Nick:

My phone rings at noon, waking us up. It’s Blake. I put the call on speaker so we can all hear him. “Sorry to bother you guys, but Connor’s awake.”

My shoulders slump in relief. I’m not a touchy-feely guy, but Connor was a beacon of stability in my often-tumultuous childhood. He’s always been there for me. “Is he okay?”

“He’s better than okay,” Blake chuckles. “Elvira took him home. She’s refusing to let him out of her sight. Those two are finally together.”

“Really?” I can’t believe it.

“Yeah.” Blake sounds a little choked up too. “After all these years…” He clears his throat. “Anyway. As Connor’s doctor, I’m recommending that he take it easy for the next week, but he’s quite concerned about the Weekly Goat. This week’s issue went off to the printers before the fire, but he said something about interviewing Eric Hardy?”

Hailey cuts in. “Yes, we were going to run interviews with both Elvira Grantham and Eric Hardy right before the election. Tell Connor not to worry; I’ll interview Hardy.”

That’s my girl. My heart swells with pride at the way she steps up and does what’s required. No fuss, no drama. That’s Hailey.

“Perfect,” Blake replies. “I’ll let him know he can stop stressing.”

“Can he have visitors?” I ask him.

“Just you,” Blake replies. “And just for an hour. Connor really does need to rest.”

As much as I’d like to lounge around in bed all day with Hailey curled up next to me, I need to get up. “I’m going to see Connor first, then drop by at the bar,” I tell Hailey and Sean. “I haven’t been there much in the last couple of weeks.”

“Cause you’ve been so busy fixing the cottage.”

“Totally worth it, baby. What about you, Sean?”

He grimaces. “Kowalski wanted to talk.” He looks at the time. “I better hurry if I’m not going to be late.” He gives Hailey a concerned look. “Be careful talking to Eric Hardy,” he warns. “The guy is a snake. I don’t trust him.”

Hailey chuckles. “Sean, I’m a woman in my late twenties. I’ve met a lot of snakes. I know how to handle them.” She hugs both of us. “See you this evening? I should be back home by five.”

I call Eric Hardy’s office and explain that I’ll be filling in for Connor. “That’s fine,” his assistant says. “I’ll let him know. The meeting is at Goat Morning, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” I don’t think Betty Beaumont likes Eric Hardy very much, but she’s certainly seeing a lot of extra business because of the election.

I pull up at the diner on the dot of two. Eric Hardy is late. It’s not until a quarter past the hour that he shows up. “So you’re Hailey Martell.”

No need to apologize for running late, buddy. “I am,” I reply politely. “As you know, the Weekly Goat is going to dedicate next week’s issue to the election. If you don’t mind me asking you a few questions…”

“I’m not here to answer your questions, Ms. Martell.” His lips thin into a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m here to offer you some advice. David Barlow is going to release a report saying that the fire station is essential to Goat. It would be wise for Sean Keefer to contradict that report.”

I stare at the man. “That doesn’t make any sense. Connor Perkins’ house just went up in flames. The entire town could have been at risk had it not been for the firefighters. Of course it’s an essential service.”

“I don’t like repeating myself, Ms. Martell.” His voice is cold. “Get Sean Keefer to contradict that report.”

A shiver runs up my spine. Why the hell does he think I’m going to do what he wants? “Or what?”

“Ah, yes. If Keefer cooperates with me, I’ll find another job for him when I’m mayor. But if he doesn’t…” He laughs humorlessly. “Then I’ll just fire him.”

“On what grounds?” I demand, my hands clenching into fists.

“There’s a morality clause in his contract.” His eyes run over my body, and I want to throw my cup of coffee in his face. “Are the citizens of Goat supposed to look the other way while the three of you engage in this sick, twisted relationship?” he spits out. “You disgust me.”

Blood rushes to my head. I don’t know what to do. Sean loves being a firefighter. And now, because of me, he’s going to lose everything he cares about.

I’m not being logical. Eric Hardy wants to shut down the fire station because he’s beholden to the retailers that are funding his election campaign. I’m just a convenient target.

I need to talk to Nick. He’s been friends with Sean for a long time. He’ll know what to do.

“I’ll leave you to think about it, Ms. Martell,” he says as he rises to his feet. “You have until tomorrow evening to make your move.”

* * *

Nick:

Connor’s in high spirits. “Had I known that all I needed to do to get Elvira was burn my house down, I’d have done it forty years ago,” he says cheerfully.

“Joking about death. Very nice.”

He grins, unrepentant. “Nick, my boy, there’s nothing you can say that’ll get me down this morning.”

Elvira chooses that moment to bustle in with a pitcher of ice-water, and Connor fakes a groan of pain. “Are you okay, Con?” she asks at once, setting down the water and sitting next to him on the bed. “What hurts?”

Connor winks at me, and I shake my head, amused at his antics. “He’s a handful, you know,” I warn Elvira. “Are you sure you want him?”

There’s so much love in her eyes as she looks at my great-uncle that it almost takes my breath away. “I’ve had a lifetime to consider that question,” she says. “And yes, Nick. I’m absolutely sure I want Connor.”

After leaving Elvira’s place, I head to the Randy Goat. Val’s there, tending bar. “Nick,” she calls out, lifting her hand in greeting. “Long time, no see.”

“I’ve been busy.”

She chuckles. “I hear. There’s so much going on that the town gossips don’t know what to talk about.” Her face turns serious. “How’s Connor?”

“He’s doing surprisingly well. He’s like a yo-yo. Always bounces back.”

She grins. “That’s good to hear. Hey, now that you’re here, can you mind the bar for a bit? We got our beer delivery this morning, and I think they short-changed us. I want to do a count of the cases we got before I call the distributor to give him a piece of my mind.”

“Not a problem.” It’s Thursday, but at two in the afternoon, the Randy Goat is almost empty. Just as well. I’ve had six hours of sleep in the last thirty-six, and I’m exhausted.

I’m falling asleep on my feet when the door opens, and a blonde woman walks in. She looks familiar. I’m trying to place her as she takes a seat at the bar. “Hey there,” she says.

Her smile is meant to be alluring, but something about it doesn’t quite ring true. “Hi.” I keep my answering smile professional. From last night’s conversation at the party, I’m aware I have a reputation in Goat, but I’m with Hailey now, and I don’t want to give anyone the wrong idea. “Can I get you a drink?”

“That’d be lovely,” she purrs. “Rum and Coke, please.”

“Starting the weekend early?” I fill a glass with ice, pour a shot of the house rum into it, and top it off with a spritz of cola.

“I guess.”

She seems nervous. She keeps glancing over her shoulder, as if she’s waiting for someone to walk in. For about thirty seconds, I wonder what she’s up to, and then I lose interest. You meet a lot of strange people as a bartender.

Sean must be meeting with the insurance company investigator right now. I wonder what the other man has discovered. This claim won’t be as simple as Tammy’s barn. Connor’s house went up in flames. The odds are that it’s structurally unsound as a result of the fire. It’ll need to be torn down and rebuilt from the ground up, and that’s not going to be cheap.

Connor’s insurance company is not going to want to pay out this claim if they can avoid it. Brad Kowalski will be pretty damn eager to catch the person responsible.

A bell rings as the front door opens. It’s Hailey, and she looks upset. “Nick, can I…”

That’s when the blonde woman at the bar makes her move. She leans forward and grabs me by the collar, and she presses a kiss into my lips. “Nick,” she purrs, loud enough so Hailey can hear. “Last week was amazing. I can’t wait for us to do it again.”

What the hell?

I disentangle myself from her, but it’s too late.

Hailey’s gone.