Memphis May Fire (#1 of the Harleigh Lynn series)

Chapter Twelve: Strategies

Gene spun to face her, fury in his eyes.

"Harleigh, why can't you ever just stop? We are in the middle of something. For once can't you just save the know-it-all comments? No. One. Cares. What. You. Say," Gene said, taking a step towards her.

Harleigh backed away on impulse, reaching for her gun, which wasn't there.

"I love how you call everyone an idiot when you went back in the fire to get... what did you even get? Your baseball cards?" Harleigh frowned.

"My engagement ring if you must know," Gene snarled, "I hate you so much."

"You're welcome for helping you."

"Don't you get it by now? We don't need you, punk. And if you haven't noticed, we don't want you either," Gene spat, hands clenched.

The words felt like a punch, and Harleigh realized she wasn't breathing. She forced air into her lungs.

"Both of you, quit," Markov ordered, "Harleigh, what did you figure out?"

"The tour bus. It exploded because that's where the killer committed the murder. He set it on fire to cover the mess," she managed, biting her lip.

They both went silent, and all Harleigh could hear was sirens ringing in her ears and frantic people in the background. Her thoughts didn't sound much different, and she took a deep breath and tried to keep calm. She looked up at the hotel to see smoke covering the top floor.

"Are you sure you haven't seen Ari?" Gene asked, "And Wilma?"

"No."

"Well, don't you think you should've stayed inside and gone after them?" Gene demanded.

"I'm not stupid."

"I think I'm going to disagree."

"There they are!" Harleigh interrupted, pointing.

Ari and Wilma jogged towards them, both soaking wet and panting. Wilma wore a blue sweater and plaid pajama pants and looked furious.

"Where—," Gene began.

"This idiot decided to come save me," Wilma said, pointing at Ari, "And we ended up having to turn the shower on and douse ourselves so we wouldn't burn!"

"And whose idea was it to turn on the shower?" Markov asked.

Wilma sighed.

"Ari's," she admitted.

"So he did save you. Ever heard of gratitude?" Gene asked, then turned to Ari, "You are the stupidest, bro. I hate you."

Gene shoved him, but Harleigh could tell it was half-hearted.

"Yeah, whatever," Ari said, forcing his wet black hair out of his eyes, "Where's Powell? I need to talk to him."

"He won't listen to you looking like that," Gene pointed out.

Ari frowned.

"He know who I am."

"Does he? Cause you in shorts is not the same as regular you. By the way, does this mean we get out of morning workout?"

Ari didn't react, he just walked off, asking officers questions along the way. Harleigh sat back down on the ground, closing her eyes.

"Harleigh," Markov said, "Are you ok?"

"Who cares?" Gene spat.

"I'm fine," Harleigh said.

She opened her eyes and spotted Matty and his band members across the parking lot, worried but safe. He waved at her and came over.

"What's going on?"

Gene clamped his mouth shut with a growl, so Wilma answered.

"We don't know yet."

"Hey, Matty, I figured something out," Harleigh said, "Remember how the tour bus exploded but we didn't know why? The man who was murdered was probably murdered in the bus."

"Whoa. Yeah that makes sense. We cleaned it out in the morning and didn't go in there the whole afternoon. But how did the criminal know that?"

"Where did you discuss your plans?" Harleigh asked.

"Over breakfast."

"Yeah, the criminal is staying in the hotel. He's probably here," Harleigh said, waving a weary hand at the wreckage and confusion.

Matty's thick eyebrows shot up.

"Whoa. You figured all that out? That's BA, man."

Harleigh frowned.

"BA? Oh wait, I get it. You could just say the words, you know. "

"I don't really curse. Personal reasons. People think it's stupid sometimes."

Harleigh allowed herself a half smile.

"I think personal reasons are pretty BA."

He laughed, and Harleigh felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth.

"Thanks. Any idea where we're gonna sleep?" she asked.

Markov, Gene, and Wilma all frowned.

"I don't suppose we happen to have a plan?" Markov inquired, his tone suggesting that he already knew the answer.

"No. What do you expect us to do? We're all in our pajamas and practically homeless!" Gene ranted, "By the way, Markov, where did you get those sweatpants? They look cool."

"Gene, let's not discuss my shopping habits until people stop dying, please," Markov said.

Ari returned, looking tired and dejected.

"No traces. Looks like we'll be sleeping at the venue."

"Oh no. I'm not sleeping there, Ari, and I'm serious," Gene shot back, "There's no way."

"Then you can sleep in the car," Ari offered, "Either way we aren't going to another hotel."

"Well, the killer is probably going to the venue too. So great for us," Harleigh said.

Ari frowned.

"Is there something I've missed?"