The Suicide Club

He shrugged, his eyes tracking back to the window that had probably given them access to her home. Her sanctuary.

“If it isn’t a warning,” she prodded, “what is it?”

“It’s exactly what I told you before.”

“I don’t understand?”

“A new way to get that rush. You know. The one that, before we stopped them, they used to get from setting fires.”

Seven

No fingerprints on the window or the basket. Other than yours.” Jace flipped the page, eyes scanning the report he’d received shortly before Lindsey arrived at his office this afternoon. She’d given him a key to her house last night so that he could get a crew out there this morning. “And no footprints in the ground under it.”

It was exactly what he’d expected. Actually it was almost satisfying, although he didn’t think Lindsey Sloan was going to see it that way.

“So what you’re saying is you have nothing.”

“There’s also no sign of forced entry, and this time they checked every inch of the place. So…”

“So? I don’t understand.”

“They were careful to leave no evidence.”

“You think I’m right.” She sounded surprised.

“I think you might be. And I owe you an apology for getting you involved.”

“If you were right, I was already involved.”

“Because they’re your students?”

“As hard as it is for me to believe. And even accepting that…” She stopped, shaking her head.

“It’s harder to believe that they’d invade your home and threaten your life.”

And what had occurred was nothing less, Jace thought. This had not been the action of some unthinking kid. It had been a well-planned attack, vicious and cold-blooded.

Although snake bites were rarely fatal when treatment was available, they were extremely painful and carried a danger of infection and tissue loss. If Lindsey’s students were as smart as they were represented to be, they would know that. Or they would have taken the trouble to find it out.

They hadn’t meant to kill her. If they had, they would have chosen some other method. So she was probably also right about the symbolism.

“It’s hard to explain the connection that exists between you and students you’ve taught for a couple of years,” she said. “You’ve mentored them. Disciplined them. Encouraged them. Loved them.”

“Loved them?” It sounded maudlin and emotional, and he hadn’t pegged her as either. Unless…

She laughed. “Not all of them. But certainly some.”

“That ever go beyond the classroom?”

“I’m sorry?”

She sounded at a loss about what he meant, but everybody had seen those stories on the news. Maybe there was something more to this than the fact that he’d tried to make her an ally.

Looking for a Get Out of Jail Free card, Nolan?

Maybe he was. Although he was usually able to put mistakes out of his head as being part of the process, he’d been feeling guilty since last night. This morning, he amended.

He didn’t relish the thought that there might have been something going on between her and a student, but it was an avenue he needed to explore. Not only because of what she’d just said, but because the attack had taken place at her home rather than at school or somewhere else. That made it personal.

“I’m talking about your relationship with your students. Has that ever gotten a little more than professional with any one of them?” He watched the realization of what he meant form in her eyes. Just before they grew cold.

“When I said that I loved them, lieutenant, I mean like a parent. I’ve never had an affair with a student, if that’s what you’re implying.”

Her indignation struck him as genuine. After more than fifteen years in this business, his radar was well-honed for cheats and liars. He didn’t believe Lindsey Sloan was either.

Just some innocent who got caught in your drive to explore every angle of those fires.

“It’s my job to ask the hard questions,” he said. “Consider that one asked and answered. And I guess I owe you another apology.”

“Right now I’m more concerned with where we go from here.”

“For one thing we’ll add your address to the list of regular patrols the deputies are making. Ever think about installing a security system?”

“I’ve never had to think about it. Not here.”

He let her words rest between them without a response.

After a moment, she turned her head, looking at the door to his office. “I guess all that’s changed now, hasn’t it?”

“It changed with the first fire. Randolph isn’t immune to the kinds of things that happen in other places. Those burned churches were proof of that.”

“Do you still think they’ll do something else?” she asked, meeting his eyes again.

“To you? I’m going to do everything in my power to see they don’t. If this was a reaction to your being seen with me, then they may well be satisfied with their warning. You might indicate somehow that you got the message.”

“Indicate that to the kids?”

“You’re the one who said people talk. Let it be known that you’re not going to talk to the police anymore.”

“You think that will convince them to leave me alone?”

“That and a patrol of your neighborhood.”

“For how long?”

“As long as it takes.”

“How will you know when that is?”