I had no clue. Probably because I wasn’t sure any of them understood my issue with the attention. “I figured it was on a need-to-know basis, and none of them needed to know.”
She chuckled. “Anyone ever tell you you’re strange?”
I raised one brow at her. Now wasn’t that calling the kettle black. “Could say the same for you.”
Her shoulders lifted and fell in a shrug. “Only until they get to know me.”
I was finding her even more strange—or maybe surprising was the right word—since the fire the prior week. Outwardly, she portrayed dark and gloomy. But in reality, she wasn’t either.
The minutes ticked by as we waited for our food, silence surrounding us. I shifted uncomfortably, finally relaxing when she began talking about a new band she’d found on TikTok.
I ignored the looks we were getting from people around us. I had to let them contemplate what was going on between us. For this to really work, small-town gossip had to do its thing.
Once our food was delivered, Violet filled the space between bites with small talk. She was good at this, and didn’t seem to mind that I wasn’t. I found out she was twenty-seven—a little more than a year younger than me—an only child, and that she liked the weather here better than in New York.
“What about you?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Tell me something about you. Do you have family in Charlotte?”
I grunted and nodded. When she continued to stare at me expectantly, I shifted uncomfortably. “My parents live in the city. My brother lives in the suburbs with his wife and daughter. She’s six.”
We continued to chat as we ate—actually, it was more her leading the conversation and asking pointed questions. But again, she didn’t seem to mind.
By the time we paid the check and made our way back to the car, I didn’t hate the idea of having to do this again. I wasn’t sure if being seen together twice was enough for the town to believe we were dating. We probably should go out one more time just in case.
Would she agree to that?
Chapter Nine
VIOLET
Seth actedlike he wanted to say something else when he dropped me back off. He was so awkward, it was actually kind of cute. I didn’t want to push him. It was obvious conversation didn’t come easy to him. Somehow I didn’t see the reclusive, quiet, burly man as much of a dater.
I sat back down at my desk and pulled up the footage I’d been looking through before I left for lunch. It was from the bakery that faced the road to the old BBQ joint. Dylan’s hope was that we would see who drove or walked in or out from Main Street. Patrols were out, working on canvasing the homes further up the road to see if we could gather any ring camera footage as well.He didn’t want to rule anyone out, and if I saw something even remotely suspicious, he wanted me to bring it to his attention.
Our original suspect’s godfather hadn’t been on any footage near any of the fires so far. But whoever it was had been vigilant about not being seen by anyone, so none of us were surprised. The fire at the BBQ place didn’t match the others under investigation. They were started in the very early morning hours, before the sun came up and businesses were open. Not this one. This one was started in the late afternoon. It also didn’t have the same burn patterns or broken window that the others did. All that added up to the reason the lead arson investigator suggested we focus on this one. If it was our arsonist, and it was an unplanned fire, they would have been more likely to mess up, leaving vital clues behind.
I had started my day early, and after watching another hour of footage, I was almost ready to call it a day. There was only so much my eyes could take. But then I startled, sitting up straight and abruptly pressing the button to pause the video as I stared at a familiar face glancing back across the street as they turned to walk down the road.
What the hell was he doing there? I pushed play again and watched intently as James continued down the street toward the BBQ place. He glanced back once more, his actions more than a little suspicious.
We were still together at that point. He knew I had been helping the investigators. Why didn’t he tell me he was there right before the fire started? Maybe he saw something.
Only one way I was going to find out. I pulled out my phone and shot off a text.
Me: Can you meet? I need to talk to you.
Asshole: Did you come to your senses and realize you made a mistake?
I rolled my eyes. The mistake was ever dating him. But you get more bees with honey than vinegar, right?
Me: I just need to talk. It’s important.
Asshole: Fine. Coffee shop?
Me: Perfect.
