Cherringham--Mystery at the Manor Read Free Page B

of the driver’s seat.
    He really needs a bigger car.
    He had put on khakis, a crisp blue shirt, his rumpled morning look gone.
    “You want to start?” he said quietly as they got closer to Barnes who had seen them.
    “As long as I can pass it to you. What I know about arson could fill the back of a postage stamp”
    The Chief took a few steps towards them.
    “Sarah Edwards?”
    “Chief Barnes.”
    The Chief Fire Officer wore a smile.
    Had he heard about how Sarah had helped find Sammi’s killer back in the summer? If so, he might know what she was doing here.
    “Your dad told me at the Parish Council meeting a few months ago that you were back. Couldn’t leave the old village life?”
    She waited for the next bit, the part that always seemed laced with an air of judgement.
    “And two kids as well, hmm?”
    Sarah nodded. She fired a quick look at Jack, who stood there taking little interest in this chit-chat, instead watching the men hosing down the fire engine.
    Sarah hoped he might step in and redirect the conversation. But no such luck.
    “Yup — Chloe and Daniel.”
    “Yes, watched your boy play cricket last weekend. Kid’s got some real skills.”
    Sarah smiled, this loop of chit-chat feeling interminable.
    Finally Jack intervened. “Jack Brennan,” he said sticking his hand out.
    With an unhidden sense of caution, Barnes stuck out his hand and gave Jack’s a firm shake.
    But at least it stopped the ‘catching-up’ train.
    “Chief, my good friend Hope was Victor Hamblyn’s carer.”
    From the corner of her eye she caught a fireman nearby looking over, still polishing the engine which already looked as shiny and bright as possible.
    Barnes nodded, and also folded his arms, the body language clear.
    Sarah continued. “She thought that there was something wrong, about the fire and …”
    Barnes unfolded his arms and put a hand out as if directing traffic.
    “Now hang on, Sarah. I can’t talk about that incident, an unfortunate accident. There’ll be an inquest in due course, and until then I can’t say anything.”
    Sarah nodded. She watched as Barnes looked over to Jack as if expecting an argument there.
    “I know,” Sarah said, searching for words that might make this by-the-book Fire Chief bend the rules just a bit. “But Hope, she told me …”
    Barnes shook his head. “If your friend has any information, I suggest she write up a report and submit it. We’ll be working with the police on the incident and will be glad to look at anything.”
    Sarah felt the heavy virtual thud of a door slamming shut.
    She looked at Jack, as if to say … c’mon, nothing to say here? No magic words from the New York detective to rock the Chief’s boots a bit?
    “Makes sense,” was all that Jack said.
    Sarah thinking … good grief.
    “Okay,” Sarah said. “I’ll make sure she does that.”
    Chief Barnes smiled. “Good. And I’d best see to my desk. Love fighting fires, hate the paperwork!”
    Barnes turned and walked away.
    Sarah shook her head, turned to Jack who signalled with a nod of his head that they should move on but they had only taken a few steps before Sarah felt someone touch her elbow.

4. Smoke and Fire
    Sarah turned around, with Jack, and saw one of the firemen, his uniform dotted with water from the engine cleaning, standing there.
    “Excuse me,” he said. He sounded breathless, whether from dashing to catch them or from whatever had prompted him to drop his soapy rag and follow them.
    She watched the fireman look back to the station house but no one seemed to be watching.
    Jack’s eyes were locked on the young fireman. His nameplate above the pocket of his shirt: Gary Scott.
    “Yes?”
    “I—I couldn’t help what you two were talking about back there. I know Hope. She took care of my gran, very near the end. A big heart, she has.”
    “She does,” Sarah said.
    “My family owed her. Could have been a bad experience. Know what I mean? But Hope, was, well like really