Wild Heat by Bella Andre

Author:Bella Andre [Andre, Bella]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Contemporary
ISBN: 0440245001
Google: hZFjGTolnDwC
Amazon: B001NLL6IK
Publisher: Dell
Published: 2009-04-28T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE CRIME lab door was open when they arrived. Maya was used to urban steel-and-metal buildings where the chemists all looked alike in their white jackets and black-rimmed glasses. A red-and-white barn in the middle of pine trees took some getting used to, as did the spray-painted fire motif that ringed the walls. Even the chemist's arms were covered in tattoos of flames.

For a moment she wondered if she was looking at another pyromaniac—but without anything else to go on besides an abundance of fire graphics, she knew she was grasping at straws.

“David, thanks for opening up the lab on a weekend for us,” Logan said when they walked in. He took in his friend's casual beach clothes and flip-flops. “Damn it, I was hoping I hadn't pulled you off the lake. Sorry about that.”

The chemist waved away Logan's concern. “Don't worry about it. Kelly was dying to get me out of the boat so she could take it for a spin alone with her friends. She says I'm too much of a wimp to max out the speedometer.”

“It's nice to meet you, Maya.”

She estimated he was in his early forties, solely by the lines on his tanned face and his slightly receding hairline. He was tanned and trim and had the physique of a much younger man. Something about the lake and the mountains and the thin air in Tahoe made all the men better-looking than they had a right to be.

It was extremely disconcerting.

“So you're investigating the wildfire?” he asked.

“Yes, but this is evidence from an explosion that took place this morning.”

“We heard about that. Poor kid. We're praying that he pulls through.”

She didn't need to look at Logan to know that he was still seeing Robbie wrapped up like a mummy in the hospital bed.

“I need to find out where the explosive materials came from. Once you tell me what caused the explosion, I'll have a better idea where to look for other clues.”

“I'm glad I can help. Not just to clear your name,” he said to Logan, “but to catch the bastard who hurt Robbie.”

Logan didn't respond. His head was bent down, just as it had been in the hospital when he was kneeling beside Robbie's bed, overloaded with sorrow.

David must have sensed it too, because he efficiently took charge of them both. “No offense, you guys, but I'm not big on people hanging over my microscope. Logan, go use my shower and take whatever clothes you want.”

Shooting a lopsided grin at Maya, David said, “I'm guessing either you're a really big fan of Lake Tahoe”—he gestured to her tourist duds—“or something happened to your clothes.”

“No one is this big of a fan,” she said, smiling back.

Logan quickly explained, “Someone lit her hotel room on fire last night.”

David whistled. “Do you think it's the same person who did this?” He held up the mason jar.

Not wanting to disclose too much of what was supposed to be a confidential investigation, she said, “I'll be following up with the fire chief shortly to see if he's learned anything more.

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