Free An Inner Fire by Jacki Delecki Page A

layered with lace that skirted the neckline and sleeves revealing her multiple tattoos. A black dragon’s sinewy path ran the entire length of her right arm and peaked through the lace. Hollie’s dress was reminiscent of the Laura Ashley dresses Grayce’s mother made her wear when she was an adolescent—feminine, with no hint of sexuality.
    Grayce following Hollie into the office, stared at the finishing touch to Hollie’s ensemble—black combat boots, laced to the ankle. The young woman buried her soft, sensitive underpinnings beneath a tough armor, like a giant tortoise.
    “Am I seeing the new client this morning?”
    “Yes, Rowan’s at nine. The owner was quite anxious for an appointment before you left.”
    “How did this client hear about us?”
    “Another referral from Dr. Herrick, your biggest fan.”
    “Dr. Herrick understands the benefits of acupuncture.”
    Hollie’s nose flared, jiggling the small piercing on her right nostril. “Sure…it’s the acupuncture.”
    “Phil Herrick? Please, he’s a colleague.”
    “The man practically drools when he sees you.” Hollie rolled her huge doleful eyes in a pitiful manner.
    Grayce laughed. “You look more like a Bassett Hound than poor Phil. How about telling me about Rowan.”
    “Just an old guy with arthritic hips. Otherwise, pretty healthy. Did I mention that he’s a one hundred and eighty-five-pound Rottweiler?”
    “Okay. I’ll try to get some calls in before Rowan arrives. Any word on how Beowulf did over the weekend?”
    “No, but I’m thinking that’s good news, isn’t it?” Hollie’s deep voice got softer.
    Grayce wanted to touch Hollie and reassure her, but Hollie wouldn’t appreciate the concern. Hollie never acknowledged or admitted any feelings of vulnerability. “Mrs. Leary would’ve called us if she needed anything. So no news is good. How is the schedule for the rest of the week? Were you able to get everyone in?”
    “You’ll have a long Thursday when you get back, but I got everyone in.”
    Grayce still marveled at the transformation in her receptionist. Hollie had come to Teen Feed for weeks, always dressed the same—stringy hair, leather wrist bands, and a T-shirt with the guild characters from her World of Warfare game. Grayce never questioned her ability to identify the suffering of others. As long as she could remember, she had had the ability to divine the hearts of all creatures.
    “Do we still have the jasmine tea?”
    “I got more pearls yesterday.”
    Hollie, new to the world of tea drinking, tried to surprise Grayce with new types of tea. “I would love some jasmine before I see Rowan the giant. I also need to talk with you at some point this morning.”

Chapter Fifteen

    Standing at the fire scene, Davis kicked a pile of charred wood. This fire just didn’t add up. He didn’t have a good theory on how it had reached a high enough temperature to ignite the forty-foot-high lumber. He nudged a large piece of fir with the steel tip of his boot. He was missing something, but fatigue blocked any brilliant insights.
    Absorbed in sorting through the rubble, he didn’t see Assistant Chief Maclean barreling toward him until he heard, “Davis.” By Maclean’s curt tone, his stride, and the angle of his head, Davis knew the other man was in a mood. Already peeved by his intrusion, Davis didn’t feel up for a verbal skirmish.
    “Glad to see you working.” The assistant chief pressed his lips into a sneer that made him look more like someone who’d had a stroke than the angry bastard he was.
    “Glad to see you, too.” He tried to swallow the sarcasm.
    Maclean’s beady eyes focused on Davis. “I heard your damn dog got injured on the site? Why in hell would you bring a dog on the site?”
    It was just like Maclean to have discovered his only breech of procedure in two years and come out to harass him about it. He tried to tell himself it wasn’t personal. Maclean couldn’t handle change—the words