Read Against the Fire for Free Online

hand on the boy’s narrow shoulders, which were slumped with resignation. He looked up at her touch. “Are you taking me to jail?”
    Mattie squeezed his shoulder. “No, Enrique. It was brave of you to tell the truth. I’ll talk to Captain Daily, see what he can do. But they’ll probably want to talk to you.”
    He nodded dully.
    “You did the right thing, son,” Gabe said.
    They left the run-down apartment building, climbed into the truck and drove back downtown.
    Gabe flicked a glance at Mattie. “I think this will help your case. I’m not sure it’ll be enough.”
    “I know.”
    “I want to talk to Angel,” Gabe said. “I want to hear what he has to say.”
    “Sidney Weiss is acting as his attorney. He’s arranging bail. You can talk to Angel after he’s released—if Weiss says it’s okay.”
    “I think Enrique was telling the truth. But being downtown vandalizing property isn’t exactly a terrific alibi. I thought you said Angel was turning over a new leaf.”
    As the pickup wove through traffic, Mattie sighed. “He’s been doing so well. I don’t understand it.”
    “You said he likes to help his friends. Maybe Enrique pressed him and he caved.”
    “I don’t know. Angel is the kind of kid who thinks for himself. He isn’t easily influenced by his peers.”
    Gabe let the subject drop. He was involved in this case to the tune of several thousand dollars, the deductible on his insurance policy. He wanted whoever set the fire to pay for what he’d done. But he wanted to be sure the right person was paying.
    “It’s early yet. Why don’t we stop somewhere and have dinner? You like steak?”
    “I’m a vegetarian, mostly. Besides, I’ve already eaten. Thanks anyway.”
    A vegetarian. Just his luck. And he didn’t believe she’d had supper. She wasn’t a very good liar—a point in her favor. She just didn’t want to have supper with him.
    “Maybe some other time,” he offered.
    Mattie made no reply, which kind of unsettled him. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman he was interested in hadn’t returned that interest.
    They drove in silence the rest of the way downtown.
    “Where do you want me to drop you off?”
    She cast him a glance. “I live in the Elm Street Lofts. You can drop me off in front.”
    He grinned. “Why’d you suddenly decide you could trust me?”
    “I looked you up on Google. You’ve been in Dallas for nearly ten years. You’re quite a respected figure in the community. Your company is currently working on a number of restoration projects and you’ve even won awards for contributing to the beautification of the area.” She looked up at him and smiled, the first relaxed smile he’d seen. “Besides, you were raised in Wyoming.”
    He laughed at that. “A good ol’ country boy, you figure?”
    “Something like that.”
    “If you’d known me back then, you wouldn’t be trusting me to take you home.”
    She arched an auburn eyebrow. “Why not?”
    “I would have driven you to the nearest motel and tried to convince you to let me get a room.”
    She colored faintly beneath the scattering of freckles on the high bones in her cheeks. “I assume those days are past.”
    He allowed his gaze to roam over her, taking in the small waist and nicely curved breasts. At the moment, the idea held an amazing appeal. “Mostly,” he said.
    The soft flush deepened. “This is it,” she said abruptly, and he wheeled the truck over to the curb. Mattie opened the door and climbed down to the sidewalk. “Thanks for your help.”
    “I still want to talk to Angel.”
    “I haven’t forgotten. I’ll arrange a meeting once he’s released, assuming his attorney approves.”
    Gabe nodded. He watched her walk away, liking the fit of her jeans over her nicely rounded ass. He found himself hoping he would see her again, even if she was a vegetarian. He had her phone number in the “recent calls” section of his cell phone, he reminded himself. He could phone her