Love Inspired Suspense December 2015, Box Set 2 of 2 by Margaret Daley Read Free Book Online Page B

sense.” Gramps sat on the couch. “Where are Linda and Rachel?”
    â€œChanging. Doc had to sew up Rachel’s right side where some glass sliced her good. The rest of her cuts were small. Neither of them have smoke inhalation problems.” As Jake rattled off the list of injuries, a part of him was back at the cabin, frantically trying to get Rachel free. If something had happened to her, he would have blamed himself. He’d rescued many people while working for the Northern Frontier Search and Rescue Organization and the police, so he should be able to save someone he really cared about.
    â€œThat’s a relief. I should have gone with them this morning.”
    â€œAnd what? From what they told me it happened fast, and there wasn’t anything that could be done, except to get out. Besides, you wouldn’t have fit through the window.”
    â€œTrue. I never thought something like that would happen.”
    â€œNeither did I or I would have been there.”
    Gramps’s wrinkled face cracked a big grin. “Do I need to say if you had, you wouldn’t have gotten out? We have the same build. Most of the Nichols men are tall and have broad shoulders.”
    Jake chuckled. “Touché.”
    â€œIt’s good to hear some laughter after the day I’ve had,” Rachel said as she walked slowly into the living room.
    Jake turned toward her, remembering how close he’d come to losing her. That thought left his gut roiling, and he was even more determined to find out what was going on in Port Aurora. “Are you all right?” He took in her pale face and tired eyes—a beautiful sight to see. It could have gone so wrong today.
    â€œMy side hurts, but it felt great to take a shower and get that smoke smell out of my hair. I think I washed it three times.”
    When Rachel moved past him to the chair across from Gramps, Jake drew in a deep breath of the apple-scented shampoo. She still used the same one from when she was a child. He associated apples with Rachel because of that.
    She eased down, wincing once. “When is the chief arriving?”
    â€œI see his car coming down the road.” Linda crossed the room and opened the door to the arctic entry.
    After shaking Randall’s hand, Jake sat next to Rachel’s aunt on the couch while the chief took the last chair. His grim expression fit Jake’s mood. Every alarm bell was going off in his head. The fire only reinforced his belief that Betty’s death wasn’t due to a robbery gone bad. What had Betty gotten herself into?
    â€œAre you two all right now?” the chief asked, withdrawing a pad and pen from his pocket.
    â€œAs well as could be expected.” Linda pressed her lips together.
    Randall shifted his attention to Rachel. “I understand Doc had to see you.”
    â€œI’ll be okay. Do you have any idea what happened?”
    â€œNo, other than there were footprints leading to the house from the woods on the left side. I followed them to tire tracks—probably a truck. I’m treating this fire as arson at this time. Did either of you see anything?”
    Linda shook her head while Rachel said, “We were in the back bedroom, looking for Aunt Betty’s camera.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œAlthough I don’t think it is worth much except to her, someone could have taken it,” Linda answered Randall.
    â€œDid you find it?”
    â€œNo, but I didn’t check the darkroom thoroughly. It was trashed like the whole place was. The camera usually hangs on the peg by the door, but it wasn’t there.”
    The chief wrote on his pad. “So it’s possible that a camera was stolen. Anything else you know of?”
    â€œWe found her few pieces of jewelry that were worth something, although not that much.” Rachel withdrew the ring and two sets of earrings still in the plastic bag. “And as you know, the television and small