“You know, if you’re sticking around in town for a while, I could help you find a job.”

Maya’s eyebrows shot up. She had planned to be here for a few days, a week at most, find out what she could and then motor it back home, stopping by Atlanta on her way to take another run at her brother’s SAC—Special Agent in Charge—and see if she could shake anything loose with her newfound evidence. Evidence that clearly was going to take a hell of a lot more work to find. “What kind of work?”

“There’s a shelter in town, Promise House. Meg does a great thing for the community, but she’s been looking a little tired lately. Maybe she could do with some help.” He picked up her hand again. “It would help you get to know people around here, too.” He smiled. “We’re not a bad bunch, when you get to know us.”

His hand felt warm on hers, and this time she didn’t want to take it away. But that wasn’t why she was there. She let herself linger for just a few more seconds, then withdrew her hand. That didn’t mean she couldn’t take him up on his offer. Like it or not, she needed the cash if she was going to see this through. “Sure. I’d appreciate it.”

Sarah arrived with their burgers and Maya practically drooled at the sight. Until then, she hadn’t realized how starving she was. Seth had already taken a big bite, a dab of sauce left on his lower lip. She forced her gaze away before she could reach out a finger and clean him up. Instead, she took a bite of her burger, closing her eyes in appreciation. “So good.”

Seth chuckled. “Pretty amazing, huh?” He licked his fingers and Maya found herself smiling again, even as a heat rose within her at the sight. Maybe sticking around town for a while wouldn’t be such a bad thing, after all.

* * *

The ride over to Promise House after their early lunch was quick, Seth pointing out a few landmarks on the way. The grocery store, a park that had a good walking track. He pulled up in front of an old house, walked around to her side of the car, and opened her door. He’d done the same thing at the cafe, she realized, holding the door open for her, then waiting for her to sit before taking his own chair. No, she was imagining things. That was just simple Southern hospitality. Wasn’t it? The thought left her mind when Seth was tackled by a small woman who flew into his arms. He laughed, wrapping his hands around her waist, catching her. “Now Meg, don’t let Liam catch us in such a compromising position.” His eyes sparkled and Meg slapped him across the chest. Maya couldn’t help but smile, too. It was obviously an ongoing joke between them.

“Liam’s around the back, hauling in this week’s deliveries.” She batted her eyes at Seth. “You don’t mind helping, do you? I was hoping to get everything in and away before lunch.”

Seth grinned. “Not at all. The old man’ll need some help if he’s going to make your strict deadlines.” His hand wrapped around Maya’s, tugging her forward. “Meg, this is Maya. She’s going to be around town awhile. You’ll make her feel at home for me?”

Another slap to his chest, and this time Maya giggled, the last remaining stress of the morning washing away. “Of course!” Meg looped her arm through Maya’s, tugging her forward. “Leave the boys alone to do the heavy lifting. You and I can enjoy the spoils. I told Liam to bring the cookies in first.” She leaned forward, her arm slipping free of Maya’s. “Unless, Seth, that’s a box from Cobb’s in the back seat there.” She batted her eyes. “I promise I won’t tell Sloane if you won’t.”

Seth shook his head. “No way, Meg. Besides, if I know you, there’s something delicious already brewing inside. We ate already, but you’ll let us stay for dessert if I do all my chores?”

Meg chuckled, poking him in the shoulder. “We’ll see how fast you work, Fireman.”

Seth walked away still grinning, and Meg turned back to Maya. “Don’t mind me.” A shadow crossed her face. “The boys were there for me during a very tough time in my life. They all helped me get back on my feet, and I love them to pieces.”

Maya was curious. The woman in front of her was happy, outgoing, and practically had sunshine glowing from her pores. What could have happened to someone like that? “Who’s Liam?”

“Only the most gorgeous hunk of man you’ll ever lay your eyes on,” Meg said. “Oh, and a fire investigator for the county. I wouldn’t be standing here today if it weren’t for him.”

Fire investigator. Maya’s smile dropped off her face as her feet froze. Meg looked back at her, frowning. “Maya, you okay?”

“I’m in town because of a fire,” she blurted out.

Meg’s face was a picture of compassion. “Oh, Sweetheart. It’s okay.” She gestured toward Promise House. It was a grand old structure, clearly well maintained. The trim was freshly painted, along with the weather boards covering the house. She looked up. Come to think of it, the roof looked new, too. Meg spoke again, breaking Maya out of her thoughts. “See that window, right up there? That was my bedroom. I woke up there trapped, in a room filled with smoke. Dean—one of the guys from Seth’s engine company—carried me out the window in my pajamas. I was so damn sure I was going to fall, and then Liam tells me that he’s there because they suspect the entire thing was deliberate.” Meg shook her head. “If I hadn’t already been in shock, I think I would have fallen over right there on the lawn. What followed after that was the worst couple of weeks of my life. Half the GBI—and probably Liam, too, at first, I think—thought I’d set the fire myself and when I started digging into things, the next thing I know someone was taking pot shots at me down at the creek.”

Maya’s eyes were wide. She could only imagine what Jesse had been through, but Meg had been right in the line of fire herself, literally. How had she found the courage to keep going? If someone took a shot at her, Maya figured she’d probably run around in circles screaming. “What happened?”

“My ex-husband.” Meg’s face darkened. “Bastard had been pretending he’d moved away and gotten a new life, for years. Turns out his gambling debts had gotten a hold of him, and he blamed me for his life falling apart. He took out an insurance policy on the shelter, and then tried to burn it to the ground, then tried to kill me when it didn’t work.”

Maya slapped a hand over her mouth as a gasp escaped. “They got him?”

Meg nodded. “When he was caught red-handed, trying to strangle me. Liam stopped him,” she paused, then spoke again. “Nearly killed him,” she said quietly. Meg looked up, forcing a smile on her face again. “No less than the bastard deserved, but yes, he’s in jail now, where he’ll stay for the rest of his life, God willing.”

“It was my brother,” Maya said. Meg made a tsk-ing sound and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, walking her up the path leading to the front door. She couldn’t be more than a few years older than Maya, but there was something about her that made Maya want to talk to her, to tell Meg her story—Jesse’s story. Out of everyone, after hearing Meg’s story, Maya had a feeling she’d understand.

“The judge’s house,” Meg said. “Liam told me this morning,” she added when Maya looked up at her.

“He didn’t do it.”

“Oh, Sweetheart. He was your brother. If you believe that, then that’s all that matters.”

“But it’s not enough,” Maya said. “Everyone else still believes he’s guilty. I need to prove it. I need to do that for him . . .” her words trailed off as they walked in the front door.

Meg led her to a couch sitting under a bay window. “But?”

Maya looked down at her hands, folding them in her lap to stop them from fidgeting, or trembling. She wasn’t sure which. “But I don’t have the first clue where to begin.” She looked up, meeting Meg’s gaze. Her eyes were full of compassion, and a little concern. “Seth took me through the scene this morning, and it took me all of ten minutes to figure out that I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. How am I going to prove Jesse’s innocence when I don’t even have enough cash to see me through the month?”

Meg touched her upper arm, squeezing and then smiled at her. “By working with me. If I know Seth, that’s why he brought you here in the first place.”

Maya’s lips tilted up in a half smile. “He might have mentioned something about that.”

“Liam’s been at me to find some help around here. I can’t afford to pay much, but I can give you somewhere to stay, if you want it. The man’s been complaining he never gets to see me. Our hours can be pretty crazy, both of us.” Meg looked at her. “Just don’t let this take you over. It’s important to honor the person your brother was just as much as the way he died.”

A thought occurred to Maya and she frowned. “Would Liam even want me here, though? I mean, if he was the one who decided my brother’s case?”

Meg waved her hand. “Liam would never let his work get in the way of his personal relationships. Besides, from what I heard that was all taken over by the FBI?” Maya nodded. “No problem, then. He might even be able to help you, if you want.”

Was that even possible? An arson investigator on her side would be invaluable, might even find the missing piece she’d been looking for. So far both Seth and Meg had believed her story, or believed that she did, at least. Was it too much to hope for that someone else would as well?

A crash sounded down the hall, and Meg chuckled. “It was only a matter of time before one of them broke something. We better go help them before they destroy the entire kitchen.”

She stood, jogging down the hall, but Maya just stared after her. She couldn’t make her feet move. Beyond that door was a man who could potentially blow the case wide open, or crush her with her brother’s guilt. Which one was it going to be?