Angus had asked for the keys to her truck, so he could bring her daughter and babysitter to the house. Dazed, Heather had handed over the keys without question. Angus had carefully checked her truck for any explosive device before allowing Emma, Bethany, and Fidelia to climb in. Robby slowed the BMW to a crawl as they approached the crowd. "Mrs. Westfield canna remain in her house."
"I know." Jean-Luc nodded. "I have to convince her to move in with me. It's the only safe place for her now."
Robby parked behind the sheriff's car. As Jean-Luc climbed out, he surveyed the scene. The air was thick with the smell of charred wood, but there were no flames to be seen. The firemen had already put the fire out.
He tapped his cane on the street as he examined the crowd. Lui might still be lurking about. "The house looks fine from the front," Robby commented. "It must have been a small fire."
Jean-Luc nodded. "His intent wasn't to destroy, just to send a message."
Angus parked Heather's small pickup behind the BMW. Emma, Fidelia, and Bethany had all crammed inside, and now they climbed out. The frightened look on the four-year-old's face struck Jean-Luc like a punch in the gut.
Angus strode toward his employees—Robby, Ian, Phineas, and Phil. "Search the area. If Lui engages ye in battle, call for backup."
The guards separated quietly.
Angus stepped close to Jean-Luc and handed him Heather's keys. "Emma and I will be leaving now. 'Tis too late to teleport to Budapest, but we'll go to New York tonight and travel east tomorrow."
"I understand." Jean-Luc pocketed Heather's keys. He knew the hazards of traveling east. A vampire would fry if he teleported into sunlight. "I hope you find Casimir."
"We need to kill him before another war breaks out."
Jean-Luc's chest squeezed with trepidation. He'd known Angus since 1513, the year Roman had transformed them both. They'd become the brothers he'd never had. If he lost them, he would truly be alone. "Be careful, mon ami."
"You, too." Angus rested a hand on Jean-Luc's shoulder. "I've always admired ye in battle. Ye charge in, strong and fearless." He glanced toward Heather's house. "Ye should live the same way. Ye deserve to be happy."
Jean-Luc nodded, comprehending the unsaid message. Angus approved of Heather. The bigger question would be if Heather could approve of him. "God go with you."
"And you, too." Angus turned quickly away. No doubt the big Scotsman didn't want to be seen all teary-eyed. He took Emma by the hand, and the two strode down the street.
Jean-Luc knew they would teleport away as soon as they found a secluded place. A little hand curled around his fingers, and he looked down to see Bethany holding his hand. In her other arm, she held the yellow bear he'd won. After he'd smashed three pyramids of milk bottles in rapid succession, the vendor had gladly handed over the bear in order to keep his entire inventory of milk bottles from being destroyed.
"There's too many people. I can't see," the little girl whispered. "Is my house still there?"
"Yes, and it looks all right from the front. The fire is already gone."
Her bottom lip trembled. "I want my mama."
I want her, too. "We'll find her." He led Bethany through the crowd.
"Who do you think started the fire?" Fidelia asked as she walked alongside them. "Was it that bad guy, Louie?"
"I believe so."
"I should have stayed home. He'd be full of lead if I'd caught him." She patted her purse.
Bethany halted and tugged on Jean-Luc's hand. "I don't want my dollies to get hurt."
His throat constricted at the sight of a tear rolling down her cheek. He squatted in front of her. "If you lose anything, I will replace it."
Her green eyes were the same shade as her mother's. Whereas Heather's eyes could flash with anger, twinkle with mirth, or harden with suspicion, Bethany's eyes were simply wide with worry and need. Deep inside, he felt his heart responding. Was this how a father felt? Mon Dieu, it was something he had never expected to feel. It was…odd.
He'd always thought parenthood was all about protection and duty. He hadn't expected such a strong surge of…tenderness. He wasn't sure he liked it. It felt so damned vulnerable. If anything happened to this little girl, how could he live with himself?
"It will be all right." He wiped her tear away with his thumb and hoped he'd sounded convincing. He straightened and escorted her through the crowd.
"Mama!" Bethany broke loose and ran to the left. The little green bear fell from her pocket onto the street.
Heather was standing about fifteen yards away, talking to the sheriff. She turned at the sound of her daughter's voice, leaned over, and opened her arms.
"Mama, are my toys all right?" Bethany leaped into her mother's arms.
Heather straightened, still holding her daughter. "It's okay, sweetie. The fire didn't reach your room." Her gaze met Jean-Luc's, then she looked away.
He winced at the pain he'd seen there. He picked up the little bear and walked toward them. "I'm so sorry."
"Why?" Billy eyed him suspiciously. "Did you have something to do with this?"
"Of course he didn't," Heather jumped in. "He was with us at the fair."
"He could have paid someone to do it," Billy muttered. "He's got a hidden agenda, I can tell."
"I got my hidden agenda right here," Fidelia growled, clutching her purse to her chest.
"How much damage to your house?" Jean-Luc handed the little green bear to Fidelia for safekeeping.
"We were lucky." Heather set her daughter down on the street. "We only lost the kitchen in the back. My dad enlarged it when I was little, so there was an extension jutting off the back of the house. It's mostly gone, but the main part of the house is okay."
"You're lucky to have such a nosy neighbor." Billy pointed to the house on the right. "Thelma saw a strange man lurking around the back of Heather's house. She was already calling 911 when the fire started."
Jean-Luc had no doubt the strange man was Lui. "Did she describe the man?"
"Why do you care, Mr. Sharp?" Billy glowered at him. "Is he someone you know?"
Jean-Luc gritted his teeth. "I would never cause harm to Heather or her family."
"Well, someone has," Billy snarled. "You got any enemies, Heather? Any other boyfriends?"
"No."
"Piss off any students?"
"No."
Billy rocked back on his heels. "I guess it could be your ex. Cody's been acting real weird lately."
Heather pulled her daughter close and glared at Billy. "This is not the time to discuss that."
"For now, the house is off limits. No one goes in."
Heather looked stunned. "But our clothes—"
"Not going in," Billy repeated. "Can't have you mucking up the crime scene."
"That's ridiculous," Heather countered. "The crime happened in the kitchen. We could go through the front door and straight up to our bedrooms."
"I want my toys," Bethany whimpered, hugging her giant yellow bear.
Billy pointed a finger at Heather. "You're not going in. That's final."
Heather's cheeks flushed with anger.
"Don't worry," Jean-Luc assured her. "I'll make sure you have everything you need."
She gave him an exasperated look. "I can't let you bear that expense." She turned to glare at Billy.
"How soon can we get back in?"
He shrugged. "Could be a few weeks. Or months. I'll post a deputy on the street to make sure no one goes inside to take your stuff. Do you have a place to stay?"
She sighed. "I'll figure out something."
"They will stay with me," Jean-Luc announced. "I have a guest room they can use."
Billy's eyes narrowed. "Don't you own that fancy new store on the edge of town?"
"Yes. Le Chique Echarpe."
"Whatever," Billy muttered. "So the store is your residence, too?"