He closed his eyes. ‘I’d die first.’
‘Adam.’ She pressed her palms to his cheeks, his stubble prickling her skin. ‘What happened? You have to talk to me, baby.’
He stiffened, then dropped his head to her shoulder, his body sagging. ‘I like that.’
She frowned, but then realized what he meant. ‘When I call you baby?’ It made her smile. Gently she went back to stroking his hair.
‘When you call me anything other than a selfish jerk.’
She kissed his ear. ‘Sit down before you fall down. You look exhausted.’ He obeyed, dropping onto the sofa like he was a puppet whose strings had just been cut. She was happy she’d purchased well-made furniture for this room, because the man was as solid as a rock. ‘Can I make you some tea?’
He grabbed her hand and tugged her to sit beside him. ‘No. I need to tell you some things before I get called away again. I’m going to do case stuff first because I need you to understand what’s happening there. So you’ll keep yourself safe. If I have time, I’ll tell you what I’d originally planned to discuss.’
‘All right.’ Still holding his hand, she twisted so that she could see his face. ‘I’m listening.’
‘The boy. We know his name now. Andy Gold.’
Meredith’s heart hurt for the boy whose last act was to try to save her life. ‘Oh. Poor Andy.’
‘He worked at Pies & Fries.’
‘I love that place,’ she said. ‘Shorty’s a good man. He must be devastated.’
Adam’s forehead creased in a frown. ‘You know Shorty?’
‘I grew up here too, Adam. My dad absolutely loved Shorty’s pizza. We went there every chance we got. What did Shorty say about Andy Gold?’
‘That he was a good person. Hard working. What we kind of figured, considering he told you to run and pulled the wires on the bomb before he even walked into the restaurant.’
Meredith blinked. ‘He did? I didn’t know that. Wasn’t that dangerous?’
Adam nodded. ‘He might have blown himself up. But I’m guessing he didn’t want anyone else to get hurt. We got a lead on the woman he was worried about, but that’s less important to your safety at the moment.’ He took a deep breath. ‘While we were talking to Shorty’s staff, he got us Andy’s address.’
A piece of the puzzle fell into place in Meredith’s mind with an almost audible clink. ‘His house was burned down.’
He stared at her for a few seconds. ‘I always forget how smart you are because you’re so damn pretty.’ He pursed his lips. ‘Dammit. I wasn’t supposed to say it that way.’
She smiled at him. ‘I still liked hearing it, so thank you.’ She lifted his hand to her lips for a soft kiss, then held it on her knee. ‘It was arson?’ she asked, stroking his hand.
He nodded. ‘Andy rented a basement apartment from a family.’ He rubbed his free hand over his eyes. ‘It was a bad fire. The firefighters ran into a house that nobody should have entered, but . . .’ He shrugged. ‘Those guys are insane.’
‘I know. I’m glad you’re not a firefighter. Cop is bad enough.’
He shook his head hard. ‘No. I mean . . . Shit, Meredith.’
She slid her hand over his cheek and turned his head so that he looked at her. ‘Adam, this is just me. Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.’ She smiled ruefully. ‘First, because I live here, and second, because none of you will let me leave.’
‘That’s the goddamn truth.’ He let his head drop to the sofa back, the picture of weariness. ‘I’m not saying this right.’ He turned his head so that he met her gaze head on, and what she saw there made her heart break. So much pain. ‘Trip and I got there as they . . .’ Another deep breath. ‘We got there as they were bringing out the bodies. The family died, Meredith. All of them. Mother, father.’ He swallowed hard. ‘And two children. One was a baby in a crib.’
Her lungs went suddenly flat, as if she’d been hit by a truck. She shoved the heel of her hand to her breastbone, trying to relieve the pressure on her chest. ‘Oh God. Adam. I’m so sorry. How horrible for them. How horrible for you to have to see.’ More horror that he’d never be able to unsee.
‘Goddammit, Meredith.’ He jerked his gaze to the ceiling, then back at her. His eyes were so dark they bored into her. ‘Listen to me. He tried to get Andy Gold to kill you and then Andy was supposed to blow up. There would have been nothing left. No evidence.’
Her lungs froze again. ‘And now Andy’s home is gone.’
‘Nothing’s left. It was intense and fast-burning. Use of an accelerant was clear. Whoever killed Andy today does not want any ties back to him. And you were his target. He’s killed five innocent people now, Meredith. Five.’
Meredith stared back at him, horrified. ‘To get to me?’
‘Yes.’ His voice dropped, grew gruffer. ‘I am so fucking terrified right now. If anything happened to you . . . I can’t . . . I just can’t. Do you understand now?’
She covered her mouth. ‘My God. Five people. Five people.’
‘Their deaths are not your fault.’
‘I know that,’ she snapped. ‘It doesn’t matter. They’re still dead. Because somebody hates me enough to kill me.’ Five people. God. Dear God.
Adam lifted her chin with his forefinger. ‘Don’t cry,’ he whispered. ‘Please.’
I’m not, she started to say, but he was wiping tears from her cheeks. And then he was lifting her to his lap, his arms tight around her, rocking her where they sat.
She slid her hand to the back of his neck, turned her face into his chest, and wept.
He held her close, murmuring comfort into her ear, stroking her hair, her back, all while rocking her like she was a baby. ‘Sweetheart, it’s not your fault,’ he kept saying.
Somewhere behind her she heard Diesel’s voice, sounding pissed and sleepy. ‘What did you do to her, Kimble?’
Meredith shook her head and continued to cry. ‘Nothing.’
She heard Adam tell Diesel about Andy Gold and the fire and the big man swore like a sailor. ‘Did you get anywhere with Voss?’
‘Yes, but we need more information before we bring him in. We have him under surveillance, so he’s not going anywhere. Don’t worry.’
‘Sonofabitch.’ Kate’s voice came from the top of the stairs, where she’d apparently heard it all. Meredith should have known Kate wouldn’t have let her come downstairs all alone. Kate told Cap to stay, then came down far enough to lean on the banister to see them. ‘Mer needs a safe house.’
Meredith jerked back, looking at Adam with panic. ‘No. Please don’t shut me away from everyone.’ Not now. I can’t do this now. I need you. All of you.
He stroked her face, his sigh pained. ‘Your poor eyes are swollen. Kate, can you get her some ice or something?’
‘Sure thing.’
‘You didn’t promise me,’ Meredith said, hearing her voice go shrill, but unable to stop herself. ‘I can’t . . . I can’t go to a place where I can’t leave. I can’t. I won’t.’
‘Shhh,’ Adam soothed. ‘We’re not going to make any decisions right now.’
Nodding, Meredith relaxed a fraction. ‘Okay.’
Diesel was not convinced. ‘Bullshit, Adam. What’s to stop Voss or whoever’s behind this from setting this place on fire?’
‘We’ve got the place under surveillance,’ Adam said sharply. ‘He’s got to know that.’
Diesel’s indrawn breath was loud in the ensuing silence. ‘And if his plan is to blow her up? Or start a fire and wait with a high-powered rifle so that he can pick her off when she runs out of a burning house?’
Adam’s jaw was hard as granite. ‘Don’t you think I haven’t thought of that already?’
Diesel sighed. ‘I’m sorry. I know you’re good at your job.’