Tested by Fire

Chapter Four

When John walked into the chief’s house after supper with Finn, the telephone was ringing.

“Kelly residence,” he said.

There was a slight pause. “John?”

“Neil?”

“It is you!” The man on the other end of the line chuckled. “It took a while for Bradel to tell me where you were. He said some dirty word like vacation, but I figured it must be some kind of cover.”

“I’m visiting a friend for a few days.”

“Business or pleasure?” Neil Avery’s voice was full of curiosity, and John sighed.

“Business of sorts,” he admitted. “Did Bradel give you this number?”

“Only after being offered a bribe of two dozen homemade chocolate chip cookies,” Neil said. “He drives a hard bargain.”

There was a click and some static, then a third voice joined in.

“Neil? Is that John? Oh, you found him!”

“Hello, Diane.”

“Hello, yourself. I’ve been worried sick about you, taking off like that without telling anyone.”

“You sound like a mother hen. I told my boss I was leaving. I didn’t realize I had to check in with the rest of the crew.”

“Well, you do,” Diane Avery sniffed.

“John isn’t on vacation,” Neil said. “It sounds like business as usual.”

“Is she pretty?” Diane responded teasingly.

“Actually, yes.” John couldn’t resist.

Silence reigned for a moment, then both Neil and Diane started talking at once. John winced and held the phone away from his ear.

“Tell us everything,” Diane demanded.

“Not a chance.”

“Just one thing,” Diane begged.

“You’d like her,” John said slowly, knowing that Diane wasn’t going to let him off the hook easily.

There was a sudden gasp of understanding. “She’s a believer, isn’t she.”

“Let’s say you seem to have some common ground,” John said. “Now, don’t you have some cookies to bake, you traitor?”

“Yes, I do,” she said cheerfully, then added, in a stage whisper, “Find out more, Neil!” A click sounded as she hung up.

“Your wife never gives up.”

“She should have been the investigator,” Neil agreed. “When are you coming back?”

“I’m not sure,” John said. “I didn’t give Bradel a specific date. I have some time off and I’ll come back when everything here is taken care of.”

“Diane’s almost due, you know,” Neil reminded him. “She wants your face pressed against the glass in the maternity ward, cooing with the rest of the Avery fan club.”

“I’ll be back by then.” John heard the sound of a car door slam, signaling Chief’s and Anne’s return. “I’ll call you soon.”

“John?” Neil caught him just as he was about to put the receiver down.

“What?”

“Is she a believer?”

“Goodbye, Neil.”

Later that night during her run, Finn took advantage of the quiet streets and let Colin off his leash. He trotted happily along beside her.

“What’s with you lately?” She couldn’t explain the dog’s sudden obedience. It was as if he’d grown up overnight. “Did someone slip something into your food?”

As she ran, Finn replayed the evening with John. She was surprised that he had accepted her offer to join her for supper. You read too many books when you were a kid, she scolded herself. All those stories about Sir Lancelot and knights and heroes. When she was thirteen and Seamus had been injured in the explosion, she’d been reading about the Middle Ages. Secretly, she had thought of John Gabriel as “the white knight” because of his heroism.

“He’s more like the black knight,” she murmured out loud. He had built a fortress around himself. It was easy to discern that cynicism was his sword, bitterness his shield. Maybe the accident had caused him to put up the barriers she saw.

“I can’t figure him out, Colin.”

Colin growled.

The sound was so unexpected that she stumbled to a stop.

“Hey,” a voice drawled from the bushes. “It’s that lady cop.”

“She ain’t on duty now, though.”

There were some snickers and muttered comments. Finn decided to keep going and ignore them—until the two young men stepped out of the shadows and blocked her path. One held a cigarette loosely in his hand. She recognized him immediately. Ricky Calhoun. His dad owned the largest construction company in Miranda Station. Ricky was a few years younger than she, but he worked for his dad only when he needed extra cash, which wasn’t often. He drove his dad’s car and generally hung around town doing nothing. He seemed to be making a career out of being the only son of a wealthy businessman.

“Hello, Ricky,” Finn said evenly.

His companion thumped him on the back and laughed. “She knows your name, Ricky! Have you ridden in the back of the squad car or something?”

Ricky grinned and flicked the cigarette into the street, the end still glowing like a single red eye. “I’m a good boy, Marty.”

“Excuse me.” Finn tried to move past them, but Ricky stepped in front of her again.

Colin suddenly slipped alongside them like a shadow and planted himself next to Finn. She reached down, feeling comforted by his presence. “Stay, Colin,” she said, hoping the dog would actually listen to her.

Ricky glanced down at the shepherd, whose lips had curled back to expose a set of intimidating teeth. He took a wary step away from her.

“See you later, Officer.”

Finn nodded briefly and started to run again, aware of the fact they were watching her. Marty apparently found something else amusing, because his laughter echoed down the street behind her.

“You must be a good judge of character, Colin,” she said. “And by the way, thanks for your support.”

Colin dashed into a row of bushes and emerged half a block away. When she whistled, he ignored her.

“At least your timing is good.” She shook her head.

A half an hour later, she jogged back up her grandparents’ driveway. All the lights were out except for the guestroom upstairs.

She had been so tempted to confide in John about her problems at the department. The small changes in her reports, the missing court notice. Would he accuse her of not concentrating? Of not being able to handle the job? She had no proof that someone was undermining her work.

Lord, You see what’s going on…show me what to do.

She got ready for bed and curled up in her favorite chair with her Bible.

I love thee, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.

The words sunk deep and spread like a balm through her, loosening the cords of frustration and giving her strength. David had been a soldier. She felt a common bond with him. He had been called at a young age to stand against evil. He knew what is was like to be pursued. To be afraid.

You were his refuge. His shield. And You are mine, too.

Finn wrote a few paragraphs in her journal and then began lifting her family and friends up in prayer. Looking out the window, she could see the light still glowing in John’s room and she prayed for him, too.

The next morning, John was waiting for her by the garage. She tried not to notice that he looked incredible in casual gray chinos and a green-and-gray checked cotton shirt. In his hand was an official-looking leather briefcase.

“Good morning.”

“Finn.”

“Did you know that Chief Larson made it mandatory for everyone to attend your training session this morning?” Finn asked. “Just so you understand why the guys who’d normally be off duty today are glaring at you.”

John slipped into the passenger side of her Jeep. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

“Do I get a preview of today’s lesson, Agent Gabriel?” She flipped the visor down out of habit and checked her hair, pulled out a tube of her favorite lipstick and then saw the look on John’s face. “What?”

“You’re primping,” he said in disbelief.

“But never while I’m driving.” She flashed him a saucy grin.

That remark was rewarded with one of John’s reluctant smiles.

“I’m going to give a mini-seminar on Internet crime,” he said. “Computers are like anything else—they can be a weapon in the wrong hands. Law enforcement has to keep up with the changing technology or the criminals have an advantage.”

Finn glanced at him. “Is this your area?”

“One of them,” John admitted.

“Your favorite?”

He shrugged, but she had seen the spark flare in his eyes. The spark of passion for an area of his chosen career.

“What’s yours?” he asked. “Besides trying to get little old ladies safely across the busy streets of Miranda Station?”

How to answer that unexpected question… Finn turned the car into the parking lot of the police station. “I guess I haven’t been an officer long enough to find out.”

She wasn’t about to tell John that there were too many days that her job was frustrating. She was only a small cog in the wheel of law enforcement. If she made an arrest, it went to the DA, who determined whether there was enough evidence to prosecute. If she made a referral to Social Services, then a case worker took over and made a determination. Too many times she felt as if she were wearing her own handcuffs. It was one of the unexpected struggles she’d faced since becoming a police officer. One she hadn’t voiced to anyone but God.

They got out of the car and walked toward the station. John suddenly paused just outside the doors.

“I’ve got to make a phone call. You can go in without me.”

“All right.” Finn wondered about the quicksilver change in his mood. She had the feeling that John didn’t make it a habit to share much of himself, but for a brief moment during their conversation in the car, it felt as if they’d had a connection.

Then again, maybe she’d only imagined it.

John waited until she had disappeared inside, pulled out his cell phone and called time-and-temperature, then walked in alone. He didn’t want any of the guys Finn worked with to see them come in together. He couldn’t let anyone think he and Finn were friends if he was going to try to get a handle on what was going on with her at the P.D.

The small conference room had been set up for his presentation, and Finn was right—the looks he got when he walked in told him exactly what some of them thought about being called in on their day off.

Finn was already sitting in the front of the room, an empty chair on either side of her. The rest of them were filled. After that one brief glance, John didn’t look at her again.

He spent two hours updating them on the latest ways to use computers to catch criminals and another hour answering their questions. After the first fifteen minutes of his talk, there was a change in the room. Even the most disgruntled officer was leaning forward, listening intently. John judged his presentation a success by that one officer. Carl Davis. Davis also asked the most questions. When Finn asked a question, however, he noticed two of the officers behind her look at each other. One of them rolled his eyes and the other, Wes Garrett, smirked. It was an intelligent question, showing that Finn had been paying attention, but he couldn’t show his approval.

Still, the temptation to make the guys eat their ASP batons was great.

The officers drifted away when the session was over, and Finn approached him while he was packing up his materials.

“Thank you. Your presentation was great.”

He shrugged off her praise. “Part of the job. And now I owe Seamus one less favor.”

“He never worked here, but you’d think he’d run the department at one time,” Finn said. “He and Chief Larson are golfing buddies.”

Another interesting tidbit of information that might explain why Finn was hired, John thought. He slowed his movements, waiting for the room to clear.

“Go ahead and take my car home,” Finn said. “I’ll get dropped off at the end of my shift anyway.” She handed him her keys.

“Thanks.”

Mike Alloway appeared in the doorway. “Kelly, I need you to mail some evidence to the crime lab. Think you can find your way to the post office?”

“No problem.” Finn smiled sweetly.

“Great presentation, Agent Gabriel,” Mike said. “Chief Larson was hoping we could set up another one with you.”

“I should be able to do that.” John read the officer’s name on the silver tag under his badge and remembered it. It had sounded like he’d been teasing Finn with his question about the post office, but it was hard to tell.

So, some of the guys obviously didn’t accept Finn as an equal. That was clear enough. But was she so thin-skinned that it would take such an obvious toll on her? One that had caused Seamus to get him involved?

Chapter Five

The telephone rang, waking Finn up from a sound sleep. She fumbled for it in the dark, her gaze already focusing on her grandparents’ house. The last time she had gotten a phone call in the middle of the night, Seamus had had another heart attack.

“Hello?”

“Finn, it’s Donna at the P.D. There’s another fire and they need some extra people on.”

Finn closed her eyes in relief at the sound of the dispatcher’s voice.

“Sure.” She glanced at the clock beside the bed and almost groaned. Two in the morning. “I’ll drive myself in.”

“Go right to Fifth and Walnut,” Donna directed briskly.

Finn pulled out a clean uniform shirt and pants and dressed quickly. Fifth and Walnut. She sent up a prayer of thanks that it wasn’t a residential area. She walked quickly toward the garage, rounded the corner and bumped into something solid.

“Finn?”

“John.” She stepped back. “What are you doing out here?”

He didn’t answer. “Where are you going?”

“They called me back in to work because there’s a fire.”

“How much sleep have you had?”

“Three hours,” Finn said, already moving toward her vehicle.

“I’ll tag along.”

“That’s not necessary.” She paused when she glanced up and saw his expression. “All right. Suit yourself.”

The address the dispatcher had given Finn was just past the downtown business district, and as they got closer, the crimson glow from the burning building was visible from two blocks away. Black smoke billowed into the sky, shielding the stars from view.

Finn searched for a familiar face and finally saw Wes Garrett moving along the perimeter. He didn’t look very happy to see her.

“Kelly, we’ve got a bunch of people who’d rather watch this building burn than sleep. Can you believe it? Tape the driveway and then stand here to make sure no one gets past. There’s a reporter from the newspaper already trying to squeeze in.”

“What happened?” Finn had to lift her voice above the noise of the fire hoses pumping water. Already her eyes were watering and she could taste the smoke.

“We’re not sure, but the fire inspector has been called and he’ll be here shortly. There’s a bunch of stuff stored in this warehouse—maybe something flammable. Who knows?” Suddenly, Wes noticed John Gabriel standing several feet behind Finn. “Hi, John. Felt like losing a little sleep, too, huh? Kelly, make yourself at home—you’ll be here a while.” He disappeared into the hazy darkness.

For a moment, Finn just stared at the blaze. There was a panicked cry from the bystanders when one of the walls caved in, but the firefighters were clear. Most of the people watching were still in their pajamas. Finn scanned the faces of the onlookers until her gaze rested briefly on one of them. It was a young male, tall and thin, his shoulders slightly slumped. Even from the distance that separated them, Finn thought she recognized Ricky Calhoun. She took a few steps toward him, but the wind shifted and smoke poured between them. When she got close enough to recognize individual faces, the person she had thought was Ricky had disappeared.

“Is something wrong?” John was at her shoulder, so close that his breath stirred her hair.

“No, I just thought I saw someone I know.” She peered into the darkness, hoping for another glimpse of him. “I guess not. I better get this tape up.” She remembered the careless way Ricky had flipped the cigarette into the street when their paths had crossed. She knew the Calhouns lived several miles outside of Miranda Station in one of the most expensive subdivisions. Their home was brand-new and the showcase of a successful businessman. Given the warehouse’s location, it was interesting that Ricky would be one of the bystanders at the fire.

Two hours later, the blaze was out and daylight was soaking into the horizon. Finn was exhausted. The building was a total loss.

“Gone,” she murmured. “The devastation is incredible, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is,” John agreed tightly.

She heard the change in his tone and looked at him, then guessed what he was thinking.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…”

“How can you not realize?” he asked, his eyes narrowed. “Don’t you see the scar? Everyone else does.”

Finn swallowed hard. His eyes glittered like emeralds and his voice was low, but his words cut into her like the flick of a whip. “I see the scars here.” She reached up and touched the front of his shirt. “These are the only ones I see.”

He caught her hand and she felt the warmth of his skin. For a moment they stared at each other. Finn’s heart began to pound in an uneven rhythm.

“I’m going to go back now,” he said, breaking the silence. “Don’t worry about Colin, I’ll let him out.”

“Go ahead and take my Jeep,” Finn said. “I’ve got to go back to the station anyway and write out a report, so I’ll catch a ride home with one of the guys.”

He hesitated for just a moment, then turned and strode away.

John had found Seamus and Anne already awake and sitting at a table on their patio when he arrived. Both had been anxious to hear about Finn. He had accepted a cup of coffee and a slice of Danish, and had told them about the warehouse.

“Arson,” Seamus said. “We’ve had a string of fires lately but no one can figure out who it is.”

“They’ll get him,” John said. “This is a small city. He’ll make a mistake.”

“Hopefully not on someone’s house.” Seamus closed his eyes, obviously reliving the past—the sound of the explosion and the strangling smoke.

John knew what he was thinking. He didn’t break into a cold sweat anymore when he heard the sound of sirens but it was something he had buried deep within himself.

“I’m going to shower and take Colin out,” he said, rising from the wicker chair.

“Finn will be exhausted,” Anne fretted. “It’s a good thing she’s got the next three days off so she can rest up.”

Three days off. It would be the perfect time to do some more digging. If she was still talking to him.

This was becoming impossible. He still felt the touch of her hand on his chest. These are the only ones I see. Without thinking, he touched the side of his face and remembered Kristen’s expression the first time she’d seen him after the bandages had been removed. He’d seen the flare of sorrow in her eyes before she’d looked away. Funny, but he’d immediately sensed that the sorrow was for herself more than for him. Because if she married him, she’d be sentenced to a lifetime of staring at his burned skin.

And what did Finn know about scars? A twenty-three-year-old who had grown up in the shelter of a large, loving family?

Finn went back to the department after her relief showed up. Gil was at the desk. She skirted past him while he was studying the computer screen and went into the back office.

The Juvenile files were closed to the public, but she scanned them briefly and found what she was looking for. Ricky Calhoun. It wasn’t a long report, but it was enough.

Carl poked his head in the doorway. “Need a ride home, Finn?”

“Sure. Just a minute.” Finn closed the file.

“Looking for something in particular?” he asked curiously as they walked out to the parking lot.

“Not really.” Finn hesitated and glanced at him as she slid in the passenger side of the squad car. “I was checking to see if we have anything on Ricky Calhoun.”

“Ricky Calhoun?” Carl repeated the name in surprise. “Why?”

“I think I saw him last night at the scene.”

“And?”

“I have a hunch.”

“A hunch.”

“I think that Ricky Calhoun has been setting the fires.”

Carl gave a burst of amazed laughter. “You aren’t serious…Finn, you can’t be serious!”

“He started a fire in a Dumpster when he was a freshman in high school,” she told him.

“And that’s the basis for your hunch?” Carl was grinning. “Finn, that was years ago!”

Finn was beginning to wish she had never mentioned it. “He’s bored. He hangs around doing nothing.” As she voiced her thoughts out loud, she realized how thin her suspicions were.

“Finn, that kid is the son of the man who practically runs this city. Even if you had a picture of Ricky Calhoun standing outside a burning building, holding a match and wearing a T-shirt that said ‘I love the smell of smoke,’ it wouldn’t get past the DA’s office.” Carl turned the squad car into her driveway and looked at her. “A hunch isn’t enough for this one, kiddo.”

“Maybe if you and I went to the Chief—”

Carl held up one hand. “Whoa, slow down. I’m not going out on a limb with you on this one. Not without solid proof. Look, I know you feel like you have to prove yourself, but if you’re wrong and this backfires…” His index finger made a slicing motion across his neck.

“I know.” Finn grabbed her logbook and shoved it in her bag. “See you next week.”

Carl stuck his head out the window. “Did you forget that his dad is on the Police and Fire Commission?”

“No,” Finn muttered, raising her hand in a halfhearted wave. “I didn’t forget.”

The house was quiet when she opened the door. No Colin. She realized that John must have taken him over to the other house and was relieved at having no demands placed on her for the moment.

Maybe it was crazy to think that Ricky Calhoun had anything to do with the fires. He was just a kid, not a professional arsonist. If it was him, the fire inspector would have figured it out by now. No wonder Carl thought the smoke had gotten to her. Still, the feeling was so strong.

You can’t always trust your feelings.

She tried to push the thoughts from her mind and took a quick shower to get rid of the smell of smoke that still clung to her skin. Putting on her swimsuit and a matching pair of shorts, she stepped outside. When she slipped in through the patio doors of the big house, she found her grandmother in the kitchen, making chicken salad.

“Hi, sweetheart!” Anne hugged her. “John told us all about the fire. Did you just get home?”

“About half an hour ago. Chief said my eight hours started when I was called in for the fire, so that gives me the rest of the day off.” She found a spoon and sampled the salad. “A total loss, but no one was hurt and the fire didn’t spread to other buildings.”

“Have some more,” Anne offered. “I’ll bet you haven’t eaten since last night.”

“Just coffee and a stale doughnut,” Finn admitted.

“John took Colin for a walk a little while ago. They should be back any minute. It looks like you’re going to take a swim. It’s a beautiful day for it.” Anne chatted as she cleaned up the kitchen. “I have to get my hair done and then Seamus is taking me out for dinner tonight. He invited John along, but he said he’d prefer to stay here. The man keeps to himself, doesn’t he. I remember after the accident we invited him to family get-togethers and such, but he wouldn’t come.”

“Doesn’t he have any family?” Finn asked.

Anne shook her head. “He was moved around to different foster families most of his life, that’s all we know.”

Finn’s heart ached for him. She couldn’t imagine growing up and being shifted around from place to place. The Kellys were woven tightly together and no matter how large they got or how much distance separated them, the fabric of family was never weakened.

“Your grandpa took John under his wing after the accident. He was the one who talked to the powers-that-be at the Madison Agency to hire him. John got in and, within a few months, started to make a name for himself all on his own.”

Finn wasn’t surprised. Gritty determination was evident in every line on the man’s face.

They both heard a sharp bark, and Anne looked out the kitchen window. “They’re back.”

Finn’s insides fluttered crazily again. She wondered if he was still angry with her. For some reason, honesty won out when she was with John Gabriel. She couldn’t help it that she didn’t notice the scar on his face when she looked at him.

He hasn’t let You heal the things in his past yet, has he, God? Or let them be used for Your purposes? Do whatever it takes to help him open the door to Your love.