The Last of the Moon Girls(74)
He raised a hand as she approached. “Morning.”
Lizzy managed a smile, but her mind was whirring. Where was Rhanna, and how would she explain Roger’s presence if she happened to turn up? But more intriguing was the possibility that he came because he’d found something.
“I hope this means you have some news for me.”
“Afraid not. I had breakfast with an old friend, and he told me about the fire. What happened?”
Lizzy tucked the wet newspaper bag under her arm and leaned a hip against the Camry’s fender. “I woke up and smelled smoke. When I looked out the window, I saw flames.”
“And?”
“And they don’t think it was an accident,” she added grudgingly.
“That’s what I was afraid of. There was evidence?”
“A couple of milk bottles that were apparently filled with kerosene.”
Roger pulled a pen and notepad from his blazer pocket and scribbled something down. When he looked up again, his face was set. “You understand what’s happening, right? The note. Now the fire?”
“Yeah. I get it.”
“Any thoughts on who might be behind it?”
“No, but I’ve obviously gotten under someone’s skin. A few days before the fire, I went to see a woman who works at the high school—Mrs. Ryerson. I thought she might remember some of the kids Heather Gilman hung around with. It’s possible that whoever set the fire knows I spoke to her—and wants me to know they know.”
“Right. I’ll touch base with Guy McCardle, see what he knows.”
Lizzy squinted at him. “So you’re officially working the case now?”
“Officially? No. But yes. I’m not calling it a case—yet—but it is something.”
“What about your notes? Any luck there?”
“I’m going through them when I can, but I’ve been in and out of town with work.” He paused to scribble in his notebook again. “I don’t suppose I could convince you to back off for a while, and leave the sleuthing to me?”
“I’ve talked to one of Heather’s friends, Mrs. Ryerson from the cafeteria, Susan Gilman, and Fred Gilman, and all I can say for sure is that the Gilmans were in no danger of winning family of the year. Short of going door to door, I honestly don’t know where to go next, so by all means sleuth away.”
“Good then. I’ll be in touch.” He walked back around to the driver’s side but paused before getting in. “Do me a favor and keep your eyes open. So far, no one’s been hurt. You might not be so lucky next time.”
Lizzy suppressed a shudder as she turned back toward the house. She didn’t want to think about a next time.
Inside, the kettle had begun to hiss. She stripped the Chronicle out of its bag and dropped it on the table, then filled a mug with hot water and added a spoon and a bag of Earl Grey for Evvie.
“Your tea, milady,” she announced poshly as she set the mug in front of Evvie. “Oops, forgot the honey.”
When she returned with the jar, Evvie was scanning the front page of the paper. She looked up, her expression somber.
Lizzy eyed her warily. “What?”
Evvie laid the paper flat, pointing to the front page headline.
ARSON SUSPECTED IN LOCAL FIRE
Salem Creek authorities have launched an investigation into a fire that occurred at Moon Girl Farm just before midnight on Saturday, August 7. The blaze is thought to have started in a small shed, then spread to the nearby apple orchard. There were no reported injuries, but significant damage occurred before crews were able to bring the fire under control. The cause of the blaze is not yet known, but the remnants of two incendiary devices have been forwarded to the state lab for analysis. It’s not the first time Moon Girl Farm has been in the news. In November 2012, the bodies of two teenage girls, Darcy and Heather Gilman, were discovered in a pond on the property. The murders remain unsolved, but suspicions swirled around Althea Moon, owner of the farm at the time. The recent return of granddaughter Elzibeth (Lizzy) Moon has sparked speculation that the fire is a result of renewed tensions. Sources report police are also investigating an earlier incident involving a straw doll and an unsigned note. Authorities are now considering the note a potential threat. One local woman, who asked that her name not be used, voiced her opinion on the possibility that the fire and the Gilman case might be connected. “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised. You can’t come back after all that time and stir up trouble, and not expect it to come back on you.” Attempts to contact the Gilmans for comment have been unsuccessful.
Lizzy pushed the paper back across the table with a sigh. “I suppose hoping Rhanna wouldn’t find out about all this was too much to ask. Have you seen her?”
Evvie shook her head. “She’s been in her room all morning, listening to that awful racket of hers. But you’re right. She’ll hear the talk soon enough. You can’t blow your nose in this town without somebody running their mouth about it.”
She was right. When it came to news, the Chronicle had nothing on the Salem Creek grapevine. Rhanna would hear it all—the doll, the note, the rumors that were apparently already beginning to bubble—and it wouldn’t be pretty when she did. The best she could hope for was to control how and when Rhanna heard the news.