The Biker's Fate Chapter 227

Kim

THE NEXT MORNING, I contacted the insurance company and initiated the claim. Then the fire investigator called to let me know he'd be over just after two that afternoon to discuss what they'd found.

I was a bundle of nerves and I'm pretty sure I must have paced my apartment a hundred times before the investigator arrived. Knight let me pace, occasionally handing me water or something to eat, letting me prepare for the news in my own way.

The front desk security guard called up to the apartment at two-ten.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Church, there's an Inspector Wallace here. Portland Fire Department?"

"He's expected. Thanks, Frank."

"No problem."

I hung up and turned to Knight. "He's on his way up."

He stepped out from behind the kitchen island and wrapped his arms around me. "Deep breath, sugar. It's gonna be fine."

The doorbell pealed and I let Knight answer the door. After introductions were made, we sat at the dining room table and the inspector opened a file. "Well, Ms. Church, it looks like a pretty clear case of arson."

I gasped, my stomach roiling. "What?"

I'd been so concerned about a maintenance issue I could have prevented that I hadn't allowed myself to consider arson. Knight gave my hand a squeeze before sliding the file towards him.

"Initial evidence shows an accelerant," Inspector Wallace continued, "probably gasoline, but we'll test it, and the fire was set in the sunroom, away from where the bedrooms are, so it's possible they were trying to get someone's attention, and not actually hurt anyone. Regardless, someone went to a lot of trouble and risk to set the fire. This type of residential arson is usually not random." He plucked a notepad and pen from his pocket. "The procedure in a case like this is to get a list of possible suspects and go from there. If you or your tenants have been involved in any altercations or disagreements with anyone you suspect might want to hurt or financially impact you, now's the time to come forward."

"Her mother and uncle," Knight answered before I could.

"I don't think either of them would set fire to the house they grew up in, Aidan. What could they possibly gain from doing that?"

"Your mom just made a play for the house last week."

"She didn't make a play, honey."

"Agree to disagree," he said.

Inspector Wallace flipped open his tablet. "Can you give me their full names and contact information and we'll contact them?"

"I have Mom's number, but I don't speak to my uncle. She'll have it, though." I thumbed through my cell phone until I found Mom's contact information, and then slid it to the inspector.

"Cynthia Weston Church," the inspector read out loud. "The Cynthia Weston Church?"

I nodded.

"Your uncle's Bart Weston?" he asked.

I nodded again.

He let out a whistle. "Well, this means we need to proceed very carefully."

"That would be a good plan," Knight agreed.

I sighed. "I'm sure you'll figure out how best to proceed, but my uncle is an evil man, so yes, please be careful."

The inspector smiled. "Your uncle doesn't scare me, Ms. Church. I can't be bought, so rest assured we'll do everything we can to get to the truth."

"I appreciate that," I said, secretly wishing I wasn't afraid of my uncle. "I've already contacted the insurance company, but I'd like to get some contractors out to bid the repairs. Can I start that process now?"

"We haven't cleared the scene just yet. But we'll call you as soon as we're done."

"Thank you," I said.

Inspector Wallace gave me his contact information, before saying, "If you need anything, please let me know."

I thanked him and walked him out before turning to Knight. "Well, that was a waste of time."

"Give it more than a minute, sugar."

"That poor man is going to get nowhere with Mom. If she had anything to do with it, she'll be neck deep in lawyers before he even calls!"

"So you think there's a possibility now?" he challenged.

I rolled my eyes. "Mom isn't evil, honey. I can't imagine she'd purposely hurt someone, but I'll concede that Bart may have."

He glanced at his phone and then back at me.

"What are you doing?"

"Gettin' Booker to do some diggin'."

"Oh, that's a great idea."

He smiled. "Ya think?"

I wrinkled my nose. "Smartass."

Knight chuckled. "Let's go ride."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, please."

Looking forward to anything that would help me get my mind off of the fire and subsequent investigation, I followed Knight out of the apartment and down to the car.