Twisted Fire (17 page)

“
Are you mad at me?”

“
No.” He turned away and seemed to contemplate for a moment before returning his eyes to her, his face a mask.

“
Then what is it?” She stepped forward to touch him but he flinched so she dropped her hand.

“
Just give me a couple of days.”

“
I don’t understand.” A lump formed in her throat and hot tears stung her eyes as they threatened to spill. She’d heard this kind of brush off before.

“
Charlotte,” he took a step forward and stroked her face, “I … trusting you is really difficult for me and hearing those things today … ”

“
It’s OK. Take your time. I’ll be here when you’re ready.” She couldn’t tell him how much it wasn’t OK, how scared she was. He wanted space and she had to provide it for him. Fear constricted her chest.

He kissed her tenderly and gave her a brief smile before he left. She watched him drive away and a single tear slid down her cheek. She hoped her past mistakes wouldn’t cause him to doubt her. If he didn’t trust her then he wouldn’t be able to stay with her.

Chapter 19

Killer

Three hours into his shift, Sam strolled into Jared’s office. Not in the mood for cheerful banter or cards, he holed himself up and decided to catch up on some paperwork. He attempted to forget the words swirling around his mind. Had he been right about her from the beginning? Was she fickle or trustworthy? Pushing aside his doubts and mistrust, he was determined to concentrate on the work in front of him.

Sam, although a welcome distraction, as usual saw straight through his facade. “What’s up, Monty?”

“
Nothing I can’t handle.”

“
How was your weekend away?”

“
Great until we ran into one of her exes. He didn’t paint a pretty picture.”

“
What did he say?”

“
Nothing I want to repeat,” Jared said with a scowl.

“
And you believe him?” Sam raised his eyebrows.

“
Maybe.”

“
Did you talk to Charlotte about it?”

“
Not really.”

Sam shook his head. “You’re a difficult man.”

Before Jared could answer, the bell rang. “Let’s go,” he said to Sam.

* * *

At the scene he ran though procedure and waited while two of his men searched the house. The fire burned strong and hot, like the one from weeks earlier. Dread filled his chest as a crew member ran out carrying a body. Not another one. Maybe they’d got here in time. The ambulance crew began working but after several minutes shook their heads at the detectives on the scene and the medical examiner was called. A sheet was placed over the victim.

After completing his investigation he spoke with the detectives on shift and advised them of the similarities to the previous cases. They advised Jared they would ensure Lucas and Maggie received the file in the morning.

Jared entered the data into the computer when he returned to the station and, once completed, he realised his shift was over. His worries over Charlotte were forgotten now; another arson death put things back into perspective. He loved her, therefore he should trust her. Instead of driving home, he went to Charlotte’s.

* * *

She was draining the last of her coffee ready to leave for work when there was a soft knock at the door. Jared stood on the other side, his face filled with despondency.

“
Jared, are you OK?” she asked as she ushered him inside.

“
Tough day. We had another arson death.”

“
Oh no.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him close. He rested his cheek against the top of her head and held her tight against his chest.

“
I’m sorry about yesterday,” he said quietly.

“
Don’t worry about it.”

“
Are you going to be late?”

“
Yes, but it doesn’t matter.”

He eased her back and held her face in his hands. “I’ll take you to work and pick you up after. I want you there in the morning, like before.”

“
OK.”

* * *

“
I’m sorry I’m late again,” she called as she ran in the door.

She found Dr Shaw in an examination room with his first patient.

“
It’s OK, Charlotte. Your first patient hasn’t arrived yet.”

“
This is becoming a habit. I’m really sorry.”

“
Problems?”

“
Jared had a tough night at work.”

“
I can imagine his work would be difficult at times. No harm done.”

“
Thanks, I’ll go and get set up.”

* * *

Hours and many patients later, as Charlotte cleaned up her room, Dr Shaw came in and watched as she worked. After several minutes his scrutiny became uncomfortable.

“
Something you need, Martin?”

“
What are you doing tonight?”
Oh no, please not this again
.

“
Seeing Jared.”

“
Any chance I can interest you in dinner?”

“
No, sorry.” She refused to offer him a glance. His watchful eyes were making her anxious.

“
You have been late often. You owe me.” His tone, although light, held underlying connotations.

“
Aren’t you seeing someone?”

“
It didn’t work out.”

“
I’m sorry to hear that but, like I said before, I don’t think it is a good idea. I’m very happy with Jared.”

He stood beside her now, too close for her liking.

“
Are you sure?”

“
Yes.” She glanced at her watch. “Oh look at the time, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Jared leant against his car as he waited for her. He broke into a grin as she walked towards him. Relief flooded though her at seeing his happy face. Gone was the dejection over his difficult profession as was his concerns about her. She rushed to him and he embraced her firmly against him.

Instead of driving towards his house, he steered them towards the beach. Charlotte kept the subjects light as he drove, knowing his heart would be heavy from the arson death. A serial killer was at work and this wouldn’t be making Jared’s job any easier. Lucas and Maggie had also been working frantically on the case and Lucas had been working extra hours over the past weeks. She wasn’t sure if they were any closer to finding the killer and, although Jared was involved in the case albeit as a liaison, he hadn’t brought the subject up. Death and arson were subjects they were both keen to avoid.

Jared parked by the shore and they bought a take-away dinner. After he grabbed a rug from the car, they found a private spot under the pier to eat their dinner. They did so in silence for several minutes before Charlotte decided to break the quiet which had lasted over an hour.

“
Are you OK?”

“
Yes.”

“
Are we … ?”

He kissed her tenderly before answering. “Yes. My foolish pride got in the way. Hearing those things about you worried me.”

“
Worried?” She frowned. “I thought you were angry with me.”

“
No, I was angry with him but worried he was right.”

“
Oh.” She smiled. “Don’t worry I don’t plan on getting bored. You’re still keeping things interesting … at the moment, anyway.”

“
Don’t tease me, babe.”

“
Sorry.”

Charlotte climbed into his lap and kissed him deeply. He eased her down gently but with haste before his hands explored her body frenetically, desperate to touch her again, to be inside her again, for it had been days. Jared took her urgently without completely removing her clothes, the fear and thrill of getting caught intensifying their movements and satisfying them both quickly.

As they lay upon the rug, arms and legs entwined, Jared played with the curls that had escaped their bindings.

“
Now, how could I possibly get bored when you do that?” she murmured.

“
My sentiments precisely.”

“
You can trust me.” She gazed into his eyes, pouring her love from hers to his.

“
I know.”

Chapter 20

Trust

Every day for a week following the fire, Dr Shaw’s relentless flirtation continued. Mindful of her responses, to avoid him getting the wrong idea and of her promise to Jared, she avoided or ignored his comments.

After dodging his innuendoes for a whole week, Charlotte decided something needed to be done. It was time for an ultimatum - he stopped or she left. No job was worth the discomfort and awkwardness.

She considered telling Jared, but after his blistering reactions to both Dr Shaw's and Evan's provocations, she decided she needed to deal with it herself.

It was time to confront Dr. Shaw again and alert him as to how awkward he was making it for her. She would just have to pick the right moment.

That moment came at the end of the day, as they were preparing to close up.

“
So, Charlotte,” he said sidling up to her. He cornered her in the doorway which led out to the front counter. “Let’s go out for a drink, see if I can persuade you to switch from Jared to me. We are much better suited, you and me. We have a lot in common. What do you say?”

“
I say no, Dr Shaw, as I have said before,” she said firmly. “There are several reasons - we work together, I’m in love with Jared and do not want to change my mind about him and, quite frankly, I really don’t think you’re my type.”

“
Of course I am. We are the same - same occupation, same outgoing personality and carefree nature, and I think we would be dynamite in the sack.”

“
Right, that is enough! You’re making me really uncomfortable. I’m not interested in you in any way besides working for you. You have given me a wonderful opportunity to work here and that is the only thing I want from you.” She was getting quite agitated now. Her heart was pounding and she could feel the vein in her temple throbbing. Charlotte was one inappropriate comment from exploding.

“
We’ll see about that,” he said fiercely.

Martin took a step towards her and planted his lips on hers. She tried to push him away but he grabbed her wrists and held them above her head. He was stronger than he appeared.

She tried to turn her head away but his lips were crushed against hers. She fought relentlessly. When the front door jingled, Martin became distracted. Charlotte seized the opportunity and used every ounce of her strength to heave him away. This is when she heard Jared.

“
I knew it,” he said, fury evident in his tone. “I knew I couldn’t trust you. You are just as I thought, fickle!”

He slammed down the flowers he was carrying and stormed out the door.

“
Jared, wait,” she cried before turning to Dr Shaw. “You are the biggest creep I have ever met.”

She raced after Jared. She caught him as he was climbing into his car. Jared slammed the door violently. She ran round to the open window.

“
Please, Jared, it’s not what you think.”

“
I’ve heard that one before, Charlotte.”

“
Let me explain. He started asking me out again last week and I wanted to sort it out without upsetting you. I was going to tell you about it.”

“
Yeah, sure you were. I don’t want to hear your bullshit excuses, Charlotte. I was right about you from the beginning and I knew I should never have taken up with you.”

The black fury in his expression surprised her. His usual control had completely disappeared. As she went to speak again, he threw the car into gear and drove off.

Charlotte’s world began to spin and disintegrate around her. How was she ever going to persuade him to listen, to understand, to convince him she was in love with him and she really was trustworthy? Knowing how stubborn he could be and how difficult it was for him to trust, she wondered if there was going to be any way of reversing what that slimy Martin Shaw had just done. She stormed back inside and found the sleaze standing where she’d left him.