Chapter 23

“Danny boy, are you all right?” Concern, faked, Daniel was certain, laced Ray’s words.

“I’m fine,” Daniel replied, scrambling out of bed to get his backpack. One handed, he opened it, taking out a pad and pencil before going back to sit down on the bed. “Why wouldn’t I be?” he added, wondering how Ray would respond.

“I heard about your house. The fire.”

“How? Are you in Denver again?”

There was a pause before Ray said, “No, I’m at home, but I saw something about it online.”

“Really? Damn. I wouldn’t have thought it was newsworthy.”

Again, Ray paused, then laughed. “You know how small towns are. They want the world to know they exist and a fire that could have burned down half the forest would do that.”

“I suppose.” Daniel looked up from writing down what Ray was saying to see Griffin standing in the doorway.

“The bastard?” Griffin mouthed.