Page 34 of Like You Love Me

London perked up immediately. “Absolutely. I can meet you at three.”

He arrived to find Ryan parked out in front of the restaurant that was attached to a strip mall. Luckily, the fire had been contained to the restaurant. However, most of the other stores had since gone out of business. His restaurant was what had kept the constant foot traffic and the shopping center striving. Now, almost everything was boarded up except for a compound pharmacy on the corner.

London climbed out of the vehicle just as Ryan exited a company car dressed in black slacks, a white shirt, and a black jacket with a Delaware fire department emblem on the left breast pocket.

“That’s your new look?” London teased as he rounded the truck.

Ryan glanced down at the attire and frowned as he said, “It comes with the new job.”

“Not bad.” London chuckled while he unlocked the iron bars that covered the front entrance, followed by the two deadbolts on the front door and then swung the door open. Sunlight immediately beamed into the space. Ryan reached down for the flashlight attached to his belt and followed London inside. They walked through the chard restaurant. The floor was covered in soot. The stench of smoke was still present. Tables and chairs were folded and stacked in piles waiting to be either salvaged or hauled away.

“Show me where they suspected the fire started.”

London led Ryan through the restaurant, passed the long wooden counter, and through the kitchen. The deeper they traveled, the more extensive the damage became.

“Here’s the fire alarm.” London pointed to the black box at the corner of the wall. “And over there is where the box of cleaning supplies was stored.”

Using the flashlight, Ryan moved in closer. At the same time, London looked around the charred remains and sadness set in. The restaurants were special to him and losing one had hit hard. “So how do they know for sure this is where the fire started?”

“This is where most of the damage occurred,” Ryan explained without looking away from the wall he was examining. “As quick as they are to deny a claim, you have to understand that insurance companies stay in business by writing small checks, instead of the big ones,” he told him truthfully. The thought made London angry.

“What I wanted to see is over here.” Ryan stepped over a burnt table and beamed the flashlight along the wall, and, after a few seconds, said, “This here is the origin point.” He banged along the wall, punched a few holes, then pulled out the electrical wires and shone his flashlight. With a wave of his hand, he signaled London to come closer. “You see that?”

His gaze narrowed. “See what?”

Ryan pointed toward his hand. “That’s pre-code electrical.”

“Meaning?” London asked, wide-eyed and confused.

“It means the wiring in this building isn’t up to code.” Ryan looked down and pointed. “Was that freezer plugged in here?”

London looked over at what was once a new sub-zero freezer and nodded.

“If that freezer was plugged into this outlet,” he explained while pointing at a dark charred area of the wall, “This old wiring couldn’t handle the power load, especially with the security system on the same power source.”

London was mildly alarmed. “And it caught on fire.”

Ryan nodded and used his hands to explain. “The fire started here, grew the void space, and reached the flammable cleaning supplies. The fire wasn’t detected until it was too late.”

London’s eyes widened incredulously. “So, it wasn’t arson?”

He shook his head. “No, it was an electrical fire.” Ryan grinned. “I will update the report and send it to your insurance company.”

“Thank you, Ryan. If it weren’t for you, my claim would still be sitting on someone’s desk.” He gave him a fist bump.

“I’m glad I could help.” Ryan rumbled with laughter. “I might actually end up liking this new job.”

“No doubt. You’re good at what you do, and you’re helping the community. Now I can rebuild and hopefully attract other businesses.” In fact, London already had an idea that would bring life back to this spot.

“He’s her what?”

Debra’s eyes were wide with alarm after Bianca told her about seeing Collin at the school.

Drawing a deep calming voice, Bianca repeated, “He’s her drama teacher.”

Debra’s brows lifted in dubious silence.

Bianca rested her elbows on the kitchen island and watched as Debra chopped fresh vegetables on the cutting board. Even though she had yet to respond, she already knew what her best friend was thinking. “I know. It’s like a bad dream.”