Chapter 3 Fire!

Joana sat across from Arthur Reid, feeling a mixture of anxiety and determination. His office, now illuminated, felt less intimidating, but the weight of her purpose kept her on edge. She hadn't had time to process everything, Paige's death, James's betrayal, Martha's deception. It was all too much, too fast. But one thing was clear: she needed justice, and she needed it now.

Arthur leaned back in his chair, his eyes studying her with a quiet intensity. He was handsome in a way that was both effortless and striking, with sandy blonde hair that framed a face marked by years of experience. His presence was calm and reassuring, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside Joana. Despite the chaos of her life, she couldn't help but notice the way his blue eyes softened when he looked at her.

"So, Ms. Cameron," Arthur began, his voice smooth and measured, "tell me exactly what happened."

Joana hesitated, gathering her thoughts. She felt vulnerable, exposed, but there was something about Arthur's gaze that made her feel safe, as if he was the only one who could help her through this nightmare. "It started when I got a call from my daughter, Paige," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "She was struggling to breathe, and I rushed home as fast as I could. But when I got there, I found..." Her voice faltered, and she had to pause, blinking back tears. "I found my sister, Martha, naked in my living room. James was there too, and it was clear what they'd been doing."

Arthur's expression remained neutral, though his eyes flickered with something unreadable-anger? Sympathy? Whatever it was, Joana felt a small surge of warmth, knowing he was on her side. "And Paige?" he prompted gently.

Joana swallowed hard, her throat tight with emotion. "I found her upstairs, barely conscious. She was trapped between the bed and the wall. I tried to help her, but... by the time we got to the hospital, it was too late." She couldn't stop the tears from slipping down her cheeks. "I lost her. I lost my little girl."

Arthur's gaze softened even further, and for a moment, Joana thought she saw a flicker of pain in his eyes, as if her suffering had somehow touched him deeply. "Ms. Cameron," he said, his voice dropping to a tender whisper, "I'm truly sorry for your loss. But to build a case against your husband, we need more than just the affair. We need evidence that his actions-or inactions-led directly to Paige's death."

Joana's eyes widened in realization. "You mean... I need to prove that James is responsible for Paige's death?"

Arthur leaned forward, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "Yes. If we can establish that James neglected your daughter's needs, or that he intentionally failed to help her when she was in distress, then we have grounds for a much stronger case. But we need evidence. Something solid that can't be dismissed or ignored."

Joana's mind raced. Evidence. What could she possibly have that would prove James's culpability? Then it hit her-the security cameras. James had installed them throughout the house for protection. They had been recording everything that happened inside the house.

"There are security cameras in the house," Joana said, her voice filled with a new sense of urgency. "They record everything. If James was with Martha when Paige needed help, it would be on those tapes."

Arthur's eyes lit up with interest, a spark that made Joana feel a flicker of something-hope, maybe, or something more. "That could be exactly what we need," he said, his tone serious. "But you need to act quickly. If James realizes what you're up to, he might try to destroy the evidence."

Joana nodded, already standing up. "I'll go get the footage right now," she said, her determination overpowering the grief that had been consuming her for days.

Arthur stood as well, moving around the desk with a surprising swiftness. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. The touch was brief but electric, sending a shiver up Joana's spine. "Be careful, Joana," he said, his voice low and sincere. "If James knows you're gathering evidence against him, there's no telling how he might react. Make sure you're not followed, and if you sense any danger, leave immediately and call the authorities."

Joana nodded again, feeling a rush of something she hadn't felt in a long time-trust. "Thank you, Arthur," she said, using his first name for the first time. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Arthur gave her a reassuring smile, his hand lingering on hers for just a moment longer than necessary. "I'll be here," he promised, his voice carrying a warmth that made Joana's chest tighten. "Good luck."

With that, Joana left the office, her mind whirling. The drive home felt like an eternity, the city's lights blurring as she sped down familiar streets. Despite the urgency, her thoughts kept drifting back to Arthur-his steady presence, his reassuring touch, the way his eyes seemed to see right through her defenses. There was something about him, something she couldn't quite place, but it made her feel safer, stronger.

When Joana finally arrived home, a sense of unease washed over her. The street was too quiet, the house too dark. She quickly parked her car and hurried to the front door, her hands trembling slightly as she fumbled with the keys.

The moment she stepped inside, the smell hit her-smoke. It was faint, but unmistakable, clinging to the air like a warning. Joana's heart pounded as she rushed toward the living room, where the security system was set up.

What she found was worse than she had imagined. The small cabinet where the security equipment was stored was charred black, the contents inside reduced to ashes. The camera, the hard drive-everything that could have held evidence of James's betrayal and negligence was destroyed.

"No..." Joana whispered, falling to her knees in front of the smoldering wreckage. She reached out, touching the burnt remains, her fingers coming away covered in soot. "No, no, no..."

Her mind raced as she tried to comprehend what had happened. Someone had been here-James, it had to be him. He must have realized what the cameras could reveal and come back to destroy the evidence. He was covering his tracks, erasing any proof that could incriminate him.

Joana felt a wave of panic rising within her. If James had been here, what else had he done? Her eyes darted around the room, searching for any other signs of tampering. But as she scanned the room, something else caught her attention-a flicker of light coming from the hallway.

Joana's heart pounded in her chest as she slowly stood up, her body trembling with fear. She moved toward the hallway, the flickering light growing brighter with each step. When she reached the end of the hall, the source of the light became horrifyingly clear.

The kitchen was on fire.

Flames licked up the walls, the orange and red glow casting eerie shadows across the room. The fire was spreading quickly, consuming everything in its path. The heat was intense, and the smoke was thick, making it hard to breathe.

Joana's first instinct was to grab the fire extinguisher, but it was too late. The fire was too far gone, and the extinguisher wouldn't be enough to stop it. She needed to get out-now.

She turned and ran back down the hallway, her heart racing as the flames followed, creeping closer with every second. The house was filling with smoke, making it difficult to see, but Joana didn't stop. She pushed through the fear, the panic, knowing that if she didn't get out, she wouldn't survive.

As she reached the front door, she glanced back one last time, seeing the flames engulfing the living room, the heat almost unbearable. The house...her homewas being destroyed, just like her life had been. But there was no time to mourn, no time to think. She had to survive.

Joana burst out the front door, gasping for fresh air as she stumbled onto the front lawn. She turned to watch as the fire consumed the house, the flames roaring as they devoured everything she had once cherished.

She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she watched her world burn. Everything was gone, the evidence, her memories, her home. All of it, destroyed in an instant.

But even as the fire raged, Joana knew one thing for certain, this was no accident. James had done this. He had taken everything from her, and now he was trying to erase any trace of his crimes. But Joana wasn't going to let him get away with it. She would find another way to prove the truth, no matter what it took.