Karen Rose - Count to Ten

He hadn't even been waiting all that long, having made a stop on the way, wanting a backup. A check of the public records showed her mother's address. And on a lark, he'd looked for Solliday's as well. Sooner or later she would show up at one of those places. And if he got desperate, he'd planned to wait outside the precinct. But as luck would have it, none of those measures was called for. He'd found her. He'd follow her, and when her guard was down, he'd take her out. Sooner or later she had to sleep.

Abruptly she sped up when she got to the highway, slipping in front of a big truck. He floored it, his heart in his throat. But she was gone. She'd lost him.

I lost her . His temper was ice cold. Fine, he'd just make her come to him.

Saturday, December 2, 10:00 p.m.

They said misery loves company and that must have been true, because after ditching the pesky, lying Carmichael, Mia found herself parked in front of Fire Company 172 hoping she'd find David Hunter on duty. He was in the kitchen making chili.

"That's so cliche," she said and he turned around, eyes widening.

He shrugged. "It's also good. You want some?"

"Sure." She sat down at the kitchen table. "Smells good."

"I'm a good cook." He put a bowl in front of her. "You find him?"

"Not yet."

"Then why are you here?"

Mia rolled her eyes. "I swear I'll deck the next person who says that. I came by to see how you are. The fire at Brooke Adler's was… devastating."

He joined her at the table. "I'll be okay. I imagine you see worse on a regular basis."

She thought about Brooke Adler, the burns and the woman's excruciating pain. "No, I don't think so. That was bad, David. Don't feel bad if you need to talk to someone."

He said nothing, leaving her to stare at his GQ face and compare him to Reed. She must be nuts, because Reed came out on top. She sighed. "I wish I wanted you, David."

The initial surprise in his eyes gave way to wry amusement. "Same goes."

"You, too?"

He laughed sadly. "A few times I've wondered why one person does it for you and another doesn't. Sorry, Mia, but you don't. Although there are about five guys in this company alone who'd kill to be with you. That was an expression, of course."

"Of course." When she got over Reed, she'd ask David to introduce her to one of those five lucky guys. "You're not over her, are you?" Dana, who he'd loved for years and who had absolutely no idea how much she'd hurt him.

His gray eyes shuttered. "Eat your chili, Mia."

"Okay. Listen, my car got ambushed the other night. The department will fix the windows, but one of the bullets hit the hood. Will you take a look at it in your garage?"

His dark brows went up. "Bullets hit your car. Your little Alfa."

"Yeah." Then she grinned. "It was damn exciting."

He threw back his head and laughed and for one moment she wondered if she and Dana were both blind and stupid. "I'll bet it was." He sobered. "Why are you here, Mia?"

She should tell him about Dana and the baby because as hard as it had been for her, it would be worse for him. But not tonight. "I'm at loose ends tonight."

His eyes shadowed. "Fair enough. We have a pool table upstairs."

"Can I ride the firepole back down?"

He grinned, lightening the dark mood. "Sure."

"Then rack 'em up, Ace."

Saturday, December 2, 10:50 P.M.

Lauren was on a date and Beth was sulking. It was eleven on a Saturday night and he was alone. He closed his eyes and let himself admit that he didn't want to be alone. He wanted Mia here, with him. He wanted her smart mouth, her rough edges and her soft curves. God, the woman had the softest curves. He remembered how it felt to sink into her, thrust against her, fill his hands with her. She'd been…

Perfect . He opened his eyes and stared at the wall wondering if he was both blind and stupid. Perfect . She wasn't elegant and the home she made would be filled with take-out boxes and sheets that didn't match. But it could be a home. She made him…

Happy . He fingered the chain around his neck. He'd hurt her. Mia.

But it wasn't too late. It couldn't be. He got up and paced. He wouldn't let it be.

His computer beeped at him. He either had new e-mail or a hit on the search he'd scheduled to run three times daily. He sat in front of the screen and his breath caught. It was a new hit on the solid accelerant search. The first four entries were his own. But the fifth had been logged just that afternoon. By a Tom Tennant of Indianapolis.

Reed found the number for the Indianapolis Fire Department. Ten minutes and three transfers later, he got through. "Tennant." It was a sleepy growl.

"Tom Tennant? My name is Reed Solliday. I'm with OFI in Chicago. You logged a solid accelerant fire utilizing natural gas into the database this afternoon."

"Yeah, I did. Heli of a fire. Nearly took out half a city block." In the background Reed could hear the tapping of a keyboard. Tennant was checking him out.

"You'll find my four entries in the database already. This is likely related to a serial murder/arsonist in Chicago. What was the name of the homeowner at the origin?"

"I can't give you that information right now."

Reed blew out an impatient breath. "Can you tell me if the last name was Young?"

There was a beat of hesitation. "Yes. Tyler Young."

One of the sons. Shit . "Did he survive?"

Tennant hesitated. "I need to check you out first. Give me your badge number."

Reed rattled it off. "Hurry. Call me back when you've verified." They'd found one of the Youngs. Too late it seemed. They might be in time for the other three. He started to dial Mia, then canceled. He'd wait until Tennant called-

The shrill barking of the puppy broke the quiet. It sounded like Biggies was outside, but he hadn't heard Beth come down to let him out. Then the high squeal of the smoke detector added to the din. His heart jumped into his throat as he ran up the stairs dialing 911 as he ran. Beth was upstairs . Smoke already filled the hallway.

"Fire at 356 Morgan. Repeat fire at 356 Morgan. People still in the house."

"Sir, you need to get out," the 911 operator said.

"My daughter's still in here."

"Sir-" Reed snapped the phone shut, grabbed the fire extinguisher from the wall. " Beth ." He tried to open her door, but it was locked. She had her headphones on. She couldn't hear him. He threw himself into her bedroom door and wood cracked and splintered. For a split second he could only stare in horror as flames licked the walls and smoke filled the room. " Beth !" He ran to her bed and yanked the blanket, emptying the extinguisher at the base of the flames, but her bed was empty.

She wasn't here. Wasn't here . He ran into the hall, checked the bathroom, the spare room. Nothing . He touched the door to his own room and it burned his hand.

Back to the bathroom. Wet the towels. Cover hands and face. He was on autopilot when he pushed open his bedroom door. The wave of heat knocked him back, smacked him down. His bed was solid flames. He dropped to his stomach and tried to crawl into the room. My baby . "Beth! I'm here. Call to me. Let me know where you are."

But he could barely hear the sound of his voice over the roar and the hiss. Then hands were pulling at him and he fought. 'Wo. My daughter's here. She's still in here."

He was dragged from the room by firefighters in full gear. Breathers covered their faces. One of them lifted the mask. "Reed? My God, man, get the hell out of here!"

Reed shook them off. "My daughter. She's still in here." Smoke filled his lungs and he fell to his knees, coughing until he couldn't breathe at all.