Fire and Ice: Rekindled (The Fire and Ice Series Book 2) by Kiara Delaney Read Free Book Online Page A

to continue. I interrupted the short pause by asking, "Why didn't
anyone call me?" with a bit of annoyance.

 
    "Um, ma'am," he volleyed his eyes between his
partner's and mine. "The paramedics arrived on scene approximately one
hour ago. Mr. Carson was unresponsive at that time, and the EMT's worked to
revive him for almost forty minutes," he rambled, exuding the utmost
professionalism.

 
    Blood began to rush in my ears, and my eyes fell to blankly
stare at his nametag, (Hardwick, or Chadwick, I think it said) while my surroundings
began to fade away. I faintly registered phrases such as 'did everything they
could do', 'time of death', and 'interviewing witnesses'.

 
    Moments went by before the younger officer broke into my
reverie, asking, "Mrs. Carson, is there somewhere you can stay tonight? Or
someone you'd like us to call?"

 
    Blinking rapidly, I repeated my same words, "Where is
he?" in a flat, hushed tone.

 
    "Ma'am, you'll be able to see him when the coroner has
made his assessment and determined a final cause of death."

 
    Tears spilled from my lashes, and I asked numbly, "How
long will that take?"

 
    Officer Hardwick/Chadwick responded sympathetically,
"You should be able to see him by mid morning, Mrs. Carson."

 
    I nodded my assent, asking, "Is he at Saint Elms?"
There were only two hospitals in the vicinity; each one about twenty miles
away, but in complete opposite directions of each other.

 
    The younger officer spoke up, "No ma'am, he's at
Shadyside Memorial."

 
    The older officer reached into his front uniform pocket, and
prudently produced two business cards. One of them was the general information
for the local police department, and the other had the information listed for a
detective from the neighboring larger city. Officer Hardwick/Chadwick
explained, holding out both cards to me, "This is Detective Harrison's
card. He'll get in contact with you sometime tomorrow to discuss the
case." He turned the other business card over, took a pen out of his front
pocket, and began to scribble, as he continued, "This is my direct line.
If you need anything before that, don't hesitate to call, Mrs. Carson."
Clicking his pen closed, he returned it to his pocket, and held the cards out
for me to take. I absentmindedly took them from his outstretched hand, placed
them on the small nook that housed our car keys, and stared at him blankly.

 
    My voice coming out faint, I whispered, "Will that be
all?"

 
    Upon exchanging a sorrowful look between his partner, the
officer replied, "Um...yes ma'am," before they both turned to leave,
their shoulders slumping as they walked towards their patrol car.

 
    As I watched them slowly slumber towards the car, the
younger officer turned back towards me and kindly offered with concern,
"Mrs. Carson, try to get some rest."

 
    When the patrol car rounded the corner of my quiet street,
pulling out of sight, I glanced down at the business cards, shut the front door
with a quiet click, and leaned my back against the door, going limp and sliding
to the floor. As I folded my knees against my chest and wrapped my arms around
my mid-section, cradling myself, I let the flood of ensuing tears wash over my
hot cheeks as my body gave in to my wracking sobs.

Chapter Eight
    Kellan

 
    It's been about two months since I half-heartedly agreed to
Jim's proposal of taking over his bar. Well, I guess technically it's my bar, now that the tedious task of working out the legal
particulars have been finalized. Based on Jim's demeanor before I took him up
on his offer, he made it sound like we'd agree to a figure, shake on it, and
he'd hand over the keys. But once I said yes, Jim set out to have his attorney
draw up an ironclad contract, detailing the specifics of the take-over. Jim
said that it was not only for his own protection, but mine as well. In all
reality, I knew Jim simply didn't want to end up getting screwed over, and I
don't blame him. Friends or not,