Drawing a breath, she headed downstairs, just to be sure. She heard Khan’s paws hit the hardwood floor. He trailed after her down the steps. As she walked out the front door the dog was beside her, sniffing the air and stretching.
Nothing was burning.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
And yet she felt a chill, a quiver from the inside out. She stared at the rubble of the shed and told herself that she was jumping at shadows, that there were fires every day. She couldn’t start flipping out just because she heard a siren.
And yet…
Walking inside the house she went directly into the kitchen, picked up the telephone and dialed Shea’s cell phone. It rang four times before she was thrown into voice mail.
“Give it up,” she told herself, but even as she did, she punched in the number of Aaron’s cell and on the third ring he answered.
“Shannon,” he said, sounding wide awake and a little breathless. She could tell from the sounds other than his voice and the way the connection cut out that he was driving. Of course he knew who she was before she identified herself. He had caller ID on his cell as well as his personal phone. Aaron, the private investigator, had every gadget known to man. Including a police scanner.
“I know this sounds crazy, but I heard sirens and I just had this weird feeling, almost a premonition that the fire might be…Oh, I don’t know, related to what happened here the other night.” She heard herself and shook her head, as if he could see her. “God, now I sound paranoid.”
He hesitated.
Long enough to cause Shannon’s heart to leap to her throat. “What is it?” she demanded.
“Robert’s house.”
“What!”
“Calm down, I think they might be able to save it, or most of it. I already talked to Shea.”
Shannon’s worst fears gelled. “But we just saw Robert and Mary Beth a few hours ago.”
“I know.”
“Was anyone home?” she asked, fear darting through her body. The kids had been taken to Margaret’s place earlier, and Mary Beth had called…from where? Maybe Robert and Mary Beth were somewhere else…
“Don’t know.”
“Oh, God!”
“I’m on my way. You stay put and I’ll call you the minute I know anything.”
“Like hell, Aaron.”
“Don’t go to the fire.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Shannon, really. You know the last thing the fire department needs is more spectators.”
“Robert’s my brother, too,” she said angrily. “Mary Beth and the kids are part of my family…” She silently prayed that they were safe, still with their aunt Margaret. With anyone. Not at home. That no one was at home. Shannon hung up while Aaron was still trying to talk her out of going to the fire.
Hastily she pulled on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, then tied back her hair with a rubber band. She left Khan behind and was in her truck and driving away within ten minutes. She considered alerting Nate but decided against disturbing him when she realized his Explorer was missing, not parked in its usual place.
Had it been in front of the garage when she’d returned from town with her brothers? She thought so but couldn’t remember. And right now she couldn’t take the time to sort it all out.
She punched the accelerator and the truck lurched forward.
Another fire.
At a member of her family’s hom