CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

T HE FIRE WAS STILL BURNING WHEN C AIN LED J ENNY BACK TO THE front of the building. Flames licked out of upper- and lower-story windows, their sills blackened with soot. Several firemen told them there seemed to be no casualties, but Cain wanted to talk to the chief to be sure.

The chief was busy, so they waited. They were watching the flames, Jenny's face pale with worry, when Cain spotted Cleopatra Swift, swaying from side to side as she walked toward them.

She stopped in front of where they stood on the far side of the street, away from the blaze and the heat. Cleo flicked Cain a glance, but spoke to Jenny.

"I'm sorry about your place, hun. Seems like you got nothing but bad news lately."

Jenny glanced over at the business that had meant so much to her. "Dylan thinks it was arson."

Cleo grunted. "Considering what's been going on, I'm not surprised."

"We'll find out who did it," Cain said darkly. "You may be certain of that."

"I don't doubt it," Cleo said. "You've always been a man of your word."

She turned back to Jenny. "Something happened up there tonight."

"Besides half the block burning down," Cain drawled.

Cleo ignored him. "I don't live far. I was one of the first people out here on the street. You remember Boris Koblinsky, the guy in room ten?"

"I'm not likely to forget," Jenny said.

"Well, he ain't there no more."

"What do you mean?"

"When I got here, the fire was really blazin'. I started thinking about room ten, wondering about Boris. I began to feel something. I realized I could feel the bastard in that room."

Cain scoffed. "What the hell, Cleo? You aren't saying the fire killed whatever thing was in that room?"

"Not exactly." She turned back to Jenny. "You know that young sheriff who shot him?"

"John Mackey. What about him?"

"You recall he died in a fire."

Jenny's shoulders straightened as her gaze sharpened on Cleo's. "Yes."

"Well, he was here tonight. I could feel him. He dealt with Boris Koblinsky, once and for all."

"That's absurd," Cain said.

Cleo continued to ignore him. "I'm not sure how it works, but the sheriff was here—handsome, he was—and a few seconds later, that rotten bastard went up in flames. Boris is exactly where he oughta be—burnin' in the fires of hell."

"That's total and complete—"

Jenny gently set her fingers against Cain's lips. "I guess we'll never know for sure, but I'm willing to believe what Cleo says. The hotel is gone, but if Boris is gone, too, maybe it's worth it. Boris was responsible for the death of Brian Santana and at least three women. Maybe he finally had to face the wrath of God."

Cleo started nodding, moving her triple chins. "Could be," she said.

Cain considered Cleo's wild story. Since he didn't want to think about what had happened to him in that room, he changed the subject.

"We're rebuilding," Cain said, snagging Jenny's attention. "How many times has the Star burned down?"

Jenny looked up at him as if he'd lost his mind. "Four."

"So what's one more? We rebuild the Copper Star—but not until we find the sonofabitch who burned it down."

Cleo cackled a laugh. "Sounds like a good plan to me. Since my building is still standin', I'm going home. I'll call Nell tomorrow, see if she'll meet me for lunch." Cleo smiled. "I'll give her all the gory details." She looked at Jenny. "I suggest you both go home, too."

"We have to talk to the chief," Jenny said wearily.

Cleo's glance swung to Cain. "Take her home and give her some lovin'. You're good at just about everything. I imagine you're good at that, too."

Cain just smiled.

Cleo set off for home in her side-to-side sailor's gait, and Cain nudged Jenny forward.

"Let's get this over with," he said.

Jenny nodded. Cain could tell the shock of what had happened was returning.

"Tomorrow we'll figure it out," he promised, keeping a firm hand at her waist.

Jenny looked up at him. "You really think so?"

"I know so." Because Cain had already figured it out.

* * *

It was late the next morning when he finally awoke. Jenny lay next to him, still deeply asleep. Cain rolled onto his side and just watched her, enjoying the way her pretty golden-brown curls spread over his pillow. He had never really considered marriage and family. He was extremely self-sufficient. He'd never needed anyone but himself.

Then he'd met Jenny. She'd brought light and love into his life, and Cain finally found something he needed more than his freedom, something he had been searching for without even knowing. Cain needed Jenny. He wanted to marry her. Have children with her.

He wanted them to make a life together.

Cain left her sleeping and went into his study. First, he needed to solve the problems at the Star.

He had phoned Nick late last night and left a message, but hadn't heard back from him. Nick was digging deeper into Anna Hobbs. Cain was sure he'd come up with something that would prove what Cain already believed.

That Anna Hobbs was behind the trouble at the Copper Star.

Cain made a few more calls before Nick's return call came in.

"I can't believe the Copper Star burned down last night," Nick said, responding to the message Cain had left on his cell. "I hope everyone got out all right."

Cain spotted Jenny standing in the doorway, dressed in jeans and a dark green sweater, her pretty hair pulled back in a curly ponytail. They would have to go back down to the Star today. It was an ugly reality, but they had no choice.

"We're waiting for final word. So far it looks that way." Cain motioned Jenny over. "Jenny's here. I'm putting you on speaker."

"Hi, Jenny," Nick said. "Sorry about the fire."

"It was really bad, Nick."

"If there's anything you need me to do . . ."

"Jenny's brother was staying in the hotel with his girlfriend last night," Cain explained. "He's a firefighter in Prescott. His actions last night saved lives."

"I've met Dylan. He's a good man. Looks like he's a hero now."

"Looks that way."

"I probably shouldn't be making any wild leaps here, but after your call last night . . . are you thinking Anna Hobbs set the fire?"

Cain grunted. "I don't think Anna would want to get her hands dirty. I think she paid someone to do it. I'm expecting Jenny to get a call this morning from the arson squad."

"So I guess I'm still working the case."

"Until we know the fire was accidental."

"If it was."

"Yeah." Which Cain doubted. "Tell me you found something on Anna."

"That's easy. Anna's about to go down for the murder of her husband, Arthur Somerset. Turns out the grieving widow bought a box of thallium over the internet a week before poor old Arthur succumbed."

"Rat poison."

"That's right," Nick said. "No odor. No taste. Just a sprinkle here and there in a cup of coffee or Arthur's five o'clock martini."

"Conveniently, he died just a month or so after their marriage," Cain said.

"Correct," Nick said. "Right after he'd changed his will."

Cain flicked a glance at Jenny, who perched on the edge of a chair on the other side of the desk. "I didn't think you could buy that stuff on the internet anymore," Cain said.

"It's hard to get hold of, but Anna managed. Too bad she wasn't able to erase the record of her purchase."

"Have they arrested her yet?"

"Not yet, but according to Detective Elliot, they exhumed the body. They're waiting for the autopsy report, but they're pretty sure what the ME is going to find."

"Let's see if we can find a link between her and the fire at the Star."

"Any idea who might be the inside man?"

"My guess would be Troy Layton, the bartender." He looked at Jenny. "I know you trust him, honey, but—"

"Troy loves money," she said. "He also loves beautiful women. If Anna was willing to go far enough, Troy would be putty in her hands."

Cain agreed. "After what we just learned about her husband's murder, I think we can safely assume Anna would have no trouble doing whatever was necessary to get what she wanted."

"I haven't trusted Troy for a while," Jenny said. "I think he might have been skimming the till. I've been watching him, but I didn't want to accuse him without any proof."

"I think it's time we talk to Police Chief Nolan," Cain said. "As well as the head of the arson squad."

"Let me know how it goes," Nick said. "Call me if you come up with anything new."

"Will do." As soon as Cain hung up, a call came in on the landline from the front desk.

"Mr. Barrett? Sorry to bother you, but Police Chief Nolan is here to see you."

"Thanks, Debbie. I've been expecting to hear from him. Send him up."

"I'll make a fresh pot of coffee," Jenny said.

"Good idea. Maybe we should put a shot of whiskey in our cups before he gets here."

Jenny laughed. It was the first time Cain had heard the sound since the fire.