Sandra Brown - Smoke Screen

Raley nodded.

A heavy silence descended over them. It was finally broken by Miller. “Nobody would have blamed you, or second-guessed you, Mr. Gannon. The SWAT officers would have attested to your effort to save her. They said that, even at risk to yourself, you refused to let go.”

“He would never have let go,” Britt said. Raley looked at her. Her eyes were soft and liquid. “Not in a million years.”

His throat seized up with emotion over her understanding. He could no more have let go of Candy’s hand and sent her to her death than he could have sprouted wings and flown off the roof. So he’d held on against impossible odds, fighting the relentless pull of gravity and his own physical limitations, maintaining his grip on her slippery hand, and gradually, painfully, pulling her up until the SWAT officers could catch her arms and haul her onto the roof to safety.

And arrest.

“Brave, you jumping out that window after her,” Miller remarked.

“Not brave at all.” Raley explained his familiarity with the building. “I knew when I went through the window I wouldn’t have a long fall.”

“Well, still…,” Miller said, “nobody else jumped through it.” After another brief silence, he stood up quickly and made himself look busy by stacking his file folders. “That’s all for now. Those detectives may want to take their own deposition. You’ll probably be subpoenaed to testify in the upcoming trials. But as far as we’re concerned, we’re finished for now. Go home. Lie down before you fall down.”

With an effort, Raley stood up. Britt helped support him as he shook hands with Miller. “I’m glad I didn’t shoot you.”

The agent grinned. “Me, too.”

Steiner offered to drive them wherever they needed to go, and they accepted. But as they exited the building, the agent drew up short and exclaimed, “What in the Sam Hill…?”

STANDING ON THE CURB IN FRONT OF FRANKENSTEIN WAS Delno Pickens. He’d put on shoes for the trip into the city, but only one strap of his overalls was hooked, leaving most of his upper body bare. Under the streetlight, the sprouts of woolly white hair created a weird-looking aura.

Raley could well understand Steiner’s astonishment. “That’s my friend.”

“Our friend,” Britt said.

Delno eyed Steiner up and down as the three of them approached. He scowled his disapproval of the agent, then spat tobacco juice into the gutter.

Raley asked, “What in the world are you doing here, Delno?”

“I came to bust y’all out. I saw on the TV y’all being escorted out of the hospital emergency room by the feds.” He gave Steiner another baleful look and snorted with disdain.

“We’re not under arrest.” Raley explained that he’d been giving a deposition. “We’re finished and on our way home.”

“Well, that’s good then,” Delno said. “I can give you a ride.”

Raley hesitated, then said, “Thanks. That would be great.”

Steiner seemed reluctant to release them to Delno. Raley assured him that the old man looked stranger than he was. “He’s harmless. Basically.”

The agent shook hands with them in turn and wished them good luck-looking like he meant it-then returned to the building.

Raley helped Britt into the passenger side of Delno’s contraption and climbed in beside her, saying softly, “Be afraid.”

Britt gave Delno directions to her house, then she and Raley talked him through the events of the last couple of days. Raley concluded by telling his neighbor that what had started five years ago was finally over and relegated to the past, where it would stay.

Delno grumbled, “Good. Maybe your disposition will improve some.”

Despite the remark, Raley knew Delno shared his relief that it was, at last, over. As did his parents. He’d called them while waiting for his broken arm to be set, fearing they would hear headlines even in Augusta and fret. He’d told them that there was a lot to tell, but the upshot of it was that he’d been vindicated, and those who were responsible for Suzi Monroe’s death would be punished. His mom had cried. He thought maybe his dad had got choked up, too.

Turning onto Britt’s street, they were relieved to see that no media were staked out at her house. When Raley remarked on it, she said, “It’s been a heavy news day. First Fordyce, then Judge Mellors. The arrest of George McGowan. No one’s interested in me.”

As Delno clambered out and helped her from the vehicle, he said, “Don’t go being modest. I heard you’re scheduled for a TV interview in the morning.”

“I accepted the invitation, but only if certain conditions were met.”

“Well, this is one viewer who’ll be watching.”

She clasped both his hands in hers, then leaned forward and hugged him. “Thanks for the ride, Delno. Thanks for everything.”

He whipped the battered straw hat off his head and placed it over his heart. “My pleasure.” Then he nodded toward Raley’s arm sling and asked if he was going to be all right.

“The doc said it was a clean break, should heal in a few weeks.”

“It’s a wonder you didn’t get yourself killed. Jumping out of a window. Damn fool thing to do.” He spat again and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You coming back?”

“To the cabin?”

“Now that you’re a big shot, I thought maybe you’d be moving up, leaving the neighborhood.”

Raley was touched. He saw past his neighbor’s thorny exterior and knew the old man would miss him if he no longer lived nearby. “You can’t get rid of me. I’ll be back. And while I’m away, don’t set any traps where I’m likely to be walking.”

Delno’s maw was brown and sloppy with chewed tobacco, but it was an earnest grin. He climbed back into the amalgamated vehicle, and with a dozen distinguishable grinds, clatters, and clangs, it bounced down the street.

Raley, almost too exhausted to move, followed Britt up the walkway and into the house. After the front door was locked and the shutters closed, he asked, “How did Delno know you’re going to be on TV in the morning?”

“From the moment I agreed to the interview, the station has been promoting it all afternoon and evening.”

“What were your conditions?”

“First, a public apology from the general manager for putting me on leave when I was innocent of any malfeasance. Then my old job back, but with a hefty raise. Hour-long special features programs, no fewer than three per year, my choice of topics. A private office and an assistant. And all in writing.”

Raley whistled. “You’re tough.”

She gave him a saucy smile. “I’m in demand.”

“You could name your salary.” After a strategic pause, he added, “Anywhere.”

“Probably, but-”

“Fear of failure?”

“No. After today, what could I possibly fear?” she said softly. “The truth is, I don’t want to leave Charleston. It feels like home now, and I think I can do some good work here.” She tilted her head as she looked up at him. “What about you? The fire chief came to the emergency room while you were being treated. According to the people I talked to later-”

“Always following the scent of a story, aren’t you?”

“-he was clamoring to talk to you. You refused to see him. Why?”

“I guess I want to be courted, too. Let him stew for a day or two, then I’ll agree to meet with him.”

“And if he offers you your old job back?”

“I’ll turn it down.”

Her smile collapsed. “Oh.”

“I’m going to hold out for the promotion I was promised. There’s a veteran who took over when Brunner died, but he’s ready to retire. I want to be made senior arson inspector for the whole department, for every firehouse, citywide.”