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"Excuse uy to the next, one town to the next Without any concern for the people who care about you and went out of their way for you?"

"You sound like Chris" Darcy slid her chair back and pushed to her feet, unnerved by his unexpected and provoking reht"

"Sit down"

"I don’t think so"

"Sit the fuck down"

She stared at hi the harshness of his words very much at odds with his calm voice and demeanor A chill ran down her spine "What the hell is the ave her a et pissed when you throw -ho deputy who’ll be in and out of your cunt as fast as he’s in and out of this town?"

Darcy turned away, heading around the opposite side of the dining table to get to the front door

Coluistered the addition of a third voice in the conversation when the leash whipped around her neck and yanked her back

Her head slae of the table and her vision blackened…

JARED WAS SEALING up the contents of Mitch Quinn’s locker at the fire station when the hairs on his nape prickled arning He paused, knowing he asting tiin with In the ut, and he knew better than to ignore it

He pulled out his phone and called Darcy When he reached her voiceon the station’s wall and called Ralston When he got no answer there, either, he returned to the sheriff’s department and entered the interview roo his palms on the table, he asked, "Why did you run?"

"I didn’t run, I--"

"Listen, I don’t give a shit, Quinn The recorder isn’t on It’s just you and me"

Mitch shot hiuy who’s being set up You have no one to corroborate your alibis for the nights of the fires, you have electrical wiring in your locker si else we’ve got, it’s not looking good" Jared saw cold defiance shift across Quinn’s face and changed tactics "You consider Darcy Michaels a friend, don’t you? I know she’s real hopeful that you’ll be proood word for you every chance she gets Does thatto you? Or do you just care about yourself?"

Jaw ticcing, Mitch said, "I like Darcy"

"I think it’s possible the person responsible for the fires is responsible for Dr Danielle Michaels’s death, too I think it’s possible they’re going to go after Darcy Michaels at so unlikely that you had anything to do with any of it, but so it to you So about you that would ht off the bat so you look guilty and wasteshady, Mitch? Who would know your schedule? Gimme a name Help Darcy after all she’s done to help you"

Mitch scrubbed a hand over his face "I don’t trust you"

"You don’t have to" He bent closer and lowered his voice "Miller? Ralston?"

"No way Both of theripped his head in his hands "The chief makes the schedule He knowshis brief introduction to the Lion’s Bay fire chief "Chief Sendak?"

"He’s gay, dude He wouldn’t have beenaround with Dr Michaels"

"But he has access to your locker, your schedule, and theroom?"

"Listen" Mitch leaned closer and lowered his voice "Occasionally--rarely--sos shipped to the out about You know? Aside frouys are all straight up"

"Fuck" Leaving the rooain As it rang, he went by Miller’s office and found it eh the bull pen to the desk and the blond deputy who ot Darcy’s voice ed a brief, distracted smile "Where’s Miller?"

"He left while you were at the fire station"

"Where did he go?"

She shrugged and smiled prettily "I don’t know He took personal time"

"Get him on the radio Please" He watched her make the attempt a few times with no answer before he turned around and looked for Trish She was pouring a cup of coffee but sensed his gaze She looked at hi toward hi?" she asked