Page 58 of Her Only Hero

“Wes Butler,” the man said.

“May we have a word?”

“Yeah. You are?”

“This is June Harber, and I’m Officer Verbeek. We’re investigating a crime that was committed in this residence.”

The captain nodded. “They made me aware there had been a murder inside.”

“Chief, do you have any indicators as to the cause of the blaze?”

“This fire had high intensity. It burned hot and fast. We won’t be able to make assessments until tomorrow.”

“My guess is arson for crime concealment,” Patrick said.

“Mine, too. But vandalism, pyromania, insurance fraud, or even an act of revenge have to be considered as well.”

Firefighters clomped by in their heavy boots, rolling up hoses.

“I’ll stop by in the morning,” Patrick said.

The captain nodded. “The team will still be here. And the fire marshal, if you have any further questions.”

“Thank you,” I said to the chief. “And be careful.”

Patrick and I headed back into his car. He smiled. “Be careful?”

I shrugged.

He put his arm around me. “You couldn’t get any sweeter if you tried.”

“Neither could you.”

Along the drive home, my mind raced as I tried to imagine how and why the fire had started. Maybe the murder suspect who was still on the loose doused the place with gasoline. I shivered.

“Are you tired?”

I shook my head. “Not really. You?”

“Would you mind if we stopped for a pizza?”

“I could go for that,” I said.

Patrick ordered from a pub, and we picked up the pizza on the way home. At the kitchen table, he opened the box. The smell of fresh bread and pepperoni made my mouth water.

I grabbed a slice and bit off the triangle tip. I was hungrier than I thought. “This is great.”

“Eat up,” he said and took a slice for himself.

I paused before taking another bite. “Is it just me, or does it feel like this case is becoming more obscure?”

He nodded. “It’s not just you.”

“What is your plan or your next move?”

“There are several areas to look into.”

“So many things have happened. Where do you start?”

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