My mother is praying quietly at the altar. Dad sits beside me in the front pew, with Annie on his lap. This is the first time we have been together in anything like a church since Sarah’s funeral. My older sister was with us for that, but she’s been teaching in Ireland ever since. Today was a good day to be there and not here.

I have never seen my father this angry. Not even during the malpractice trial. He is by nature a gentle and even-tempered man, and his medical experience has taught him to be calmer as situations deteriorate. But right this minute he has blood in his eye, and I understand the feeling. If I knew with certainty that Ray Presley set that fire, or that Leo Marston had ordered it, I would shoot them both without a second thought.

Mom rises to her feet, then walks over and takes Annie from Dad. “We’d better check into a motel,” she says. “And we need to think about getting some clothes. I’m sure everything is ruined.”

“The insurance will cover most of it,” Dad replies. “The police are waiting to talk to me in the ER.”

Mom looks at him and shakes her head. “The things I cared about in that house, no insurance can replace.”

“I know that, Peggy.”

“Mom, I’m sorry,” I say uselessly. “I know this happened because of me.”

She reaches out with her free hand and squeezes my arm. “Let’s just get checked in somewhere. We need to take care of this little girl.”

Dad follows her to the door, then shuts it and comes back to me. “We’re going to need some protection, son. Real protection. Off-duty cops aren’t up to this. Who do we call?”

“I know some people in Houston. Serious people. An international security company. I’ll call the CEO right now.”

“I want them here tonight. I don’t care what it costs.”

“They’ll be here. And I’m paying.”

He sighs and looks at the altar. “Who do you think set that fire?”

“First guess? Ray Presley. I called his trailer while the house was burning. He wasn’t home. Could he have managed it after that poisoning attempt? After his heart attack or whatever?”

Dad nods. “Physically, he could do it. He’s a lot more able than I am. What about Marston?”

“Leo Marston knows everything that goes on in this town. He wouldn’t dirty his hands with the actual deed, but he’d order someone to do it.”

“I hate to think Ray would go that far. Kidnapping Annie . . . my God. What do you want to do?”

“Let’s get settled somewhere first, get the security in place. Then we’ll talk about it.”