Gabriel kept his hand on the doorknob, as if letting go would leave him trapped, a prisoner to half-accurate accusations.

“Look, I’ve got school ”

“This will only take a second.”

Gabriel sighed, but followed.

Michael’s laptop was open on the kitchen table, and he slid his fingers across the trackpad to wake the screen. At first, Gabriel had no idea what he was supposed to be looking at. He recognized the local newspaper’s Web site; he’d been reading about the Ravens’ defensive line all week. The main story was something about a neighborhood dispute in Federal Hill. Big whoop.

Then he saw the headline just below it, in slightly smaller print.

ALLEGED ARSON SUSPECT IMPERSONATES FIREMAN AT LAKE

SHORE BLAZE

Shit.

Gabriel clicked on the link.

“That was last night,” said Michael.

“Thanks. I can read.” Gabriel’s eyes were locked on the article.

A fire broke out in the Lake Shore commu

nity last night, injuring three firefighters, one critically. Preliminary investigations have determined that this fire may have been started by the same arsonist who allegedly initiated fires at Magothy Beach Road and Kinder Farm Lane.

Blah, blah. Gabriel skimmed farther.

Firefighters on the scene report an unidentified man wearing protective gear that matched that of local volunteer fire companies. No description of the suspect is available. Fire Marshal Jack Faulkner would not comment on the investigation, but an anonymous caller who claims to have been on duty at the scene stated, “This guy’s got a hero complex, starting fires just to play fireman. We lost a guy this week.

We’re going to catch him before he kills someone else.”

A hero complex. Were they f**king kidding?

Not only did his brothers think he was setting fires to kill people, but the firefighters did, too.

Michael was still standing there watching him. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”

Gabriel slapped the laptop shut and turned for the hallway.

“Hey,” said Michael. “Let’s talk about this.”

“What do you want me to say?” Gabriel called over his shoulder. His throat felt tight, and if he stopped, if Michael kept up this let’s-work-through-it-together crap any longer, he was going to seriously lose it. “Congratulations, Detective, you solved the case.”

“Goddamn it, Gabriel, this puts all of us at risk. Do you understand me?”

“So turn me in.”

“Keep acting like this, and I’ll be forced to.”

That made Gabriel stop short on the steps, but he didn’t turn.

He could barely breathe through his anger. Michael wouldn’t.

He couldn’t.

Gabriel didn’t even know who he’d turn him in to. The cops, the Guides?

Did it really matter which? He wasn’t starting the fires. If he and Hunter stopped, nothing would change.

Except more people might die.

“Please,” said Michael. “I don’t want to think you’re doing this, but ”

“But what? You can’t help it? I’m such a frigging screwup that it has to be ”

“Cut the crap. It’s obvious you’re involved somehow. Would you just tell me what’s going on?”

Gabriel started walking again. “Why bother? You sound like you’ve made up your mind already.”

“I can’t help you if you won’t ”

Gabriel slammed his bedroom door. Then leaned against it, hands in fists at his sides.

He could just shower at school. He didn’t even have to wait for his brothers; he could cut through the woods and be there in half an hour. Plenty of time. He grabbed a duffel bag from his closet and shoved some clothes inside.

Then he paused, his hand on a T-shirt. Maybe he should pack some extra clothes, in case there was a fire tonight.

Then he remembered the line from the article: We’re going to catch him before he kills someone else.

Michael could kiss his ass. But real firefighters they’d be looking for him now. They knew he had the jacket, the helmet.

He needed to stop. He’d talk to Hunter. Seriously, they should stop.

But last night’s fire had been raging. Whoever started that fire wanted people to die. That fireman had come through the floor.

He wouldn’t have survived.

Neither would that little girl.

Christ, his head hurt. Gabriel kept shoving clothes in the bag.

Either way, maybe he could just crash at Hunter’s. Hell, he’d sleep in the woods.

Whatever, he didn’t have to come back here.

Where he wasn’t wanted.

CHAPTER 20

The locker rooms were deserted. No shocker there; school wasn’t supposed to start for another half hour, and first period was always saved for freshman health. Gabriel turned the water as hot as he could tolerate and just stood there, letting it blaze into his skin. He’d run far and hard this morning, and he’d hoped the pain would steal his focus and force his brain to think of something other than the fight with his brother.

No luck.

Keep acting like this and I’ll be forced to.

Goddamn Michael.

A door slammed farther out toward the gym. One of the coaches maybe, or someone grabbing a quick half hour in the weight room.

It probably meant he should get moving. Gabriel slapped the faucet to kill the stream of water.

When he was rubbing his hair with the towel, he heard a locker open somewhere out of sight. Then voices, too far away to make out. Laughter. Gabriel pulled his cell phone out of his bag to check the time. Still early.