Perfect Alibi. Melody Carlson

here? Or do you want to go to town and—”

      “I’ll be fine here,” she assured him.

      Logan was uncertain.

      “Go ahead, find out about the fire stuff,” she told him. “Really, I’ll be okay.”

      “Maybe so. But I think I’ll just stick around the place while you’re resting.”

      “You don’t need to do that.” But even as she said this, her eyes said something different. Her eyes seemed to be pleading with him to stay. And that’s what he intended to do.

      “It’ll take a while for me to complete my investigation,” he assured her. “Long enough for you to have a good long nap. At least a few hours. And by then I’ll have more questions for you.” He held up his cell phone. “Let’s exchange numbers. Just in case you need to call me while I’m out there poking around.”

      “Okay...” As she recited the numbers, her voice sounded groggy. Hopefully she’d be able to get some sleep now. He could tell she needed it.

      “I’ll be outside, walking around the property, looking for additional clues and taking some photos, but I can be back in here within minutes if you need me.” He peered into her half-open eyes. “Okay?”

      “Thanks, I appreciate it.” She leaned back into the couch as if she was about to nod off.

      “I need you to lock the doors after I go outside,” he explained.

      She nodded with a look of realization. “Of course. Thank you.”

      He led her to the front door and, after he exited, listened as she clicked the dead bolt into place. He wasn’t certain that she needed to take such precautionary measures, but at the same time he wasn’t certain that she didn’t. And if the rest of the evidence supported his suspicion of arson, it really did make this place a crime scene. In that case, he couldn’t be too careful. In fact, it was possible that the criminal was still nearby. Logan wished he’d brought his gun. Because he suddenly felt more than just a little protective of this woman. There was no way that Brock Dennison—or anyone—was going to hurt her. If they did, they’d have to go through him first.