Chapter 15

He drove the brush engine to the burned house and pulled up to study the ruins of the small structure before getting out. It sat alone in a wide expanse of land a couple of miles north of the freeway, a mass of gray ashes and the blackened remains of walls and beams. A slight wind sent tumbleweeds rolling along. Snow had fallen in the mountains, and the wind was sharp and biting.

It had been a one story building, a single family dwelling. The sections of the roof that hadn’t burned had collapsed. The remains of a blackened, overstuffed couch and chairs sat in what he guessed was the cramped living room. Not doubt transients had slept there.

According to the reports, the fire department had had permission from the owner, who lived out of state, to burn the structure as a practice exercise. Something, or someone, had beaten them to it, possibly wanting the excitement of fire and thinking it didn’t matter if it burned prematurely. At least that was the kindest spin he could put on it.