Free Firefly Mountain by Christine DePetrillo Page A

“I see. How nice. She’s very talented.” Her face was completely relaxed now. Completely beautiful. What would that face look like waking up next to him?
    Patrick cleared his throat and took another sip of his beer.
    “Patrick, this is Haddy,” Gini said. Jonah had plopped a chair down next to him, and Haddy was sitting in it, a permanent grin on her lips. “She’s my assistant at the studio and my BFF.”
    Jonah rested his arm on the back of Haddy’s chair. Haddy leaned ever so slightly toward him.
    “Nice shirt, Haddy.” Jonah fingered the beads adorning the straps of her raspberry-colored tank top. “Though I liked the one with the stain too.”
    Haddy elbowed Jonah, and the two of them shared a chuckle. Patrick wondered what was going on there too, but again, kept his questions to himself. If he didn’t want to answer questions, he shouldn’t ask any.
    “So you two were right,” Mason started as he pointed to Patrick and Gini. “The lab results confirmed the blue blob to be the remains of a candle.”
    “How’d it get under the rocking chair?” Gini asked. “Don’t people generally burn candles on tables or countertops?”
    “Not unless they’re trying to start a fire.” Patrick watched as Gini shifted in her seat, toyed with the silver cuff bracelet on her wrist.
    “Arson.” Jonah shook his head.
    “Looks like it,” Mason said. “We’ve got a couple leads we’re working on now.”
    “You’ll catch them, buddy,” Jonah said.
    “We always do.” Mason clinked his bottle to Jonah’s.
    After ordering some appetizers and drinks for the ladies, the group enjoyed some pleasant small talk. Patrick hadn’t thought such a thing existed, but it was easy with these folks. Conversation pinballed from town news, sports, movies, to some funny family stories. Patrick commented on most of the topics, but stayed clear of family stuff. His family stuff wasn’t comedic. Not in the least. He wasn’t about to bring the light-hearted mood of the evening to a screeching halt.
    When the waitress cleared away their dishes and Raina came back to join them, Jonah asked, “Okay, so where’s the house plan?”
    “Left it in my truck,” Patrick said. “Be right back.”
    ****
    Gini watched Patrick weave through the bar. She hadn’t done anything tonight to implement her picture-taking plan, but man, was she enjoying herself. When she’d first seen Jonah sitting with Patrick, the desire to flee swept over her. What if he made her angry again? She didn’t want to endanger a bar full of innocent people. Only Haddy pushing at her back kept her walking into the bar.
    Okay, maybe it was the prospect of sitting next to Patrick and spending an evening with him that had kept her walking. Whatever.
    “So what do you do?” Raina asked Gini while Patrick was gone. She had been watching Gini since she’d returned to the table after her last set.
    “Photographer.”
    Raina laughed. “You try to photo my brother yet?”
    “He won’t let her,” Haddy said.
    “Of course he won’t.” Raina leaned forward as if she were about to say something, but her eyes flitted up to the opening front door. “Be careful,” she whispered instead.
    Gini had a million questions. She half-contemplated asking Raina to visit the ladies room with her, but knew that wouldn’t be subtle enough. Her questions would have to wait.
    When Patrick joined them, he unrolled the blueprint he’d drawn of the house and smoothed it over the table. Raina stood when she saw it.
    “This is my cue to say good-night,” she said. “I’ve already seen these brilliant designs.” She patted Patrick’s shoulder and sent a smile to the rest of the group. “Pleasure meeting all of you.”
    “Lovely to hear you sing,” Haddy said.
    “We all enjoyed it,” Jonah added.
    “Thank you.” She shouldered her purse as her gaze settled on Mason. “Maybe I’ll see you again soon, Detective?”
    Mason nodded dumbly, and Gini put her hand on his