Page 26 of Scorched

“Maybe Seb knows.” She glanced at her brother, who hung up the phone and walked back to them.

“She said she didn’t. She’s on her way over to catalog and remove it.”

“Good. What can you tell me about how the Meyers escaped?”

Seb blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. “Lorraine said they woke up to smoke. The door was hot to the touch, so they tried the window, but it wouldn’t open.”

“Why didn’t they just break it and climb through?” Maggie asked.

“She said they couldn’t find anything heavy enough to break the window with all the smoke obscuring their vision. Mark wrapped a piece of clothing around his hand and opened the door. The hallway was on fire, but they didn’t have a choice. She said they wet themselves down in the attached bathroom, then walked through the flames.”

“That was good thinking,” Declan said. “It probably saved their lives.”

“Yeah. They both have some pretty serious burns, though. Especially to their feet.”

“Did you get any more on Stafford? On why someone would want to kill him?”

Seb shook his head. “And what I don’t get is if the two fires are related, why didn’t the arsonist murder the Meyers before he set the fire like he did with Jed.”

“Maybe Jed caught him in the act of torching the place,” Maggie mused. “Mark and Lorraine were asleep.”

“That could be, but it doesn’t help explain the connection between the victims,” Declan said.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Stafford and the Meyers are both connected to your family. If Jed wasn’t meant to be at the house, that means that fire isn’t connected to you guys.”

“It’s possible there’s another connection,” Seb said.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know yet. I’m just saying it’s possible.”

“It is.” Declan’s head bobbed. “I think we’ll know soon enough, though. I don’t think this guy is done.”

“Jesus, don’t say that,” Seb said.

“Sorry. It’s true, though. The scenes are just too sophisticated. He’s practiced all this somewhere, and now he’s showing off. He’s just getting warmed up.”

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