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"I'd offer you my office, but it might not be safe in there," I said helpfully.
I might send them into the building before we got the all clear, but not Cooper.
Also, he was about to make a big mess. I didn't want to have to replace the flooring. Again. Not in there, anyway. In other parts of the club, it was a frequent occurrence. Especially the third floor. Cum stains could be so hard to get out of the carpet.
"We'll just step down this way," Singh said. She waved toward a spot in front of a lit window.
Cooper looked nervous, but excited.
Jake shook his head at him and smiled indulgently. Once the cops had moved away, he softly said, "Murder Pup. He really does get a kick out of that, doesn't he?"
"So do you," I pointed out. I could happily commit a bit of murder myself right now. "I want to see what's going on down at Scarlett." The firetrucks had been working there for quite some time and seemed to have the blaze under control. With any luck, it might not be as bad as I thought at first.
A girl could hope, right?
Jake nodded. "Ben, Hutton, go with her. I'll stay here and see if the gas company actually turns up."
He would also keep an eye on Cooper. The guy couldn't kill the cops in full view of everyone, so there might be a chance yet for someone to help him with the job. Better that than risking people hearing screams.
Things really started to get awkward then.
With the guys walking so close to me we almost touched, I headed down to Scarlett.
Two of the cleaners stood outside, both looking anxious. That anxiety rose when they saw me coming.
"Is everyone okay?" I asked.
"Yes, Ivory," one of them said. "It was only me and Leslie in there at the time." She cleared her throat. "I have no idea what happened. One minute I was cleaning the toilet, the next minute there was smoke everywhere."
Leslie nodded. "It didn't start in the kitchen. I was in there, cleaning the stove."
"Did you see anyone else around?" I asked. The police should be asking this. They probably would, later. Someone other than Singh and Gilbert. No doubt the fire department would also conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
Leslie shook her head. "No one. But…" She thought for a moment. "Now I think about it, I heard the back door open and close. I thought it was Jane, but then she came running from the bathroom area."
"So you got out through the front door?" I asked.
"Yeah,” Jane said. "Just in time too. Something went woosh just after we stepped out." Her eyes were wide.
"I'm glad you got out," I said honestly. I had people whose job it was to die for me, these cleaners were not two of them. They were just staff on my payroll. People who didn't deserve to be dragged into Dagen's shit.
"Thank you, Ivory," Jane said. "Us too. Should we go or…"
I hesitated. "I think you should probably wait. Someone is going to turn up sooner or later with questions for you. Just answer honestly." Although both shifters, a tiger and a dingo, they would have little knowledge of the organisation they really worked for. It was unlikely they would say anything incriminating. Unfortunately, it was also unlikely they would say anything which would lead to Dagen being arrested or even blamed. Still, as long as it didn't lead to me, then it was what it was.
After a moment I added, "I'll find you both work at some other part of the organisation. Don't worry about that. And if you need some time off, take it. With full pay." It was the least I could do. They were almost burnt alive.
They both looked relieved at that.
"Thank you, Ivory," Jane said fervently. "I was freaking out. I can't afford to be off work."
I nodded to her. Okay, sometimes I forget there are people in the world like her. Lots of them. Most people weren't like me, with more money than they knew what to do with. Even growing up with Helen Dagen, I had everything I physically needed, and more.
That is to say, I always had a pair of shoes and a couple of changes of clothes. Helen was not what you would call generous, especially with me. She wasn't much nicer to her children, but she didn't raise a hand to any ofthem.
"And you won't be," I assured Jane. "You two do excellent work, I'd be crazy to let you get away."
Just as I finished speaking, another police car pulled up.
