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Dalton began sharing the details as they walked toward the house. They entered and paused in the small foyer.
Bland let out a low whistle. “This was no accident.”
Dalton released a grunt. His gut had been right. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure this one out.
“That’s what I thought. We’ve done a quick walkthrough, and everything should be sound.” One thing about houses after they succumbed to a massive fire, the structure could be damaged. The house should be secured for the inspector and his crew to go through the rubble.
“It shouldn’t take us too long to gather some evidence and photos.”
Dalton patted Bland on the back. “Call us if you need anything.”
He spun and left the house. He made his way over to the fire truck, where his men stood knowing Bland would get down to the bottom of this fire. Over the years, Dalton had witnessed too many house fires that had been started so the homeowners could collect the insurance payouts. If arson was ruled in this case, then the authorities would be brought in.
He studied his team and found each was covered in sweat, soot, and looked haggard. The fire had been a beast, but they’d worked together as a unit and were successful in putting it out.
“I’m sure they’ll find something,” Casey remarked. He shrugged his tanks off his back and stored them away on the truck.
“No doubt,” Dylan muttered. He removed his jacket; his t-shirt was soaked underneath it.
“I wouldn’t be surprised. This was a stand-up job today, men. Let’s head back to the station.”
“Yes, sir.” Knox gave him a salute.
He and Anton headed toward the fire engine.
“What did Bland have to say?” Max asked, falling in step with him.
They walked toward Dalton’s red LVFD truck. They removed their gear and stored it in the back.
“He’s going to do what he does best and get down to the bottom of it.” Dalton moved around to the driver’s side of the vehicle and got in. Max slid into the passenger side. “If they suspect foul play like we all think, then he’ll take action.”
Dalton slid the key into the ignition and turned it. The engine roared to life. He cranked the air on high, pulled out behind the fire engine, and followed his men.
“You want to go for a quick drink once we get off?” Max asked.
“Can’t today. I have to stop over at my parents’ house this evening.” That wasn’t all he had planned for tonight. A certain gorgeous woman would be getting a call from him. She had promised she’d come over to check out his bike and go with him to Dallas and Candi’s this weekend.
Anya had filled his thoughts. It had been a constant struggle for him to concentrate on anything but her.
“Everything good?” Max asked.
“Yeah, my mother and father have been arguing over her car. She wants me to come to check out a noise she says she hears.” He chuckled.
His parents had been married going on forty years, and they indeed argued like it. His father said there was no noise, and his mother swore up and down she heard a rattle.
“Isn’t her car brand-new?”
Dalton glanced over at Max and sighed. “Yup.”
Anya propped her feet up on her parents’ table on their porch.
This was life.
The sun was finally lowering in the sky; she was again getting used to the desert heat.
At the moment, instead of writing, she was doing one of her favorite pastimes.
Reading.
