspected me of something,” Tony said.
“No, he doesn’t, but he’ll want to talk to you to see if you know anyone who could have started that fire.”
“Okay, I understand,” Tony said.
Arnie cleared his throat. “Look, there’s another reason I called. I know it’s late, but I felt this might be important.”
Tony sat down on the side of the sofa bed. River knew he was tired and needed to rest.
“What is it?” she asked.
“This has to do with that cold case you’re investigating. The police in Terre Haute, Indiana, contacted me.”
“I don’t understand,” River said. “How does our case have anything to do with Terre Haute?”
“Seems like a clerk at a local motel thought something odd was going on there. They called the police who went inside one of the rooms and found a note stuffed underneath one of the pillows on the bed. The note read I’m alive, and I need help. April Bailey. My father . . . It stopped there. Looked like she was interrupted before she could finish.”
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FIVE
He saw the story about the fire on the late news. He immediately recognized the apartment complex. He’d driven past there more than once, even though Tony St. Clair wasn’t his target. Still, it enraged him. One thing he was sure of—Tony St. Clair wasn’t stupid or careless. That made him wonder if someone had caused the fire on purpose. No one else had the right to interfere with his plans. He didn’t need River to take off, go to a place where he couldn’t reach her. Would this spook them? Then he realized that this could actually work in his favor. If someone else had tried to hurt Tony, they would both be distracted. This could make it much easier for him. He leaned back in his chair and smiled. River Ryland’s breaths were running out. Soon, she would stop breathing forever.
WHEN ARNIE WAS FINISHED, River hung up her phone. Then she turned toward Tony. He didn’t look good.
“Do you want to talk about what Arnie said, or do you want to wait until tomorrow?” River asked.
“Look, I know it’s really important, but if you don’t mind, let’s discuss it in the morning. I’m sorry. I think what happened drained me. I’m sure I’ll be fine in the morning. I just need some sleep.”
“Of course,” River said. “Sleep as late as you want. We’ll keep it down in the morning. When you wake up, I’ll make you a great breakfast.”
He smiled at her. “Pancakes?”
“If you want.”
Tony lay down on the bed and was pulling the blanket up over him when, from behind River, came an ungodly shriek. She turned to see her mother pointing at her, her expression twisted into a mask of rage.
