Trinity’s heart sank. “I don’t. We have a houseguest because my neighbor’s house caught fire last night.”

“What?” Concern filled his eyes. “What fire?”

Trinity relayed the events of the night before.

“Shit. That really sucks. And they think it was done on purpose?”

“Well, something didn’t accidentally fly through her window to start a fire.”

Jason sucked on his straw, looking thoughtful. “Did they say what was used to start it?”

“No. An accelerant. They didn’t know exactly what it was, but the firefighters said they could smell it last night. So it was probably something like gasoline, I’d guess.”

“Why would someone do that?”

“Beats me.” Trinity shivered. Her words sounded strong, but the thought of a fire starting while Victoria had been asleep made her stomach burn.

“It’s bad enough Kyle was stupid enough to pull out a gun at that service. Someone could have been killed. That’s two bad accidents that you were pretty close to in one day.” Jason’s eyes were full of concern, but Trinity could tell his mind was ticking. He was thinking hard about something.

“Why did he bring a gun? Was he a friend of yours?”

“Sorta. We’ve known each other forever. More like a distant relative than a friend.” Jason frowned like he didn’t know how to describe his relationship with the boy.

“Why on earth did he have a gun? And what made him pull it out?”

Jason met her gaze, his brown eyes quizzical. “I asked him the same thing, but he didn’t tell me. All I know is that he got irate when he saw you.”

“Me?” Trinity squeaked. “What? Why?” She didn’t even know who Kyle was. And he pulled out a gun? Because of her?

“He spotted you and started getting really agitated. Mumbling under his breath.”

“I don’t even know who he is. Are you sure?”

“He pointed at you, swearing under his breath.”

Trinity stared at Jason. “Seriously? I don’t understand. He was going to shoot at me?”

Jason exhaled, resting his weight on his forearms on the table. “That’s what I thought was about to happen. That’s why I tried to get him to put it away.”

“That’s crazy. He must have been pointing at someone else.”

Jason rubbed at his eyes, looking exhausted. “Kyle hasn’t been himself for a few months. All he talks about is how society is corrupt and that all young women are going to hell for their wild behaviors. He looks down on everyone.”

“So he has the right to shoot someone? Was he going to punish me for my hemline being too short? Is that his idea of proper behavior?”

Jason gave a half smile. “Actually, you’re not far off. I was watching TV the other day, and when he came in, all he did was rip apart the female actresses. How they were a bunch of sluts and immoral.”

“He’s on a religious kick?”

The smile disappeared. “Religions are supposed to be about love, not hate. He’s full of hate and anger. It’s like he’s trying to elevate himself by putting others down.”

“Putting others down by shooting them? Like it’s his job to kill people because he thinks they’re sinning?” Trinity said. Was that why he pulled out a gun?

“I don’t know what he was thinking.”

“That makes two of us,” Trinity muttered. “Your friend has mental issues. Now what? Do you need a ride home? Have you talked to your parents?”

“I live with my dad. They divorced a long time ago. My mom lives in Idaho. But no, I don’t want to go there. My dad has been acting weird. He and my grandpa have been fighting.”

“Does your grandpa live with you guys?” Trinity sympathized with his home life. Just because your real parents were still around, it didn’t mean life was easier.

“Nah, he’s got a place on the way to the coast. Lives out in the middle of nowhere, but my dad goes out there a lot. My grandfather’s health isn’t the best.”

“I’m sorry. That has to really suck.”

“He’s a cranky old man.” Jason focused angry brown eyes on Trinity. “I think he’s an asshole. If he dies, I’m not going to cry about it.”

Trinity stared at him. What could she say to that? “That’s horrible. But I kinda get it. My grandmother wouldn’t win any prizes either. I lived with her for a while. She wasn’t mean. She just didn’t care.”

Jason plunged the last of his fries into his pool of ketchup. “He’s the one making my life miserable right now. Both he and my dad. Talk about crazy people. Sometimes they make Kyle look normal.”

Trinity took a deep breath. “You said something about punishment in your text today. What did you mean?”

Jason scowled at his fries before pushing them in his mouth. “I can’t be around them right now. Something is up and my grandpa is on the warpath. I could hear him yelling at my dad over the phone when he found out I went to Glory’s service.”

“Why would he care?”

Jason was silent. She could see his mind flipping through the possibilities. “I’m not sure,” he said slowly. He traced a pattern in his ketchup with his last fry. His phone gave a chirp and he looked at the text. Trinity averted her eyes from the screen, trying to not care even though she was dying of curiosity.