Burn Out Read Free Page B

out of his chair.
“What?”
    “ There was a fire last
night over at the farmer’s market and Sam and her crew responded.
They were inside the warehouse trying to find the owner’s son.
After they pulled him out, Sam went back in.” Buster paused. “There
was an explosion.”
    Ken’s face drained of
color. “But I thought you said she disappeared?” He had trouble
getting the words out. “Is she hurt?”
    “ I don’t know. They found
her helmet outside the back door of the warehouse. The state fire
marshal’s office is still investigating. They searched the
warehouse, she wasn’t found. Police Chief Gladstone is here to see
you and he can tell you more about what happened. Your lawyer is
present, as well. I wanted to let you know what was going on before
you met with them.”
    Ken slowly sat back down
in his chair. “Thank you.” He didn’t know why he said that. His
beautiful wife was missing and he was in jail and couldn’t do a
damn thing about it.
    A million thoughts went
through his head. Sam left him, was his first thought. She couldn’t
take the strain of his trial, all the mounting bills and pressure
of the investigation. So she just got up and left. That was the
best-case scenario because it meant she was alive. Or, someone was
out for revenge and Samantha was hurt, or worse.
    “ Sorry to be the bearer of
bad news.” Buster got up from his chair and walked over to the
door. He gave Ken a hardy pat on the back. “Good luck,
son.”
    Ken followed the same
guard back down the same hallway they had just walked from ten
minutes ago. This time the guard stopped at the visitor’s room. It
was a large, surprisingly clean and bright room with many tables
and chairs. A large box of toys sat in the corner, along with a
small bookcase which held children’s books and magazines. Ken never
wanted his children to see him in a place like this. He asked Sam
and her mother not to bring them here. He would rather they
remember him as a good dad. Not a common criminal.
    He recognized his former
boss sitting next to his attorney.
    “ Ken, I’m sorry about
Samantha,” Chief Gladstone said.
    Suzette Breland, his
attorney, nodded in agreement. “We are all shocked by the news. I
take it the warden gave you the story?”
    “ Yes, he just did. Some of
it. What happened?” Ken felt a numbness come over him as he sat
down at the table. .
    Chief Gladstone went
through the events the night of fire. “No one knows why Samantha
went back into the fire. We did a search last night and again at
daybreak around the area of the warehouse. Nothing was found,
except Sam’s helmet. But we are still investigating. Your mother-
in- law came to the scene this morning. She is obviously very
upset. She said she was going to call Florida Omni Search to assist
with the search.”
    The chief took a long look
at Ken. He wore the standard issue gray prison uniform with a white
t-shirt underneath. His hair was brown with gray streaked
throughout – kept clean and short, military style. His face was
graced with wrinkles and his eyes were the color of iced tea. Light
brown with golden hues. He was obviously visibly shaken.
    “ When was the last time
you spoke to Sam?” Chief Gladstone asked.
    “ Tuesday. She came for
visitation with her.” He pointed his thumb toward his lawyer,
Suzette.
    “ We went over her
testimony for the trial,” Suzette said, picking at her nails. She
had painted them a bright pink color which matched the bright pink
highlight piece in her hair. She dressed a little promiscuous, but
she had the reputation of a bulldog in the courtroom. She didn’t
take no for an answer and fought like hell for all her
clients.
    “ How did she sound to
you?” Chief Gladstone asked.
    “ Like always. She was a
little stressed about the trial and about money. But she seemed to
be holding up pretty good.” Ken sighed.
    “ She didn’t mention
wanting to leave the area or get away from it all?”
    “ No, absolutely not.