Free Flames Of Deceit by Carol Hutchens Page A

Anne Saddler’s body, covered in soot and debris, filled Mia’s head. What if it had been me? “Mother, I don’t have much time. I wanted to check that you’re all right.”
    “Of course, I’m fine. You sound strange. Where are you? Come over this afternoon for tea.”
    “Can’t, I’m…working…on an interview. Out of town.” She rolled her eyes and checked the parking lot, again. “If you’re all right, I’ll let you go.”
    Jake opened the driver’s door.
    Mia snapped the phone off.
    “Why are you using the phone? I told you we had to be careful.” He tossed bags in the back seat and settled behind the wheel.
    “I am careful. I needed to check on my mother. Besides, you’re the only one who knows I was in that courthouse.” Mia watched his strong hands grip the wheel.
    Jake grunted. “You’re right. It should be safe, but from now on,” he pulled disposable phones out of a shopping bag, “we use these.”
    Mia’s insides quivered. Trapped in a fire, finding a body, and now forced to use non-traceable phones. How had all this happened? How could her mother sound so cold about Leigh Anne’s death?
    Lost in thought, she waited until Jake assembled the phones and started the car. “Where are we going?”
    “Still want food and a bath?”
    “You have to ask? Did you find a motel?”
    “Better,” Jake turned left out of the shopping center and picked up speed. “A friend from law school has a cabin on the lake. We used to come here often.”
    “We?” Mia arched an inquiring brow.
    “My wife and I used to visit Dan and his wife on weekends.”
    “You’re married?”
    “She died.”
    Hearing the abruptness of his tone, seeing the muscle jerking along his jaw, Mia stared out the windshield. “Is it far?” Her stomach growled loud enough for him to hear.
    Jake gave a turn signal and pulled in a fast food parking lot. “I hope not. We need food.”
    “I’ll go in,” Mia wiggled out of her seat, “I need the restroom.”
    “Drop your cell phone in the commode.”
    Ten minutes later, with a large bucket of fried chicken scenting up the car, Jake pulled on the road again. “I called Dan. We can use the cabin.”
    Had he made the right decision? Mia’s life was at risk, and police wanted to question him about the body they’d stumbled over in the courthouse.
    “How far is it?” Mia turned from staring out the window at nothing trees. “This road is so secluded it’s spooky.”
    Minutes later, passing mile after mile of pine trees growing in the sandy soil, Jake turned in a narrow drive on the left and slowed the car. Bumping along the trail for another half-mile, he pulled the car to a stop beside a rustic A-frame log cabin.
    “It’s larger on the inside than it looks,” he nodded toward the house, “three bedrooms, two baths and a large great room. We’ll be safe here.” He got out of the car.
    “Are you sure your friend won’t mind if we use his house? I’d hate to add breaking and entering to my list of offenses.”

Chapter 6
     
    After eating and taking a shower, Mia put on new sweatpants and t-shirt, and returned to the great room. Opening the laptop she retrieved from the trunk of her car, she turned a stern glare on Jake. Firmness and determination were her only weapons against increasing awareness of Jake. Sharing a car, a meal and now, living arrangements, meant they were up close and personal. She knew what he liked to eat…crust off the chicken first, then the meat, and his smoky masculine scent was seared in her brain.
    Bossy and direct, that was her only hope. “Okay, give me the disc.”
    Jake dangled the disc out of her reach. “What if the evidence on this disc proves the model’s story?” His gaze roamed over her until she felt like a science specimen. “Will you try to erase the disc?”
    “I hadn’t thought—”
    “You are a newspaper reporter. Surely you considered your options.” Tapping the disc on the arm of the chair opposite her seat on the