Free Exposed by Suzanne Ferrell

me.”
    “You said he’d just drop in. Where does he live?” Jake asked.
    She gave him a little shrug. “Nowhere in particular. At least nothing with a permanent address.”
    “He’s homeless?”
    Castello’s question pulled her attention to him. How did he do that? Speak two words with such intensity and meaning? And why did he make her feel so defensive?
    “No. He’s not out on the streets. He knows he’s always got a place with me when he’s in town. He’s just never in one spot long enough to have a place or see after the upkeep on an apartment or house.”
    “What does he do?”
    “Ian’s a freelance photographer. He travels around the world covering stories. A war breaks out? He’s there. A natural disaster happens? Off runs Ian. He’s covered every Olympic event for years. Summit meetings, political scandals.” She gave another shrug. “It’s what he does.”
    “When did he drop in this time?” Jake asked. He was writing on a notepad.
    “Why are you taking notes? Is there something you’re not telling me?” Her heart started to pick up its pace. She looked at the serious faces of the three people she’d just met today, finally coming to rest on Castello.
    He didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. The tense line of his lips and the solid stare back at her spoke volumes.
    “You think Ian started the fire on purpose? How could you?” She jumped from her comfortable spot on the sofa, the afghan falling around her feet. “You don’t even know him!”
    “That’s right, we don’t.” Suddenly, Frank stood before her, grasping her by the elbows, more for support than confinement. “We’re not accusing him of anything. Or you. Tomorrow, we’ll have to go talk to the police, and Jake is just helping you get more focused. Taking notes is part of his routine.”
    Sami gave a laugh. “The man can’t even go to the grocery store for milk without writing it down.”
    “Why do I have to talk to the police? Did you hear something about Ian? That fireman said they didn’t find anyone inside.” She stared into the dark depths of Frank’s eyes, hoping for reassurance.
    “No, I don’t know any more about him than you do. Talking to the police is just routine. As the owner of the house, they would’ve talked to you tonight.”
    “Except you swept me away.”
    “Yes.” He gave her arms a firm squeeze. “Why don’t you sit back down and tell us about the last time you saw your brother?”
    Satisfied with his answers, she let him help her onto the couch and took another big drink of the tea he placed back in her shaking hands. She closed her eyes, thinking back to the last time she’d seen her brother. “It was last Friday. I was packing to go on a shoot, running a bit late, and the taxi was on its way. I’d called for a pickup. It’s so much easier than trying to find a spot in long-term parking.”
    “You were heading to Vermont, for the fashion shoot in the woods?”
    Her eyes snapped open.
    He gave her a silent nod.
    He’d remembered.
    “Yes. I had to go, so I told him he could stay while I was gone.” She paused, remembering her warning to him. I’m serious, Ian. Don’t trash my home like you did last time.
    “What?”
    “Nothing, really. It’s just the last time I’d left him alone in my house, he left it a pigsty. My last words to him before I got in the taxi was to not trash it again.” She snorted out a derisive laugh. “Guess he didn’t just trash it this time.”
    “I’m sure it was just an accident, and your brother is just fine,” Sami said, patting her on the hand laying in her lap.
    “I hope so. I pray the police don’t have worse news for me when I get there tomorrow.” Despite the other woman’s kind words, the odd feeling something wasn’t quite right with Ian the last time he visited settled on her.
    “Is there anything else you remember? Like where your brother had been or maybe where his next assignment might be?” Jake asked.
    Suddenly tired, and