Night Smoke Read Online Free PDF Page A

offered and a seat by the fire. She sighed once. A beautiful house, a beautiful couple, so incredibly in love. Natalie told herself if she were inclined toward domesticity, she might be envious.
    “How are you coping?” Deborah asked her.
    “Well, I love a challenge, and this is a big one. The bottom line is, Lady’s Choice will have its grand opening, nationwide, in three weeks.”
    “I was under the impression that you lost quite a bit of merchandise,” Gage commented. Cloaked by the shadow of his gift, he’d watched her arrive at the scene the night before. “As well as the building.”
    “There are other buildings.”
    In fact, she had already arranged to purchase another warehouse. It would, even after the insurance payoff, put a dent in the estimated profits for the year. But they would make it up, Natalie thought. She would see to that.
    “We’re going to be working overtime for a while to make up some of the losses. And I can pull some stock in from other locations. Urbana’s our flagship store. I intend for it to go off with a bang.”
    She sipped her wine, running the stages through her mind. “I’ve got Donald with a phone glued to his ear. With his background in public relations, he’s the best qualified to beg and borrow. Melvin’s already flown out on a four-city jaunt to swing through the other plants and stores. He’ll work some of his wizardry in figuring who can spare what merchandise. And Deirdre’s working on the figures. I’ve talked to the union leaders, and some of the laborers. I intend to be back in full production within forty-eight hours.”
    Gage toasted her. “If anyone can do it …” He was a businessman himself. Among other things. And knew exactly how much work, how much risk and how much sweat Natalie would face. “Is thereanything new on the fire itself?”
    “Not specifically.” Frowning, Natalie glanced into the cheerful flames in the hearth. So harmless, she thought, so attractive. “I’ve talked with the investigator a couple of times. He implies, he interrogates and, by God, he irritates. But he doesn’t commit.”
    “Ryan Piasecki,” Deborah stated, and it was her turn to smile. “I stole a few minutes today to do some checking on him. I thought you’d be interested.”
    “Bless you.” Natalie leaned forward. “So, what’s the story?”
    “He’s been with the department for fifteen years. Fought fires for ten, and worked his way up to lieutenant. A couple of smears in his file.”
    Natalie’s lips curved smugly. “Oh, really?”
    “Apparently he belted a city councilman at a fire scene. Broke his jaw.”
    “Violent tendencies,” Natalie muttered. “I knew it.”
    “It was what they call a class C fire,” Deborah continued. “In a chemical plant. Piasecki was with engine company 18, and they were the first to respond. There was no backup. Economic cutbacks,” she added as Natalie’s brows knit. “Number 18 lost three men in that fire, and two more were critically injured. The councilman showed up with the press in tow and began to pontificate on our system at work. He’d spearheaded the cutbacks.”
    Damn it. Natalie blew out a breath. “I guess I’d have belted him, too.”
    “There was another disciplinary action when he stormed into the mayor’s office with a bagful of fire-site salvage and dumped it on the desk. It was from a low-rent apartment building on the east side, that had just passed inspection—even though the wiring was bad, the furnace faulty. No smoke alarms. Broken fire escapes. Twenty people died.”
    “I wanted you to tell me that my instincts were on target,” Natalie muttered. “That I had a good reason for detesting him.”
    “Sorry.” Deborah had developed a soft spot for men who fought crime and corruption inuntraditional manners. She shot Gage a look that warmed them both.
    “Well.” Natalie sighed. “What else do you have on him?”
    “He moved to the arson squad about five years ago. He has a