Free Love Inspired Suspense December 2015, Box Set 2 of 2 by Margaret Daley

then.”
    â€œI can meet you outside.” She rose.
    â€œI’d like to see where you work.” Jake started to get up, but Rachel waved him down.
    â€œI only have to go a block. I think I can do that. Enjoy the warmth and the coffee. See you later.”
    As she left the store, stopping several times to speak to someone, Jake realized he’d missed her. It hadn’t taken long for them to get back into the groove of sharing and talking. He had friends in Anchorage, but no one like Rachel. She was special. In all the years he’d known her, she’d always been there for him. What would have happened if he hadn’t left Port Aurora eight years ago?
    He’d thought being in Anchorage would be the change of pace he needed to get over Celeste. But now he was back because he’d needed the quiet of the town—and if he was honest with himself, Rachel. She’d always had a way of helping him to see things in a clearer light.
    He sighed and headed for the counter to get a cup of coffee to go. When he pulled in to Betty’s driveway later, he saw the fire captain shake hands with Randall, then walk to his vehicle. From the grim lines on both men’s faces, Jake knew the verdict was arson, which didn’t surprise him at all. He finished the last few sips of his coffee, then climbed from the SUV and strode toward the burned remains of the cabin, the scent of charred wood filling his nostrils.
    â€œCaptain found three places where an accelerant was used to start the fire. By the front door and window, on one side by the kitchen window and by the back door. It’s obvious they didn’t want anyone getting out.” Randall pointed toward the first area.
    â€œYeah, I agree. The bedroom windows would have been impossible, and the bathroom one was iffy. I think when they searched the place the day before they either found some of what they wanted or nothing and decided to come back the next morning and burn it to destroy whatever was inside. Did the captain okay the site to be examined?”
    â€œYes. In this weather, it doesn’t take long for the ashes to cool. I’ve walked the perimeter and seen little evidence that anything survived. I especially looked at the place where Betty’s cubbyhole would have been.”
    Jake walked toward the crime scene. “I agree, but I still would like to see if anything that looked like a camera was in the darkroom area. It might not have been in its usual place on the hook.”
    â€œOr the killers took it the day before. I have to meet with the mayor. If you find anything, let me know. So you really think Betty stumbled across something and took pictures of it? I don’t see anything on the photos I looked at yesterday.”
    â€œHonestly, I don’t know what to think, but if it had been a robbery gone bad, why would they come back the next day to burn the cabin? They knew someone was inside because Rachel’s Jeep was out front.”
    â€œI agree.” Randall started for his cruiser. “I appreciate any help you can give me. As I mentioned, we’re an officer short and will be through Christmas.”
    As the police chief drove away, Jake carefully picked his way through the burned rubble to the place where he estimated the darkroom had been. After sifting through the remains in a ten-foot radius, he straightened and stretched to work the kinks out of his muscles from bending and squatting. He found nothing but the overpowering scent of charred wood.
    The hairs on the nape of his neck tingled. He rotated in a full circle, searching the woods that edged Betty’s property. A movement in the midst of the spruce trees riveted his attention. He started for the woods, glad he had brought his Glock. Suddenly, the sound of an ATV filled the quiet. Knowing he couldn’t outrun a vehicle, he stopped and studied the trees. Nothing. Had someone been watching him?

CHAPTER SIX
    â€œI ’ll see you at