An Inner Fire (19 page)

“She didn’t see me come out of the shed.”

“But she heard you.”

That’s all the commander could say, that some stupid bitch had heard him? His plan to set the explosion in a corner, to ignite two walls simultaneously, had worked. The Martha Stewart rugs had served as a fucking great wick.

“So? There’s no way she can connect me to the fire.”

The commander sat up straight. He was one big son of a bitch.

“So she saw me. I’m some dude on the wharf. Davis can’t prove nothin.”

“Don’t underestimate Davis. He’s no fool.”

“I thought Davis was going to be taken care of?”

“His poodle keeps getting in the way.”

“No shit. Davis has a poodle?” The idea was too funny.

The commander threw back the rest of his Glen Livet.

He didn’t need a pricey drink. His Corona went down real smooth. “What’s the big deal if a woman saw me?”

“The people who invested 20K expect the job done right.”

“The shed burned beautiful. Fuckin’ good job.” He had saturated the rug closest to the wall with brake fluid. He wanted the biggest explosions next to the forty feet of fir. And his timing had been perfect.

“They won’t be happy if they find out there’s a witness.”

“Nothin’ will come of the witness.”

“I know that, but they don’t.”

“So, who cares?”

The commander slowly leaned forward as if he was thinking about grabbing him and hurting him. In the years at the station, he had never seen the commander do anything violent. The man was always in control.

“You don’t get it. When they’re unhappy, things happen.”

“I did the fuckin’ job. What they gonna do to me? Ask for their money back?” Shit, he’d already spent most of it. He had obligations, his bookie, his shiny red Corvette.

“If they want their money back, you’ll be glad to give it to them.”

“They’d have to kill me first.”

The commander raised his eyebrows as if it was a possibility.

Those bastards wouldn’t come after him, wouldn’t kill him, would they?

“We’ve got to take care of our little complication. I’ve got her addresses for work and home.”

“What do you mean?” His voice cracked. He was still thirsty. He reached for the comfort of the cold Corona.

“Just follow her. Make sure she doesn’t contact Davis.”

“Why should she?”

“She shouldn’t, but I don’t want any messes.”

“Why don’t I follow Davis?”

If he hadn’t been watching the man’s face closely, he wouldn’t have seen the change, the way his face got redder, his eyelids closed for a second before he gave the hard look. “Davis will spot you, even with your signature. He’ll recognize his old buddy.”

Davis and all his work pals had deserted him after he was sacked. No one believed the sauce gave him an edge, didn’t matter to anyone that he was one damn good firefighter.

“Just do what you’re told.”

“Hey, I’m no Columbo. How much to follow her?”

“Are you kidding? This isn’t a job. Our asses are on the line.”

“Okay, okay.”

He could just let the witness know he was watching her, give her something to think about.

The commander started tapping his finger again. “Don’t say or do anything. Just watch her.”

“I could scare her.”

The commander clenched his fist into a tight knot, the size of a sledge hammer. “If you scare her, what do you think she’ll do?”

“Shut the fuck up and go away.”

The commander took a deep breath and spoke as if he had trouble breathing. “She’ll go straight to Davis. Do you understand? We want to make sure she doesn’t go to Davis.”

“So I just follow her?”

“And call me if she visits Davis’ office or meets with him.”

The commander handed him a sheet of paper.

“Grayce Walters, Veterinarian. That’s hilarious. The woman who rescued the dog was a vet.” He was starting to feel mellow. His third Corona must be kicking in. Watching a woman might not be bad at all.

The boss didn’t answer, but shook the ice in his glass.

“Call me if Grayce Walters makes any contact with Davis. Use my personal cell phone. Don’t contact me otherwise.”

“I know, I know. We can’t be seen together.” The commander always treated him like he was a dimwit.

“One other thing.”

“Sure.”

“Lose the red hair.”

The commander threw down a fifty and walked out. Hell, with fifty bucks, he could live with the bullshit. Even the chandelier was startin’ to look good.

Chapter Thirty

Grayce negotiated her Subaru over the Fremont Bridge, her tires slipping slightly on the wet grills in the middle of the span. She and Hollie were on their way to an aikido demonstration at Smiling Crane Aikido Studio, and a fine mist hung in the morning air.

“Why did you study aikido? It doesn’t seem like your kind of thing,” Hollie asked.

Without the heavy black eyeliner and her hair knotted on top of her head, Hollie looked fourteen.

“When I got interested in acupuncture, I wanted to learn everything about the East. Studying aikido helped me improve my acupuncture skills.”

“Martial arts helped your acupuncture?”

“Aikido teaches you to focus, to direct your energy. By studying aikido, I mastered controlling and channeling my energy into intention, the very center of my healing practice.

“I’ve never taken any kind of martial arts. But I had to take a self-defense course at the shelter. It was a joke.” Hollie cracked the joints on her left hand.

“Sounds like a good idea in theory.”

“They had some Pollyanna telling us how to be safe on the streets—like she knew the streets. You know they’re putting on this demonstration today just for us. They don’t usually do private demonstrations. Of course, the fact that you studied with that famous master helped.”

“Thanks, Hollie, for getting this together.” She had asked Hollie to research aikido studios. She didn’t know what her assistant had said, but she had a feeling the people at the studio expected a master, not someone who hadn’t studied or practiced aikido in years and wanted to brush up on her skills.

Twenty minutes later, Hollie and Grayce hung their wet jackets on bamboo hooks on the grass-colored wall in the Smiling Crane Studio. The vibrations in the space were peaceful, harmonious.

“The instructor is almost a third degree black belt. How cool is that? Just like James,” Hollie said.

“One designer kick and James is your hero?” Grayce said.

“His kick was awesome and he has a black belt. I’m getting a feeling that aikido is for me.”

“Remember, this is a scouting trip, to assess whether this is the studio for either of us.”

“No problem, Boss. I get it. We’re on a reconnaissance mission.”

“Why do I always feel as if I’m in a video game when I’m with you?”

A tall woman dressed in a gi and the distinctive trousers called
hakama
that practitioners of aikido and kendo traditionally wore, entered the hallway. “Dr. Walters, welcome to Smiling Crane. I’m Elaine Mitchell.”

“Thank you for meeting us early on a Saturday morning.”

“It’s not early for me.”

The woman’s highly coiled vigor radiated in the tiny space. The dim light shaded her face, accentuating her pointed angles. Her black hair was pulled so tightly, it seemed to pull her eyes back. She smiled, but her dark pinpoint eyes didn’t hide her distrust. The tightness around Elaine’s eyes and mouth communicated that despite years of studying aikido, Elaine still had much to do to work through her demons.

“I understand you’re a veterinarian and you’ve studied aikido. You’re hoping to continue your study here?”

“Yes, it’s been years since I’ve practiced.”

“Everyone needs more study. And I’m sure aikido will continue to help you develop deep focus and compassion in your work with animals.”

Hollie’s chin thrust forward, her eyebrows gathered in one deep crease, and the piercings bobbed. Not a good sign. Her assistant never did well with new situations, especially those involving controlling personalities.

“Dr. Walters doesn’t need to study aikido. She’s already a master and she’s an amazing, compassionate person.”

Grayce wanted to laugh out loud. Not exactly the way to embrace aikido, the way of serenity and balance.

Elaine Mitchell’s lips pulled back. “You’re the receptionist who called?”

Elaine was in deep trouble now. Grayce envisioned fireworks shooting out of Hollie’s darkening eyes. Hollie didn’t consider herself a lowly receptionist, but Grayce’s assistant. Hollie edged next to Grayce, widened her stance and crossed her arms on her chest. Grayce moved between the sparring women. “I’m really looking forward to today’s demonstration. Hollie has been explaining the history of your studio to me, a wonderful, restful spot.” Not exactly restful at this moment.

“One of my students has volunteered to help. If you’d like, I would love to demonstrate with you, Dr. Walters. I’ve heard you’re very accomplished.” Elaine’s voice was deceptively soft and clashed with the challenge in her words and the rigid set of her shoulders and neck.

“Thank you, but Hollie and I would like to watch today.” She used her calming voice, the one she used for agitated animals needing to establish their territory.

Elaine tilted her head, assessing Grayce. “You can decide whether you’d like to practice after my demonstration.” Elaine pointed down the long hallway. “This way.”

The women followed Elaine into the bare practice room. Two orange mats placed against the wall provided the only relief to the monotony of brown.

Elaine pointed to the two mats. “You can watch from there.”

Grayce and Hollie sat on the mats. When they were seated, Hollie whispered, “Why didn’t you tell her about your teacher?”

Elaine turned and stared at Hollie as if she had heard the comments. Elaine joined a young woman who waited in the center of the padded floor. “This is my student, Mary.”

Mary, like her teacher, was dressed in a gi.

“I will answer your questions after the demonstration.” Like her speech, Elaine’s movements would be precise, no motion or emotion wasted.

The two women bowed to each other. Elaine nodded. Mary stepped back then charged with her hands raised above her head, ready to attack Elaine.

With a broad drop, Elaine deflected Mary’s arms. Dancing on the balls of her feet, she circled, awaiting Mary’s next move. Similar to a boxing ring, each woman circled, moving and feinting in constant motion.

Mary rushed her instructor, her hands upright, tight to her chest, a position for direct assault. Elaine stepped to the side, Mary flew right past Elaine.

Mary circled to Elaine’s front and attempted another attack by running forward swinging her arm to the side as if to deliver a chop. Elaine flipped Mary onto her back with a flick of a wrist. An impressive demonstration, since Mary outweighed Elaine by at least 30 pounds.

“What do you think, Boss? I could take her, right?” Hollie whispered behind her hand.

Grayce had no confusion about which woman Hollie referred to.

Elaine walked toward them, her face less tense and almost serene. “What do you think, Dr. Walters?”

Grayce smiled. “You’re very talented. Your movements were graceful, lithe, as if I was watching PNB dancers.” She sensed how much the woman wanted her to be impressed.

“Would you like to try?” Elaine challenged. Grayce wasn’t in the least tempted to demonstrate her skills in this venue. Her aikido skills would be needed to take down a real enemy.

“No thank you.”

“I will.” Hollie jumped up from the mat. She pushed the long sleeves of her World of Warfare T-shirt, revealing the blue and red snake on her arm, hostility vibrating off of her.

Elaine’s small eyes got smaller. Grayce knew that Elaine would never harm Hollie, but wondered how her assistant would handle defeat.

“Come this way.” Elaine pointed to the mat. “We’ll begin by bowing to show our respect.”

Hollie followed Elaine, acquiring her street swagger, with her shoulders and hips swaying to her own music of attitude. Hollie marched toward the center, her ponytail bouncing on top of her head. Her smirk was reflected in the mirror. The women bowed.

Tension radiated down Grayce’s neck and back and into her gut. Hollie had experienced violence in her childhood, and she didn’t want her to suffer any further trauma. She took a deep breath and crossed her legs into a lotus position.

Elaine instructed Hollie to attack her in any way. Elaine’s posture was upright on her toes but her body was loose, relaxed. Grayce read the moment Elaine focused. She also read the unfocused antagonism in the tightness across Hollie’s raised shoulders and her fisted hands.

Hollie turned and walked toward Grayce. She winked. Grayce could only nod in response. She knew what was coming.