Chapter 34

“He was a good man,” she said, “but bad luck seemed to follow him like a shadow.”

“How’d the fire start?” Chris asked.

The woman winced. “They suspect he fell asleep with a cigarette.”

Chris exchanged a glance with Ron.

“He was a drunk,” she said. “Couldn’t get a job, about to lose the house. Sad.”

Ron nodded. “Well,” he said, “thank you for your time.”

“Sorry to bother you,” Chris said.

Ron said, “If you think of anything else, please contact us.”

They turned to leave, then the woman gasped and she held up the business card. “That’s why I know that name.”

Ron breathed out while Chris turned.

“Charlie was going to meet a detective from here,” she said. “He thought maybe his case would be reopened and this detective would help him.”

Chris said, “Do you know the detective’s name? Did you see him?”

“I didn’t see him,” she said. “I think his name was Abrams, though. That sounds familiar.”

Chris glanced at Ron, who clenched his jaw.