Chapter 27
That nightIan snuck into Piper's room and they made love in the comfort of her pillow top king size mattress. Afterward, Ian delayed leaving the warmth and comfort of her bed.
"I swear, I'm so mad at Jason I could just strangle him. Daddy is fit to be tied over that letter from the State." Piper complained.
"All he has to do is call and let them know that he's not interested and that will be the end of it. No big deal." Ian soothed.
"I've never really liked Jason. But, like I already told you I felt like I had to be friendly because Daddy wanted to make him feel like family. But no more. The guy gives me the willies and I’m not going to play nice after this." Piper fluffed the pillow behind her head and flopped back onto it.
"Daddy doesn't need to deal with this ridiculous mess on top of someone trying to kill him." She gave him a pleading look. "Please find that guy and put a stop to him, Ian. I don't care what you have to do to make that happen. I want Daddy safe."
He shifted in the bed, pulling her over to cradle in his arms. "I won't let anything happen to him. Or you." He kissed her forehead and tightened his arms around her.
"I heard Daddy blessing Jason out over the phone right after supper. I wonder how long it'll take him to come over here with his tail between his legs apologizing." She rolled onto her side, putting her head against his chest. Within moments he heard quiet snores and grinned to himself. He'd give her a hard time about that tomorrow.
* * *
As he reveledin knowing he'd gotten Piper back and that they would work things out together this time, Ham stood up from his place next to the bedroom door.
Ian shifted his gaze to the dog. Did he need to go outside to do some business. He studied the dog's tense posture. No. He must be hearing something.
Ian shifted his body from under Piper and eased out of the bed. Pulling his jeans on, he got his gun from the nightstand where he'd placed it earlier. Quietly he made his way to the dog. "Do you hear something, boy?" He whispered.
The dog whined softly. Ian opened the door and the two of them moved stealthily along the second floor hallway. The runner down the center kept the sound of Ham's toenails silent as they crept along. Ian looked over the bannister but couldn't make out anything unusual.
At that moment, Ham rocketed down the stairs barking.
The sound of shattering glass brought him up short. Shades of last night.
Doors opened along the hallway and Piper and Matt stuck their heads out to see what was had happened. Ian noted that Piper was fully dressed in street clothes.
At that moment there was a whooshing sound and a thump followed by flames racing along the first floor entryway.
"Where's Ham?" Piper screamed as she ran from the room toward the staircase.
Ian caught her around the waist. "You can't go down there. You'll be killed."
"Ham!" Screamed Piper. And to Ian's relief, the dog raced up the stairs to his mistress.
"Mr. MacKenzie. We have to get out of here. I don't think we should risk going down these stairs. The killer is probably waiting somewhere down there expecting us to come that way. Or for us to just pass out from smoke inhalation up here and save him the trouble of killing us."
He coughed as the first streamers of smoke drifted up to the second floor.
"There are rope ladders in all the upstairs bedrooms for just this kind of emergency. My grandfather had them installed years ago." Matt said. He moved to Piper's side and motioned Ian to follow. "Here. Inside this built in seat by the window."
Matt threw aside a cushion and lifted the top of the box. Inside coiled a rope ladder. Matt pushed the window up and threw the ladder outside where it banged against the side of the house.
Ian winced at the sound and prayed the killer wasn't out there watching the whole thing.
Matt motioned to his daughter. "You first."
Piper eased out the window and went down the first rungs. She stopped and motioned to Ham. "How are we going to get him out? He can't climb down the ladder and I’m not leaving him."
"We don't have time to waste. Piper, please go. I'll figure something out." Ian said.
As she continued to hesitate, the sound of crackling wood came from the hallway. The stairs must be in flames.
"Piper, please. I promise I'll get him out. Go!"
