Ramirez held up a hand. “I do the same thing. Unfortunately, it looks like someone used that as an invitation to drop some fireworks onto your driver’s seat.”
Nash frowned. “We had a call yesterday evening about someone setting off fireworks in trash cans.”
The fire chief nodded. “One of the dumpsters actually caught fire, and we had to put it out.”
“But this is an escalation,” Lawson said.
Roan grunted. “Someone likes setting fires.”
Grae shivered, and I pulled her tighter against me.
Rance’s eyes narrowed at the action.
I ignored him. “Do you guys have any leads?”
Lawson sighed. “We’re pretty sure it’s teenagers. There’s been an uptick in random vandalism with no rhyme or reason for the targets. It’s been going on too long to be tourists. It has to be locals.”
“You need to find them. Even if they are teenagers, someone could’ve been killed today.” There was an edge to Holt’s voice. He knew better than anyone the damage angry teens could do. He’d almost lost Wren because of it.
Ice slid through my veins as I held Grae tighter.
She looked up at me, worry in her blue eyes. “I’m okay.”
“Holt’s right. You could’ve been killed. What if the SUVhadexploded?”
Grae’s thumb stroked in rhythmic swipes across my abdominals. “It didn’t.”
A muscle fluttered under Lawson’s eye. “I’m putting additional officers on foot patrol, days and nights. I’ll put a handful in plain clothes so we’ve got a better chance of finding them.”
That was something, at least.
Grae blew out a breath. “Do you guys need anything else from me? I’m supposed to take a group on a kayak trip in fifteen minutes.”
I jerked back. “Are you serious?”
She shrugged. “I’ve got a job. It’s not like sitting around here and crying over my car will help.”
Jordan strode up to our huddle and squeezed her arm. “You sure you’re up for that?”
Grae nodded. “It’ll be good.”
He studied her as if he wasn’t quite so sure. “I’ll come with you today. You’ve had a shock. I don’t want you out there alone.”
“You don’t have to—”
Jordan cut her off with a look. “It’s good for me to get out in the field every now and then.”
Grae sighed. “Okay.”
I glanced down at her. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I know. I want to.”
I told myself to release her, to let go, but I couldn’t get my arm to obey.
Grae stretched up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to the underside of my jaw. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”
My arm slid off her shoulders, but the action was agony. “Call if you need anything. I’ll deal with your car.”
