Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
“Of course not.” By the looks of it across the room, Christian had just shifted in his chair. He’d been inside more than an hour, and that was probably his record for the tavern. Now she knew he could stay inside his cabin for a night. Well, most of a night. Both times she’d stayed with him, he’d been gone long before she’d awakened. She didn’t have an excuse this time to get him outside, but considering he was sitting with his brothers and not the troopers this time, he probably didn’t need help.
Helene cleared her throat.
Amka jumped, tearing her focus away from Christian. She had to stop thinking of him in that shower. Who knew sex could be that wild. And freaking amazing? She swallowed.
“Are you all right? You’re flushed,” Helene said.
“I’m fine. The idea of being accused of arson is insulting.” And terrifying.
Helene sat back, today looking official in a black blazer with a white T-shirt over jeans. Her lipstick was a pretty light pink that most women couldn’t carry off. “I’m just doing my job and don’t mean to cause you any concern, but I have to investigate. In addition, my boss has asked me to look into the motel fire again. Do you know where Mr. Teller is right now?”
Being autopsied in Anchorage. “I don’t,” Amka lied. “But he often takes off on fishing or camping trips, so it’s not a surprise.”
“Can you call him? I’d really like to speak with you two together.”
“Already tried.” She might as well keep lying. “He must be out of service range, which is usually the case around here.” Amka’s palms began to sweat. “I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from him, and I can give his number to you as well.”
Helene scribbled a couple of notes that were impossible to read from Amka’s position. “I already have it in my files but thought you’d know of his whereabouts.” She looked up. “The obvious crime would be that the two of you successfully burned down his motel for insurance money and then tried it again with your storage building.”
“But the motel burned because of faulty wiring,” Amka protested.
Helene made another notation. “Maybe not.”
Amka didn’t have any knowledge about the motel fire. “Jarod and I weren’t even dating at that time.”
“So you say.” Helene zeroed in. “You know the better story?”
“I have no idea.”
The woman pursed her pink lips. “What if that anger was real? The whole town saw you punch him right here in your tavern. I believe a few of the influencers even posted about it and how wild it can get here in Alaska.”
Amka placed her list on the ledge beneath the bar. “I don’t follow.”
“What if the two of you have one of those psycho, dark romance type relationships?”
Amka frowned. “What are you saying?”
“What if you burned down his motel because you were pissed, and what if he decided to return the favor and burn down your building? You’re not working together and are actually in some sociopathic but sexy fetish? That involves fire?”
Amka’s mouth dropped open.
Helene pressed on. “I ran my theory by the two Alaska state troopers, and they were very interested in it. I think I’m on to something.”
Amka couldn’t breathe. That was insane.
Nixi came in from the kitchen, her purple hair curled into spirals of purple and now pink. “Sorry I’m late. I told Daisy I’d be here a while ago, but I got caught up videoing the basin of Tomalley Falls. It’s gorgeous.” She paused right by Amka and looked around the tavern. The color slid from her face and she wavered.
“Nixi?” Amka grasped her arm. “What’s wrong?”
Nixi turned and headed through the doorway to the small bedroom instead of the kitchen.
Amka looked wildly around, only seeing the Osprey brothers and the influencers. She turned and followed her, ignoring Helene's sputtering. Upon reaching the back room, she paused in the doorway. “Are you all right?”
Nixi sank onto the bed, her purple hair too bright against her now pale skin. “Sorry. I haven’t eaten, and sometimes when my blood sugar gets low, I lose control of my limbs.” Her hand shook when she raised it to her face. “I feel like a dork.”
The door burst open and Steve Coltrap hurried in. “I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t be here, but I saw you almost go down. Nixi, what’s wrong?” He sat next to her and patted her hand.
Now there was a man who could share his emotions.
Nixi coughed out. “I’m an idiot who forgot to eat.”
Steve slipped an arm over her shoulder. “You can’t sacrifice health for this business, no matter how successful you are. Let’s go back out there, sit by the fire to warm up, and get you some protein.” With his blond hair, he looked like a young attorney. A hot one.