Firestorm

Book by Iris Johansen

1
OAKBROOK

WASHINGTON, D.C.
This isn't the end of it, Brad." Cameron Devers's lips tightened with irritation. "I've no intention of standing by and watching you waste your potential working with those damn nutcases. You're one of the most brilliant men I know and I have a job for you here."

"Where you can keep an eye on me?" Brad grinned as he leaned lazily back in the chair and stretched his legs out before him. "It wouldn't do you any good. I'm a lost cause."

"Only because you want to be. And it's not good for you. You're burning yourself out. Look at you. You've lost weight since I saw you last."

"A little. I've had a rough four months."

"Then give it up and come to me."

"And do what? If I were anywhere close to you, the media would eventually ferret out our connection. Besides, you can't trust me. I'd get mad and open my mouth at the wrong time and blow your political career." His smile faded. "I've done a hell of a lot of harm to you in these last years, but I won't do that."

"I'd chance it. I've been in the Senate for twelve years and if my reputation can be damaged by just having you around, then maybe it's time I stepped down."

"No!" Brad paused and then tempered his tone. "Look, Cam, don't be an ass. Everything's going fine. We don't need to change anything." He stood up and glanced around the elegant, book-lined library that breathed wealth and solidity. "This isn't my world. You can't squeeze me into your mold because you want me to share the good life." He smiled. "Besides, what would Charlotte say?"

"She'd come around. She just has some weird ideas about you."

Brad looked at him inquiringly.

Cam made a face. "She says you make her uneasy. She thinks you're . . . sinister."

"She used that word? I didn't think anyone could make your wife uneasy. Maybe I'm more intimidating than I thought."

"She doesn't understand you. Like I said, she'll come around."

"There's no reason to force her to make the effort. Things are fine as they are."

Cam was silent a moment. "Did it ever occur to you that I'm being selfish? I've missed you, Brad."

He meant it. Cam was always honest. "Oh, shit. Don't do this to me." Brad shook his head. "I've missed you too. Maybe we can arrange to get together more often."

"That's not good enough. I've been looking at my life since that horror on September eleventh, and when it all comes down to the bottom line, it's friends and family that count. I won't let you walk away again."

"Cam." Charlotte Devers was standing in the doorway, sleek and sophisticated in a black gown. "I didn't want to disturb you, but we're going to be late for the embassy dinner." She smiled at Brad. "You and Cam can talk when we get back."

He shook his head. "I'm just leaving, anyway."

"No, you're not," Cameron said firmly. "I'll only be gone a few hours and I want you here when I get back."

"Perhaps tomorrow?" Charlotte suggested. "I've had a room prepared for you, Brad."

As usual, Charlotte was trying to control the situation with gentle skill, Brad thought. She wanted Cam to leave and she didn't want him to talk to Brad until she could find a discreet way to ease Brad out on his ass. Well, he couldn't blame her. She valued Cam's career more than his brother did and was always on guard to protect it.

"I'm not going anywhere until you make me a promise." Cam stared Brad in the eye. "Will you be here?"

Brad glanced at the faint frown between Charlotte's eyes and then smiled slyly. "You couldn't budge me."

"Great." Cam slapped him on the shoulder before turning away. "Come on, Charlotte. Let's get this thing over with." He strode out of the library.

Charlotte hesitated and started to speak.

"Don't say it," Brad murmured. "We're on the same side." He added, "If you don't piss me off." He followed Cam into the foyer and watched George, the butler, help him into his coat. "Very impressive. I haven't worn a tux in fifteen years. Does that tell you anything?"

"It tells me you're damn lucky." Cam took Charlotte's arm and helped her down the front steps toward the waiting limo. "Make yourself at home, but don't go to bed. You made me a promise."

"Does that mean I can't get drunk on your excellent brandy?"

"No, I want you stone cold sober." He smiled at him over his shoulder. "I have an ace in the hole and need to tell you about a job that may intrigue you enough to lure you here. It's right up your alley."

"Weird and sinister?" he asked, straight-faced.

"I'm going to get my way, Brad."

"Now, don't nag him, Cam," Charlotte said gently. "Brad knows what he wants to do."

"But not what's best for him."

Brad watched them get into the limousine. He'd planned on going back inside, but he couldn't resist standing here and letting Charlotte see him so at home on her front step. Dressed in tennis shoes, worn jeans, and an old sweatshirt, he couldn't have been more of a blot on her fine landscape. His enjoyment was totally immature, but he didn't give a damn. He usually didn't mind Charlotte's attempts at manipulating Cam. She was a good wife to him and that was all that was important to Brad. Tonight she was trying to manipulate Brad as well, and that he couldn't tolerate.

"Would you like me to serve you coffee in the library, sir?" George asked from behind him.

"Why not?" He grinned at him over his shoulder. "Since I've been forbidden the comfort of--"

Whoosh.

"Dear God!" George's eyes were wide with shock.

Brad's head jerked around and followed his gaze to the limo.

"Christ in heaven!"

The interior of the limousine was a sheet of fire. He could see Cam and Charlotte writhing like burning scarecrows in the flames.

"Son of a bitch!"

He flew down the steps toward the car.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA

SIX MONTHS LATER
Kerry carefully touched the blackened timber lying across the bathroom sink. It was still slightly warm from the fire that had destroyed the restaurant two days ago. That wasn't unusual. Sometimes, hidden pockets of embers remained burning for days.

Sam, her Lab, whined and pushed nearer to Kerry. He was easily bored and they'd been here at the burned-out ruins for over an hour.

"Be quiet." She reached beneath the timber and dug. "We'll be out of here soon."

There it was! With an effort she pushed the timber aside.

"Find anything?" Detective Perry asked from behind her. "Bad wiring?"

"No, gasoline," Kerry said. "The fire originated here in the bathroom and spread throughout the restaurant." She nodded at the burned and blackened device she'd found beneath the timber. "And a timing device to set it off."

"Dumb." The police detective shook his head. "I thought Chin Li was brighter than that. If he wanted to collect the insurance, why didn't he set the fire in the kitchen? He'd have had a better shot at convincing everyone the fire was accidental. You're sure?"

"Sam's sure." She reached out and touched the dog's silky black head. "And I usually go along with him. He's not often wrong."

"Yeah, so I've heard." Perry awkwardly patted the dog's nose. "I don't understand how these arson dogs do it, but it makes my job a hell of a lot easier. I guess I'll go talk to Chin Li again. Too bad. He seemed like a nice little guy."

"And not stupid?" Kerry got to her feet and dusted the soot off her palms. "Then maybe someone else set the fire. Someone who didn't have access to the kitchen. Insurance isn't always the right answer. Just the easy one."

His eyes narrowed on her face. "Are you saying that I'm looking for an out?"

She grinned. "I wouldn't presume. I'm just saying that you should ask Chin Li if he had any enemies. Perhaps rivals in business? Or--this is a high-crime area--are there any protection rackets operating that might have decided to make him an example?"

"Possibly," he said slowly. "There are a couple teenage gangs that are stepping up to the plate and trying to control the area."

"Would they know how to set timing devices?"

"Everyone who has Internet has access to practically any information. Want to make an atomic bomb? Go on the Internet."

She'd done all she could. Time to step out of the picture before he got belligerent. "Well, we'll know more once we finish the investigation. Sam and I are just the advance team." She smiled. "And we're finished for now. Have a nice day, Detective."

"Wait." He said awkwardly, "This is a lousy neighborhood. If you'll wait until I finish with Chin Li, I'll give you an escort back to your office."

"That's nice of you, but I'm not going back downtown. It's my day off and I'm going to visit a couple friends at the firehouse on Morningside."

"If it's your day off, why are you here?"

"They needed Sam's nose."

"Then I'll drive you and Sam's nose to this firehouse." He frowned. "Why do they let you go to neighborhoods like this alone, anyway? You're just a little bit of a thing."

She felt a prickle of resentment that she quickly quenched. She was average height, but she knew her slender fr...