Brody (Texas Boudreau Brotherhood Book 3), стр. 42

apartment complex where Beth and Jamie used to live until a few days ago.”

“It’s him.”

“I think so. Enough to pass the information on to everyone else. Antonio called SAC Williamson, who told him to stick around Shiloh Springs until Stewart is apprehended. He’s heading this way too. Personally, I think he wants to see Daisy again.”

“Yeah, well, tell him to flirt on his own time. We need to find Stewart.”

He was here, Brody could feel it. That sick, twisted freak was in Shiloh Springs, which meant he’d come for Beth. Not gonna happen. He’d die before he let Stewart get his hands on Beth or Jamie.

“Where are you?”

“Back at my place,” Brody answered. “There were enough people crowded into the Big House last night, so Momma told me to come back this morning. She’s keeping everybody home from church, in case Stewart shows up.”

“Lemme ask you something, bro. What do you make of Stewart’s sister showing up? Too much of a coincidence?”

Brody immediately understood Rafe’s concern, because he’d instinctively felt the same when he’d found out Camilla Stewart showed up in Shiloh Springs. Even with advance notice, and Beth saying it was okay, it seemed too good to be true Stewart’s sister would be on a plane to Texas the day after he escaped from Huntsville Prison.

“Beth swears Camilla is nothing like her brother. She knew Camilla was coming to Texas, and she was going to spend a couple of days with her and Jamie. Apparently, she had some papers Stewart needed to sign, and he’d been balking, so she decided to show up in person and make him sign them.”

“That’s what Beth told me too, but something doesn’t feel right. It’s got my Spidey senses tingling.”

Brody chuckled at his brother’s half-hearted joke, though he trusted Rafe’s instincts. His brother had instincts when it came to bad guys and seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to figuring out the criminal mindset, and how to deal with miscreants.

“If he’s here, close enough to be at her apartment, then I need to get back to the Big House.”

“I figured you’d say that. I’m pulling up to the apartment complex now. I want to talk to the lady whose car was stolen. It hasn’t been sighted yet, but he can’t stay hidden forever. Dusty’s gonna drive by Old Man Johnson’s cottage, check and make sure nobody’s been snooping around looking for Beth and Jamie.”

“Keep me posted.”

“You got it. Talk to you later.”

Brody hung up and headed for the kitchen. His apartment wasn’t big, only a one bedroom, but it was enough until he settled down. He’d tried living in Austin, figuring he’d spread his wings outside Shiloh Springs. Not his brightest idea. Within a year, he was back. The furniture he’d splurged on when moving he’d placed in storage, until Tessa’s place had been trashed. He’d loaned it willingly. What good did it do sitting in a storage unit, gathering dust? Now it was at the Old Johnson place, where Beth and Jamie lived. He liked the thought of them sitting on his furniture, making a home with things he’d picked out. Maybe someday…

He dumped grounds into the coffee maker, added the water and turned it on. Despite what everybody said, he didn’t really care for those pod-type coffee makers. There was something satisfying about being able to measure out the grounds and watching while it brewed. This morning, he needed the sharp kick of caffeine. He’d barely slept, thinking about Beth and their kiss.

It had been exactly how he’d imagined it. He wasn’t sure when their friendship had started growing into something more. Something special. Now he wished he hadn’t wasted so much time worrying about what others would think, whether they’d approve. So much time lost he’d never get back. But he refused to dwell in the past any longer.

He loved Beth. It had snuck up on him, but didn’t change the fact. He was head-over-heels, totally and deeply in love with the woman, and he didn’t care who knew. Things would change once Stewart was back behind bars. The good thing was this stunt he’d pulled would add a whole new batch of charges against him, and he’d be spending the rest of his foreseeable future being bunk mates with the rest of the male population of Huntsville. He was pretty sure this time, Stewart wouldn’t be getting out so easily.

The text alert pinged on his phone, and he swiped the message open. The lab tech had texted he’d sent an e-mail with the findings Brody was waiting for. There it was, in black and white. The forensic lab confirmed the fire at the Summers barn was deliberate.

Arson.

He read through the rest of the report, frowning. As he’d suspected, gasoline had been the accelerant used. Not much help, because gasoline was readily available, a cheap and easy source. They’d tested the charred wood samples, as well as the broken pieces of glass, the ones that hadn’t been sent to the crime lab to look for any DNA or fingerprints. Hopefully he’d get their report within the next day or two. Since it was Sunday, he was lucky he’d gotten the lab report. It was too much to hope for a twofer.

He’d let Greg know as well as the insurance company. Greg had headed back to San Antonio after answering his questions, depressed and worried his family’s property was being targeted by an unknown person. This was going to devastate that family, and he felt guilty he had to share the bad news with them. But it was his job, his responsibility. On the bright side, if you could call it a bright side, this confirmed there was a serial arsonist working in Shiloh Springs.

The real job was just beginning.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Even with everything going on around her, Beth felt like she was walking on air. Brody had kissed her! And what a kiss! It had curled her toes and made her feel all tingly inside. She