Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
“Honey, I think I might be here pass five so you can call the car to come get you.”
“Well, if you’re going to be late, I might just stick around here for a while as well and get some more stuff done.”
“What stuff? I thought you were just going over some last minute paperwork?”
“I was, but then I got here and went over everything and I’m going to need to order some things, plus I might want to rearrange some merchandise.”
“You’re not doing any heavy lifting are you?”
“No I’m not. I promise.”
“Who’s there with you?”
“No one now, I let Priscilla leave since it’s pass her quitting time.”
“I don’t want you down here too late babe. Are the doors locked?”
“Yes they are, and it’s not that late. It’s still light out.”
“It won’t be for much longer. If you’re still there when it starts to get dark out, I want you to call me.”
“I will, now get back to work. The sooner you’re done, the sooner you can get home.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to you later.”
I got caught up again and the next time I checked, it was well pass six. She hadn’t called, so I guess she’d gone home. Night was coming earlier now since summer was at an end. The boardwalk changes a lot after a certain time of night. In the day, it’s bustling with tourists and shoppers but when the sun goes down the clientele changes. There’s a line of bars up and down the pier that can get a bit rowdy after hours, especially after happy-hour ends at seven. Her store hours were nine to six. I’d made that stipulation because I usually knocked off at five and this way we could drive into the city together in the mornings and go home the same at night. If anything changed, I could always have the car come pick her up but there was no way I wanted her down there by herself.
I called the house from my car and got no answer but I didn’t worry about that. Chances are, she was in the shower or out in the pool. Halfway home the phone rang.
“Stryker.”
“Mr. Stryker this is Drake your wife’s security I think you better get down here to her store.” My heart dropped in my chest, he didn’t have to say any more for me to know that something was wrong.
“What’s going on?” I made an illegal U turn and headed back in the direction I’d come.
“There was a fire…”
“Where’s my wife?”
“She’s here she’s fine.”
“What kind of fire... what happened?”
“The firemen are here right now dealing with it, it doesn’t look to be too bad. Seems they caught it in time, but your wife was inside when it happened.”
“Was she hurt? Put her on the phone.”
“Gabe…”
“Sweetie are you alright?”
“Yes I’m fine but the store…”
“Forget about the store just stay with Drake until I get there.” I’m going to have that inspector’s head on a fucking platter. He promised me that everything was in working order, how could this have happened? I broke every speed limit getting there, my heart in my throat. To think just a few short weeks ago I was so mad at her I could kill her, now the idea of something happening to her made me physically ill.
The place was a madhouse with fire trucks, police cars and spectators but I didn’t care about that, I only wanted to find my wife. She found me as I was searching through the crowd and ran into my arms.
“It’s okay sweetie I’m here.”
“I’m so sorry Gabe.”
“What are you talking about? You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“But the store…”
“What did I tell you? I don’t care about that. Now you sure you’re okay, you didn’t inhale any smoke?” My only thought now was for her and the child I was sure she carried.
“No, I wasn’t in there that long after it started. This guy came in and got me before I even knew what was going on.”
“That would be Drake your security.”
“Security, why do I need security?”
“Because you’re my wife and it’s not up for debate.”
“Okay Gabriel.” I wonder if she realized she only called me that when I was being forceful with her, every other time it was Gabe.
“Come on looks like they’re looking for us.” Drake was pointing us out to the fire chief.
“Good evening sir. I’m Gabriel Stryker and this is my wife Nadia. We own this store.”
“Well, we were able to save the building and your stuff inside wasn’t touched, though there might be some smoke damage. The fire was started at the back door and thankfully the accelerant wasn’t very strong or you could’ve had a very different outcome.”
“I’m sorry did you say the fire was started?”
“Yes I’m afraid so do you know of anyone who would want to do this? I’m sure the cops are gonna want to talk to you about that.”