Peter remained quiet, not refuting what she said, but his lips were pursed. She walked back out to her car, opened the trunk, and pulled out a large evidence bag that would hold the space heater. Back inside the house, she and Peter carefully placed it in the bag and sealed it, marking the location.
“At least the family can have someone take a look at this to see what started the fire.”
“But for the insurance company, our employer,” Peter pushed, “that’s just extra for the family. We’ve done our due diligence in the job.”
“We should always strive to do more than the bare minimum in our job.”
His gaze moved to her hand, the scars plainly visible. “For you, maybe more is needed.” He looked around before turning his gaze back to her. “We finished here?”
“Yeah, Peter. I can take the evidence to the lab since it’s on the way to the hospital.”
Jerking back, his brow lowered. “Hospital?”
“Yes. I want to visit the family before we send the adjuster.”
“Whatever,” he mumbled. He walked out, leaving the evidence bags for her to take to the lab, and she stood on the front stoop watching him drive away, her breath leaving her lungs in a rush.
Technically, he was good at what he did and would soon be certified in collection, but on a personal level, she knew that he would never get it. He would never get the emotional toll that the fire caused to the family.
She held up her hand, the splint on her wrist not hiding the burn scars that covered the back of her hand and down her fingers. Sean’s easy acceptance of the scars stood in sharp contrast to Peter’s comment. She was used to stares... even used to comments. She knew she was lucky because the fire she experienced could have been so much worse. Maybe Peter’s right... maybe this does make me want to do more.
Giving a mental shake, she turned around and looked back inside the house, pictures skewed on the wall, some damaged by fire and others by water. A highchair, burned and melted, was near the dining room table. This hollowed out, charred, blackened building had been a home as recently as yesterday.
Dipping under the yellow caution tape, she walked back to her car and pulled out her phone. Calling Martin, she let him know what she had ascertained. “I’m heading to the lab and then the hospital to talk to the family. From there, I’m going home.”
“How did Peter do?”
Thinking for just a moment, she considered her answer. “He has the technical ability and the knowledge necessary. I don’t see him having any problem at all passing his certification test.”
“I hear a ‘but’ coming,” Martin pressed.
“He has the ability, but not the heart. I know that’s not needed in this business, and maybe, sometimes, mine gets in the way.”
“You know, Harper, a lot of people think that insurance companies are just out to take your money. Sometimes, that’s true. But for me, when I actually get to send a check to a family to help them rebuild their lives, I feel good about who I am and what I’m doing. Not everybody in this business has that, but you do.”
She was glad for her boss’ understanding and drove to the lab. John greeted her with his usual enthusiasm, and his funny smile was a balm after Peter’s indifference.
“Hey, girl! I haven’t seen you in a while. What’s shaking?”
Laughing, she held up the evidence kit. “To be honest, not seeing me is a good thing. That means I don’t have a new fire to look at.”
His face scrunched in thought. “You’re right. Well, I guess I just have to hope for fires so that I get to see you.”
Setting her evidence on his lab table, she scolded, “Don’t even joke about that, John!”
He threw his hands up in front of him and stepped back. “Sorry, sorry! Bad joke.”
They followed procedure as he checked in the evidence and she signed off on all of his forms. She caught him staring, and asked, “What?”
“I was just wondering if you were still seeing that detective.”
Her smile widened, and before she had a chance to answer, he scowled. “I can tell from that goofy look on your face that you are.”
“I’m not sure that goofy is the right word, but yes, I’m still seeing Sean. In fact, I’ve got a date tonight and need to stop by the hospital to visit a client first. So, if you’ve