We pulled up as the fire department sprayed the building, the flames already shooting through the windows and licking the siding.

Benton jumped from the car and dashed across the lawn.

“Hey!” I chased him and grabbed a handful of the back of his polo. “It’s too late!” The inferno put off enough heat to singe, and deep cracking noises inside didn’t bode well for the structure.

He let me pull him backwards until we stood at the curb, the firemen spraying sheets of water that created rainbows above the rampaging flames. He sank to his knees in the grass as Logan hurried over to me from his cruiser.

“Fucking hell.” Logan stared at the inferno as the fire chief yelled instructions at his crew.

“I don’t think this is a coincidence. None of it is.” The heat came in waves as black smoke rose in a plume overhead. “Someone set this fire.”

“The killer?” Logan shielded his eyes.

“Maybe. But it seems like they would’ve torched the place when they killed Randall King. Why wait?”

“Good question. I’ll find out if they know anything.” He struck off toward the fire chief.

I knelt beside Benton. “Hey.”

He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the firm, the ferns on the front porch wilted and sizzling.

“Hey.” I took his hand in mine. It wasn’t professional, but it was what he needed.

He blinked and turned to me. “It’s gone. First Dad and then…”

“I know.” I wanted to hug him, to do something that would erase the anguish that radiated from him like the heat from the fire. Instead, I gave his hand a squeeze. “I’m sorry.”

He linked his fingers through mine, an intimate touch that I didn’t expect. “We’re going to find out all the secrets. All the lies.”

Porter’s SUV rolled up behind us, and Charlotte jumped out of the passenger side and rushed over to Benton. “You weren’t inside, were you?” She checked his face, then her eyes darted to where our hands were joined.

“No.” He stared at the firm as a chunk of roof collapsed.

I pulled my hand away and stepped back.

“How?” Porter stood next to Benton, the last of the Kings all watching as their namesake burned to the ground.

Logan hurried toward us, a grim look on his face. “Arson. The chief would put money on it. We won’t know for sure until the fire burns out, but he said the pattern of the burn was irregular to the point that he thinks someone doused the inside with gas before striking a match.”

“So much for the warrant on the files.” I put my hands on my hips and let my head loll back on my shoulders. “Shit.”

A thunderous shudder shook the building as an even bigger chunk of the roof collapsed and sent sparks cascading upward.

Logan grabbed my elbow. “Move back. It’s not safe.”

Benton got to his feet, and he, Charlotte, and Porter followed us to the other side of the road. A few cars had stopped on either side, their occupants taking pictures of the fire or filming it with their phones. Waiting for the place to burn down wasn’t getting us anywhere, and my frustration was building with each second I spent chasing my tail. I grabbed my keys and turned toward my cruiser.

“Where you headed?” Logan turned to me.

“I’m going to the courthouse. I saw Letty there yesterday. I want to know what she was doing.”

“I’ll come with you.” Logan started toward my passenger side at the same time as Benton, both men almost bumping into each other.

“I’ll go.” Benton looked down his nose at Logan in that maddening way of his.

“I don’t think so.” Logan launched himself at my hood, sliding across the front corner and landing on the passenger side. He gave Benton a triumphant smirk.

I didn’t have time for their pissing contest. Before I closed my door and started the engine, Benton barked at Porter to take him to the courthouse.

All three Kings loaded into the sheriff’s SUV as Logan gave me an eye roll. “Looks like you’ve got yourself a new puppy.”

I weaved through the cars and gawkers along the road. “Don’t be an ass.”

“I’m just calling it like I see it. He can’t take his eyes off you. Not even when his precious law firm is turning to cinders.”

I sighed and headed toward the square, the sheriff’s cruiser right behind me. A subject change was in order. “Please tell me you’ve gone out to Millie Lagner’s place.”

He scratched his jaw. “Not yet.”

I slapped my hand on the steering wheel. “Chief is going to chew my ass over the fire and the okra. Not good, Logan.”

“You couldn’t have stopped the fire.”

“I should have had Brody staking out the place instead of watching over the Kings.” Hindsight always had a way of biting me right in the ass.

“Limited resources, Arabella. You had to choose between protecting people or protecting a building. You made the right call.”

“I’m not so sure.” Not when the biggest pile of evidence I had was now smoldering into ash. “When we’re done at the courthouse, I want you to canvas all the businesses around the firm. Someone had to have seen something. It was broad daylight. Then pull the video from Sal’s Gas Mart. It’s the closest station. If someone used gas, they might be on the surveillance cam filling up some containers.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He pulled out his phone and dialed Sal as I parked in front of the courthouse. While he directed Sal to pull the recordings, I hurried up the front steps and into the main entrance. I waved at the security guard when the metal detector pinged as I walked through, then turned toward Judge Ingles’ office. I’d seen Letty on his hallway, and it was a good bet that she’d been visiting him.

“Wait up.” Logan fell into step beside me. “Sal should have the tapes ready for me when I get there.”

“Good.”

More footsteps behind us told me the Kings had arrived.

I turned and held up a hand. “I’ll need you all to wait out here.”

“Not a chance.” Benton crossed his arms over his chest.

“I can’t conduct my investigation with every King in the county looking over my shoulder. Just wait here and let me do my job.”

Benton’s jaw tightened, and he glanced from me to Logan. “Shouldn’t he be at Millie Lagner’s house?”

Logan stiffened and took a step forward. “I don’t take orders from jumped up little boys who hide behind their names.”

“Logan.” I put a hand on his arm, but Benton’s glower only deepened. The situation in the hall had turned into a powder keg in the space of seconds. “Everyone, let’s calm down.”

Logan shrugged. “I’m calm. How about you, Benny boy. You calm?”

“How about you and I walk outside, and I’ll show you just how calm I can be.” Benton dropped his arms to his sides and took a step toward Logan.

“Whoa!” I hurried around Logan and stood between them, holding my hands out toward them to keep them apart. “A little help here, Porter?”

Porter’s amused grin reminded me of why he was voted ‘class clown’ in high school. “I’d love to see Benton kick this guy’s ass.”

Logan scoffed, but Charlotte stormed past all of us. “Get a grip! Daddy is dead, the firm is gone, and you assholes are trying to start a brawl in the courthouse!”

Charlotte was right. I dropped my hands and followed her around the corner. If those idiots wanted to wrestle while the firm burned, that was on them.

“—isn’t here, I’m afraid.” Judge Ingles’ secretary sat at her desk, reading glasses perched on the end of her nose.

“Where is he?” Charlotte asked.

“I’m not sure, dear. He called this morning and said he had things to do today. Usually, that means he’s at the farm or maybe hunting.”

“Can you call him? We need to speak with him.” I peeked into his office just to make sure. The light was off, and he wasn’t there.

The secretary frowned at me. “I assure you he isn’t hiding in a closet. Give me a moment, and I’ll ring him.” She picked up her phone and hit a speed dial button.

Low voices floated in from the hall. The men must have taken it down a notch.

Charlotte shook her head, her dark hair flowing down her back. “My brothers are such idiots sometimes.”

I shrugged. “Logan is too. How are you holding up?”

She turned her blue eyes to me, the dark circles under them giving me my answer. “I just want this to be over. Whoever did this needs to pay.”

The secretary hung up. “He’s not answering, hon. I’ll try him again in a bit and tell him to call you.”

“Can I get his number?” I pulled out my notepad.

“We aren’t supposed to give that out.” She blinked.

“This is a murder investigation. Double homicide, and now an arson. I think he’d be okay with letting me have the number.” I held my pen at the ready and stared her down.

She swallowed hard. “All right.” She rattled off the number and seemed relieved when we turned to go.

Out in the hallway, Porter and Benton whispered to each other while Logan stood a few feet away, leaning against the wall.

“Judge isn’t in.” I walked to Logan as Benton burned holes in my back with his eyes. “We’ll have to find him out and about. I’ll drive over to his town house and then his farm. Go ahead and start that canvass and go see what Sal has on tape. Oh, and send Brody over to Letty Cline’s house. We can’t have any more evidence going up in flames.”

“Will do. You heard from Chief?”

Something inside me pinched at the thought of questioning Garvey about his visit to Randall King. “Not yet.”

I turned on my heel and marched down the hall, Benton right behind me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Logan elbowed his way past Benton.

“With Arabella.”

“No. You’re going home.” Logan turned even gruffer. “You’re still a suspect as far as I’m concerned.”

“Slow your roll, Logan.” Porter’s warning tone reverberated.

“This isn’t a county matter, Sheriff,” Logan shot back.

I whirled. “I’m going alone. Logan, you’ve got your marching orders. Porter, if you want to help, send one of your deputies over to the firm and have them salvage anything they can. And give Logan a ride while you’re at it.” With that, I hurried down the steps and to my cruiser. The wind had picked up, a cloud bank on the western horizon.

“Wait, Arabella.” Benton followed close at my heels. “Let me come with you.”

“You’ve helped me as much as you can, all right? I can handle it from here on out. Go on home and get some rest. You’re beat. I’ll call you if I find anything.” I sank into the car and closed the door.

Benton opened the passenger door and plopped down.

“Hey!” I turned to him. “Boundaries!”

“I’ve known Judge Ingles my whole life. He’ll be more likely to talk if I’m there.”

“Benton, I know you’ve—”

“Let me help, okay?” His earnest gaze melted me a little. “I can’t sit at home knowing my father’s killer is out there. I won’t get in your way. I swear.”

Logan knocked on my window and pointed at Benton.

I rolled it down. “It’s fine. He may be able to help loosen up the Judge.”

“I don’t like it.” Logan narrowed his eyes. “Not at all.”

“You don’t have to. Get to work.” I rolled the window up and backed out of my parking spot as a rumble of thunder shook the air.

Logan scowled but piled into the Sheriff’s SUV with the rest of the Kings.

“You’re pushy.” I turned onto Main Street from the square.

“I’m desperate.” He clasped his hands in his lap.

We passed the hospital, and I spied Chief Garvey’s cruiser sitting in the lot. He must have been with Lina during the fire at the firm. I needed to confront him, but I didn’t mind back-burnering it until after I spoke with Judge Ingles.

An alarm went off on my phone. “Shit. Is it three already?”

Benton tapped the silver watch on his wrist. “Yeah. What’s up?”

“I have to pick up my daughter from preschool.” I don’t have time for this. Guilt hit me in the gut at the thought. I always had time for Vivi. Always. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” He scratched the scruff along his chin. “Though I’d hoped I’d be a little more cleaned up when I met your kid.”

I stopped hard at the four-way just past the hospital and gave him a “what the hell?” expression.

“I mean.” He coughed into his palm. “Not that I was thinking about meeting your family, just that I thought maybe I would meet your daughter at some point, that’s all…”

“Way to make it weird.” Despite my words, I thought it was sweet that he wanted to meet Vivi. Most men ran far away when they found out I was a single mom with a spirited four-year-old. Then again, Benton wasn’t like most men. He was straight-laced and haughty on the outside, but beneath that, he was sensitive. His father’s death had laid that part of him bare to me, though he didn’t seem to show it to anyone else.

“I just meant—” He shook his head. “Never mind.”

“It’s okay.” I smiled and followed the side streets until I got close to her preschool. “But she’s shy, so don’t expect a lot. The only man she really knows is Logan, so she might take a while to warm up to you.”

“I think I can handle that.” His lips quirked into an ironic smile. “You aren’t the first who’s told me I’m tough to warm up to.”

“I’m certain that’s the truth.” I flashed my blue lights and cut to the front of the pickup line.

“That won’t make you any friends.” He glanced at the stopped cars.

“This is the only time I’ve used my lights to cut in line. I think they’ll forgive me, especially since everyone in town is talking about the murders and looking to me to solve them.” I pulled to the curb.

Vivi ran toward my car, then seemed to remember the school rules and stopped, then forced herself into a cautious walk as a teacher scolded her lightly.

“She looks just like you.” He waved at her as she approached.

“Vivi, baby,” I called. “Go ahead and get in the back.”

Benton got out and opened the door for her, and she climbed in. He snapped her seatbelt on without being asked.

“Who that?” Vivi stared at him as he got back into the front seat and we pulled away.

“This is Mr. King.”

“Benton.” He turned around and smiled at her.

“He in trouble?” Her eyes were wide.

“No. What makes you say that?”

She pointed to the roof of the car.

“Oh, no, honey. The lights were just so I could pick you up first.”

“First?”

“Yep. Didn’t have time to wait in line.” I smiled at her in the rearview, but she kept her gaze on the stranger in the front seat.

“Did you have a good day?” I turned back onto Main Street and cruised toward Razor Row. We’d moved off the Row several years back, but we didn’t go far.

“I don’t like Sarah Ellen.”

“Aww, honey. You say that every day, but every day you play with her the most. Your teacher always tells me so. Why can’t you two get along?”

She wrinkled her nose. “She’s mean.”

“Is she a frenemy?” Benton turned his head, but didn’t give her his full attention. Smart. She’d get spooked if he looked at her straight on.

“Fremmy?” Vivi squinted. She still had baby-like features, her chubby cheeks reminding me of when she was still small enough to carry around everywhere. But she was clever for her age, sharp enough for her teachers to recommend she start reading early.

“A frenemy.” Benton shrugged. “You know, someone you play with every day, but sometimes you feel like they’re not being nice to you. You still play with them, though.”

“I play with her, but she takes all the money.” She let out a frustrated huff.

“The money?” Benton asked.

“They’re learning how to count money at school,” I explained.

“She takes it all. I can’t count it. She takes it. She mean.” Vivi huffed again.

“When I get home tonight, we’ll practice counting, okay?”

“You don’t come home last night.” Her pout verged on heartbreaking.

“I know, baby. Mommy was busy. But I’ll see you tonight before bedtime.”

“Promise?” She finally looked at me in the mirror.

“I promise.”

A smile broke across her face and she kicked her legs. “Bennon too?” She returned her gaze to Benton.

“I, um—”

“Benton has to go to his house for bedtime, baby.” I stole another glance at her. “If you keep doing your nose like that, you’ll get wrinkles.”

“Bennon?” She’d dismissed me and was staring at him expectantly.

“I, um.” He looked at me with something that could have been hopefulness.

I shook my head. No way was I inviting him into my home. It didn’t matter that he was good-looking, intelligent, and clearly good with kids. He was a King, and also a snob, and also maybe a suspect.

“Bennon?” She kicked the back of his seat.

I cooed, “Baby—”

“Sure. I can come for bedtime. Sure.” He nodded.

She squeed and clapped. “Bennon!”

* * *

I dropped her off at home. May Bell was just finishing up her breathing treatment, the nurse packing the medical equipment.

“Who’s that in your car?” May Bell peered through the front window.

“Bennon.” Vivi plopped down on the couch and grabbed her tablet.

“Benton King.”

“A King?” May Bell coughed into her palm.

“He’s riding along on the investigation. It’s a long story.”

“Shame about Letty Cline.” She turned to me, her eyes grave. “I need you to be careful out there, all right?”

I hadn’t heard worry like that in her voice in years. “I’m fine.”

“Keep it that way. I’m too old to chase this little devil around for much longer.” She looked at Vivi, unmistakable love in her eyes.

“I’m careful. I’m also striking out, but I think Judge Ingles knows something he hasn’t told me. I’m going to see him next.”

“I bet he does. That old coot has his fingers in half the pies in the county.” She sat down next to Vivi.

“What do you mean?” I dashed down the short hall to the bathroom to relieve myself while she talked.

“Just that he seems to have come into some money a few years back. He’s the one that invested in the square renovations. The burger place, the antique shop, even Letty Cline’s place. You know that big, new sign and all the fancy coolers and flowery crap inside? They say he paid for it.” She snickered as I washed my hands. “I mean, Letty paid him back if you know what I mean.”

“I thought Letty was with Randall King,” I called.

“She was. And Judge Ingles. And the mayor. And god knows who else. You might want to check with the fellas at the retirement home over on Spring Court.”

I walked back into the living room, trying not to seem bewildered. “How do you know all this?”

“Belly, I go to dialysis once a week. I sit there for four hours with all the other sick old ladies in this town. Our eyesight is too bad to read our—” she covered Vivi’s ears, “—s-e-x novels anymore, so we spend that time talking. About everyone and everything in this town. The real question is, what don’t we know?” She coughed again, but it sounded a little clearer than usual. The breathing treatments helped keep her airways open.

“Any idea who’s been killing Azalea’s citizens?”

“Not yet, but maybe I’ll find out in my quilting circle tomorrow night.” She grinned, the light brown skin next to her eyes crinkling.

I bent over and kissed Vivi on the forehead. She was busy playing one of her math games on her tablet.

“I’ll be back for bedtime.”

“Bennon.”

“Yeah, maybe him, too.”

“You’re bringing a man home? A King, no less?” Mom’s eyes brightened.

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Bennon’s coming to bedtime,” Vivi said with finality.

“I’ve got to go.” I ducked the curious look in Mom’s eyes and opened the front door. “And go easy on the juice before bed, all right? I think you know what happens when you don’t.”

“We’ll be fine.” Mom cuddled Vivi into her side.

“There’s a storm coming.” The wind was whipping through the tops of the old oaks scattered throughout the neighborhood.

“Just go. And be careful!” Mom shooed me away with a wave of her hand.

“Love you.” I pulled the door shut and hustled to the car.

Benton shot a glance to the small house on the dumpy street. “Vivi’s cute.”

“Trust me, she knows it.” I pulled into the street and headed back to the more affluent part of town.

“I didn’t realize you lived over here.” He cast a glance down a few blocks to Razor Row. “I didn’t mean to insul—”

“Don’t sweat it.”

He smoothed his palms down the tops of his thighs. “You know, my father and Judge Ingles always said I had a knack for public speaking. They thought that’s why I’d make a good trial lawyer. And, turns out, they were right. I’ve always been able to get a jury into the palm of my hand and push them whichever way I wanted them to go. But with you, all I seem to be able to do is jam my foot into my mouth until I get the full flavor of my shoelaces.”

I fought my smile, but it won. “How do they taste?”

“Not so good.” He frowned. “Could we sort of start over?”

“You mean could we pretend we didn’t meet while I was investigating your father’s murder and you were a suspect?”

“Yeah, well no. That part doesn’t bother me since I know I didn’t do it. I just mean that over the past couple of days, I’ve been kind of a…”

Dick.

“Jerk.” He pointed to the next street. “Faster if we get onto Pecan Street.”

“Sure.”

“Anyway, I just wanted to say that I’m not as big of an asshole as I seem. At least I hope I’m not.”

“You’re under a lot of pressure. It’s barely been twenty-four hours since this whole mess got started.” I turned onto Pecan Street, the namesake trees dropping nuts onto the car’s hood in the wind, each crack reminiscent of a gunshot.

“Thanks.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Thanks for understanding.”

“I do have a question, though.” I took another right and caught sight of Judge Ingles’ house up ahead on the left, the front façade a stark white Victorian.

“What’s that?”

“Where did you go last night after you left the firm?”