Burning Down the House

by Allie Gail

  Mr. Weston was rambling on and on in a monotone about partial derivatives but all I could manage to focus on was the empty desk across the room. Jordan’s desk. If I concentrated hard enough, I could almost see her sitting there now with that perfect posture, ankles crossed daintily in front of her. Crinkling her nose the way she always did when she was concentrating. It was a quirky habit of hers.

  I pictured the highlights in her auburn hair and the way her nails were always neatly manicured. I thought about the blue Hello Kitty shirt she wore sometimes. How she always smelled like watermelon. The knack she had for answering questions effortlessly when everyone else was stumped. The way her flawless porcelain skin was undoubtedly now charred and crumbling, that beautiful red hair all singed and burned away…

  I knew without a doubt that I was about to throw up. Without even asking, I bolted out of class and barely made it to the restroom to hover over a toilet before puking. And crying. At the same time. It wasn’t my finest hour. At least the restroom was empty so there was nobody to witness me losing it. The strange thing is, I felt a lot better afterwards. After spending fifteen minutes hunched over, gagging and sobbing and shaking, I began to feel purged of more than my morning bowl of Fruity Pebbles. Maybe I just needed a good cleansing cry. Girls are like that sometimes.

  Not looking forward to twenty-six faces all turning to gape at me, I waited until the bell rang before returning for my books. Mr. Weston was flipping through his notes and glanced up at me to ask, “Feeling all right, Sara?”

  Gathering my things, I nodded sheepishly. “I’m fine. It’s probably just a stomach bug or something.”

  “Go and see the nurse if you need to.”

  “That’s okay. I mean, I’m feeling better now.”

  “Hm. Deanna was planning on giving you a call later to see if you were available to babysit Friday night, but I don’t know…if you’re coming down with the flu or something…”

  “It’s not the flu,” I hastily reassured him. With Christmas coming up, some extra cash would sure come in handy. “Really, it’s just a little upset stomach. I’m not contagious or anything.”

  “All right, I’ll have her give you a call then. I’d go ahead and tell you what time to come over but I’m not sure yet what our definite plans are.”

  “Okay. Tell her I’m available.” I headed for the door as students from his next class began to trickle in. “See you tomorrow.”

  “Sure thing. Take care of that tummy.”

  Lunchtime was unusually quiet. Nobody seemed to be in the mood to joke around, not even Colin. The whole subject was avoided like the plague, and I for one was glad. I didn’t want to hear any more theories about what happened, or who did it, or why. What was the point of guessing? We’d all know soon enough. Then Chief Landry could arrest the bastard and bury him beneath the jail.

  The one bright spot in my day was Rob. He was even more attentive than usual, and that was appreciated more than words could express. After the weekend’s emotional rollercoaster, he must have sensed that I needed him more than ever. He was by my side at every available opportunity. And instead of just dropping me off at the ballet studio after school, he parked and walked me inside. Maybe he was just being protective.

  Or maybe he wanted to make sure Erik got an eyeful of the toe-curling kiss he gave me before he left.

  Since Dad had Monday off, I called him to come pick me up when I was finally done with practice around six. The performance was a week from Friday, so starting on Wednesday we’d be converging at the Allegany College theatre for daily rehearsals. I was looking forward to it. Dancing onstage is exhilarating - you have so much more space, so much more freedom to move. I also couldn’t wait to see some of the other routines performed by the younger classes.

  “You’re a hundred percent sure you’ll be off next Friday, right?” I asked Dad for what was probably the fourth time.

  “Positive. Don’t worry, I’ll be there.”

  It would be his first time seeing me dance since I was the Fairy of the Woodland Glade in Sleeping Beauty way back in eighth grade. My mother would be missing this year’s performance of The Nutcracker, but she’d been there for all the others so it wasn’t as if she’d be seeing anything new. It would be a little silly for her to come when I’d be going to visit her a few days later.

  Which reminded me… “Dad, do you think there’s any possible way you could get Rob on that flight with me?”

  “You sure know how to wait ’til the last minute, don’t you, ladybug? You know that’s only two weeks away.”

  “Is it too late?” If so, I’d just cancel my reservation and go some other time. How could I leave Rob all alone at Christmas? Mom would understand, once I explained the situation. Hopefully.

  “Oh, I might be able to pull a few strings. Let me see what I can do.”

  “Please try. Consider it my Christmas present. That’s all I want.”

  He glanced over at me with a dubious expression. “Have you mentioned this to your mother?”

  “Well, no. Not yet.”

  “Hmph. That should be an interesting conversation,” he muttered.

  I grinned at him. “She’s not quite as uptight as she used to be. I think she’s starting to mellow out in her old age.”

  Dad barked out a laugh. “Old age! Listen, young lady, don’t start packing us off to the retirement home just yet! Personally I’m a long, long way from being over the hill.”

  “I was just kidding...” Then in a softer voice I playfully added, “Geezer.”

  “Whippersnapper!” he retorted, before changing the subject. “Hey. Let me get your opinion on something.”

  “Sure. What?”

  “One of the other pilots is about to trade his truck in on a newer one. The other one’s not that old and from what he says it’s in good shape and very dependable. I was thinking of offering him the trade-in value for it. If you think Rob might be interested.”

  My mouth fell open in astonishment. “You’re buying Rob a truck?”

  “The thought had crossed my mind. He needs his own transportation. I know you’re probably getting tired of sharing yours. And this way he wouldn’t have to dip into his college fund.”

  I couldn’t even wrap my head around that proposal. It would totally blow Rob’s mind. “Well…I mean, I think it’s an extremely generous offer. I’m sure he’d think so too. But why…?”

  He shrugged modestly. “If I don’t help him out, who will? He’s a smart young man with a bright future. He deserves the opportunity to cultivate that future. Since I’m in a position to give him a hand, I’d like to do it. And before you ask, no, this has nothing to do with you. I was considering something like this long before your little disclosure.”

  I smiled at him affectionately. “You are one in a million, you know that?”

  “I try.”

  “So what kind of truck is it?”

  “It’s a black Toyota Tacoma. Only has about fifty-five thousand miles on it. From what I understand his wife wants something a little smal-”

  “Sh, hang on a sec,” I cut in, quickly turning up the radio’s volume. The weather report had suddenly morphed into a news broadcast, one that grabbed my undivided attention.

  A Saturday evening fire has turned into a homicide investigation after preliminary autopsy results showed the Cumberland teenager likely died of blunt force trauma, according to local police.

  Jordan Miranda Cox, 17, was found dead after firefighters responded to a blaze at the family’s Majestic Street home. Her body was sent to the state medical examiner’s office in…

  Dad hastily snapped off the radio. “I don’t think we need to hear any more about that.”

  “She was murdered?” I stared at the console as if I expected the guilty party to dive out of the radio and reach for my throat. “Somebody actually deliberately killed her! Blunt force trauma? Oh my God, and she was pregnant…I can’t even believe…you already knew it too! Didn’t you? That’s what Chief
Landry told you last night, isn’t it?”

  Inhaling deeply, he released a long sigh. “Uh-huh.”

  “Why would anyone do something like that?”

  “I don’t know, honey. But I did speak to Chief Landry earlier today. Riley Murphy was brought in for questioning this morning.”

  “He was?”

  “He was. He’s also been released.”

  “So he didn’t do it?” As much as I thought Riley was a jerk, I didn’t want to believe that he was a heartless murderer.

  “I didn’t say that. He had an alibi though. Some college freshman friend of his claims they were together at the time, hanging out and drinking at his apartment. What worries me is that no one else has stepped forward to corroborate their story. So far nobody claims to have noticed the kid’s Mustang parked at the apartment complex. That seems a little odd to me. Car like that attracts attention. Seems like someone would have remembered seeing it there.”

  “It was dark,” I pointed out impartially. “Plus it was a Saturday night. Maybe most of the people weren’t home.”

  “Maybe. And there’s always the possibility that this ‘friend’ of his is covering for him. There was no sign of forced entry, so whoever did it was someone she knew and trusted enough to let inside.”

  Feeling my cell phone vibrate, I pulled it out and read the text sent from Dana. Still at ballet? Call me after, k?

  I quickly replied: Omw home, call u in a bit.

  “What about the baby?” I asked Dad. “Will they be able to find out if Riley’s the father?”

  “Yes, but it might take a little time. Riley’s parents are being very uncooperative. They’re threatening defamation lawsuits left and right. No wonder that kid turned out to be such a piece of work, coming from a gene pool like that. This poor girl’s been slaughtered, her parents have lost not only their child but their home as well, and now they’re being threatened with a goddamn lawsuit!” He pulled the Prius into the driveway and shut off the engine. “Makes me embarrassed to be part of the human race.”

  I wondered…if the baby really wasn’t his, would that help his case or hurt it? Didn’t he kind of have a motive either way? It was all such a supreme clusterfuck.

  As soon as I was inside I noticed something new - a keypad on the wall next to the front door. “What’s this - a burglar alarm?”

  “I had a security system installed today. It’s not armed right now. Soon as Rob gets home I’ll show you both how to set it.” He patted me on the shoulder. “I’m not trying to make you nervous or paranoid or anything. It’s just a precaution. With you being here alone so much, it’s probably something I should have already done.”

  But I have Rob now, I thought. I wouldn’t be afraid with him here to protect me. Pulling out my phone again, I tapped Dana’s number.

  “Think I’ll order some wings and salad for dinner,” Dad was saying. “Sound okay to you?”

  “Sure. Ranch this time, no blue cheese.”

  “But I like blue cheese,” Dana argued cheerfully in my ear.

  “Oh, shut up. I wasn’t talking to you.”

  “Are you getting takeout again? I think all the restaurants in town would go out of business if you guys moved away.”

  “What-ever!”

  “Have you heard the latest?”

  “You mean about Jordan already being dead before the fire was set? Yeah, I just heard it on the news.”

  “Hey, at least she didn’t suffer. Well…what I mean is, at least she didn’t get burned alive. What freaks me out is that now we don’t know who did it.”

  “It could still be Riley. Couldn’t it?”

  “I don’t think it is. Okay, don’t tell anybody this - promise?”

  “I promise. What?”

  “I was listening in on one of my dad’s conversations. Yes, I’m nosy - don’t judge me. Anyway, they did manage to get a fingerprint sample from Riley and guess what - it didn’t match the prints on the lighter.”

  I frowned. “Lighter?”

  “The one they found lying in the front yard. They think it was used to start the fire. Must’ve fallen out of the guy’s pocket when he was hauling ass.”

  A lighter. Well, it was only logical. The arsonist probably didn’t have time to sit around rubbing two sticks together scout style, now did he? “What - um, what kind of lighter?” I hated myself for even asking.

  “I dunno - cigarette lighter, I guess. How many kinds are there?”

  There are plenty of kinds. Lots of people carry lighters around with them. “Your dad doesn’t have any other suspects?”

  “Not as far as I know. Not like he’d tell me if he did. I ask you, what’s the use of being the police chief’s daughter if you can’t get inside information?”

  “Free donuts?” I suggested sarcastically.

  “Right - I wish. I could use a donut right about now. My mother’s on this health food kick. Know what we’re having for dinner? Broiled fish and steamed broccoli. Just because she thinks she needs to lose ten pounds, she’s making the rest of us suffer.”

  “You can always come over here and eat chicken wings with us.”

  “Tempting. Actually, Trent’s on his way over to pick me up. We’re going to get a nice greasy burger. I hate broccoli. Who wants to eat something that looks like a shrub?”

  “Weren’t you just making fun of me for eating takeout, like two seconds ago?”

  “Nope, that had to be somebody else. Trent’s here - gotta go. Smoochies!”

  Since Dad had to leave for Johnstown early in the morning, he went straight to bed after giving us a brief tutorial on the new security system. Rob thought it was a great idea. I was on the fence myself. I didn’t appreciate feeling like a prisoner in my own home.

  We snuggled up on the couch together afterwards to watch, appropriately enough, Home Alone. “See, we don’t need an alarm system,” I reasoned. “We can just ice up the front steps and rig a blowtorch to the door.”

  Rob’s lips curved into a wry smile. “I think that only works in the movies.”

  “Have you ever slipped on ice? It can be very dangerous.”

  “I can be much more dangerous.” Sliding his arms around my waist, he pulled me onto his lap. “Anybody even thinks about breaking into this house, they’ll have more to worry about than booby traps.”

  I melted into his embrace, nuzzling my head against his neck. “I don’t know why anyone would. I think the thing with Jordan was an isolated incident. Someone who had it in for her.”

  “I think so too. I’m still not a hundred percent convinced it wasn’t Riley, alibi or not.”

  I thought about what Dana told me, about the fingerprints. But I didn’t mention it. I guess for the same reason I’d never grilled him about where he was that night, or why he came home smelling like smoke. I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea, to think that I harbored any doubts about him. Because I didn’t. I couldn’t. I loved him too much.

  “How would you feel about coming to Greenville with me for Christmas?” I redirected the discussion.

  He seemed pleased that I’d asked. “If that’s where you’re going, then that’s where I’d like to be. If you don’t think your mom and stepdad will mind.”

  “I’ll call her tomorrow and make sure. They shouldn’t though. The house is pretty big, and Stanley doesn’t have any kids so there ought to be plenty of room. When’s your last day at work supposed to be?”

  “Twenty-second.”

  “Perfect! We leave on the twenty-third. If my dad can get you a seat, that is.”

  “And if he can’t?”

  “Then I stay here with you.”

  “Uh-uh. No.” Rob shook his head. “I don’t want you changing your plans for me. You need to spend some time with your family.”

  “If you don’t go, I don’t go.”

  “Listen, it’s not like I’ve never been by myself during the holidays before…”

  “You’re not spending Christmas alone. End of story.” I lif
ted my chin and stared him down stubbornly.

  “You’re used to getting your own way, aren’t you?” he noted with amusement.

  Smirking, I nodded innocently.

  “Spoiled little brat. While you’re on my lap, why don’t you tell Santa what you want for Christmas?”

  “Oh, I think Santa already knows what I want.”

  “Refresh his memory.”

  “I want my boyfriend to come to Greenville with me.”

  “Ah…well, let’s see now. Have you been naughty or nice?”

  “Depends on who you ask.”

  “Mm. You know, the funny thing about that is, sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between naughty and nice. So I guess I’ll just have to put you on both lists. Either way, I’d say you’re in the clear as far as getting what you want.”

  “Now why don’t you give me some idea what you’d like?”

  “Sitting where you are, I would think it would be abundantly obvious what I want for Christmas.” Grazing my ear lightly with his lips, he whispered his request.

  “I want you to be naughty.”

  26

  With the new security system installed, it wasn’t really necessary for me to tag along with Rob to the tree farm on Tuesday afternoon. But I did anyway. I thought it would be interesting to watch him work. As it turned out, the temperature had been dropping steadily throughout the day and the weather was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. I spent most of my time in the small portable office, sipping hot chocolate and cramming for a sociology exam.

  I did take a break from studying long enough to compose a nice lengthy email to my mom. I decided it would be easier than trying to explain everything over the phone. This way, I had time to think about what I wanted to say without being interrupted every three seconds by a barrage of questions. In the end, the only thing I left out was the minor detail of Rob’s living arrangements. That part could wait. Once Mom got to know him and saw what a sweet guy he was, maybe she’d be less likely to want to strangle my dad.

  I was busy trying to calculate whether Friday night’s babysitting fee would put me at enough to afford an Xbox when the door burst open, and the blast of frigid air literally sucked the air from my lungs. Gasping, I huddled into my coat and yanked up the hood.