Fireproof

right.”
    “Just prepare yourself for whatever peace offering he brings back. Let’s just hope it’s not the arm of your gun-toting neighbor.”
    She smiled. Tapped the phone’s End button. But before she could put the phone down, it started ringing.
    It was Racine. Maggie’s body tensed at the thought of the arsonist hitting again so quickly.
    “Do we have another fire?” Maggie asked without a greeting.
    “A different kind of fire. Turn on CNN.”

CHAPTER 31

    “Where did he get all these photos?”
    Maggie didn’t feel angry as much as betrayed and a little sick to her stomach.
    “What’s the cocktail-dress occasion?” Racine had stayed on the line and they watched together as Jeffery Cole revealed Maggie’s life for the world to see. He even had a photo of her father and mother.
    “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress,” Racine said when Maggie failed to answer.
    “It was a New Year’s Eve party for my ex-husband’s law firm. They were congratulating me that night, welcoming me to the firm. Greg got me a job as their claims investigator.”
    “You wanted to investigate lawsuit claims?”
    “No, not at all. I had no idea. It was supposed to be a surprise. Greg hated my being an FBI agent.”
    “Maybe he just hated your playing rough-and-tumble with killers.”
    “He hated that he couldn’t control me, keep me neat and tidy like the rest of his life.”
    There was an uncomfortable pause.
    “You look totally hot in that little black dress.” Racine’s attempt at humor only made it worse.
    Years ago Julia Racine had made a pass at Maggie. Somehow they had managed to get past it and become friends. Part of their journey to friendship had to do with Racine saving Maggie’s mother from a suicide attempt and Maggie saving Racine’s father from a killer. Both women had grown up without one parent; perhaps it was this absence, this sense of loss that continued to bring them together.
    Now that Maggie thought about her mother she couldn’t help wondering if that’s where Jeffery Cole had gotten some of the photos.
    “Why do you suppose he’s doing this?” Maggie asked.
    “You ruffled his feathers. Piqued his interest. I didn’t know you were a forensic fellow at Quantico. Impressive. They don’t even have that program anymore, do they?”
    “Is this legal? Can he do an exposé like this on an FBI agent?”
    “Your ex-husband might know.”
    “Very funny.”
    “I wasn’t trying to be funny. He might actually know.”
    “It’s too late. They’re already airing it.”
    “Yeah, but it could stop part two.”
    “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
    “No, really. Tomorrow night is part two. The whole thing runs back-to-back this weekend. I figure I’ll tape it.”
    “Unbelievable.”
    “So here’s something interesting.” Racine must have sensed it was time to change the subject. “Cornell Stamoran used to be an accountant with Greevey, Miles and Holden up until elevenmonths ago. They’re one of the major financial consulting firms in the District. Their client list reads like a who’s who directory.”
    “So how did he get his passport stolen?”
    “Don’t know. He wasn’t home to ask. Landlord said he ducked out on his rent months ago. Nobody at the consulting firm knows where he is either. Greevey said he just didn’t show up one day. Said he had a bit of a drinking problem.”
    “Any chance it’s his bashed-in skull that was found inside?”
    “Anything’s possible.”
    Maggie’s phone beeped.
    “I have another call coming in. Autopsy still on for the morning?”
    “Stan said nine o’clock. I’ll see you there.” And Racine clicked off.
    Maggie checked her caller ID, saw that it was Benjamin Platt, smiled, then connected.
    “Do you still have that little black dress?”
    It wasn’t exactly the greeting she expected. She felt the annoying but pleasant flip in her stomach.
    “Racine already beat you to that punch line.”
    “Goes to show we both have impeccable taste.”
    She thought about telling him how sexy he looked this morning in his dress uniform. For some reason she stopped herself, stood up, and began to pace the living room. She glanced out the patio door, the glass still rain-streaked. It was coming down harder now.
    “How are you holding up?” Ben asked.
    Of course, Maggie realized, he was worried about her. That was the real reason for his call. Not such a bad thing, she reminded herself.
    “Jake got out again this