“Well, as you said, it’s obviously arson,” Chief Gary said. “I’m going to need you to come by the station sometime and make an official statement. I’ve opened up a case file on this. Whoever did it used an empty wine bottle filled with accelerant.”
“Did you find any evidence that Matt Smith was responsible?” Sophie asked, but Chief Gary shook his head.
“No,” he replied. “I dusted a few of the shards of glass for fingerprints, but either they were burned away or whoever did it wore gloves.”
My heart sunk. There was going to be no way to prove what I knew to be a fact: Matt Smith had tried to torch my vet clinic.
“And of course, because this is Willow Bay, none of the businesses on Main Street have security cameras,” Jason muttered. Being a recent transplant to the town from New York City, I knew some of the small-town features that I loved so much about this place drove him absolutely nuts. Like the fact that none of the businesses on Main Street felt the need to have any security beyond a locked front door.
At this exact moment, however, I agreed with him. I made a mental note to start looking into better security systems in the future.
“I’m sorry,” Chief Gary said, the sympathy on his lined face evident. “I wish I had better news for you. I’ve taken all the glass into evidence and I’ll send it to the lab in Portland to check for prints just in case, but I recommend not getting your hopes up.”
I nodded sadly. “Thanks, Chief,” I told him. “I’ll come by the station tomorrow to give a statement.”
“Take care of yourself,” Chief Gary told me. “I’ll make sure to send a car by your place a couple times tonight.”
“I’ll be spending the night there as well,” Jason said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I leaned into him; Jason always made me feel safe.
“Good,” Chief Gary said, nodding, before heading back into the night.
As soon as he was gone, I let myself shiver just a little bit.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Jason asked. “Come on, let’s go home.”
“I’m fine,” I said. “I just wish there was some evidence against Matt Smith. I don’t like that he’s going to get away with this.”
“I’m going to go pay him a visit tomorrow,” Jason growled. “He needs to be reminded that I’m not going to let him hurt you, no matter what.”
“No,” I insisted, placing a hand on Jason’s arm as we all piled into the car to go home. “I don’t want you to get in trouble over this. And I guarantee you that if you try anything, he will press charges against you.”
“He won’t be able to press charges against anyone after I’m done with him,” Jason muttered.
“I appreciate the thought, but I really don’t want you getting in trouble for me,” I insisted. “You’re no use to me if you’re in jail.”
“And I don’t want to have to visit you in the hospital in Portland next time he decides he hates you,” Jason replied. “But, if you really don’t want me to do anything, I won’t.”
“I don’t want you to do anything,” I said.
“Fine. But first thing tomorrow I’m installing some better security at your vet clinic,” Jason said. “And if you’re working late, I’ll bring you dinner and act as security. And for goodness sake, lock the front door! I swear, Willow Bay is like a completely different planet.”
I laughed. “Deal, on all of those. Especially the dinner part.”
Jason stuck his tongue out at me and I leaned in for a kiss. “Thanks for caring. I do appreciate it. I appreciate all of you.”
“Awwww, look, she’s getting all sappy on us,” Sophie teased, and I kneed the back of the driver’s seat she was sitting in.
“Moment ruiner,” I replied. I had meant what I’d said. My heart was full knowing that I had such an amazing boyfriend, and such an incredible best friend and sister. Despite everything that had happened tonight, I felt incredibly lucky to have that kind of support around me.
Chapter 3
I woke up early the next day and made my way to the clinic. Luckily, most of the damage was limited to one spot on the floor, and after a quick stop at the hardware store I had replacement floor ordered, and the owner gave me a few small orange cones to borrow so I could mark off that part of the main lobby.
Of course, dogs and cats weren’t exactly known for their obedience of human-designed limitations, so I also bought a large rug to cover up the hole and prevent any paw injuries. It looked completely ridiculous, but it worked. Jason came in before we opened and installed some security cameras for me, as well. How on earth he’d sourced them in the middle of the night, I had no idea, but that was one of the things Jason managed to do, even here in Willow Bay. He told me he’d be back later to show me how they worked. He had one facing the front door, and another facing the reception desk, as well as a third one that he put just outside the front door looking down the street. I had to admit, I was impressed. They were small and subtle, so regular passers-by wouldn’t notice them.
When Karen, my receptionist, walked in and eyed the rug with raised eyebrows, I explained to her what happened.
“Oh, geez,” she replied, shaking her head when I had finished. “That’s awful. I hope Chief Gary manages to find proof of what happened.”
“Me too,” I replied. “Don’t be surprised if Jason comes by at some point today, he installed some security cameras and is going to show me how they work.”
“I think that’s a good idea. I can’t believe something like this would happen here. Willow Bay is definitely worse for having that guy trying to live out his business fantasies here.”
“I agree,” I nodded, just as I saw my first customer of the day walk in. Kiki was an extremely energetic Jack Russell Terrier, who despite being nine years old still had the mannerisms and energy of a puppy. As soon as she was let loose in the clinic she let out a few barks–just to let us know she was here–and then promptly sped around the room, sniffing the shelves filled with dog and cat food while wagging her tail at a million miles an hour. Her frazzled owner, Sarah, made her way to the counter.
“Sorry,” she exclaimed. “I tried bringing her in the carrier but she knew and wouldn’t come near me, so I had to bring her on the leash only. She was an absolute terror in the car. At one point she managed to turn on the hazard lights, and set the windshield wipers on at maximum speed.”
I laughed. “She really is a bundle of energy, isn’t she? No problem at all. I made my way to Kiki and picked her up off the floor.
“Nooooooo, I was sniffing that!” Kiki exclaimed in anguish.
“It’s just dog food, the same stuff that’s always on those shelves. Come on now, little girl, you need to get your shots and we need to give you a checkup,” I replied.
Oh yeah, I should probably mention, my special witch power, which is unique to me, is that I can talk to animals. It makes my life as a vet a lot easier sometimes, and a lot more entertaining all the time. I took Kiki to one of the back rooms, where Sophie was already waiting with the booster shots ready and a smile on her face.
“Hi Kiki!” she exclaimed. “How are you?”
Kiki ran toward Sophie with her tail wagging at a million miles an hour. “Hello human! You look so nice! Please let me go back out and sniff the bags! I don’t want whatever is about to happen. They’re going to torture me! Like my owner, she doesn’t feed me at all! I could really use one of those treats I think I smell in that jar over there.”
I rolled my eyes with a smile. “Fine, you can have a treat. But we both know Sarah takes very good care of you,” I said, handing Kiki one of the small treats I kept in the vet clinic for bribery purposes. She wolfed it down happily, and I took the opportunity to give her the booster shot she needed. Kiki was so intently focused on her treat she didn’t even notice. Sophie grinned from her spot on the other side of the examination table.