All of a sudden, there was a shout at the doorway near the loading dock, then a flurry of people began going inside the burned area. Dub took off running.

Hunt’s heart sank. He had a bad feeling about the missing man’s welfare. But before they could learn the outcome, Birdie was released with a caution to go to the ER if she experienced any trouble breathing.

Hunt followed Emma and Birdie home and helped get Birdie inside before leaving them on their own. It wasn’t until he got back to the house that he realized he had a text from Ava.

Heard about the fire and that there was a death. Is Birdie okay?

He sighed. That explained what happened to the missing man. He stopped and returned the text.

Yes. A little smoke inhalation. Emma took her home. I need to see you tonight. Are you free?

He sent the message, then waited. When her text came back, he grinned.

I always charged before, but you get a deal. For you, I’m always free. My house. Six p.m. I’m cooking.

He laughed and sent one last text.

You’re not just cooking. You’re smokin’ hot, lady, and you’re mine, all mine. See you at six.

* * *

The firemen had been inside the loading area checking for hot spots when they found a partially burned body trapped between the outer wall and what had been a large stack of bagged cattle cubes.

At that point, Chief Pittman and a couple of EMTs were called to the scene. But it was Dub Truesdale who identified the body by the unburned part of the man’s jacket and the fact that he only had one employee unaccounted for.

Lon was sick at heart. The last time he’d seen Arnold had been in his jail, witnessing the heartbreaking conversation between him and his sons, who were awaiting transport to county. Now he was going to have to notify Donna Hollis that her husband had died in the fire and tell the boys as well. This was one of the times in his job when he wondered why some people suffer such tragedies.

He left an officer on guard at the scene and went back to the office to notify the county coroner. The body couldn’t be removed from the scene until it was determined there was no foul play. After that, Lon went to notify Arnold’s wife.

He drove across town to their home, but when he pulled up in the driveway and saw Donna sitting out on the front porch staring in the direction of the fading smoke, his heart sank. She’d either already heard or suspected, and it was no wonder. The sirens. The smoke. And she probably tried to call Arnold without getting an answer, and since there was no other car in the drive, Arnold must have driven their only vehicle to work.