Page 25 of Fear of Flames
“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. He seemed very anxious to speak with you.” Officer Andrews’s brow furrowed. “When was the last time you saw your father?”
“It was a few days ago—Thursday. I drove out to Boston for an event. I stopped at Dad’s and left my car with him.”
“You didn’t stop to get your car on the way home?” Officer McCoy asked.
Michelle allowed the tears to cascade down her cheeks. “No.” She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “I thought there would be time. The forecast was bad out there, so I decided to fly home instead of drive.”
“Please contact Sheriff Perkins. He has questions.”
Michelle nodded, knowing good and well she had no intention of speaking to the sheriff.
“Your father,” Officer Andrews said, “was an esteemed member of IMPD. We’ve also contacted Chief Bradley. He offered his condolences and said that IMPD would be honored to take part in your father’s celebration of life.” He handed Michelle another card. “Here’s the chief’s contact information.”
Michelle shook her head. “This is too much.”
“If you need anything,” Officer McCoy said, “you have my number. Call anytime.” She took a step back. “We’re sorry.”
Michelle looked up, her eyes glassy with tears. “Do you have any information on the fire? How did it start? Was he trapped?”
Officer McCoy pressed her lips together. “I think you should hear the details from the sheriff. We were told the Iron Falls fire investigators have contacted ATF.”
Michelle wrinkled her forehead. “They don’t suspect arson, do they?”
“Ma’am,” Officer Andrews asked, “how was your father when you saw him?” When Michelle didn’t respond, he added, “Did he seem depressed or upset?”
Michelle shook her head. “I don’t understand.” Her eyes opened in alarm. “The sheriff doesn’t suspect Dad would set his own home on fire, does he?”
“Right now, everything is under investigation,” Officer McCoy said. “I believe the sheriff simply wants to ask you a few questions.”
“I can’t.” She shook her head. “My dad…”
Officer McCoy did a good job of appearing sympathetic. Michelle wasn’t sure if she truly was or if it was the role the officer was playing.
“Ms. Holdcraft, you have our sincere condolences. I’ll contact the sheriff and let him know we’ve spoken to you. Understandably, you’re not ready to speak to him until tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” Michelle managed as she walked the two officers to the door, opened it, and stood motionless as they walked back into the cold night. Once they were back to their cruiser, she closed the front door and engaged the locks.
Before she could turn, she heard the vibration of the burner phone coming from the kitchen. It was the one Fletch gave her. It vibrated again by the time she reached it. Opening the flip phone, she saw the numeral one. “Hello.”
“You did good. I knew you would.”
Michelle turned completely around, wondering how Fletch was up to the second on her visitors. “Are you watching me?”
“Doing my assignment.”
“Unofficial assignment.”
He went on. “Have you ordered a new phone?”
Her mind was still concentrating on the fact that she was being watched.
“Shelly?”
She inhaled at his use of her dad’s nickname for her. “Um” —phone, he’d asked about a new phone— “I just finished the online order before the police arrived. I paid extra to have shipping expedited. It’s supposed to arrive tomorrow.”
“Good. It will have the same number as your old one. You can call Perkins after you get it activated.”
Holding tightly to the phone, Michelle slid down the wall to the tile floor, pulling her knees beneath the oversized hoodie. “I’m afraid to talk to him.”
