Page 62 of Fear of Flames
Ali shrugged. “Perkins shut up quick when we mentioned the shed.”
“Why would Deputy McBride make something like that up?”
Ali’s smile grew. “I don’t think she did. That’s what we’re going to find out. I put the Holdcraft address in the GPS. We’re headed there now.”
Kenzi checked her watch. “Our flight to Indianapolis leaves…”
“In four and a half hours from Boston. We have time.”
“It’s a crime scene.”
“We’re right here. We owe it to this crime to check everything out. The Sheriff wasn’t any help. Besides, do you really think they have enough deputies in Iron Falls to have someone watching the scene twenty-four seven? And see how clear these roads are? There’s been a lot of traffic back and forth. I think there’s more to this than a sad man ending it all.”
Kenzi took out her phone and began to film. “Hi everyone. It’s Friday and I’m Kenzi.”
“And I’m Ali.”
“We’re in Iron Falls, Massachusetts, to learn more about the Holdcraft mystery. Mother, father, and daughter all consumed by flames.” She turned off the camera.
Ali laughed. “That was good.”
“Thanks. It just came to me.”
If it weren’t for the parade of sheriff cars, trucks, ambulances, and fire trucks that drove these roads recently, the turnoff to the lane leading to Dennis Holdcraft’s home would be easy to miss. As it was, the well-traveled lane was obvious.
“If anyone’s here, we’ll act casual and try to get some more information.”
“And if no one is,” Kenzi said, “we’ll get as much footage of the property as possible. Then tonight in the hotel we’ll go through it.”
Ali brought the rental car to a stop about fifty feet from what remained of the home. Both ladies stared at the charred aftermath. While no one was patrolling the area, there was yellow police tape tied to posts surrounding what was left.
After shutting off the car, both ladies zipped their coats and opened the doors to the cold air. The stench of burned wood assaulted their senses. The ground beneath their boots was slippery with frozen water, and their breath crystallized in the air. “How big was the house before?” Kenzi asked.
“I read in the county assessment that it was two stories and two thousand square feet.”
They stared in amazement.
“It doesn’t even look like it was one story.”
Ali pointed to what remained of the chimney. “That’s basically all that’s left.”
“I can’t imagine the condition Mr. Holdcraft was in when they found him.”
“Probably not a lot left.” Ali took out her phone and videoed what was left of the house. She didn’t speak. The silence was appropriately eerie. When she turned the camera off, she looked from left to right. “Let’s find the shed.”
Kenzi asked, “Do you want to split up?”
“No,” Ali answered immediately. “This is the middle of nowhere. I’m not prepared to meet a bear or an elk.”
“I’m not prepared either.”
“Yeah, but I can run faster than you.”
Kenzi pushed playfully against Ali’s shoulder. “Let’s follow some of these boot prints.”
“Wait.” Ali turned the camera on her phone back on. This time, she spoke. “We’re here at the sight of the fire in Iron Falls.” She switched the camera and began to pan the scene. “This is where Dennis Holdcraft, the father of author D. Valentine, lost his life. There’s very little left of his home.” She turned the camera again. “Come with us as we search for more clues.” After taping a few seconds of their walk, Ali turned off the camera.
Kenzi pulled a pair of gloves from her coat pocket and slipped them on. “It’s cold.”
