Disclaimers - See Part 1 for disclaimers.

Chapter Twenty-One

"Can I fill yours too, love?"

Dana finished topping up her own cup and extended the coffee pot towards her partner. Glancing at the kitchen clock, Lee nodded.

"Yeah, I've got time for one more before I go." She stacked their breakfast dishes while her mate poured the coffee.

"Would you mind switching with me this morning and letting me take the truck?" Dana asked as she slid the pot back onto the hot plate. "I promised Danny I'd get his mountain bike fixed by the time he got back from fishing, and I'd like to take it in to the shop today."

"Sure, no problem." Lee stirred another teaspoon of sugar in the black brew. "What he'd do to his bike?"

"He bent the rim on the front wheel when he and Tony were riding the hills down by the Bow last weekend." Dana shook her head in bemusement. "I suppose I should be glad it was only the bike that was in need of repair."

Lee grinned. She was about to comment on Danny's knack for escaping scrapes uninjured when the phone rang. Sipping her sweetened coffee, she returned her attention to the newspaper as Dana picked it up.

"Hello," Dana said, balancing the phone between ear and shoulder as she carried their bowls to the dishwasher. "Oh, hi, Rika. How's it going?"

The sound of dishes clattering on the counter brought Lee's head up sharply, and she regarded her partner curiously.

"Oh my God! Is she all right?"

Dana was leaning on the counter, and Lee half-stood before her partner shook her head and motioned her back to her chair.

"Well, thank God for that anyways," Dana said, shaking her head. "Does she need a place to stay? We have lots of room here, and she'd be very welcome."

Lee's attention was riveted on her partner, her heart sinking as she noted the clear dismay on Dana's expressive features.

"All right, if you're sure. But you let us know if there's anything we can do, Rika. I mean that! Look we'll call you tonight, okay? You take care of her...and yourself. Bye, hon."

Literally on the edge of her chair, Lee waited impatiently as her partner hung up the phone. "What happened?" she blurted.

Dana shook her head sadly as she sat down heavily in her chair. "Poor Rhi's house burned down last night. She and her aunt both got out safely, but all she saved was the clothes on her back."

Lee felt an ominous chill go through her. Two near misses in one day? The odds against that were much too high for her comfort. Half of her mind listened to her partner as the other half began running through options and possibilities.

"I told Rika that Rhi could stay here if she wanted," Dana said, "but she wants Rhi to stay there for now. Thinks she'll be more comfortable in familiar surroundings. Rika's going to take Rhi shopping for some clothes and things today. She said David is going to help out with some church emergency funds, and I'd like us to contribute too, eh, Lee? Lee??"

Lee jerked her attention back to find her partner staring at her questioningly.
"Um, yeah, of course we'll help, honey. Whatever you think best is fine with me."

Dana continued. "I'm not sure if Rhi would willingly accept money from us. I don't have to be at work until noon, so I'm going to pick up a few things and maybe we can run them over after I get off shift tonight."

The big woman nodded absently. Dana sighed and eyed her mate affectionately. "I know that look, Leandra Phyllis Glenn. You've got something going on in that head of yours."

Lee couldn't help a small grin at the use of her full name. At least she wasn't in trouble this time. Reaching across the table, she patted her partner's hand.

"Just doing some thinking, sweetheart. Something about all this stinks like yesterday's fish. I think I'll do a little poking and prodding around."

Dana stood and came around to kiss Lee. "Well make sure it's not a hornets nest that you're poking and prodding, love." She squeezed the broad shoulder lightly. "I'm going to go shower. If you go before I'm out, don't forget to leave me the truck keys, okay? And if you plan to be home about eight thirty tonight, we can go over and see Rika and Rhi then."

Lee nodded her agreement and watched as Dana left their sunny kitchen. Letting her gaze drop, she stared, frowning, at the tabletop, finally coming to a decision. Standing, she crossed to the phone and punched in her business partner's number.

"Willem? Yeah, I know it's early. Look, I need a favour."

Lee gave her old friend and longtime partner a few moments to complain about being bothered before he'd even finished breakfast, and when he wound down, continued. "Is your cousin still with the city fire department?"

At the puzzled acknowledgement, she grunted approvingly. "Good. Listen, a friend of mine lost her home in a house fire in Victoria Park last night."

There was a brief burst of conversation. "Yeah, I guess that's the one. I haven't listened to the news this morning. Anyway, there's something more than a little suspicious about it, because she had another near-miss with a hit and run earlier in the day."

Her voice had become very sober. "Willem, I have a very bad feeling that she may be in some kind of trouble, and I'd like to figure out what's going on before there's another so-called accident. Can you get in touch with your cousin and find out what the official word is on the fire?"

Having realized the seriousness of the situation, Willem became all business and instantly agreed to do as he was asked. Lee nodded in approval. She knew he'd come through for her. He always did. Between the two of them, they had connections that covered most of the city, from boardrooms to back alleys...though Willem specialized in the former, while Lee was more at home in the latter.

"Thanks, Willem. I'll be at the office in thirty minutes. I'll see you there."

********************************************************

Marika sat quietly at her kitchen table, thinking of the night's events as she sipped her coffee. Rhi was still sound asleep in the den, and she didn't want to wake her young friend until absolutely necessary. She'd called the office and explained the circumstances, booking both of them off work for the day, and she'd let Dana and Lee know what was going on. Now she had nothing left to distract herself from thoughts of what she'd almost lost.

When David had called with the news, he'd taken pains to immediately assure her that Rhiannon was fine and safe at the rectory, but that hadn't prevented an overwhelming fear from sweeping through the lawyer. As she'd scrambled to put together a bag of clothes before rushing out of her apartment, the only thing running through her mind was a repeated prayer of thanks that the young woman had escaped unscathed.

Her frantic drive to the rectory had taken her near Rhi's house, and even from one street over, she'd almost become physically ill from glimpsing the smoking ruins as the firefighters continued their work. Her hands had shaken and tears rolled from anguished gray eyes as she concentrated on wrenching her thoughts away from what might have been. It was only when she pulled into the driveway and saw Rhi framed in the light of the open door that she'd felt like she could breathe again.

Sitting now at her table, Marika wondered if Rhi had felt her desperation in the way she'd embraced the younger woman. She hadn't wanted to let go-needed to feel the warm, small body pressed tightly against her own, reassuring her that Rhi lived. She remembered how her friend's arms had encircled her waist just as tightly, and understood that they'd both needed that tangible reminder.

When they'd returned to the condo, they'd made up the day bed in the den, a routine that had become second nature to them. With a complete lack of self-consciousness, Rhi had shucked her clothes and climbed into bed. Marika had sat in the recliner and they'd talked quietly for long moments until the younger woman's eyes drifted shut.

Sitting there silently, the lawyer had watched Rhi's features soften in sleep, the small hand clutching her pillow relaxing, and her breathing becoming deep and even. Studying the face that had become so dear to her, Marika could no longer deny what her friends had been implying: she had fallen in love with this young woman. She sat for a long time, watching and considering the implications of that realization. Finally...reluctantly...she rose from her post and made her way to her own abandoned bed.

Marika had slept fitfully, plagued by nightmares of Rhi's two near misses and by the history her friend had revealed that night. She agonized over the child whom fate had treated so cruelly, even as she marveled at how her assistant had survived those trials with her essential core still intact.

When she'd finally given up on the elusive sleep, it had been shortly after dawn. Before she did anything else, Marika made her way to the den to check on Rhi. The young woman had rolled in her sleep and was facing away from the lawyer, her covers having slipped to reveal the scarred shoulder.

Staring at the healed wound, remembering how Rhi had taken that for her, Marika was suddenly suffused by a savage resolution to protect this woman she loved. Staggered by the intensity of what she was feeling, the lawyer leaned against the doorjamb and closed her eyes, struggling to bring herself under control. Taking a deep breath, she allowed her eyes to caress the sleeping form one more time before quietly leaving the room.

Lost in thought, Marika never even noticed as Rhi stopped at the door of the kitchen, watching her quietly until Spooky announced their guest's presence with a crescendo of purrs.

Marika looked up as Rhi knelt, chuckling, and paid the cat his expected tribute, stroking the luxuriant fur until he was placated.

"Hey," the lawyer said softly, "how are you feeling this morning?"

Rhi shrugged a bit, but gave her boss a smile. "Not bad, I guess. Still a bit tired."

"You don't have to get up yet, Rhi. We're off work for the day if you want to go back to bed. Um, you can use my room if you'd be more comfortable."

The younger woman walked over to the cupboard and taking down a cup, filled it from the carafe. "Thanks, but no. I'd rather be up now. Gotta make some plans."

Marika looked at her hopefully as Rhi took the seat opposite. "I hope one of those plans is to stay here as long as you feel like it. Dana said you're welcome to stay there too, but I figured...well, you know. You're already familiar with the condo. Spooky likes you." She hesitated before rushing on. "Um, it's really no trouble. I mean we get along pretty well and everything."

Rhi regarded her over the edge of the coffee cup, and Marika could see that her friend was torn. Under the table she unconsciously crossed her fingers as she waited for the younger woman's response.

Sighing, Rhi set her cup down. "I really appreciate your offer, Rika. I can't even begin to tell you how much it means to me that you made it, and that you came to my rescue last night, but..."

Marika's heart sank.

"I can't continue to impose on you. It wouldn't be fair to take over your office like that. I'd appreciate staying a few days, but only until I find my own place."

The lawyer tried to hide her disappointment, but she could tell by the dismay on her companion's face that she hadn't done a very good job.

"Rika," Rhi said softly, "I...I like being here with you, but it just wouldn't be right to stay on."

"Why?"

Rhi blinked at the blunt question. "Why?" she repeated.

"Yes, why wouldn't it be right to stay here? You're not imposing, you're not being unfair, and it's no trouble having you...so why look for somewhere else?"

"But..." Rhi trailed off.

Pressing her advantage, Marika went on. "You need some time to get back on your feet, and you can do that much quicker if you don't have to worry about finding a new home or spending a bunch of money setting everything up. You have everything here that you might need, except clothes, which we'll go get today. It's really far more practical and logical for you to stay here."

Dark blue eyes were eyeing her with some amusement now, and Marika held her breath.

"So you want me to stay here?"

The lawyer raised one pale eyebrow. "Wasn't that what I said?"

Rhi chuckled. "I suppose in a roundabout fashion, you did."

"Then let me make it unequivocally clear. I want you here. I like having you around." Marika looked down at her hands, wrapped tightly around her cup. Taking a deep breath she added, "It feels more like home when you're here."

There was a long moment of silence, and the lawyer wondered if she'd said too much, too soon. Unable to look up, she waited. She almost jumped when a small warm hand covered hers momentarily before withdrawing. Looking up, she saw Rhi gazing at her warmly.

"You'll tell me if I'm getting underfoot?"

Marika smiled broadly and nodded.

"And you won't hesitate to tell me if I'm doing something that bugs you?"

Gray eyes now twinkled as Marika nodded again.

Rhi regarded her closely for long moments then with a little shrug of her shoulders said, "Then, thank you. I accept." Before Marika could say anything, she raised a hand, "But let's talk rent first."

The lawyer frowned. "I'm not charging you rent, for heaven's sake."

"And I'm not letting you support me!" Rhi shot back.

They glowered at each other for a moment, and then Marika's lips twitched. "Is this our first fight as roomies?"

Rhi laughed. "Yeah, I guess so." Sobering, she leaned forward. "I'm serious, Rika. I paid Hettie three hundred a month and bought my own groceries, so I figure I should at least do that here too."

"You're only getting half a room, for heaven's sake," Marika protested. "One hundred and we'll put that towards groceries."

"It's a much nicer room than what I was living in, half or not," Rhi countered. "Heck, you even have a pool and a workout room in the building so I won't have to keep up my Y membership. Two fifty plus I kick in for the groceries."

"Not a cent more than two hundred," the lawyer insisted firmly. "And we'll split groceries."

Rhi paused to consider, then nodded her head, extending her hand to seal the bargain. "Done!"

Marika smiled and shook the proffered hand. "Done," she agreed. "Now why don't you have some breakfast, and then we'll go do some shopping."

The younger woman ruefully looked down at her clothes, still the same ones Marika had brought her the night before. "Yeah, I suppose they won't be impressed if I show up in the office in this every day." She drained her coffee and rose. "I'm not really hungry though. I think I'll just grab a shower before we go. I still feel like I can smell smoke on myself."

Marika hadn't detected any odour, but understanding, she suggested, "Why don't you help yourself to some more of my clothes so you can start out fresh today?"

Rhi gave her a grateful grin and left the kitchen. She'd vanished down the hallway when the phone rang, signaling a caller from the lobby. Marika picked up the phone.

"Yes? Oh, hi, David. Come on up."

She admitted the priest and went to unlock the front door. When he arrived a few minutes later, he was carrying a flat paper bag and a large white envelope.
Marika let him in, led him to the living room, and indicated he should take a seat on the couch. She offered him a cup of coffee, but he declined with a smile, glancing around the room and into the kitchen.

"She's just in the shower." Marika answered his unspoken question as she settled on the couch too. "She'll be out in a few minutes."

David nodded. "I only have a few minutes before I have to leave for an appointment, but I wanted to drop by and see how she was doing. Did she sleep all right?" His deep voice was filled with concern.

The lawyer grimaced. "She seemed to sleep just fine. Wish I could say the same."

"I know what you mean," the priest agreed ruefully. "I kept dreaming about flames racing through the house and waking up in a cold sweat. I even got up about four thirty and went around checking all the appliances in the place."

"Uh huh, and I made myself a note to check the smoke detectors," Marika said with a wry chuckle.

They were quiet for a moment before David said, "Makes you think, doesn't it?"

"Makes me think how close she came to..." Marika couldn't finish as she choked on the words.

David looked at her firmly. "But she didn't. And now we have to help her put her life back together." He pushed the white envelope across the cushion towards her. "There's $150 from the church emergency fund, and Tupper and I topped it up a bit more. She can use that in any manner she wishes."

"That's great, David. I'm going to take her shopping for some clothes once she's ready this morning and that will really come in handy." Marika accepted the envelope and set it on the coffee table.

"Has she decided what she's going to do for a place to live?" the priest asked. "I do have some connections in the community, depending on what sort of accommodations she's looking for."

"She's going to stay here for as long as she likes."

David raised one eyebrow at her statement, but he didn't say anything. Glancing at his wristwatch he said regretfully, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to get going or I'll be late. Will you give her this, too, and tell her I'll call later?"

He handed over the flat paper bag and Marika nodded.

"Sure, I'll give it to her as soon as she's out. Are you sure you can't wait? She should only be a few more minutes."

"I wish I could, but I have a meeting with the Bishop that I can't be late for." David stood and Marika escorted him to the door. "Tell her...well, just tell her that I was thinking of her, okay?"

"I will. Thanks for coming by, David, and thank you for the money. That was very kind."

The priest gave a little self-deprecating shrug and smiled as he took his leave of her. Once he'd departed, Marika returned to the living room. With a quick glance down the hall, she took her wallet out of her purse, extracted a handful of twenties, and hurriedly added them to the white envelope.

She'd just set it back on the coffee table when Rhi entered the room, still toweling her hair dry, and dressed in clean clothes she'd borrowed from Marika's room.

"Did I hear someone out here?" Rhi asked curiously.

"David dropped by, but he had to leave for an appointment. He left you these things." Marika handed over the envelope first. "He said to tell you that you could use that money however you see fit."

Rhi open the envelope and gave a small whistle at the bills inside. "Wow! This is all from the church?"

"Some of it, and I think others contributed. He mentioned someone named Tupper, and I think he put some in himself." Marika watched Rhi riffle quickly through the money.

"Geez, I should be able to get just about everything I need. That was awfully good of him. I'll have to call him later to say thank you."

The lawyer smiled and passed over the flat brown bag. "He left this too. I don't know what it is."

Rhi set the envelope down and curiously opened the bag. Marika watched, startled when she saw tears fill her friend's cobalt eyes.

"Rhi? What is it?"

Wordlessly, Rhi handed over the bag. Marika pulled out a large, thick tablet of fine drawing paper along with an extensive set of charcoal pencils and graphite sticks. Stuck to the tablet was a post-it note, and she read the words aloud:

"To recapture old memories and make new ones. Love, David."

She looked up to see Rhi hugging herself, as the tears flowed freely from her eyes. Instantly understanding that the impact of the last 24 hours was just now hitting her friend, she dropped the art supplies and stepped forward, gathering the small, trembling body into her arms and holding her close as she cried.

Long after Rhi's tears had stopped, the women remained locked together, both seeking and gaining comfort from the tight embrace.

******************************************************

Lee looked up from her desk as Willem entered her office. His usually placid face was serious, and she accepted the handwritten page of notes he handed her.

"I talked to Peter, and unofficially, the early indications are definitely arson. The preliminary investigation found that the couch cushions had been piled at the foot of the stairs and some kind of accelerant was splashed around. Those old houses all had lacquered staircases, and lath and plaster construction, so the flames shot up the stairwell like a chimney. The arson dog found traces of accelerant in at least three other spots on the main level. Someone was unquestionably out to burn this place to the ground. I'm amazed your friend got out."

"Yeah," Lee said grimly, her eyes scanning Willem's neat handwriting. "Any ideas yet on possible suspects? What about the aunt going after the insurance or something?"

Shocked, Willem said, "Surely she wouldn't have endangered her niece?" He paused, "But she was out that night. Apparently had been playing canasta with some friends not too far away, and didn't return home until she heard the fire trucks."

Sighing, Lee leaned back in her chair and regarded her partner. "And I suppose her friends will alibi her whereabouts?"

Willem shrugged, but didn't disagree.

Lee stood decisively, tucking the notes in her pocket. "I'm going to go take a look at the house, Will. I may be out for the rest of the day. Can you cover my one o'clock for me? It's just an initial intake, and you'll have to set up a time for a follow-up assessment. Ann has the details."

"Of course. And Lee, if there's anything else I can do, don't hesitate to ask."

Lee patted her corpulent partner on the shoulder as she walked out. "I owe you one, Will. You're the best."

"You owe me a hundred," Willem amiably shot after her retreating form. With a phlegmatic shrug, he murmured with a little grin, "But who's counting?"

A short while later, Lee parked a couple doors down from Rhi's former home. Leaning against the hood of Dana's car, she stared at the ruins. The roof had fallen in and, from what she could see, the interior was charred and gutted. The firefighters had done well to prevent the spread of the flames to the neighbouring houses, but they'd never stood a chance of saving the old yellow house itself.

"Helluva mess, ain't it?"

Deep in her study of the burned building, Lee hadn't noticed the woman who'd come up the sidewalk behind her. Turning sharply, she saw a thin, elderly woman in an ancient plaid housedress regarding her with sharp, inquisitive eyes. A cigarette dangled from the old woman's lips, a huge purse was over one arm, and she held the handle of a wire pull-cart.

"Um, yeah, it sure is," Lee agreed. "You live around here?"

The woman jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "Two houses down. Damned glad that fire didn't spread any farther. It ain't much, but it's been home for over fifty years now. Raised my four kids there...buried my husband too." She cackled. "Well, I didn't bury him there. Ya ain't gonna find him pushing up daisies in the backyard."

Lee couldn't help smiling at the feisty old woman. "Do you know the people that lived there," she asked, gesturing at the ruins.

"Yep. Why'dya wanna know?" The sharp eyes regarded her searchingly.

"I'm a friend of Rhiannon Davies," Lee answered.

"Aye, ya are if'n ya call her that," the woman agreed. "She's a good girl, that one. Useta come over in the winter and shovel my walks for me. Din't have any money to pay her, but I'd give her cookies hot out of the oven. Kid liked that. Don't think that bitch ever fed her enough."

"Bitch?"

The old woman frowned and pursed her lips as if she'd bitten into something sour and decayed. "Know it ain't charit'ble, but Hettie Walker's bin my neighbour for thirty years, and there ain't no other way to describe her. Useta feel sorry for little Rhiannon, but tryin' to talk to Hettie only made it worse on the kid. So I just fed her along with my own grandbabies when I could, 'n let her stay at my place a few times when it was really bad."

Lee looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry..."

She was sorry for so many things; that her young friend had grown up in such harsh circumstances; that no one had stepped in to help her; that as bad as it was, Rhi's home now lay charred and burnt in front of her.

The old woman shrugged. "Eh, that's life. None of us get out alive, ya know. Still, I'm glad the girl is safe. Where's she now?"

"Staying with a good friend of mine. She'll be fine there," Lee assured her.

"Good. Ya tell her Grammy Olive says hi, all right?"

"I'll tell her. Listen, did you see what happened last night? I mean, were you around when the house was going up?"

"We all were," Olive told her. "Wasn't no sleepin' through all that fuss and commotion. Hell, even Pike and Eddie had their sorry asses over here watchin' all the excitement."

"Pike and Eddie?" Lee straightened up, her gaze sharpening.

"Yeah, the rats came out of their hole." The old woman spat, expressing her opinion of the brothers.

Feeling a tiny thrill of excitement, Lee sought confirmation. "Pike and Eddie live around here?"

"Right across the street from little Rhi. Born and raised right there, damn their worthless hides," Olive said, glaring at a faded brown house on the opposite side of the road. "Had the nicest mother, but their Daddy was a worthless low-life. They're just chips off the old block. Wishta hell they'd move away."

With deliberate casualness, Lee asked, "So, when you saw them last night, did they seem...oh, I dunno...different or anything."

Olive narrowed her bright eyes at the big woman speculatively. "You some kind of cop?"

"No. I'm in private security, but I am worried about Rhi. She had two near misses yesterday, and that just strikes me as more than coincidental."

"And yer thinkin' Pike and Eddie mighta had somepin to do with that?" Olive took one final drag from her cigarette butt and ground it under her shoe.

"I don't know. I've had run-ins with them before." Lee watched the intelligent old face closely.

"Who hasn't?" Olive snorted. "The whole damn neighbourhood has crossed them one time or 'nother." She sighed deeply. "Hell, if I could tell ya somepin to nail them, I would, but they was just standin' there like the rest of us, watchin' the fire." She pushed her purse back on her thin arm and nodded briskly. "Gotta get goin'. Bin nice talkin' with ya. Give my regards to little Rhiannon."

"I will. Thanks."

Lee watched the elderly woman hobble briskly off, before turning to stare at the brothers' home. There was no sign of life about the place. Blinds were drawn, and the only living thing in the yard was a skinny mongrel nosing through piles of debris. Two motorcycles sat in the dirt driveway, and Lee crossed the street to take a closer look.

Examining the bikes, she saw a thin layer of soot coating the bright chrome and surmised that the Harleys hadn't been moved since before the fire. Impulsively, she climbed the two stairs to the porch. Frowning at the flies buzzing around an overturned beer can and a half-eaten piece of pizza under a plastic chair, she shook her head and knocked on the door. There was no answer, and she tried twice more before giving up. The King brothers may have watched the excitement the previous night, but they were nowhere around now.

Returning to Dana's car, she sat behind the wheel and pondered the situation. Her instincts were telling her there was much more here than met the eye, and that there were simply too many coincidences. Why had arsonists chosen this house to burn? She ran through the possibilities. Had Rhi angered her nasty neighbours to the point where they'd taken their revenge? Had Rhi's aunt burned her own house for the insurance? Was Rhi's near miss with the car connected to the fire in some way?

Lee considered the first option. Certainly Pike and Eddie weren't above arson. She didn't think they were above anything as long as it was in their interests. But somehow she doubted that one run-in weeks previously would have triggered them to burn Rhi's house. She would need to check with Rhi to see if any additional incidents had occurred between her and the brothers since the confrontation in the alley. She would also need to check whether Hettie was in for a big insurance pay-off. The fact that she'd been playing cards with her friends might be important...or it could be sheer coincidence. It was the near miss with the car that really bothered Lee though, as it seemed to have set the chain of events in motion.

Chewing on her lip, Lee decided it was time to do some digging...starting with the King brothers and what they'd been up to recently. Deciding on the perfect place to begin her enquiries, she started the engine and, with one last glance at the blackened ruins of the old, yellow house, drove away.

Continued in Chapter 22