Chapter 14 - THE FIRE IN THE WALLS
By the time they reached the property, smoke poured from the roof.
Fire crews crowded the front lawn. Chief Harlan stood near the command truck.
He saw Ryan and immediately reached for his radio.
Ruiz stepped in front of him. "State police. Don't."
Harlan smiled thinly. "Detective, this is a local scene."
"Not anymore."
Ryan ignored them and ran toward the side yard.
Owen grabbed his shoulder. "You can't go in."
"Emma's photograph might prove who you are."
"It's a picture."
"It's also her dead mother."
Owen looked toward Emma, who was crying beside Father Ben's car.
"I'm coming."
They entered through the storm tunnel beneath the garage, covering their mouths with wet shirts.
Smoke filled the passages.
Inside Lily's wall, flames crackled behind plaster.
Emma's stuffed rabbit lay beneath a blanket.
Owen grabbed it.
A zipper ran along its back. Inside was a photograph and a flash drive.
"What's that?" Ryan asked.
Owen stared. "I didn't put it there."
Footsteps sounded through the smoke.
Caroline appeared from the far passage, coughing violently.
Ryan rushed to her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Victor thinks I'm still at his office. I came for the phone."
She held up a red cell phone.
Owen laughed once in disbelief.
Then a gun clicked behind them.
Chief Harlan stepped through the smoke.
"Hand it over, Caroline."
Ryan moved in front of her.
Harlan aimed at his chest.
"I've spent twenty-two years cleaning up your family's mistakes," he said. "I'm not losing my pension over a dead woman's recording."
Behind Harlan, flames raced across the ceiling.
Caroline whispered, "Ryan, the wall to your right is hollow."
May you like
Harlan heard her.
He fired.
