Free Flames Of Deceit by Carol Hutchens

associated with him up to this point. His wide smile and gleaming eyes sent heat racing through her body. What would it be like to spend time with Jake, without this murder hanging over their heads? Fun? Intense? Invigorating?
    All that and more, and thinking about the possibilities made her cheeks warm. “People in movies always dye their hair when they’re on the run.”
    “We aren’t that desperate, yet.” Jake’s eyes lost all hint of humor. “We’ll take that step later, if we have to.”
    Mia slammed the door and walked away. Thank goodness, he didn’t want her to cut or dye her hair.
    Jake watched as Mia entered the store. Checking that no one was following her, he pulled out his phone. They needed a place to stay while they figured out what was going on, and he knew just the person who could help.
    It was a risk. Using his phone to call his friend could alert police to their location. A second before he hit the call button, he reconsidered. Images of the model’s soot covered body changed his mind. He couldn’t put Dan and his family in danger.
    He started to put the phone away, paused. Taking the phone apart, he removed the battery, opened the door and smashed the phone under his heel. He hadn’t seen much of Dan since the accident, but he couldn’t draw attention to the area and risk his friend’s safety.
    Dan wouldn’t mind if Jake used the cabin at the lake. He and Sara had often spent weekends with Dan and his wife, but Jake wanted to make sure the cabin was available.
    Mia opened the passenger door and tossed several bags in the back seat. “I bought enough for four days.”
    Jake cocked his brow. “Did you leave anything in the store?”
    “I didn’t buy men’s clothing.” Mia angled her chin toward the store. “Feel free.”
    A car pulled in across the parking lot. Jake’s humor disappeared. It was too soon to assume they hadn’t been followed. Had he been careless by sending Mia in the store alone?
    Leaving her in the car seemed even worse. He tapped the steering wheel and checked the rearview mirror. The occupant of the other car went into a store and tension eased from his shoulders. Asking Mia to go back in the store would attract attention. He should have thought this through.
    “I don’t like leaving you out here alone.”
    Mia turned wide eyes on him. Was it a trick of light, or had she turned a shade paler under the soot?
    “I’ll lock the doors.”
    Jake frowned. “Did the clerk ask questions about the soot on your face?”
    “I told her I was working and got close to take pictures of the fire, and now my paper wants me to stay in town for a few days to get more.”
    “Good thinking.” Jake got out. “Lock the doors. If anyone tries to get in, hold down the horn.”
    Mia watched him cross the sidewalk and enter the store. The emotions filling her chest weren’t caused by her uneasy reaction to his words. Even with the coating of soot, Jake was handsome enough to turn heads, hers included. She gasped, realizing the trouble she was in, and new fears exploded in her head.
    What should she do? Being with Jake made her heart race, but he didn’t trust her. Looking around the parking lot, and not seeing anything suspicious, she pulled out her cell phone. Jake said his calls might be traced, but her phone should be safe since Jake was the only one who knew she’d been in the courthouse. There was no reason for anyone to monitor her calls. She had to take the risk.
     
    ***
     
    First, she called the newspaper and arranged to take a few days sick leave, then she made the call she dreaded.
    “Mother, how are you?” She pressed the phone to her ear to stop her hand shaking.
    “Ecstatic, haven’t you seen the news? That mudslinging model was found dead.”
    “Mother!” Mia pressed a hand to her chest and made a quick scan of the parking lot. “She was someone’s daughter—”
    “She was trying to ruin my son. Don’t expect sympathy from me.”
    The image of Leigh