Slow Burn

He carefully adjusted the collar of his white shirt before continuing. "She won't move her company now. She's responsible, you see. Always responsible. Everyone comes before Kate. She will stay in Silver Springs because that's the responsible thing to do. For a long while she stayed for her mother, and now she'll stay for her sister. Isabel is the youngest, but of course you know that, don't you? Kate will stay here for at least another two, perhaps three, years.

"I would love it if she stayed permanently and expanded her company from here. She could put Silver Springs on the map. It would probably take her longer to achieve international success from here, but with her drive and her determination I have no doubt she'll get it… if that is what she wants. She'll do magnificent things wherever she is, but this is where Kate belongs."

"How did the other owners feel about reducing the price of the warehouse?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask them. I have controlling interest," he explained. "And the others will do whatever I want them to do. Together we own several blocks, and now that the renovation is under way and the rebirth has begun, they know they'll make a fortune. Silver Springs is a small community, and because it offers people a slower pace and a safer environment, it's becoming the place to live and play. We want to attract local business, so helping Kate by reducing the price will be seen as goodwill."

"I'll need the names of the other owners."

"Yes, of course."

"So you reduced the price because it was a smart business move."

"Yes, but also because I knew Kate was in financial trouble." Dylan sat back. "Oh? How did you know that?" Carl ran his fingers across the smooth surface of the table while he thought about the question. "I'm not sure how I knew," he admitted. "Someone told me. Yes," he said, nodding. "Someone must have told me, and now you'll want to know who that person was, and for the life of me, I can't remember. There have been so many cocktail parties and di

Dylan had never questioned anyone quite like Carl before. He was prone to digression, but Dylan was determined to keep him on track. "If I were to ask you to write the names of the people who knew you owned that warehouse…"

"Impossible," Carl said. "I've been heavily promoting the area. I swear I've told half of Charleston and Silver Springs and Sava

"Why Sava

"I have many friends," he explained. "I spend a great deal of time there."

"Have you ever met any MacKe

"Not that I recall. I believe Kate and her sisters are the only MacKe

"You still haven't explained what makes you responsible for the explosions."

"Consider the circumstances," he said. "I invited Kate to my estate, and I insisted she bring her products, and boom, she's nearly killed. And through a Realtor I encourage her to look at my warehouse, and boom, she's nearly killed again. I own both properties, you see. I am responsible. I just don't know how or why. I'm hoping you'll be able to figure that out."

The only thing Carl might be guilty of was telling everything he knew to anyone who would listen. Someone used him for information.

"What's your financial situation?" Dylan asked.

"Dismal at the moment. Abysmal. I've completely overextended myself. But it's temporary," he assured him. "I'm building a gallery on my property-which will be magnificent when it's completed-and I've sunk the rest of my money into this latest project. But I have no doubt the return will be well worth the risk."

Dylan was a little surprised by Carl's candor. He was an unusual character and a complete contradiction. On the one hand he was pretentious and arrogant, and on the other he was straightforward and considerate. One thing was certain, he wore his heart on his sleeve for everyone to see, so there was little pretense when it came to his feelings.

"How did you meet Kate?" Dylan asked. It seemed such a curious friendship to him.

Carl smiled. "I met her at the hospital. It was several years back. She was there with her mother, and I was visiting my sister, Susa

"Oh, yes." He understood perfectly.

"She could start pulses racing even back then. My sister actually introduced us. Kate was waiting for her mother to come out of X-ray, and my sister was waiting to be taken in, and they began to chat. They became dear friends in no time at all. Susa

"Susa

Chapter Thirty-one

DYLAN WASN'T ABOUT TO LET KATE WALK INTO THE SMITH AND Wesson building to sign any papers until he was absolutely certain she would be safe. Figuring out all the details and coordinating security measures with Nate and the Charleston PD, the FBI, and the Sava

One solution would be for the attorney to bring the papers to Kate. The Silver Springs police station would have been a good location, but anywhere away from the heart of Sava

Unfortunately, the location for the meeting couldn't be moved. When Dylan got Anderson on the phone and suggested other arrangements, the attorney was most apologetic as he explained that a change of venue wouldn't be possible.

"I must follow Compton MacKe