My Deadly Valentine - By Valerie Hansen & Lynette Eason Page 0,16
for having everything ruined when I could have stopped it. Besides, with the wiring so exposed there might be a fire.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Jace said, agreeing with obvious reluctance. “We’ll have the sheriff contact the fire department, too, and have them standing by.”
Leading the way through the shop to the front door, Rachel asked, “Do you really think there’s a bomb?”
“No. But I’d still like to take proper precautions. I don’t suppose you happen to know a good electrician.”
“I don’t know how good he is, but one of the maintenance men over at the courthouse also works for his father’s electrical contracting business. If he hears about the trouble, he may drop by and solve our problems.”
“You know just about every soul in town, don’t you?”
“Probably. Why?”
“Because it gives us a whopping list of suspects.”
“Like who?”
“Well, that maintenance man for one. And your old flame, Lance, plus the other guy from church—Adam, wasn’t it?”
“No, Alan. Alan Caldwell.”
“Okay. And then there’s Mrs. McCafferty’s nephew, and…”
Reaching the sidewalk she turned and made a face at him. “Do you suspect everybody?”
Jace sighed and shrugged. “Afraid so. It goes with the territory. When you’ve seen the worst of people for a long time, you tend to be on guard in every situation.”
“Then you must mistrust me, too,” Rachel said. She could tell from the way he’d flinched at her statement that her supposition was correct. “You think I’m responsible for all the crazy things that have been happening?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“No, but you’ve considered it. Don’t bother lying to me. I can see it in your eyes.”
Pacing away from him, she fumbled in her purse for her phone. At that moment she wasn’t sure whether she was miffed or merely disappointed. Maybe she was both. It was inconceivable that anyone would think she was purposely causing trouble. It made no sense. What was there to gain?
A plausible answer came to mind quickly. If the problems regarding the little card and gift store made the news, it was possible that the notoriety would increase business, if only by bringing in the curious.
Still, it hurt to think that Jace distrusted her, even a tiny bit. He was the one person she had thought she could rely upon and there he stood, implying that she might be the real culprit behind the ongoing harassment.
Her hands were shaking as she flipped open her phone and dialed 9-1-1. If she hadn’t felt as if she were suddenly standing alone against her stalker, she might have laughed at the ludicrousness of the idea that she was the cause of all the trouble.
Jace followed the sheriff and several of the firemen back into the building to continue the search and see that the heater was properly disconnected while Rachel waited outside.
He learned that he wasn’t the only one who had begun to wonder if she was behind these so-called attacks when Harlan Allgood pulled him aside.
“It seems mighty strange to me,” the sheriff said. “I mean, look at what’s happened. Nobody was hurt and except for a few dumb notes, there was really no threat.”
Jace had to agree. “I know. I thought of that.”
“Then what do you reckon is goin’ on?” The older man grinned knowingly. “You don’t suppose the little lady is sweet on you and just lookin’ for a reason the keep you comin’ around, do you?”
“I don’t know.” In Jace’s heart there was serious doubt but in his mind the possibility loomed large.
“Well, if I was twenty years younger and not married, I sure wouldn’t mind spendin’ time with Miss Rachel and that’s a fact.” He elbowed Jace in the ribs. “She’s a pretty one.”
“Yes. She is. And she has character, which is why I can’t imagine that she’s threatening herself. Did you get any fingerprints from the last note?”
“Naw. The preacher’s sendin’ it off to his citified friends, though. Maybe their lab can find more clues.” He guffawed. “If there’s any to find.”
“What about this time? I didn’t see any notes by the thermostat. Did the fire department find anything odd?”
“Not on paper,” Harlan said. “C’mon. I’ll show you.”
Following, Jace continued to scan his surroundings. He was becoming familiar enough with the stock in the shop to guess that little or nothing had been disturbed. Perhaps the heater connections had always been poorly installed or maintained. A building as old as this one would have been retrofitted many times and anything was possible.