Page 15 of Raging Inferno

“Not great.”

Reggie cursed. “That’s Gene and Nancy Babcock.”

“It is,” Dominic confirmed as Rena Robbins covered the bodies with a black tarp while two other firefighters set up the instant canopy to cover them and keep the elements away until the medical examiner arrived.

Reggie turned to the man beside him. “This is Jed Flowers. He’s a detective from South Dakota, here for a few days.”

Dom shook his hand.

“Jed, since you offered to help, can you snap pictures of the structure while I talk to the captain?”

“Sure.”

When the man jogged away, Dom turned to Reggie. “I heard Presley Parrish spoke with you earlier.”

“She did . . . oh, damn, Nancy was a Cheerio, wasn’t she?”

“Yes.”

Reggie rubbed his forehead. “Presley has some crazy theory about the fires being connected. Do you think they are?”

Dom sighed. “I didn’t until this one happened. We don’t know how it started yet, but what are the odds?”

“I’m guessing astronomical.”

Teddy and the other two firefighters exited the building. “No other victims,” Teddy announced. “But look at this.”

He handed Dominic a round plastic object that had been blackened but not scorched. He removed the top. “No batteries.”

“What is it with people not tending to their fire alarms?” Reggie wondered.

“I don’t know, but if they had, they all might be alive now,” Dominic said. “I’ll have our public relations personnel get theword out for people to check their batteries and alarms. We’ll ramp up business visits too.”

“Did they have kids?” Garrett asked.

“No.”

“A small plus,” Garrett said as he returned to the house.

While the firefighters cleaned up the scene, Dominic turned to Reggie. “Two fires, two malfunctioning fire alarms, two high school friends.”

Reggie sighed, picking up on Dominic’s intent. “I’ll treat this as a crime scene, but I’m still not sold that they are related.”

#

After gorging themselves on corn dogs and malts, one Oreo and the other hot fudge, Gia guided Presley to her house. Presley realized they were headed to Dominic’s childhood home. She’d been there a few times when Gwen and Dominic were dating. She remembered it having a view of Lake Superior in the distance. It was easily one of the most beautiful houses in Serenity Shores.

Dominic’s father had been a prominent judge in town, and his mother had owned a florist shop back when Presley had been growing up. She almost asked Gia about them, but she’d already stepped in when she mentioned Gia’s mother. She wasn’t about to do the same with Gia’s grandparents.

Presley pulled up to a gate. Gia punched a button on her phone, and the iron bars slid open. The drive was nicely landscaped with ornamental grasses leading to the house she remembered.

Presley parked in front of the garage, and Gia leaped out of the SUV. “I have to get Major.”

“Who’s Major?”

That question was answered when a black labrador retriever came bounding out of the fence. He scurried over to Presley, sniffed her, and then attempted to lick her face off while wigglinghis entire body. Presley tried to pet him, but he wouldn’t stop gyrating.

“Major, down,” Gia ordered.

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