Page 36 of Inferno

“Jonah.” I swear, the bastard had been expecting my call considering the amount of surprise in his voice. Which was to say, none.

“Frank.”

I could hear the hum of an office behind him. The silence was awkward, but I didn’t get a hostile vibe from him. “You’re up early,” he said.

“Old habits, I guess.”

He chuckled. “Yeah. I hear ya. Stayin’ warm? Wife’s already got the heat on at home. I keep telling her it’s seventy degrees out, she says her bones know better.”

“You tell Ruth I said hi.” I cleared my throat. “I mean, if you think it’s appropriate.”

“As if I have a choice. Ruth’d put me out with the dog if didn’t tell her I’d heard from you.”

The band that had tightened around my chest all night released. I should have known my old friend wouldn’t turn me away outright. I knew now that Frank would at least listen to me and give my words some thought.

“You calling to catch up, or you need something? ‘Cause, you know I’m always here for you, man.”

“Yeah.” I cleared my throat, emotion tightening around my neck. “I need to pick your brain.”

“Shoot.”

“Storage fire. Couple years back. The unit belonging to a woman named Lauren Candace that was ruled undetermined. I need the off-the-books file, if there is one.”

There was a small silence before he answered. “You asking as a friend, Jonah? Or as something else these days?”

I looked at the bed. Juniper had turned in her sleep, her dark hair splayed across the pillow, one hand curled under her chin. The mountain photo was still fresh in my mind. “Both,” I admitted.

Another silence. Longer this time. “I’ll see what I can find,” he said. “Might take a day or two unless you don’t mind who knows you’re asking for it.”

“Keep it on the down low if you can but don’t put yourself in a bad position.”

“I won’t. Anything in particular you’re looking for?”

I sighed. “Ain’t sure. I think I’ll know it when I see it.”

“I’ll call you when I get it.”

“Appreciate it, Frank.”

“Sure. Good to hear your voice, Jonah.”

“Good to hear you too, man.”

I set the phone on the windowsill and stood there. Behind me, the sheets rustled. I turned to find Juniper was awake, watching me from the bed with sleep-soft eyes and her hair a wreck.

“Who was that?” she asked.

“An old friend.” I crossed the room and sat on the edge of the mattress. Her hand found mine. “Guy who knows fires.”

She leaned up to kiss me and I met her halfway. “What’s up for the day?”

I shook my head, shrugging. “Far as I know, not a Goddamned thing.”

She kissed me again, lingering for a moment. “I’m gonna go shower. Then I promised I’d help Darby at Haven. She and Hannah have a birthday party for one of the kids and I want to help.”

“Sounds like the perfect thing to do, baby. I’ll be with Knight. If I go anywhere else, I’ll call or text.”

She went to shower. Then I followed. Twenty minutes later, I left her to it since, apparently, I kept getting her dirty after she’d washed.